Dillon Carmichael is the real deal.
Read the exclusive interview I had with him before he took the Spotify Stage at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo here:
California Girl Olivia Ooms Can’t Rid Thoughts of Country Music
@theoliviaooms
Talking with Olivia Ooms made me wish I could be a California country girl. Growing up in the Midwest there is no beach in sight, just miles of corn rows and silos for the eyes to see. Olivia made me picture waking up to a beach with miles of ocean and open sky for the eyes to imagine endless possibility. Olivia has done just that with her sixteen years of life so far. Starting out in the West Coast pop music world was fun for Olivia’s young self, but she longed for something different. When she was introduced to country music it all fell into place and she carved out music of her own. Olivia shows it is good to bring something different to where your roots, or in her case where the water runs deep. Read on to learn her start in country music, the big opportunities she has experienced so far and her plans for the years ahead…
Q. Take me back to the beginning of your career, tell me how you found your love and talent for music and decided to make it a career aspiration?
A. “I was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California. Considering I live about five minutes from the beach, a lot of people question that I’m a country singer. I started in pop music and would go up to LA for auditions when I was younger. When I was about twelve years old I decided pop music wasn’t for me. I wasn’t finding love and joy in it. My guitar teacher and my brother introduced me to country music and I immediately fell in love with it.”
Q. What has it been like building your music career in California? How has it been making trips to Nashville?
A. “It’s completely different (building a country music career), most of the time when you work with people from LA and on the West Coast they are different from people in Nashville. They are more pop oriented and it’s harder to find a producer. Last year I had my first trip out to Nashville to meet people in the industry. Since then, I have gone back many times and I love it there.”
“When I started working with my publicist Scott Adkins of Adkins Publicity, I showed him my music video for my original song ‘Thoughts of You’ and he was blown away. He showed it to a CMT executive and said he wanted it on CMT and part of the artist discovery program. Then a couple months later it’s part of the 12-pack countdown and has changed my life being a CMT discovery artist.”
http://www.cmt.com/video-clips/k003tn/music-videos-olivia-ooms-thoughts-of-you
“I went to CMA fest for the first time in 2018 and I was not sure what to expect. I had so many performances and interview opportunities. It was crazy going back into the green room, seeing red carpets and meeting people who are so musically inclined.”
Q. Who’s your biggest musical influence?
A. “I’m a big fan of Carrie Underwood, just everything about her personality, talent and I look up to her success. Also, Maren Morris, I love her voice and music.”
Q. How would you describe your musical style?
A. “I mainly write my songs from personal experiences and feelings. Things my friends say or that I encounter. Every time I’m out and I hear something that sparks interest in my mind, I’ll write it down in my notes. Maybe later I’ll go back to it and make a song out of it. I try to keep my songs as real and genuine as possible so they are relatable to other people. I get responses from people that say they listened to a song and it fit perfectly, that makes my day.”
Q. What was the inspiration for your latest project? What does it mean to you?
A. “There is a specific order to the songs. It starts off with ‘Poison’ it’s about growing up and coming into your own. Not wanting to forget who you were as a little kid, but becoming a strong young woman.”
“The next song is ‘The One’ that’s the love song when you find a boy you like. After that is ‘Thoughts of You’ the breakup song because after any good first relationship, there is a breakup most of the time.”
“Then there is ‘Finally Me’ the song when you’re not sad anymore, you don’t need to rely on anyone else for your own happiness, so it’s an anthem like powerful song. The last song ‘Anything’ is a take on the world I had and wanted to see if anyone else could relate to it. I like to make my observations known, instead of keeping them to myself.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about writing, recording or performing music? Tell me more about the process.
A. “My favorite thing is sitting on my bed, playing guitar and writing my lyrics and chords on my computer. There’s something so nice about sitting up at midnight and pouring out my feelings and thoughts I’ve written down on my notes for song ideas.
That’s the start of my writing process, then working with a talented and creative producer like who I worked with on my EP.”
