Alabama artist Chris Garner is using music to tell the parts of his story that cannot be confined to a single genre.

During an exclusive interview with WorldWide Entertainment TV, Garner opened up about his battle with depression and drug addiction, the deeply personal relationship behind his single “Next to Me,” and why faith and music became essential parts of his recovery.

“I had a time in my life where I was on drugs,” Garner revealed. “It was a solid six years of battling drug addiction.”

Garner said songwriting provided another way to process his depression and the difficult experiences behind his music.

“Music is the only thing that got me out of that—music and God,” he explained. “Being able to write music about my struggles and find a different way to get through depression…music actually saved my life.”

The personal story behind “Next to Me”

“Next to Me” combines elements of pop-punk, metalcore, nu-metal, hip-hop and melodic rock. Beneath its genre-blending production is a personal account of a relationship that had become emotionally unhealthy.

Garner said the situation improved when both people recognized that some of their relationship difficulties were connected to earlier trauma.

“When two people realize that whatever is happening is bigger than them, I feel like emotional and relationship trauma comes from our childhoods,” he said. “It’s not something that we did to ourselves.”

The song’s central idea is captured by the lyric, “I was screaming in the silence, you were next to me.” Garner described it as the experience of being physically close to someone while remaining emotionally disconnected.

“You may feel like you’re loving that person the way you should, but in reality you’re not loving them the way they need to be loved,” he explained.

Garner said the relationship has since evolved into a healthier co-parenting arrangement. The other person involved has also heard and embraced the record.

“She loves the song,” he said. “Writing a song like this at a time when I needed it the most has really helped me.”

For Garner, separating was ultimately healthier than keeping a child inside an environment where the adults could not provide the love and stability that were needed.

“Not showing a child the love that he needs is more damaging than separating,” he said.

A Muscle Shoals artist without genre restrictions

Originally from Tuscumbia and rooted in the Muscle Shoals area, Garner comes from a region internationally recognized for its recording history.

FAME Recording Studios and other important studios in the area have welcomed generations of major artists, but Garner is attempting to add a different sound to that legacy.

“The Shoals is a cornerstone for Nashville,” he said. “There’s so much musical history here in this town.”

Garner did not initially imagine himself becoming a professional recording artist. He began by freestyling casually before encouragement from others pushed him to take his abilities more seriously.

He has previously released music under the names C.ROCK and CG the Reverend. As Chris Garner, he now describes himself as a multi-genre artist who allows the melody and emotion of each song to determine its eventual sound.

“If I hear a beat, it doesn’t matter what genre the beat falls under,” he explained. “If I have a melody for it, I can write it and then produce it.”

Garner acknowledges that refusing to remain inside one genre can create a marketing challenge.

“They’re always like, ‘You’ve got to stick to one genre for the algorithm to pick you up,’” he said. “I just think if you work harder, you can push all different kinds of music.”

Why he moved beyond Christian rap

Although some listeners know Garner for his earlier Christian rap, he said exclusively recording within that category eventually began to feel restrictive.

“I still am a firm believer in Jesus Christ,” he emphasized. “I just got to a place where I was getting burnt out, and my music was starting to become a chore.”

Garner does not view his current records as a rejection of his faith. Instead, he considers them additional chapters of his testimony.

“The Bible says you’re supposed to share your testimony,” he said. “Even though they’re not really falling into a gospel category, they’re part of my story.”

That perspective helps explain why “Next to Me” addresses trauma, emotional distance and co-parenting without carrying a conventional gospel label.

The unreleased album that disappeared

Garner’s journey also includes an early album the public never had the opportunity to hear.

When he was approximately 18 or 19, he used money earned through work and tips to pay for studio sessions. After falling behind on payments, he said the person controlling the sessions deleted the music.

“I had a whole album done,” Garner recalled. “He cut all that music out, man. Cut it all out. I never got to show the world that music.”

The project reportedly combined pop and rap during a period when Garner said he looked and sounded similar to a young Justin Bieber.

“No telling where I could have went had I released that music,” he reflected.

The experience taught him to pay closer attention to the character and intentions of the people around him.

“You really have to watch who you work with,” he warned. “If the vibe’s not there, don’t do it.”

Losing his best friend changed his direction

Another defining moment occurred when Garner’s best friend died on Garner’s birthday.

The weekend before his death, the friend had taught Garner how to freestyle and predicted that he could eventually become a successful rapper.

“He told me, ‘You’re going to be the greatest rapper one day,’” Garner remembered. “I was like, ‘Man, just stop, because there’s no way.’ He said, ‘No, you suck right now—but one of these days you’re going to be the best.’”

Garner carried those words with him as he continued freestyling at parties, recording music and developing his voice.

“Eventually, it went from ‘Don’t quit your day job’ to ‘Don’t forget me when you make it,’” he said.

Chris Garner prepares his next chapter

“Next to Me” was built from an original musical foundation created by Braden Butler. Garner later worked with Jeff Parker and Ray Rogers to expand the record inside the studio.

Garner said Parker contributed guitar, production ideas and additional elements that helped transform the initial concept into a complete record.

The artist is now preparing a follow-up called “I’ll Be Fine.” The song began as an acoustic composition and is intended to continue the emotional story established by “Next to Me.”

“It’s just letting people know that we’re moving into something better and life is going to get better,” Garner said.

He eventually plans to assemble his new releases into an album, but his immediate priority is building the Chris Garner name and ensuring that every song deserves to be heard.

“I know why none of it ever worked out,” he concluded. “I wasn’t ready. But now I’ve lived a lot, I’ve been through a lot, and now I’m ready to take what’s mine.”

Watch the complete Chris Garner interview on WorldWide Entertainment TV and stream “Next to Me” on digital music platforms.