Dane Connery, a country singer and 2026 University of Mississippi alumnus, is set to release his newest single “Back At Ole Miss” on Friday, Oct. 30. Connery sat down with The Daily Mississippian to discuss the inspiration behind the single, his fond memories of Oxford and his future aspirations for his music career.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Connery moved to Oxford in fall 2022 for his freshman year. While Connery loves his hometown, where he currently resides, the singer said he fell in love with Oxford almost immediately.
“I visited my buddy’s older brother when I was looking for colleges, and (Ole Miss) wasn’t really on my radar,” Connery said. “It’s such a cool town, and … right away just felt like, ‘This is the spot for me.’”
Connery said living on campus during his freshman year fostered his passion for songwriting.
“I kind of found my identity in songwriting when I got (to Oxford) — it’s kind of when it picked up,” Connery said. “I found some confidence and was writing a bunch of songs from my dorm room.”
Connery wrote “Back At Ole Miss” during his freshman year while reflecting on his love for the school.
“Eventually, I sat down and reflected on Ole Miss and wrote this song called ‘Back At Ole Miss’ about falling in love with a person and a place at the same time,” Connery said. “It’s all about Oxford and a girl back at Ole Miss — and this was all freshman year. This was four years ago.”
Connery graduated from Ole Miss with bachelor degrees in finance and real estate. He began performing his music in front of a crowd during his junior year.
“I got a band together my junior year at Ole Miss and … built up confidence onstage and started recording some songs in the last year and releasing them,” Connery said.
Even before college, Connery displayed a passion for music, due in large part to his father.
“I asked for a hoverboard in middle school, and my dad got me my first guitar instead,” Connery said. “So, I started playing a little guitar, learning it a little bit and writing some songs.”
Connery said his sound and lyrics are primarily inspired by other singer-songwriters.
“I wouldn’t compare myself to anyone in particular, but I’d say Keith Whitley, John Mayer and Riley Green… maybe a little Tyler Childers in there, as well,” Connery said. “Songwriting is my passion, so a lot of those songwriters (are) my influences.”
Connery also credited the Oxford branch of Pinelake Church for his religious and personal growth during his years at Ole Miss.
“When I got to Ole Miss my freshman year, I really hadn’t found the Lord yet,” Connery said. “While I was (in Oxford), I really dug deep in my faith at Pinelake. It was the last couple years I was (in Oxford) is really when I found the Lord.”
Recently, Connery has been working on his debut album, which “Back at Ole Miss” will be included on.
“I’m working on an album right now, and I’d say four or five of the nine songs on the album were written in my dorm room (at Ole Miss),” Connery said.
While Connery has no upcoming performances scheduled for Oxford at the moment, he is itching to get back to singing in the Velvet Ditch.
“I’m hoping to get up (to Oxford) early next year when I’m releasing some more music, … maybe an album, and I’m hoping to do a tour around that, as well,” Connery said. “I played at a lot of the (Oxford) venues with my band in college, … and I would really like to get back out to that scene.”