“She was so great and we got to work with musicians from Belmont University. It was a really cool thing to see us all come together. I was giving my ideas and they were giving feedback. I gave them examples of what I wanted and it worked out so beautifully. Seeing something come from just a demo of a guitar and me singing to a full band with harmonies. There is something so surreal about working with live musicians and seeing your artwork come to life.”
Olivia Ooms Singing “Delta Dawn” With Tanya Tucker
Q. What is a memorable experience for you in your music career and how has it impacted you?
A. “I had an opportunity to go to Ashland, Kentucky to open for Tanya Tucker. She is legendary and started when she was younger than me. I’ve looked up to her for a long time and opening up for her was a surreal experience. Unexpectedly she invited me on stage for the final song of her show ‘Delta Dawn’ and no one else knew. I sang with her and it was a mind-blowing experience. That could be me in years, seeing so many people that know the words to her songs and have loved her endlessly since she was 13 years old.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream in music, but is struggling with taking the steps to make it a reality?
A. “I think believing in yourself and finding a good support system that encourages you to pursue what you want to is a great thing. I have a supportive family and friends that encourage me. If you think you’re too shy and afraid, try to find those people who will push you to go the extra mile. If you’re a song writer, keep writing and if you’re not I encourage you to try it because you’ll never get good at it if you don’t try.”
Q. How do you use Vlogs on You Tube to interact and build a friendship with fans?
A. “I started vlogs when my friend from school said she wanted to do it and she never did. A lot of people start YouTube channels to try and become famous, but I just did it so my fans can see a more personable side of me and the goofy person I am. I try not to take life too seriously, I try to have fun and live life to the fullest. I think doing vlogs can give people an extra behind the scenes look to what my life is like. It’s not perfect, but fun and adventurous. I like that people can connect with me on a different level than you can with just a one-minute Instagram video.”
Q. Can you tell me some of your exciting plans for 2018? What long-term goals do you have for your career?
A. “I’m working on recording a few songs in Nashville. I’m planning on dropping a single and I’m so excited for this song. It is so impactful, empowering and such an anthem. The meaning and everything behind it is so great. It’s not a love song, which is good because I have a habit of writing a lot of love songs. A long-term goal is to perform at The Grand Ole Opry and Stagecoach.”
Be sure to follow Olivia Ooms on her website and social media to learn of new music, shows and day in the life vlogs!
Photo Credit to Olivia Ooms Facebook and Instagram
From Military to Music City, Mark Addison Chandler Believes in Second Chances at Love
- “The ride of my life three to four minutes at time.” – Mark Addison Chandler
Photo Credit: Michael Guinard
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to get a “Second Chance” to do something for the first time? Have you ever felt like you failed once and want to make a commitment to do it better the next time? That is the hope Mark Addison Chandler brings to us in his music. Life is an ever-changing journey full of decisions, detours, broken promises and renewed faith. Mark’s song writing is real and raw down to the last lyric. The stroke of his guitar in Music City brings the true-life stories from paper to our ears. I sat down with Mark after a writer’s round to get the meaning behind his songs. Mark sees the purpose in every life experience and believes in staying true to he is. Read on to learn his journey from singing in church as a kid to singing for three U.S. Presidents, going to war, raising a family, getting divorced and moving to Nashville to write music for all those the Long Ride Home to listen to.
Photo Credit: Michael Guinard
Q. How did you find your love and talent for music?
A. “My dad was a southern gospel singer and he was a worship leader in our church (in North Carolina). My grandma and her sisters were on the radio singing gospel music back in the 30’s and 40’s. We always sang at family gatherings. The first song I ever sang was when I was about four in church. My dad wanted me to sing harmony, I can’t remember not singing.”
Mark got his first guitar when he was 17. He wanted to move to Nashville after high school graduation, but life took a detour. Mark left college to follow in his dad’s footsteps and join the Army.
Q. How did you find your way from the Army to making music a career?
A. “I got a letter saying I was accepted to West Point. I was in the chorus and sang a solo at half time for the Army-Navy game. I sang for President Clinton on a spring break trip to Texas. I sang for George Bush Sr. at the Heisman Club in New York City as well as George Bush Jr.”
