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

[Artists to Watch] Love at First Listen with Madeline Merlo

No Comments
Madeline Merlo Interview 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.

Country songstress Madeline Merlo is striking all the right chords with country listeners. The Canadian Country Music Award–winner is the mastermind behind Lady A’s hit single “Champagne Night,” which the band recorded after Madeline won their episode of NBC’s Songland in 2020. Last summer, she contributed background vocals to Cole Swindell’s smash single, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.” Now, Madeline is ready to “slide” right to the top of every country fan’s playlist with her recently released EP ‘Slide’ and its catchy title track. It’s no surprise she is one of Amazon Music’s featured Artists to Watch in 2023—and she should be one of yours too.

For this edition of Love at First Listen, Madeline and I caught up to talk about the story behind Sam Hunt’s involvement in “Slide,” her fans’ tattoos, and the song she wrote for her upcoming wedding.

Your newest single “Slide” is bubbly, flirty, and everything pop-country should be. Tell us about its incredible origin story!

I feel like the music industry is just these random strokes of luck and a lot of hard work interweaving with each other. I had met my producer, Zach Crowell, really randomly. One day, he called me and said, “Hey, I have this song that Sam Hunt and I started a while ago, and we feel like it’s really cool but something about the melody feels a little feminine. Would you want to finish it with us?” They sent me the track and there was no real lyric or hook, but there was something about it that was really fresh and nostalgic at the same time.

I don’t know why the word “slide” popped in my head, but I spent four days trying to come up with the coolest way to use that title in the song. Finally, I said to myself, “Let’s watch tonight slide into yesterday.” I suddenly had all these ways you could use “slide” and ran into the writing room saying, “Yo, I feel like I’ve got a cool idea.” They liked it, so we tweaked it together and I’m really proud of the result.

“Slide” is the lead track from your EP of the same name, which is a collection of four incredibly infectious country jams. What vibe were you going for while in the studio?

“Slide” was the first one we finished and the catalyst for everything else. “Girl Where He Grew Up,” for example, was a song I was so proud of as a songwriter, and “YOUNG-ish” felt like it had an old Shania Twain/Keith Urban vibe to it. I was inspired to make this EP really joyful, fun, and high energy and something that made people feel good.

As you wrote on Instagram, the ‘Slide’ EP was your first project in “2 years, 5 months, and 24 days.” Can you reassure your fans they won’t have to wait that long for more music?

I promise! That was a very transitional period for me moving to a mostly American team and making a lot of changes, which was a really scary and hard thing to do. It took time to get my feet back on the ground and figure out what I wanted to do, what I wanted to say, and how I wanted to say it. So, I took a little hiatus, but I was dying to get music out the entire time. We’re dropping more music in the next couple of months and it’s really energetic and unique.

Speaking of your fans, some of them have tattoos inspired by your songs. When you see those in person for the first time, what goes through your mind, especially being such a deeply passionate music fan yourself?

It means so much. It’s wild knowing that a song can impact somebody and that they would want it on their body. I also think meeting people is my favourite thing about this job. It’s just so cool to hear from a fans’ mouth what songs they like and why they like them. It’s what we’re doing it for, and I’m so grateful people are listening. It’s truly that simple. When I write, I hope people get it or have felt that way. Then, if people go, “I feel that way,” there’s this really sweet connection, and I have friendships with a lot of them.

We can’t talk about your accomplishments without mentioning you were a season two winner of NBC’s Songland and had your song, “Champagne Night,” recorded and released by Lady A. What was your main takeaway from the experience?

It’s still one of those things I look back on and I’m like, did that really happen? It was such a special moment in 2020, which was such a terrible year, and it was the most validating thing as a songwriter. It gave me so much confidence, so whenever I feel down on myself, I remember I have a big gold record for that song and it inspires me to keep going. I feel very grateful and lucky.

You had a jam-packed last few months, signing a deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville and releasing your first EP under your new U.S. label Broken Bow Records. How do you plan to continue that momentum in 2023?

I’ve booked some shows in the States as well as back in Canada, which is really cool, and I’m working on more music. We have some in the chamber and some ready to record, but I always try to put my blinders on and keep being as creative, different, and as inspired as I can to just create music. I feel like it’s why I’m here on this earth, and this Sony deal has been great as a songwriter to feel like I’m stepping into a role where I’m writing for myself, for other people, and for TV and film. I just feel so lucky that I get to do this job.

