Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music

Love at First Listen with Hailey Benedict

No Comments
Hailey Benedict Interview Love at First Listen 2023

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

When country superstar Keith Urban pulled a then 14-year-old Hailey Benedict out of the crowd and up on stage at a 2016 concert, neither of them could’ve predicted the series of life-changing events that would follow. His question to Hailey: “What’s the dream job in life?” Her answer, without hesitation: “Be a singer-songwriter.” An enthusiastic “Yes!” in response led to Keith shining the spotlight on Hailey, passing her a guitar, and letting her sing an original song for a packed arena. Since then, Hailey has grown into a full-fledged performer making that dream—and so many others—come true.

Fans of fellow country pop songstresses Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, and Lainey Wilson will gravitate towards Hailey’s smooth vocals and autobiographical lyrics, which shine on songs like “Wanted You To” and her recent summer single “Damn You July.” As testament to her rising star status, Hailey is vying for victory at this week’s Canadian Country Music Awards (Sept. 16) and in the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition (Sept. 14), both part of Country Music Week. Her industry buzz and growing fan love (264K TikTok followers and counting!) are further proof she’s destined for big things, and you can be sure the now 21-year-old is just getting started.

In this edition of Love at First Listen, we’re celebrating Hailey’s biggest Country Music Week yet as she prepares for a jam-packed weekend, reflects on her American Idol journey, and reveals which ‘Era’ of her life she’s embracing this fall.

“Damn You July” was your first single after almost two years and has been the catalyst to multiple career milestones (not to mention that it’s currently Top 50 on Canadian country radio!). How did you know it was the right song at the right time?

I’d written with my friends, Rich Cloke and Elias James, and the moment we finished it, it was one of those feelings of like, we’ve got a special song here. I started playing it while on tour with Aaron Goodvin and found people really resonated with it. It also felt like something completely different than I had written or recorded before. All of that led to me bringing it into the studio and making it part of the Top of the Country competition, and I’m really proud of how it all turned out.

Building on that success, you’re nominated for the CCMA Innovative Campaign of the Year Award and are a Top 3 finalist in the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. What does it mean to you to be part of this special week for Canadian country music while enjoying these major accomplishments?

It’s absolutely insane and I feel very grateful that I get to just be part of it. I’ve been attending the CCMAs since I was 14. Even with the Top of the Country competition, I’ve gone every year and thought it’d be really cool to be part of. I’m excited to soak it all in.

The Top of the Country concert features a headlining performance by The Reklaws. Considering the country scene is always described as a family, have you met them before?

I’ve met Jenna, and I’m a big Reklaws fan. They don’t put out a bad song. Jenna and I were supposed to write in Nashville back in May and then schedules got moved, so I think that’s still in the cards for one day when I’m back down there. I can’t wait to watch their performance.

You were invited to audition for American Idol in 2020, so you’re no stranger to rocking a singing competition. What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

What’s so awesome about music is there are so many different paths you can take and so many things you can explore. I say experiment and do the things that feel right and make you happy, whether it is a local competition, performing for your friends and family, or trying to get on every show you can — whatever is going to make your heart the most excited and ready for your career.

Your CCMA nomination is for a TikTok challenge you created to test your own guitar playing skills and “empower others to take [a] leap.” Having amassed a following online, is it still a shock to come out from behind the screen and see everything come to life?

I remember during the first show back after COVID I was like, this is weird. I felt at home, but because I’d been so used to doing Zoom performances, I almost forgot I had a whole body and real people were watching. As I’ve gone to more shows, even down in Nashville, I’ve had a couple fans who’ve followed me from my very first videos say hi. You see numbers on a screen, but you don’t totally know what that means until you start going out and playing and people recognize your music. It’s been really fulfilling and exciting.

Country fans in Alberta will get to catch you opening for Tim Hicks on a six-show run across the province this October. What experience do you hope to bring to those audiences?

One thing that I love about music and especially country music is the storytelling aspect, and I think with Tim’s upcoming tour, that campfire troubadour feeling is going to probably be a big focus. I hope to just add to that experience and give people something to make them feel a little more celebrated or a little more loved and seen. It’s going to be a fun time.

You’ve shared the stage with several amazing country legends and friends. Has there been one concert that’s stuck with you and inspired your own stage presence?