Then time as an officer in the Army didn’t give Mark time for music, “Before I knew it I was getting married and had kids. I was commanding troops and there was no time. I went on several deployments and then got divorced,” says Mark.
Journaling for therapy drew Mark back to music, “During my last deployment a guy had a guitar I would pick up in the evenings. My writing came out of poems and I started putting into melody. I would run and a lot of ideas would come into my head I thought were cool. During my last year in the army I wrote about 26 songs whenever I was inspired, I recorded 11 of those songs.
“My philosophy is if I write great stuff, play great stuff and hang out with great people it will all work.”
Q. How did you make the decision to move to Nashville?
A. “When I got out of the Army and went back home. I started a band and they wanted me to play cover music, but I didn’t want to. So I decided to go to Nashville. When you’re not in Nashville, you think the fact you can write a song is cool and something special. Then you get here and a lot of people can do that. You realize you aren’t as good as you think you are so you have to work. I focused on writing songs for two and a half years. My philosophy is if I write great stuff, play great stuff and hang out with great people it will all work. Through this, I’ve learned more about who I am as an artist. I’ve experimented with different styles, like blues, but decided I’m country.”
“If I’m going to create something that’s going to move people it has to be real and believable coming from me.”
Photo Credit: Michael Guinard
Q. How would you describe your musical style?
A. “The fact that I’m divorced with two kids, I can’t hide. I can’t sing songs about making out in a field. If I’m going to create something that’s going to move people it has to be real and believable coming from me. I write about hanging onto a marriage, being a single dad and dating a single mother or falling away from God a little bit and knowing you need to come back. As people grow older, that’s what they are drawn to because they can identify with those experiences.”
“I’ve sung for 80,000 people and that was cool, but the experience was not as satisfying and getting that song.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about writing music?
A. “There’s nothing better than sitting down in a room and knowing you’re onto something special. You’re given a gift of a cool idea and it feels really good. I’ve sung for 80,000 people and that was cool, but the experience was not as satisfying and getting that song.”
“I wrote by myself before I got to Nashville, it’s a very co-writing town. If one creative person can do something, many times two people are more than twice as creative. Other people think about things differently and challenge what you have. Melodies come out of my head a certain way and other people may hear it differently. It (co-writing) gets you quality songs and exercises the muscle; you learn something from someone in the way they approach (writing the song). You have someone to challenge you to do better.”
“I may like a Luke Bryan song, but if I try to write something like that, it may not be me.”
Q. How has your life experiences impacted your song writing?
A. “No one else has the exact same experiences as me. No one else has been married ten years, divorced, went to war three times, started a church, who’s dad was a southern gospel singer, who was a blue-collar kid that went to a white-collar school. Those experiences I’ve lived make me unique. I may like a Luke Bryan song, but if I try to write something like that, it may not be me.”
“You have to realize you’re choosing one of the hardest things to succeed in you possibly could… Stay true to who you are.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream in music, but is struggling with taking the steps to make it a reality?
A. “You have to realize you’re choosing one of the hardest things to succeed in you possibly could. I’ve run ultra-marathons; I’ve been in combat three times and all these schools in the army. All that was physically hard, but writing is hard (mentally).”
“What is the best song ever written? If that’s the bar, maybe somebody can beat that, but it’s subjective. The cool thing now is social media makes it easier. I may never sing hit songs on the radio, but I hope to write them. I hope Josh’s (Gallagher) song, ‘How Bout You?’ goes to number one. Who knows, but I can still write songs and put music out that’s true to me. The song ‘Broken’ is about being a single dad. I’ve had people come up and say I wrote that song for them. Stay true to who you are.”
Photo Credit: Michael Guinard
Q. What was the inspiration for your latest project? What does it mean to you?
A. “This project will be very specific to things I have lived. It will be a collection of songs of a man in his middle years. Being a single dad and being broken sometimes, but still having to show up with a smile on his face while he sees his kids. Dating a single mother and knowing you’re second and when you do find that second love you’re going to try to do it different.”