You’re also getting married this year! Are there any advantages to prepping for a wedding being a musician, in terms of picking the first dance song or writing something to play?

Originally, I didn’t want to sit down and be like, I have to write a wedding song, but one came naturally. I haven’t decided if I’m going to play it at the wedding or make it a gift, but my bass player’s band will be performing at the wedding, so that’s exciting. I feel like the music is the best part. We’re going to Costa Rica for our honeymoon, and I imagine I’ll also have a fresh load of song ideas after that.

We’re always looking to update our playlists with more new artists to watch in 2023. Is there anyone in your country music circle whose songs you always love at first listen?

Oh my gosh, so many! I’m loving Robyn Ottolini. She’s a super honest songwriter. I also love my James Barker Band friends; they’re so great. Definitely check them out if you haven’t already.

Continue Reading

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

Love at First Listen with Royal Wood

No Comments
Royal Wood Interview

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 singer Royal Wood may not know what tomorrow brings, but he’s perfectly happy living in the moment—especially after two years of not being able to release music or perform for his dedicated fans. Out today, his eighth studio album, ‘What Tomorrow Brings,’ is an open book that touches on themes relatable to every listener, from navigating the chaos of uncertainty to leaning on your loved ones and finding the fortune in misfortune.

If that wasn’t enough to celebrate, Royal Wood just wrapped a brief Canadian tour that concluded with a hometown show at Toronto’s iconic Massey Hall and released a mini documentary, What Tomorrow Brings: Behind The Album, that goes behind the scenes of one of his proudest projects to date. It seems like everything’s worked its way up to this point, yet it’s truly just the beginning.

For this edition of Love at First Listen, I sat down with Royal Wood hours before he stepped on stage at Massey Hall to talk about today’s album release, documenting the stories behind the songs, and what tomorrow really brings.

Between headlining Massey Hall and releasing ‘What Tomorrow Brings,’ how does it feel to have all these major milestones happening at once?

It feels like the right time—and about time. My wife and I had two children during the pandemic and we now live in the country, so our whole lives had this massive paradigm shift. Recently, there’s been a subtle voice in the back of my brain saying something’s missing. As much as I have everything, it’s not everything. To be back playing shows with the band, putting out new music, and scratching that itch, I’ve got all the pieces back!

What inspired you to have cameras document the stories behind the songs with What Tomorrow Brings: Behind The Album?

I wish I’d done that kind of stuff earlier. I’m very fortunate and blessed with the producers, musicians, and studios I’ve worked with over the years and, other than a couple of Polaroids and a few snapshots on a phone, we haven’t captured things because we were too busy doing them. I don’t know how many albums I have in me­—no one ever does—but I love this part of my life. So, even just to show our sons one day and say, “This is what daddy did when you guys were babies,” it felt like it was the right time.

In the documentary, you reveal the album was almost ready to go before the pandemic, but you waited to be able to tour and properly celebrate its release. How did that end goal impact the way you revisited the songs you wrote pre-pandemic?

I was in the UK finishing up the last couple songs as the pandemic was happening. My wife was texting me photos showing no groceries and no toilet paper in our grocery store, so I got on a plane, came home, and then all the chaos started. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have any shows coming up and I didn’t want to put out this record without a chance to perform it and celebrate all the pieces that come with it—even just sitting here with somebody to talk about it. I started listening back in a Leonard Cohen kind of way, examining every lyric, line, and melody. I emerged with an album I think is one of my best. There’s one song I completely dropped because I realized I’d done it so many times before, and then I ended up writing a new song called “Because of You.” So, I really got to wrap this album up in a perfect little bow.

Royal Wood Artist Toronto
Royal Wood photographed October 29, 2022 at Massey Hall in Toronto.

You also specifically call out the Massey Hall show in the documentary. What does this venue mean to you?

I remember my first show here at Massey Hall, my drummer, who was also my English teacher in high school (shout out Mr. Milner), took me to see Lou Reed. I’d been to little theatres and shows before with my dad, but I’d never seen a venue like this. At that moment, I said to myself, “I’m going to headline here.” I did it for the first time in 2018, and then I also recorded a live record, ‘Royal Wood (Live at Massey Hall).’ To be back, knowing that I got to be one of the last artists to perform here before the renovations and say goodbye to the old Massey, feels amazing. 

