Seven years ago, if you told Chris Lucas and Preston Brust – better known these days as LOCASH – they would become one of country music’s hottest duos with a handful of Top 30 hits, including a chart-topping smash, they would’ve laughed in your face. While it was their dream and their vision for the future, it was something hard to see while facing their daily struggles at the time. Chris had a wife and a baby to support, and both Chris and Preston had their fair share of bills each month to pay in order to survive.

“2011 was the toughest year ever, but we had each other to keep going,” Chris tells Full Access Magazine. “There was a time that we thought it was over because everything just kept falling and falling out of our hands, and we couldn’t do anything about it. We couldn’t control it. We looked at each other like is this it? We knew in our hearts that it wasn’t it because we never had our fair shot at radio. We never gave radio a chance with LOCASH. Something always happened with the label or with the song where it didn’t go to radio the right way.”

Several singles and two more record label deals later, their luck changed in 2015 when LOCASH released “I Love This Life.” The tune skyrocketed up the charts where it peaked at No. 2 and was certified Gold. Their follow-up release, “I Know Somebody,” was another monster hit for the duo, going all the way to the top showing country music they are here to stay. “Radio finally accepted us at that point,” notes Chris. “We can’t talk highly enough of radio and how they’ve taken us under their wings and believe in us. It’s definitely changed our world. Thank God we didn’t give up.”

All those struggles and years of hardships led to their most recent album, Brothers, which was released on March 29. Produced by songwriter Corey Crowder and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, the project was two years in the making. Originally set for release on their previous label, LOCASH retrieved the project when signing to their new label home, Broken Bow Music’s Wheelhouse Records in 2018.

“When we signed the new deal with our label, the first order of business was to get the album that we had just turned in because we knew there were some really good songs on there,” Preston explains. “So we got the album, and we wanted to freshen up everything with five or six new songs. That’s how we ended up with new producers. It’s been an exciting, fresh change. There’s a lot of new energy, and hopefully, a lot of new hits on there.”

While Chris and Preston are not blood brothers, the name of the album was a natural choice, seeing how far they’ve come and the challenges they went through that has cemented their bond deeper than most real-life brothers. “I feel like me and Preston are closer than some people I know who are blood brothers or even blood sisters. It doesn’t matter,” Chris says. “I know ‘brothers’ is the only name we use in the song, but it’s talking about girls out there, too … it just would’ve been weird to call the album Sisters.”

“It could’ve sold a lot of records,” Preston quips.

“It might not have been weird,” Chris responds with laughter. “Who knows! But there’s a lot of people out there that this song can relate to. Let’s look at our military. The men and women out there will die for each other in the battlefield, and that’s what the song ‘Brothers’ talks about. They’re not blood related. I feel like the world should live like that. Not necessarily die for each other, but love each other like that and respect each other like that. And that’s what ‘Brothers’ is all about.”

The album is filled with hit songwriters such as Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip, Ashley Gorely, Jeremy Stover, Chris DeStefano and Zach Crowell, among others. “It’s pretty cool when you get A-list songs like that and you have guys like Rhett calling you going hey, I’ve got a song for you guys. You’re going to listen to it immediately,” laughs Chris. “There’s a reason he sent it to you. These songs are massive. There are great writers in this town, and we’re blessed to have these guys on this record with us.”

Their current single and first release from the album is their laid-back groove, “Feels Like a Party,” penned by Chris, Preston, Tyler and Corey. Upon its release, the tune became the No. 1 most added song in the format in its debut. The song became the anthem during Pepsi’s inaugural Pepsi Tailgate Tour where the duo performed live in conjunction with some of the biggest college and NFL matchups across the country, including the Super Bowl.

However, their song catalogs are not the only thing that has been growing over the past few years. Combined, they now have five kids under the age of eight. “We have a basketball team between the two of us,” Preston says, laughing. “It’s the starting five!”

“It is very, very hectic around our houses right now!” adds Chris.

Chris and his wife, Kaitlyn, now have three – eight year old son Caden, three year old daughter Remi and the newest addition, daughter Violet who turns two in September. Preston is also the proud father to a beautiful three year old daughter, Love, and eight month old month son Legend with his wife Kristen. “It’s awesome,” Preston says as a soft smile spreads across his face. “My little girl and I are best friends, but my little boy … he just looks at me differently than anyone has ever looked at me. It’s weird, and it’s cool. It’s like this glow. He knows my voice, and he knows that I’m his dude, so it’s kind of cool to see that.

“Last night he said ‘Dada,’” he adds proudly. “I got it on video. It’s so cool. It’s not the real ‘Dada’ that comes out later as he gets older; it’s just that first word that he’s said. He doesn’t know what he’s saying, but I really love it. I will take it because it’s not ‘Mama’ and it’s not anybody else’s name!”

“I’m telling you man,” Chris says, turning to Preston. “You have a boy now, so you will know the feeling. It only gets better. Caden just looks up to me. I’m his idol. He will go around telling people, Hi, I’m Caden. It’s nice to meet you. My dad’s a singer [laughs]. He’s just so proud.”

The time away from home and their families definitely takes its toll on both their hearts, as the busy tour schedule keeps them on the road now more than ever. “Leaving is the hardest thing right now,” says Chris. “I tell myself this every day, and it’s something I tell my family daily, too. I tell them that I am never going to go past seven days without seeing them. So that’s definitely the hardest thing right now. But sometimes I put myself in the military’s position. I come from an Army background, so everybody in my family is Army. My cousin is gone for 13 to 14 months without seeing his kids, and he’s got three kids. I’m gone for seven days. So I’m going not be alright, you know what I mean? I can’t even imagine what those guys go through.”

In addition to their own headlining dates throughout the summer to support Brothers, Chris and Preston will be joining Chris Young on his Raised on Country Tour, also featuring Chris Janson, as well as Rascal Flatts’ Summer Playlist Tour.

In the recent weeks leading up to the latest album’s release, LOCASH has been treating their fans to the new material, which has already been well received not only coast-to-coast, but also in the land Down Under. “That was our first time in Australia, and it was absolutely insane,” recalls Chris. “I want to go back! I loved it so much. Country music fans over there are rabid. It’s amazing.”

“Crowds have already been singing the new songs back to us,” adds Preston. “The new songs have just been really going over great. It’s cool to see really catchy hooks working and people attaching to those lyrics and putting them on Instagram and quoting lyrics. It feels good to know that the new music is connecting with folks on that level so soon. That’s a refreshing thing.”

Regardless how the album sells or how the singles perform on the charts, one thing is for certain. LOCASH is here to stay and will continue to make music for many, many years. “We are survivors,” Chris says with a smile spreading across his face. “We have definitely moved on to another level – for sure – and here we are. It feels good.”