Nashville duo Striking Matches are preparing to release their debut EP -- and they're excited. The self-titled project introduces Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis, two Belmont University students influenced by everyone from Jerry Reed and Patsy Cline to the Beatles and John Mayer. Interested in hearing the release before you buy it? Taste of Country has the exclusive first listen of 'Striking Matches.' 

"Justin and I are so excited to share this music with our friends and fans," Zimmermann gushes Taste of Country. She and her bandmate were paired up by a professor at Belmont before nervously taking the stage in front of a classroom full of guitar majors. That was 16 months ago. Since then, they've been writing and performing nonstop.

And it has paid off.

"We feel like this is a really great first look at where we want to go on our musical journey," the 22-year-old from Philadelphia adds, noting that they wrote each of the four songs. Davis came to Nashville from Atlanta. He harmonizes with Zimmermann on all but one song, 'Blame It on Me.' Here, they reverse rolls. Throughout the set, both artists trade guitar licks and riffs.

Striking Matches' sharp songwriting mixes with banjo and mandolin to create a folk-country sound comparable to early Little Big Town. The EP will be released to the public on Oct. 2.

Listen to Striking Matches, 'Striking Matches'

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