As the album title suggests, you may not know what tomorrow brings, but can you tease anything you have in the works for 2023?

I’m working on an instrumental record, a collection of B-Sides, and an alternate acoustic version of ‘What Tomorrow Brings.’ I’m also finally going to start chipping away at a Christmas record. So, there’s a lot of recording and then the doors are open to tour again. I have Western Canada, Eastern Canada, and a bunch of stuff in the States coming up, so it will be busy. But for anyone coming to the shows, I hope they come away having seen five musicians playing music together that not only love the music but love each other. We missed the camaraderie and the laughs and hanging backstage and offstage again is just as good as being onstage.

Do you want to shout out any of your Canadian peers whose music you’ve loved at first listen?

My current one to watch is Tim Baker. I’ve known him for years since we broke together and followed each other’s careers, but his new record is so stunning. Also, Mathew V, who just toured with us, is amazing. He so deserved his JUNO nomination and I’ve never had an opener before get standing ovations every night like he does. Him and his band members helped us set up and tear down each night and that shows he’s just a good Canadian kid.

Continue Reading

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

Love at First Listen with Olivia Lunny

No Comments
Olivia Lunny Interview

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.

On her new track “Wonderland,” Canadian pop songstress Olivia Lunny sings about chasing a moment and falling in love with your dreams—a philosophy that seems to have brought her to exactly where she’s meant to be today. After capturing the judges’ (and Canada’s) hearts on CTV’s music competition show The Launch in 2019, she’s continued her upward trajectory with a 2021 debut album and electrifying singles that boast expertly crafted lyrics and repeat-worthy beats.

For our latest Love at First Listen feature, I caught up with Olivia to get the inside scoop on “Wonderland” and her upcoming live shows with fellow Canuck Tyler Shaw during her whirlwind single release week, which took her to New York and LA after a headlining showcase at UMUSIC’s Toronto headquarters.

Olivia Lunny Toronto
Olivia Lunny photographed October 6, 2022 at her UMUSIC showcase in Toronto.

Welcome to Love at First Listen! Let’s talk about the song I most recently fell in love at first listen with—your new single, “Wonderland.” How has release week been?

It’s been busy and crazy, but so fun. I was just in New York shooting the “Wonderland” music video, which will be coming very soon. I actually just got the first draft and it was very whimsical and very much a wonderland. We shot in one big, white, blank studio space and created three different environments within it. It’s the most polished video I’ve done and I’m really excited for fans to see the different outfits and hair.

How long had you been sitting on “Wonderland” before it came out?

I wrote this song last winter, and it’s funny how things work. I feel like subconsciously, I write music and then by the time it comes out, somehow it resonates strongly in my life. So many amazing things have happened recently and I feel like I’m in my Wonderland era, so I’m happy that this song and this part of my life are coming together.

What does “wonderland” mean to you?

To me, “wonderland” is a state of being. It’s that feeling of you not being fully in touch with reality. You’re in a flow state because you’re just so happy, so many amazing things are happening, and you can’t even really dream of it. That’s why there are lyrics that say, “If you can imagine, you can really have it.” That’s the overarching theme for what “Wonderland” is.

So many people came to know and love you after you appeared on, and won, The Launch. What was your main takeaway from that experience?

I think it really did essentially launch—no pun intended—my career in the Canadian music scene. Being from Winnipeg, I had slowly started to build something there, but I think The Launch really got me to a point where I knew exactly what kind of music I wanted to make. From there, I connected with so many amazing people and gained great momentum. It really pushed me to a new level of where I wanted to go but wasn’t always sure how I would.

You released your debut album in July 2021. Are “Wonderland” and your summer collab with Bhad Bhabie, “VIBE CHECK,” a taste of your sophomore album or standalone tracks?

I’m in an interesting spot where I’m not necessarily heartbroken or sad, so I’ve been writing music that resembles that—and that’s new for me. Usually, it’s more break up bangers. So, it depends how we want to paint the picture. Right now, these songs are just little individual prints, but I might do a full thing. We’ll see!