I saw Taylor Swift on the Speak Now tour when I was eight or nine. That definitely inspired me because she was doing everything that a young country artist could dream of, and she was paving the way for so many artists.

Speaking of Taylor, have you scored tickets to The Eras Tour?

I did, in Nashville! My sister and I ended up getting floor tickets through the Ticketmaster lottery for my birthday. It was everything and more. Taylor is incredible. I’m going to watch the Eras movie when it’s out because I’m sad that the show went so fast.

What Taylor Swift ‘Era’ would you say that you’re in?

My gosh, that’s a good question. I would probably say my ‘Red’ era. Maybe it’s the fall vibes right now, but I also feel like her ‘Red’ era was her exploring different types of genres and that’s where I’m at right now — just experimenting with lots of different sounds and finding my sound.

Do you have a message to send to your fans heading into CCMAs weekend?

I’m very grateful for everyone’s support, and hopefully I’ll get to see you at a show near you soon.

Continue Reading

Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, Music Monday, Reviews

Love at First Listen with Eli Smart

No Comments
Eli Smart Interview Love at First Listen 2023

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

Calling all music fans: It would be “smart” to get to know London-based, Kauaʻi-born artist Eli Smart. Currently on tour with Declan McKenna and set to open for The 1975 in Waikiki, HI later this summer, Eli is destined for big things—but don’t just take it from me. He was recently tapped as one of BBC’s Future Artists and has masterfully melded his surf-rock and Northern Soul influences into his own growing brand of Aloha Soul. Your next chance to hear that sound come to life is on Eli’s forthcoming summer single, “Fiesta 99.9FM,” out this Thursday (July 20), with more singles to follow ahead of his debut album in 2024.

SHOW REVIEW | Declan McKenna with Eli Smart, The Danforth Music Hall [July 11, 2023]

For English alt-indie singer-songwriter Declan McKenna, The Big Return Tour doesn’t just represent a long-awaited return to live music coming out of the pandemic, but also his first major North American tour since 2017. Performing songs from his 2020 album ‘Zeros’ and new singles “My House” and “Sympathy” for the first time, the latest run of dates kicked off with a sold-out show at The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto.

Declan’s loyal, high-energy fans are music fans before anything else, and they showed up in droves to fill the room as Eli Smart, the opener for the second leg of the tour, hit the stage early in the night. With Eli’s band unable to make it to the sole Canadian date on the tour, fans were treated to a captivating one-man show. “We’ll try some sh!t,” he joked, setting the tone for an intimate set that felt like the most polished dress rehearsal you had ever witnessed.

Eli performed songs from across his already-extensive repertoire, including his debut release “Come On, Come On, Come On” and his biggest single “Highschool Steady.” But no moment resonated more with the crowd than his final song—a cover of “Queen Bee” by Taj Mahal—when he invited his grandma, a former touring musician herself, to join him on stage playing harmonica. Together, they won over everyone’s hearts and left hundreds of new fans looking forward to a future headlining show in the city. 

Eli Smart (right) performs in Toronto with his grandma, Denise Kaufman (left). The crowd and Denise hold up their hands held in the shape of hearts.
Eli Smart with his grandma, Denise Kaufman, on stage in Toronto on July 11, 2023. (Photo by Angela McLean)

In Conversation with Eli Smart 

Learn more about Eli through our chat about paying homage to your roots, touring with your grandma, and living life “AM to PM” on the road.

Eli, welcome to Love at First Listen! How excited are you for a summer filled with shows?

It’s a really cool and new experience for me. Night one of Declan’s tour in Toronto was a total blast. It was definitely slightly out of my comfort zone to play solo because I haven’t done that much. I usually play with a band, which it’s going to be for the rest of the shows, but in that respect performing solo is a good challenge for me to feel like I’m getting this tour started on a strong personal level. And it was really wonderful for me to wrap up the set by playing a tune with my grandma. It created a lovely tone for the tour moving forward.

You first connected with Declan when he visited you in Kauaʻi to jam and collaborate on music. Has any of that music been released or should fans still be on the lookout?

Nothing’s come out yet, and I would love to get a chance to revisit what we’ve done and do more. When we met, we started a couple of tracks in a very casual way. We were doing what felt right and breaking the ice of knowing each other. So, I would love to approach music again now that we know each other more — especially after this tour!

