Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Country singer Bucky Covington is about to release his first EP.

And you can already download the new single from the former American Idol contestant; it’s an up-tempo tune called “I Feel Ya.”

His six-track “Happy Man” EP will be available July 14 and can be pre-ordered now from iTunes.

Bucky was a surprise success on the country music charts after finishing eighth on Season 5 of Idol. His 2007 debut album produced a trio of Top 15 country hits.

That success has proven difficult to duplicate.

The EP will mark his first release since an album called “Good Guys” in September 2012. It featured its share of highlights, including the rousing single “Drinkin’ Side of Country” with Shooter Jennings and a matching video featuring Season 5 Idol cast mate Kellie Pickler.

Bucky is releasing “Happy Man” as an independent artist, which has its pros and cons, he admits.

“The good part is that there’s no one telling me what songs to pick, and the bad part is no one is there to tell me what songs to pick or paying for making the music, so all the risk is on me,” he says.

In a Twitter chat earlier this week, Bucky said that, while he loves up-tempo songs, his favorite on the new EP is a ballad called “I’m Saying Something,” written by Matt Warren.

Bucky has a bunch of tour dates scheduled, which you can check out on his website. Local fans might want to catch him at the Schuylkill County Fair later this month.