You’ll be touring across western Canada with Tyler Shaw next month. What goes through your mind as you’re putting together the perfect live setlist?

My strategy is going on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all these platforms, seeing what people enjoy and incorporating those into the set, and then obviously throwing “I Got You” (her single from The Launch) in there. I want to tell a story that shows where I’ve been, the kind of music I can make right now, and where I’m going. And I think it’s really important to have one or two songs in the middle that are a bit slower where I grab my guitar and show how this started.

Who are some of the live performers that have inspired you?

Early on, Ed Sheeran was a really big inspiration for me. Beyond our red hair, I love how he takes these ballads and can turn them into massive pop songs. I resonate with that because most of my songs start on the guitar or piano, and then with production it’s really fun to make them poppy. Post Malone puts on an amazing show too. He has a moment where it’s just him and then he picks up the guitar for two songs. His voice is incredible and he’s so likable and down to earth, and people love that.

Besides the tour, what do you have planned musically for the rest of the year?

I just came to Los Angeles, so I’ll probably be writing some tunes and seeing where this all takes me one step at a time. Right now, I’m really excited for the Tyler tour and meeting fans. I’ve never played Vancouver or anywhere in Alberta, so it’ll be really fun to keep connecting with people and seeing new places.

Since this series is called Love at First Listen, I’d love to know if there are any songs you’ve recently loved at first listen.

One is “The Dress” by an artist named Dijon, and then I would say Bob Moses and Kasblanca’s song “Afterglow.” Those two songs have definitely been on heavy rotation because when I like a song, I just play it over and over and over.

Continue Reading

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

Love at First Listen with Shawn Austin

No Comments
Shawn Austin Interview

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.

Haven’t you heard? Canadian country artist Shawn Austin is the “talk of the town.” With 27 million collective streams and a Rising Star nomination from the Canadian Country Music Association under his belt, Shawn is ready to take over even more country hearts with new music out this week. Timed for the end of his stint as an opener on Dallas Smith’s mega-bill Some Things Never Change tour, the rising star’s new EP, ‘Planes Don’t Wait,’ has the perfect laid-back country vibe we all need this summer—so grab your cowboy hat and drink of choice because it’s time to party.

For our latest Love at First Listen feature, I caught up with Shawn hours after the EP dropped to capture his release week emotions, favourite full circle moments, and love for live music (which is finally back in *full* force!).

How does it feel to have ‘Planes Don’t Wait’ out in the world, just in time for summer?

It’s nice! We’ve been waiting for a long time to get this one out, so it’s nice that after almost two and a half years of working on it the world’s ears can finally listen to it. We probably had a little over 200 songs, but I made sure that we were getting tracks that would really fit who I am as an artist right now and kind of give a sneak peek on what I want to do next. I couldn’t be happier with how it all came out.

The EP features “Tailgate to Heaven,” your 2021 hit with Chris Lane and fastest charting and climbing single to date. Did you have any idea that song would garner so much fanfare?

When you put out a single, you kind of go, OK, I think I might have something here, and you hope for the best, but you never think it’s going to do stuff like that. It just means that people are clicking with the song the same way I clicked with it. It felt like a full circle moment because I’ve always been a big fan of Chris and I had a chance to tour with him in 2018. We were going to do a different song but then he heard this track and asked to be on it. It was one of the easiest yes’s I’ve given, and he’s gone from a guy that I’ve been a fan of, to a labelmate, to a buddy now. It’s pretty fantastic.

The EP’s title track, “Planes Don’t Wait,” was co-written by Brian Kelley from Florida Georgia Line. Did you have that song before your appearance on NBC’s Songland or did it come to you after?

It came after, and that’s also a bit of a full circle moment. I mean, it’s FGL. These guys have changed the game and I’ve been fans of them forever, so to have that experience on Songland and talk to them and pitch a song to them was amazing. Then, fast forward about a year later, having BK on a song and trusting me with it is unreal. I loved the track from first listen. It’s one of those tracks where you’re like, I wish I wrote that.

You’re coming off a cross-country tour with Dallas Smith. What will you be taking away from performing with such an eclectic mix of fellow country stars including Manny Blu and JoJo Mason?