How did growing up in Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi influence your artistry?

Hawaiʻi’s passion for music is so intertwined with community, which was a big theme in my own upbringing with my family. Calling my music Aloha Soul is me paying respect to and referencing that environment and those tones and sounds I admired growing up and then trying to synthesize them in my own way through my music.

Now based in London, I’m back and forth as much as I can. This all revolves around live music opportunities and just trying to do it in a manageable way. There are a bunch of new artists totally doing their thing in London and it’s an inspiring ecosystem to be around and observe.

You have your grandma on the road with you, not just for support but as part of your band. What does it mean to share an experience as monumental for an artist as touring America is with her?

It means everything to me. It also really worked out by chance that this happened and that she was available. I was looking for a bass player and it hit us that we should totally do this together. It’s total comfort, like you said, to be with family on the road, especially because this is the first time I’ve done a tour of this magnitude and feeling supported is huge. But in addition to that, getting the chance to spend this time together is the most important thing. It’s easy to lose track of what you have, so this is an act of grounding myself in what matters the most to me, which is family and community. I’m just so excited.

What’s your grandma’s favourite part of all this? Seeing new cities, meeting your fans (and her newest fans!), watching you from on stage…?

My grandma has been playing music her whole life. I think that as much as it’s a dream of mine to be able to play with her, she feels a similar way about getting this chance for us to play together. In addition to my grandma, we have really close friends of mine joining us for this tour, so we all go way back and it’s a communal, beautiful thing.

One of your songs (and my personal favourites) is called “AM to PM.” Can you run us through a typical morning to night schedule for an artist on the road?

I’ll have a much better answer after this tour! I start with getting as much sleep as possible. Then, starting the morning fresh, I try to get some breakfast to charge me for the day. Sometimes all you have around is a gas station, so a banana or croissant will do, but caffeine of some sort is a must. We’re going to be doing a lot of driving, so getting the proper soundtrack either for yourself in your headphones or on the stereo for everybody will be the vibe. I think AM to PM on tour will realistically be a combination of mealtime, alone time, group time, times of high adrenaline during the show, and then the logistical part of packing up, getting back to a motel on time, and setting an alarm for the next one.

Since this series is called Love at First Listen, please share some of the artists, albums, or songs you’ve recently loved at first listen!

I’m going to take a quick scan of my Spotify to give you an accurate answer — don’t mind me. So, I love Brazilian music from the ‘60s to ‘70s. David Byrne from the band Talking Heads did a compilation record of Brazilian music called ‘Beleza Tropicale.’ My family had the ‘Brazil Classics 1‘ record growing up, and I always go back to it as it helped introduce me to the whole world of Brazilian music. They’re the most timeless, beautiful songs.

Continue Reading

Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music

Love at First Listen with Fionn

No Comments
Fionn Interview Love at First Listen 2023

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

Alanna and Brianne Finn-Morris may be twins, but musically, it’s their opposites that attract. Performing together as Fionn, the fierce duo bring together Alanna’s knack for pop songwriting and Brianne’s folk influences, much to the appeal of tens of thousands of fans and monthly listeners spanning from their native British Columbia to the world. Last month, they released their third album, ‘I Might Start Smoking,’ and now they’re gearing up for a summer of local shows, culminating in a performance at Victoria, BC’s Rifflandia festival amongst the likes of Diplo, Paris Hilton, and Mallrat.

For this Canada Day edition of Love at First Listen, I chatted with Fionn about their growth, having the support of Marianas Trench, and what’s on their playlists this summer.

Your new album, ‘I Might Start Smoking,’ is smoking hot. What was your vision at the start of the creative process, and how did it change as you finalized the record?

Alanna: We started writing with a couple of friends a year and a half ago. Our only vision for the record at that time was that we wanted it to be a little more organic than our previous record, ‘Candid Constellations.’ So, we sat down and wrote maybe 20 songs, put them in one big folder, and went from there.

Brianne: Making the album and choosing the songs was just a fun process with friends. We were also living back in our family home at the time, so most of it was recorded there where we started. 

How have you grown musically since your first album in 2018, and how is that growth reflected in this album?

