Rucker says records by artists like Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Foster & Lloyd, Radney Foster, New Grass Revival and Dwight Yoakam had him "enamored with country music" and made him want to be a part of it. He says that Southern Style is him getting closer to those records that made him first fall in love with country music and those that he would listen to 10 to 15 times in a row.

"They made me want to come out and sing country music," he reflects. "Now, I think we're getting closer and closer to those records. I mean, I love my first three records. I think they're great. For this record, we made a more conscious effort to make a more country record."