Heart of the K-Town Connection | Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault Debut Original Song

Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault — the Rough Talk cousins — officially debut their original song, “Heart of the K-Town Connection”.

This is more than music. It’s a love letter to Kannapolis: from worthless farmland at the county line to the rise of Cannon Mills, the hardworking mill guys in the weave room, the man in black, the boys on Ebenezer, A.L. Brown football lights, the Gem Theater, and the lab lights that now shine where the looms once spun.

In this short episode, Chris and Ryan take you behind the scenes of writing the song (most of the lyrics in about 15 minutes), the family history that shaped it, and why they wanted something that truly belongs to K-Town.

00:00 – Cold Open / Congrats on the Dayvault Twins
01:13 – Newborns’ First Whataburger
03:29 – Why K-Town Needed Its Own Song
05:18 – Song Debut: Heart of the K-Town Connection
10:11 – Breaking Down the Lyrics
10:41 – Family Roots, First Loom & Mill Legacy
12:47 – From Looms to Lab Lights + Local Heroes
15:17 – Closing Love from Kannapolis

Recorded at Dayvault’s Garage in Kannapolis, NC.

Hosts: Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault

If this song hits you the way it hits us, share it with someone who still calls this place home. Like, subscribe, and keep the K-Town Connection going.

Check Also

Hardee’s Biscuits Got Him Inside the Mills: Chad Mitchell’s Untold Story | Ep 75

In Episode 75 of the K-Town Connection, lifelong Kannapolis photographer and artist Chad Mitchell opens his archive of more than 25,000 photographs that document the demolition of Cannon Mills — the place that built this town. As the massive mill complex disappeared, Chad decided someone had to record what was being lost. What began as a personal mission became one of the most important visual records of Kannapolis history ever created. He takes us inside the abandoned buildings, shares how he gained access (Hardee’s biscuits helped), and reveals the stories behind some of his most powerful images — including the fall of the iconic water tower, a once-in-a-lifetime balloon ride over the complex, and the unforgettable photograph of his late father standing in the partially demolished mill, looking out at the rubble of the place where he had worked for decades. Chad also looks back at an incredible creative career that includes photographing Appalachian State football during its national championship years, serving as team photographer for Kannapolis professional baseball, working with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, and creating artwork connected to Dale Earnhardt. His guiding philosophy has always been simple: Tell as much of the story as possible in one shutter click. Today, as a new generation grows up in a Kannapolis that looks nothing like the mill town their parents and grandparents knew, these photographs have become even more valuable. They don’t just preserve buildings — they preserve the people, the work, the memories, and the identity of a community that was forever changed. This episode is exactly what the K-Town Connection is about: preserving Kannapolis history by telling the stories of the people who lived it. 📸 Browse and purchase Chad’s photography and artwork: ChadMitchell.com 📍 Filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis, North Carolina 🎙️ Hosted by the #RoughTalkCousins Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault, along with Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin and David Steele Chapters 0:00 – Intro & Local Updates 5:32 – Welcome to Episode 75 5:52 – Introducing Chad Mitchell 7:02 – Growing Up in Kannapolis 12:00 – How Chad Began Documenting the Mills 14:00 – Getting Access with Hardee’s Biscuits 17:18 – Inside the Abandoned Mill Buildings 19:24 – Over 25,000 Photographs 25:10 – The Darkest Place in the Mill 27:20 – “Lifeline” – The Railroad Light Painting 37:15 – Where to See & Buy the Photos 38:21 – Kiln-Dried Maple Floors & the Sign 39:49 – Baseball Photography Years 43:45 – The Dale Earnhardt Artwork 46:06 – The “Quality Work Means Job Security” Sign 53:45 – The Balloon Ride Over Cannon Mills 56:15 – The Photograph of Chad’s Father 59:48 – Closing Thoughts & Thank You

Copyright © 2026 - Rough Talk Holdings, LLC All Rights Reserved