Q. Tell me about your single “Second Chance”?
Photo Credit: Michael Guinard
A. “I had an idea that it would be cool to write a song for my future wife. Having been married before and finding someone else is a daunting task. A lot of music is directed at love but there is a different element to being older now. I’ve already failed once in a marriage, how am I going to find someone else I can have success with? There are a lot of people out there in that same boat.”
“I had this idea of a second chance at a first dance. I wanted to write a song about how I haven’t met that person yet, but I know they are out there. Whoever that person is, what are they like? What are they doing right now? When they finally come into my life, I’m going to make a commitment to do it better the second time.”
Q. How does “Second Chance” fit into a future record and what plans do you have for your music?
A. “The plan for this record is for it to be about my journey. I started writing songs as therapy from divorce and the healing from it. There will be a song about hanging onto a marriage, dating a single mother, all true to the last ten years of my life.”
“There are so many people out there who are in the same place in their life and they are really underserved with modern music.”
Q. What goals do you have for your music career?
Photo Credit: Michael Guinard
A. “My goal as an artist for the music I am making is to write songs about the experiences I had from divorce and being a father of two. There are so many people out there who are in the same place in their life and they are really underserved with modern music. So much music is targeting 16 to 25 year olds, which is fine, but there is so much more in life that music can talk about. Real life is divorce, being a single dad and dating a single mother. There are so many people out there who are hungry for songs about that.”
Listen to Mark’s new single “Second Chance” on Spotify and Apple Music Now! Visit markaddisonmusic.com and follow Mark on social media for daily music and life in Nashville.
Photo Credit to Michael Guinard, http://markaddisonmusic.com, and https://www.facebook.com/MarkAddisonChandlerMusic
Come Find Camille Rae in Music City
I still crave Nashville. Since the high of meeting country music artists and seeing their excitement for me to tell their story, I realized this is what I am called to do. Just as the artists are called to write, sing and perform, they all have a story on how they made their calling a reality. Life can seem like a dream come true, but it often takes hard work and courage to make your dream happen. When I got back from Nashville last January, I had a phone interview with Camille Rae. I hung onto her every word while she took the time to tell me how she finally got the courage to go after her life dream and move to Music City. It wasn’t easy for her to hear people in her life saying she was crazy, or to move back from another country after pursuing other careers and leaving a relationship. Camille Rae is a bold and courageous woman making country music for the female powerhouse in us all. Read on to hear more on her musical inspiration, songwriting process and big changes for 2018…
“I’m focusing on girl power and moving forward seizing every opportunity.” – Camille Rae
Q. Take me back to the beginning of your career, tell me how you found your love and talent for music and decided to make it a career aspiration?
A. “I started singing when I was three and since then I’ve wanted to do this for a living. I started singing in church with my Aunt. I did talent shows and joined choir growing up. I went on to get a music education degree in college then taught school for a few years. The performance aspect has always been a part of my life. It’s always been a goal, a dream I’ve been working towards. I’ve been a full-time artist for about six years and I’ve been in Nashville four years.”
“I had to be brave and make a bold decision and think about myself first for once.” – Camille Rae
Q. How did you make the decision to move to Nashville?
A. “I’ve always wanted to move to Nashville, I thought I would get there right after college but I got a job instead and then I got married and moved to Canada with my ex-husband. I tried musical theater, but it didn’t work out. About three years after living in Canada I told my ex-husband I wanted to move to Nashville. This has been my dream since I was a little girl and it’s my turn to go after my dreams after supporting him through his. I had no plan when I moved to Nashville and I started doing open mics. I had to be brave and make a bold decision and think about myself first for once.”
“I’ve always known since I was a little girl that I’m supposed to do something bigger with my life.” – Camille Rae
Q. Who’s your biggest musical influence?
A. “I love singing everything; I trained in college to sing opera and classical music. I was brought up in Kentucky where there is bluegrass influence. My biggest influences were the female powerhouses of the 90’s like Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Faith Hill and Jo Dee Messina. All those classic voices, when you hear a song on the radio you know who they are.”
