Frankie Ballard Discusses Recording 'El Rio'

Frankie Ballard's third studio album, El Rio, is officially out! The stylish singer stopped by the Taste of Country Nights studio and told us about his interesting time recording the album in Tornillo, Texas. He called it the "experience of a lifetime."

Ballard went down to Tornillo to record his third album, a town that is extremely close to the Mexico border. He went there for a special studio that has a few other interesting uses.

“The reason we went there primarily was because of the studio space, there’s this place called the Sonic Ranch and it’s right on the Mexican border," Ballard fondly explains. "It’s a beautiful hacienda and studio and pecan farm all in one. These three Mexican ladies came across the border every day and they were so wonderful and they made us incredible food three meals a day. It was an experience of a lifetime.”

"Cigarette" is one of the standout tracks on El Rio, and Ballard recorded a video for his El Rio video series to accompany the song. It features a blonde dancer on a pole — but for good reason.

“That song is about lust. Some people try to bundle up with love and really lust is a different thing. It’s an 'L' word but it’s a different thing. That’s why we went that way in the video with the dancers.”

El Rio is out on digital retailers, including iTunes, and in stores now.

Sam Alex is the host of Taste of Country Nights radio, a syndicated night show which airs on more than 60 Townsquare Media Group stations nationwide.

Frankie Ballard Says Recording ‘El Rio’ Was the ‘Experience of a Lifetime’