Alanna: It took a very long time to record our first record because when we did vocal takes, we were still a little stiff and performing for the people in the room rather than focusing on getting the product that we wanted. So, everything just feels a lot more seamless as we’ve gotten older and gained experience.

Brianne: Our sound now, I would say it’s folk pop-rock with a little Celtic twist.

Every season needs a great soundtrack, and there’s a lot of talk that there aren’t many standout “songs of the summer” this year. So, let’s make one of them yours! Which Fionn song is ready to be a summer smash?

Brianne: I think “18” has a lot of energy and it’s a little bubbly and lighthearted. That’d be the one.

Who are some of your musical inspirations?

Alanna: Taylor Swift is a big inspiration, obviously for everybody around our age who writes songs. In a dream world, if we could get Taylor Swift to feature on “18,” that would be really cool. We were really inspired by The Cranberries when making this record, and our song “Hurt Feelings” has a little Cranberries-esque vocal part. We also referenced Caroline Polachek a bit. She has sneaky Celtic melodies in her pop music, which is kind of what we’re going for. 

You recently performed at NXNE in Toronto and SXSW in Austin, Texas, two festivals that are all about showcasing the future of music. What does that recognition mean to you?

Alanna: It’s really exciting and crazy. Because of the pandemic, we didn’t really get to do a lot of traveling or play those kinds of festivals. Nobody did. So, I just feel like the fact that it’s happening now is so surreal and we appreciate it so much. Also, those are such big festivals, and we put a lot of work into this over the past five years.

Brianne: We’ve always wanted to travel and play music — that’s the biggest part of our musical dream. Getting to see that come into fruition has been very rewarding.

One of your earliest supporters in the industry was Josh Ramsay from Marianas Trench. You even feature on his track “You & I.” What has the band’s support meant to you both?

Brianne: It’s definitely meant a lot because we grew up listening to them on the radio and seeing them on the MuchMusic Top 20 countdown after school. I loved and still love Marianas Trench, so this is a really cool boost for sure.

I’m sure you’re still riding the wave of excitement from this album release, but thinking about the future, what’s next? When will fans have a chance to hear this music live?

Brianne: We’ve been so in album release mode, and now we’re in vinyl making mode, and once that’s all done, we’ll be in tour planning mode. We’re dying to tour, and I think that’s probably the next step — getting it planned and doing everything that involves, and then also releasing more singles starting in the fall. We’re still thinking of what we’re going to release next to keep the momentum going.

Since this series is called Love at First Listen, please give us some playlist inspiration and share any songs you’ve had on repeat recently (besides Fionn, of course!).

Brianne: There’s a new band out of the UK called FIZZ and they have a song called “High In Brighton” that I’ve been really vibing with. It was love at first listen.

Alanna: For me, it’s Chappell Roan and her song “Red Wine Supernova.” That was definitely love at first listen.

Continue Reading

Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, New Music Friday

Love at First Listen (Round Two) with Griffen Palmer

No Comments
Griffen Palmer Interview Unlearn 2023

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

In February, I spotlighted rising country artist Griffen Palmer, who quickly established himself as an Artist to Watch in 2023 with his still-trending introductory release “Second Guessing.” There was certainly no “second guessing” his star talent and he is showcasing it again on his debut album, ‘Unlearn,’ out today (Apr. 28). Boasting some of the most vulnerable tracks of his songwriting career, ‘Unlearn’ is a musical journey covering life, love, family, relationships, and all the moments in between. The album also has several jam-out moments, perfectly suited for the upcoming summer festival season.

To celebrate album release day, I caught up with Griffen for a Love at First Listen (Round Two) to reflect on his whirlwind year to date (a single, two music videos, and this album — and it’s only April!), hear his message for teenage Griffen, and reveal where he will be performing this summer.

It feels like just weeks ago you were making your introduction to the world as an artist with “Second Guessing.” What was going through your mind when you pressed publish on that first social media post announcing today’s album release?

It’s crazy how last time we talked was before the first song came out and now here we are again with so much going on. At the time, I just felt like, ‘We’re here!’ This whole project has been four years in the making, so it’s fun now that all the hard work is behind me—for the most part—and I can share it all with people. It’s a really awesome feeling.