Q. How would you describe your musical style?
A. “My music goes back to that 90’s early 2000’s sound with the vocal production. Then mixing in the new age production with different loops and instrumentation that fit into the contemporary country pop you hear. I don’t like my style to be put into a box. It’s 90’s powerhouse country meets new age country, it gives you nostalgia then pushes forward into what’s new.”
Q. What was the inspiration for your latest project? What does it mean to you?
“My music is driven to stir those emotions to move past whatever you are going through.” – Camille Rae
A. “My recent album is Come Find Me. It is fifteen songs that mostly focus on a relationship I went through where you really love someone and care for them, but they are not in the same place you are. They’re not ready to be as emotionally committed as you are. It takes a toll because you try and you want to be that person who turns it around and changes their mind. Sometimes it’s not in the cards, or it’s not you. It’s something they are going through. This album is a story from start to finish of the emotions and situations I dealt with throughout that relationship. I like to write songs that talk about something deeper, something we may not talk about and keep to ourselves. Things we need to have a good cry about or be mad about. Music is very powerful and magical in a way that it can communicate to so many different people in different situations. My music is driven to stir those emotions to move past whatever you are going through.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about writing, recording or performing music? Tell me more about the process.
A. “When I write by myself, I usually have a great idea or an experience I’ve dealt with or a person close to me has dealt with. Every time I write a song myself, I go from start to finish and write it in about ten minutes. I look back on the song and think, how did I do that? It’s almost like something comes over me, this needs to be said and put out there. When I collaborate with other writers, it’s all about finding the right people you mesh well with and feel like you’re equally contributing. Piecing ideas together, maybe someone has a good hook and someone has a good chorus and figuring out how all the ideas can be put together into a song; to make it marketable, for radio and keeping it modern.”
“I like to write songs that talk about something deeper, something we may not talk about and keep to ourselves.” – Camille Rae
“As a songwriter, there’s a format different artists are looking for. Once I write a song, I don’t always choose it for me, but when I do and take it into the studio, it’s about figuring out what style you want and what instrumentation to use. There are so many studios in Nashville and they’ll have hired professional musicians and you can get a package deal. You get a six-piece band for a price; they can help you produce to figure out the sound you want. So far I’ve produced my own vocals, so I go in and do the lead vocal, then go back in and do background vocals since I’ve been trained to do that. On my first album a lot of my songs were an acoustic version. To have another set of ears and eyes come in to see how big we can make this, can transform a song. To see the musicianship and see them enjoy making something bigger. The studio is one of my favorite places to be. It’s all about creativity and communication.”
“I have a group of guys (musicians) I tour with regularly, but with studio musicians it’s almost two different worlds. You have musicians that are really good live; they have great showmanship, like being on the road and can change it up whenever they need to. Then you have your studio musicians that could probably do the live aspect of it, but they are more polished and go by criteria. They can get things recorded a lot faster, so when I do my studio work I usually go with the musicians they recommend or have on staff at the studio.”
“I can look back on my life and say I wish I had taken more risks or been bolder, but the one thing we do know is we have one life to live.” – Camille Rae
“The people who really love you will support you and stick by you” – Camille Rae
Q. What is a memorable experience for you in your music career and how has it impacted you?
A. “I went on a tour out west, Colorado and Wyoming that was fun getting to see that part of the country and were great shows. Then I had my first CMA performance last year with an artist pass and I got to sign autographs. Then my last single, ‘I Need Me’, talks about being brave and taking care of yourself, made it to 26 on music row charts.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream in music, but is struggling with taking the steps to make it a reality?
“I have to use the gifts I’ve been given to help people.” – Camille Rae
A. “I can look back on my life and say I wish I had taken more risks or been bolder, but the one thing we do know is we have one life to live. If you know you’re meant to do something or you have a passion for something and you have the ability and drive to do it, then why not? There’s always going to be people that will doubt or think you’re crazy. I quit my teaching job to move to Canada when I got married and people thought I was crazy. I’m a practically minded person, I like to have plan, but I’ve always known since I was a little girl that I’m supposed to do something bigger with my life. I have this gift of singing and writing and being able to easily communicate or connect with people on a personal level. I have to use the gifts I’ve been given to help people. As I get older and have been doing this for a long time, some days I think I should give it up. Then I remember this is what I’m supposed to do and timing is everything and it’s not always in my timing.”