The last time I did a tour like this was also with Dallas in 2017. I was so new at the time, so this tour I didn’t feel like the annoying little brother going, “Hey! What do I do?!” Just taking the stage more, I feel like I’ve grown a lot. The country community is so strong that you never have a bad time with anybody, but this crew is special and it’s been nice to spend six weeks together and see everyone killing it again on stage.

Now that you’ve had time to test them out, what is your favourite song off ‘Planes Don’t Wait’ to perform live?

We’ve been playing “Somewhere in Austin” and it was really fun to see people get the first listen. “Tailgate to Heaven” has also been incredible, quite simply because when you have people singing back to you it’s…I don’t know words big enough to describe how amazing it is. Seeing the excitement of people hearing live music again makes you really confident and hopeful that the future’s going to be strong.

Your summer performance lineup includes stops at festivals like the Big Valley Jamboree and Calgary Stampede. If you were booking your own Shawn Austin summer music festival, who would be your dream co-headliners?

Oh gees… Everybody on this tour! Andrew Hyatt and I have been buddies for a long time, so I feel like he’d always be a blast to be with. I would spend every show I could with JoJo (Mason). Dallas (Smith) is my guy. He’s effectively been that guy that’s made sure I haven’t made the mistakes that I probably should have as a new artist and it’s been amazing working with him through all these years. If I go to the people I haven’t met, I’m a huge Maren Morris fan, I’m a huge Thomas Rhett fan… I mean, it’d be a privilege to headline with anybody. Touring is an amazing thing and I just can’t wait to get back on another one!

Are there any other projects you have coming up that you’d like to tease?

Expect a lot more! We’re already working on the next project. We don’t know what it looks like yet, but I think my goal for the next 18 months is going to be music, music, music, putting out as much as we possibly can. The festival season is going to be strong. We’re talking about a couple of things for the fall that might happen — I hope they do — which would give another chance for more live music, if you get what I’m saying. There’s a lot of plans in the works right now and I’m excited and just trying to keep up with it all because I think we came out of the gates like wildfire now that we can do everything again. I’m just excited for the future.

Continue Reading

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

Love at First Listen with Manny Blu

No Comments
Manny Blu Interview

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.

A little bit of country, a dash of punk, and a whole lot of heart — Manny Blu has the total package. With over one million global music streams and features on CMT and some of the biggest playlists in country music, the rising Canadian country singer, who’s also a familiar face in the Nashville music scene, has seamlessly transitioned from being a trained MMA fighter, to an emerging country singer, to a full-fledged country punk star.

Fresh off the success of two 2021 EPs, Manny is the definition of booked and busy and has a lot for fans to be excited about, including a stellar addition to their concert calendar. In addition to working on his upcoming full-length album, Manny is living out his dream and joining fellow Canadian country rocker Dallas Smith—alongside a star-studded lineup in James Barker Band, Meghan Patrick, Jojo Mason, Shawn Austin, and Kelly Prescott—on an epic Canadian tour to kick off the summer concert season.

For your latest Love at First Listen introduction, I caught up with Manny at the start of his cross-country trek to talk all things ‘Country Punk,’ his love for Travis Barker and Mod Sun, and surprise airport bearhugs.

You released a new EP titled ‘Country Punk’ on December 31st and now 2022 has been nothing but a complete whirlwind for you. The world’s opening back up and you’re reaching new audiences. Fill us in on how this all started!

I wanted to co-produce and steer a ship into exactly what I had sonically in my head, and that was the ‘Country Punk’ EP. I was tired of being called too loud for country and too country for rock, and there had been a growing space for taking the concepts of country and the storytelling approach to songwriting and making it whatever you want it to be.

When Machine Gun Kelly put out ‘Tickets to My Downfall,’ I fell in love with that entire record. I was going back and forth with my manager and I was like, ‘Maybe we can add a little bit of this sound to ‘DEViL’ (the first EP),’ but it was too late and we had to hold off for the next project. I said, ‘Alright, let’s make the next one now and put out two in a year.’ To me, country punk is more of a vibe and a feeling than it really is a genre. I don’t feel like I’m reinventing the wheel in any way, but this is who I am, this is what I like, and I don’t feel like I have to choose between genres or sounds.

How did the Country Punk catchphrase come to be?