Rising country artist Griffen Palmer in the studio with a producer from his debut album, 'Unlearn.'
Griffen Palmer in the studio working on his debut album, ‘Unlearn,’ out today (Apr. 28). (via Griffen Palmer/Instagram)

Let’s talk about the title — ‘Unlearn.’ What does that word mean to you in the context of this album?

The title track is the most personal song on the record, by far. My parents split up when I was eight years old, so relationships looked a little confusing to me when I was a kid. The song is about growing up, learning to make the decision of what that looks like for yourself, and unlearning some of the bad habits or things you thought were true but aren’t necessarily true. It was one of the last songs we added to the record because it was one that I felt pretty overwhelmed about sharing, but the more I started playing it for people, the more I realized it was a universal feeling. It felt like if I was going to put out one song for people to get to know me and a bit of my story, this seemed like the one.

This album is the culmination of four years spent writing hundreds of songs. How did you narrow that all down to eight songs, and were there any that called out to you first?

“Second Guessing” was such a big part of my story. “Came Here to Leave” was a song I really loved and had a fresh take for the record. “Bottles on the Table” was also always a frontrunner in my mind. A lot of them just felt like they needed to be a part of this. They felt different, they felt like me, and they were ones I was most excited for people to hear.

I’m a big fan of weaving song titles into questions, so was there a song you were “second guessing” putting on the final tracklist but are ultimately glad made the cut?

“Unlearn” is that one for me. I’d never released a very personal song as an artist before, so I just wasn’t sure how vulnerable I really wanted to be. I’m so glad in the end I decided to do it.

You mentioned on Instagram that you’ve been “dreaming of putting out [your] own album for as long as [you] can remember.” What message do you have for young Griffen now that the big day is finally here?

This is actually funny. My dad just found a letter I’d written in seventh or eighth grade that was supposed to be written to myself in college. In it, I’m asking myself, ‘Are you still playing guitar and writing songs? What’s going on with that? I hope you haven’t given it up yet.’ So, this really has been something I’ve been doing for a long time. I would write a letter back saying, ‘All those times you are regretting or nervous about if it’s going to work out, just try to keep having fun and you’ll get there eventually.’ I would save myself some sleepless nights worrying if it’ll ever work out for me.

You just wrapped a run of tour dates opening for your Big Loud labelmate, Lily Rose. What does the rest of this spring and summer have in store for you? (Last time we spoke, you mentioned more opportunities for fans to see you live!)

Our festival dates are just getting announced now. We’ll have the whole band out playing in British Columbia, Lasso in Montreal, and a bunch of shows in Ontario, along with some U.S. stuff including CMA Fest. I can’t wait to just sweat in the streets of Nashville with everybody. It’ll be great, and it’s all fun stuff on the horizon.

Continue Reading

Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, New Music Friday

Love at First Listen with Alli Walker

No Comments
Alli Walker Interview Music 2023

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

Canadian country singer Alli Walker is inviting fans to come along the journey of growing up, healing, and thriving with the release of her sophomore album, aptly titled ‘Growing Up.’ The eight-track project boasts catchy, weekend-ready jams like “Red Wine or Whiskey” and “Maybe I’m Still Drunk” and leans into more vulnerable moments on songs like the album’s title track.

In the past few months leading up to its release, Alli has hit multiple milestones in her career, including being named Spotify’s Radar Artist on the Horizon and being nominated for the second time at the CMAOntario Awards in the Rising Star category. This summer, you can catch Alli dominating the stage at Boots and Hearts and her hometown Cavendish Beach Music Festival with artists like Chris Stapleton, Madeline Merlo, and Tim McGraw (who she’s also manifesting to meet!).

In this edition of Love at First Listen, Alli talks all things growing up, trusting her TikTok followers, and living in the moment.

It’s New Music Friday and we’re celebrating your new album and single of the same name, ‘Growing Up.’ How are you feeling?

It’s very exciting. This is my first full project since 2019. I’m on my phone 24/7 looking at what’s going on, all these Instagram story tags, and everything like that. It’s nice to see the growth of me as an artist and the music, and it’s really cool to see my face on the cover of different playlists that I only ever dreamt of being on. I’m very grateful.

Your first album was called ‘The Basement Sessions: What I’ve Learned So Far,’ and ‘Growing Up’ represents another set of lessons learned. How have you grown personally and professionally since 2019, and how is it reflected in this album?

