Old Oak Embassy is a Nashville-based rock collective formed in 2025 by multi-genre artist, songwriter, and producer Christopher Foust. More than a traditional band, Old Oak Embassy functions as a creative vessel—an evolving collaboration between Foust and some of Nashville’s most talented musicians, producers, and songwriters. Each release features a carefully curated lineup, offering a fresh yet unmistakably powerful sound.

The group’s debut single, “Flags,” is a heavy-hitting track that blends the grit of hard rock with the intensity of modern metal, evoking influences such as Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, and Nine Inch Nails. The single’s lineup includes Christopher Foust on vocals and rhythm guitar, Chris Utley on bass and production, Skip Black on lead guitar, and Skyler Black on drums. Co-written by Foust, Utley, and the Black brothers, “Flags” exemplifies the collective’s mission: genre-defying, emotionally charged, and sonically massive music built by a community of seasoned creators.

At the heart of Old Oak Embassy is Christopher Foust, a Nashville native with over two decades of experience as a performer, songwriter, and producer. Known for his belief that “great music requires attitude and soul,” Foust has cultivated a reputation as one of the city’s most versatile artists. His musical catalog spans multiple projects, releasing hard rock and metal under FOUST, country and southern rock under his own name, dark pop and EDM as The Ohio Valley Panic, and pop rock as Majestic Swayzee, while also serving as the vocalist and guitarist for the established rock band Blackwater James. His career began in Nashville’s rock scene, fronting bands like ATG, Blue Law, and Kennedy before touring internationally with Blackwater James, sharing stages with Queensrÿche, Ratt, Poison, Tantric, Saving Abel, and David Allan Coe. Transitioning into country, Foust toured as lead guitarist for Chase Rice, while also establishing himself in Nashville’s songwriting and production circles. His work has been featured in major indie films including the Michael Madsen thriller The Wraith Within and the bio-pic American Outlaws. Through Old Oak Embassy, Foust channels his wide-ranging influences—blending the soulful edge of southern rock with the aggression of modern hard rock and metal—while providing a platform for collaboration with Nashville’s best.

Producer, bassist, and songwriter Chris Utley shapes the sonic core of Old Oak Embassy. A Pittsburgh native, Utley discovered music early, studying piano and guitar before forming his first rock band at fourteen. After earning a degree in Audio Engineering Technology from Belmont University, he launched Benchmark Sound, where he spent more than a decade engineering and producing. In 2020, the pandemic reignited his passion for songwriting, leading him to sign a publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing. His recent cuts include “Missin’ You” recorded by Kelsey Hart, “Out Here In It” recorded by Tracy Lawrence, and “Country Folk” recorded by Trey Lewis. As both producer and bassist, Utley brings a rare balance of technical mastery and creative vision to Old Oak Embassy.

Guitarist and songwriter Skip Black adds melodic firepower to the group. A North Carolina native, Black has been a force in Nashville since 2007, earning the 2018 CCMA Songwriter of the Year award for his double-platinum worldwide hit “Lonely Drum.” He co-wrote Craig Morgan’s radio single “How You Make A Man,” Aaron Goodvin’s #1 Canadian single “Boy Like Me,” and has been nominated multiple times for CCMA Songwriter of the Year, including in 2024 for Goodvin’s “Country Dance.” His catalog includes songs recorded by Gary Allan, Tyler Farr, Eric Paslay, LOCASH, Jana Kramer, Edens Edge, Craig Morgan, and Christie Lamb, among others, and he has scored international hits like “All She Wrote,” which reached #1 in Australia. Beyond writing, Black has produced records such as Kalie Shorr’s acclaimed albums Awake and Open Book Unabridged, both praised by Rolling Stone. As Old Oak Embassy’s lead guitarist, he combines his songwriter’s ear with a producer’s touch, delivering both intensity and nuance.

On drums, Skyler Black provides the driving force that anchors the group’s sound. His precision and power lock in seamlessly with Utley’s bass, forming a rhythm section that is both punishing and dynamic, giving Old Oak Embassy its foundation of energy and weight.

With its debut single “Flags,” Old Oak Embassy has established itself as a genre-defiant force, leaning into the darkness and weight of alternative metal while carrying the melodic instincts of Nashville’s strongest songwriters. The group exists at the intersection of collaboration and reinvention—driven by Foust’s leadership but shaped by each musician’s voice. Old Oak Embassy is more than a band; it is a creative alliance of Nashville’s finest, bound together to deliver music that is raw, heavy, and unapologetically alive.