My manager used to say Punk Country, but I thought Country Punk might sound cooler. I was wearing a pink hat at the time and I said, ‘Why don’t we just make pink Country Punk hats?’ And it worked out well! Also, it originally started when I came to Nashville and thought pop country was country. That’s what all my friends were listening to and I wanted to make music that my friends liked, and as I started discovering more I realized that I’d always loved blues and rock and roll and I felt like we could blend the two together in some way. Obviously, there’s always going to be the traditional country sound, which I think is important, but it would be inauthentic for me to be doing that. I have a buddy who loves ‘90s country and he does his thing, and the two of us see country music so differently but also vibe with each other’s music in such a funny way.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYCTCdnBZpZ/?hl=en

If someone searches for Country Punk on a streaming service, you’re the first artist that pops up. Have you heard from any country or punk fans who developed a new appreciation for the other genre with your EP?

When we started saying Country Punk, we had a little moment on TikTok and people were telling me, ‘I love metal and I’ve got purple hair, but I work on my family’s farm in the day and go to metal shows at night, so finally my two worlds are blending together.’ I don’t know if my music is necessarily for any hardcore, traditional fans of either of the genres, but I think it’s a fun blend of the two. I also don’t take it that seriously; it is whatever you want it to be. A lot of people are calling it “y’allternative,” I call it country punk, but people are vibing with it and feel like they’re finally being seen. So, if I can be part of that then that’s the whole point really.

If you were to do a remix of one of the tracks on this EP featuring another artist who you think embodies the Country Punk personality, which song would it be and who would it feature? Let’s manifest this!

Oh man, there are so many! There’s a girl here in Nashville, Charlotte Sands, who’s popping off in the alt-rock space, and then you’ve got the big guys. “95” on the ‘Country Punk’ EP has some complex drum things going on, so I would love to see how Travis Barker could do it even bigger. Mod Sun’s a drummer too, so even him playing drums and belting some vocals would be really cool. I mean, they can listen to all the songs and pick whichever they would prefer really! And why not, let’s get them both on a track!

You’re officially back out on the road opening for Dallas Smith across Canada on his Some Things Never Change tour. What are you most excited about, having gone so long without being able to perform for your fans?

All of it! Literally all of it. I had met or at least had some type of conversation with almost everyone on the tour, especially around the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs). I met Dallas Smith a couple of years ago. I ran into James Barker Band at the airport going to the CCMAs, and Jojo Mason also walked up to me and gave me a hug. I was looking somewhere else and just got bearhugged. I looked up and it was Jojo and he said he couldn’t wait to be on tour. I went to see Meghan Patrick here too in Nashville and after she was done I went to say what’s up, she gave me a hug and was super cool, so the vibe already felt like it was going to be really exciting, really friendly, and just super supportive of one another. These are also going to be the biggest stages I’ve ever played on, so I’m just looking forward to that new experience.

This tour is also like a festival every night. There are so many amazing artists all doing sort of different things, but you can get all the stuff you love as a music consumer in one night and just go down the list of everybody on the bill and see that it’s incredible.

Pictured above: Manny Blu with Kelly Prescott and Jojo Mason backstage at a tour stop.

How does your Country Punk energy translate to the live stage?

I think it’s just me being me. I love performing and my main focus has always been live shows, so I can’t wait to be able to give that experience to more people at once. The country punk energy just comes with the songs, and hopefully people can sing along and we can all party together. I’m also just looking forward to actually playing shows consecutively. The one-offs are fine, but once you get on tour and you’re doing it almost every night, it becomes this really fun rhythm of like, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing for this period of time and all that matters right now is making these shows the best we possibly can.’ That’s super exciting for me.

After years of playing shows, what are some of your current tour essentials?

Water, Bud Light, and coffee are on the top of the list. Other than that, we’ve always been treated very well and I think it’s making sure I don’t get too into the shows where I start yelling along to everyone’s songs and screw myself for the next day. The biggest thing in my head is just to make sure that I keep my voice where it needs to be.

As a music fan yourself, do you have an all-time favourite concert memory?

Boots and Hearts Music Festival in 2018. I don’t remember much of it, but I remember I was there! I was with a bunch of buddies and we had a really good weekend, from what I’m told. Actually, we saw James Barker Band play that year, which is really crazy to be now sharing the stage with them on tour, so I’m really happy about that.

Continue Reading