My first album was very much what I was going through in my 20s ­— navigating my mental health, comparing myself to everybody on social media, wondering if I should be doing this music thing because it’s really hard, and learning to love myself. I was very mindful about writing what’s going on in my life and in my head in the moment. ‘Growing Up’ is a continuation of that. I added a few fun songs because I’m enjoying life more now and I’m not so in my head. But there are also songs like “Growing Up” about the aspect of growing up where I didn’t realize it was going to be this way ­— where I’ve been away from my parents, and my parents are getting older, and I just realize how much time I’ve missed while I’ve been away chasing this crazy dream. No matter what, I’m always going to be writing about what’s actually going on in my life, and I’m glad I stuck with that for this album.

Each song on the album was released separately as a single, starting with “Country Music” in 2021. How did you select the final tracklist?

I find a lot of people don’t listen to full albums anymore unless you’re a massive artist. So, as an independent artist, I wanted to make sure each song had its own life because each song has its own meaning. I’m also very visual, so I wanted to have a music video for every single. I was so glad to have something where people can watch and wonder and see how the song comes to life. I wanted to put it all together in album form at the end, and when I was deciding the order I just did what felt right.

Your TikTok followers helped you decide which songs to record for the album. Was there a song you teased where the response from fans really caught you by surprise?

I feel like as an artist you think, “This one’s going to do really well,” or the music industry tells you, “This is your hit,” and it’s always the opposite! Although I loved “Red Wine or Whiskey” and I thought people would love it, I didn’t realize it would pop off. TikTok is so great for music fans because people listen with sound and they actually click the link in your bio and go stream your songs, so with that one I saw it did well on TikTok and then on Spotify and Apple Music too.

On “Country Music,” you reference several country classics, including Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” and “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts. Were you keeping track of the different songs you wanted to tie in or did they all come to you at once?

When I was able to get back to in-person sessions, I had my two co-writers and friends, Brian John Harwood and Dustin Bird, come over for a few weekends to work on the album. I really wanted to write a song about country music and how I grew up on it and how much I love it, but I didn’t want it to just say, “I love country music.” So, I thought we could make it really difficult on ourselves and weave together all of the songs that we grew up on. We pulled up Spotify, sorted through almost 90 playlists, and picked songs that meant something special to us. It really was just an in the moment thing and we pulled it all together really well.

“Sand in My Boots” is the female perspective of a Morgan Wallen track. What inspired you to respond to Morgan’s song and story?

The same day Morgan put his out, my husband and I wrote the female version, did a demo recording, and popped it up on TikTok. I don’t think I really had any followers at that time, but it blew up because people love Morgan but they were also so invested in the storyline. There was so much chatter in the comments where it was like, well, you know, she left him! I had messages from people for an entire year telling me to record this song and put it out. I didn’t own any rights to the song, so there was a whole process of getting the legal side of things sorted. I’m glad fans stayed invested and finally have it because it’s one of my favourites.

You’ve described ‘Growing Up’ as your autobiography. Can you share some of the country artists you’ve loved at first listen who inspire you with their own autobiographical songwriting?

There are so many. I really love Megan Moroney. She’s so honest and brutal, and she gives me Kacey Musgraves or Maren Morris vibes. Ashley Cooke, love her. Her voice is just so soft and easy to listen to. I also just want to be friends with her. Bailey Zimmerman, too. These are all TikTok people! I feel like I spend all my time on there.

How are you celebrating the release of ‘Growing Up’?

I never spend time celebrating and always just move on to the next thing, so this time I wanted to actually live in the moment and enjoy it. I woke up on release day and my parents and my husband had big “congratulations” balloons on the wall. I also love champagne and I’ve been waiting for years to have it when I had a big moment to celebrate. So, we got champagne and then went to The Keg for dinner, which is my favourite restaurant. In a week, I’ll be going right back to Nashville to record new music and see people on the road soon.

Do you have a favourite song from the album that you’re looking forward to performing?

I think “Country Music” because even if you have never heard the song before, the tag of it ­— “I grew up on country music” ­— is so easy to remember. I usually teach it to people beforehand and then we all sing it together at the end of each chorus, so that’s always my favourite one to play.

Continue Reading
1 … 3 4 5 6 7 … 10