“This Is How We Roll” by Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan is more than just an anthem; it’s a story of friendship, inspiration, and a little bit of spontaneous creativity. Co-written by Cole Swindell and Luke Bryan along with Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley, the song’s origin is as organic as its country roots. Let’s dive into how this chart-topping track came to life, straight from the songwriters themselves.
From Luke Bryan’s Tour Bus to a Country Anthem
The genesis of “This Is How We Roll” happened during Luke Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries Tour, where both Cole Swindell and Florida Georgia Line were also performing. Swindell fondly recalls the moment of inspiration striking, “I was in the back of the bus with Brian Kelley writing.” The spark? None other than Luke Bryan himself. As Swindell explains, “The reason we wrote that song was because Luke, the night before, he did a little thing in his show where he was playing ‘Muckalee Creek’ and he was saying, being in the country you can shoot bullets at the moon and no one’s going to bother you.” This playful line resonated with Kelley, leading him to exclaim, “Hey, we gotta write something. Shooting bullets at the moon, I love that idea.” And just like that, the concept for “This Is How We Roll” began to take shape.
Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan performing 'This Is How We Roll' music video.
An Unexpected Collaboration with Luke Bryan
Swindell and Kelley had already laid the foundation for “This Is How We Roll” when Luke Bryan serendipitously joined their writing session. Bryan describes it as a stroke of luck, “I just walked up on their bus randomly and I was up there goofing off with them and they were working on ‘This Is How We Roll.'” He was invited to join in, and initially hesitant, Bryan admits, “They said, ‘Sit down and write it with us.'” Despite feeling they already had a hit in the making, Florida Georgia Line and Swindell were keen to include Bryan’s creative input.
Adding Bryan’s “Two Cents” to “This Is How We Roll”
Bryan, despite his initial hesitation, contributed his songwriting prowess to the track. “I added my two cents and we knocked it out that day,” he recounts. The collaboration didn’t stop there. It evolved to include Bryan as a featured artist on “This Is How We Roll,” adding another layer to the song’s appeal. Bryan explains how naturally his cameo came about, “and then we worked it to where it made sense for me to have a cameo on it.” The song became a live performance staple, especially during Bryan’s shows where he often invites Swindell back on stage to perform it, creating “a huge stage moment, huge hit.” Bryan reflects on the serendipitous nature of it all, “I felt like that was just right place, right time and great friends letting a buddy in on a song with them.”
Inspiration and Friendship Fueling a Hit Song
Swindell echoes Bryan’s sentiment about the collaborative and inspirational environment that birthed “This Is How We Roll.” He highlights the mutual learning and respect within the country music community, “Florida Georgia Line, as big as they are, they were watching Luke’s show. I think that’s how it should be. We’re all learning from everybody we’re around.” He emphasizes the significance of Kelley finding inspiration in Bryan’s live performance, leading to the song’s creation and Bryan’s involvement. For Swindell, the success of “This Is How We Roll” is deeply meaningful, “It’s just crazy to have two acts that are your good friends, at the top of the genre, record a song that you wrote with them. It’s big for me as a songwriter and an artist.” “This Is How We Roll” stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, friendship, and spontaneous inspiration in creating a truly memorable country hit.