“If you know you are meant to do something with your life then you need to take care of yourself.” – Camille Rae
“So my advice is if you know you are meant to do something with your life then you need to take care of yourself or you will be 80 years old and wake up and wonder where did your life go? Why didn’t I do that when I was 25 years old? If you take the risk, you may loose some people along the way, but you’ll know you tried. The people who really love you will support you and stick by you.”
Q. Can you tell me some of your exciting plans for 2018?
A. “I’m doing a lot of changes, with a new team, but do plan to work on new music to release. I need to make some changes professionally to make a new beginning in 2018. I’m focusing on girl power and moving forward seizing every opportunity.”
To follow Camille Rae’s music and tour schedule visit https://www.camillerae.com and visit her social media:
Photo Credit to Camille Rae Facebook
Barrett Baber Uses His Voice to Encourage Fans to Fight On For Their Dreams
There are many days when the alarm clock goes off in my dark room that I do not want to get out of bed. I wish I could stay laying in peace and comfort and not face the challenges of the day and hard work ahead. Then I say to myself, those animals depend on you, the pigs and your kittens need you. You have the gift to care for them like no one else can. The reason I tell you this story is the same reason Barrett Baber released his single “Fight On”. We all have something we are fighting for each day. My dad is fighting for his dream to farm, I am fighting to help him and share the stories of musicians like Barrett who help inspire us each day to keep fighting for our dreams.
Barrett says, “I come from a place of similar feeling. There are some mornings I don’t want to get out of bed because I’m exhausted from working hard and it seems like nothing is happening. I need that message too and there are people out there fighting harder fights than I am. I hope they can see me practicing what I preach and take encouragement from the song. No matter what you do, don’t stop fighting and one day you’ll be victorious, but the song talks about being in the fight and the only choice is to get up and fight on.”
I loved getting to talk with Barrett Baber over a phone interview. While on the road touring, he took the time to tell me his story growing up, musical journey from Arkansas to becoming NBC’s The Voice finalist and his song writing techniques. Read on to learn how the soulful country singer carved out a sound of his own and is connecting with fans in his Fight On Giving Initiative.
Q. Take me back to the beginning of your career, tell me how you found your love and talent for music and decided to make it a career aspiration?
Photo Credit: Jonathan Canaday
A. “Growing up in Arkansas, my dad was a preacher. Music was apart of my life through church. I remember at an early age just being able to carry a tune with my singing voice. My dad took a job as a preacher in a little town, Marion, Arkansas. We lived right across the river from Memphis, Tennessee. There was soul and blues; it was the melting pot area of different genres that blended together. I was really into R&B, in the 90’s there were bands like Boys to Men I was a fan of. Living so close to Memphis, I got to see a lot of shows in different venues.”
Q. Who’s your biggest musical influence?
A. “It wasn’t until later in high school I got into being a singer and songwriter when I discovered James Taylor and his Greatest Hits. I listened to the CD on repeat and was blown away by somebody who could just have an acoustic guitar with stripped down production, but have powerful lyrics that drove the song with great melodies.”
“I was in the music program in high school and in the choir. I got a voice scholarship to attend Ouachita Baptist University. That’s where I really started writing songs. I learned how to play guitar my freshman year.”
Q. How did you decide to move to Nashville and develop your musical style?
A. “I moved to Nashville for a year when I was 22. I didn’t know what I was doing and was young so I ended up moving back in with my folks. I really started gigging (in Memphis) for money. I would take my guitar and speakers I bought, I would play in bars for hours at a time. I was learning how to entertain and capture an audience. I played soul and learned how to take R&B songs that were not acoustic, and transform them into country soulful songs on my guitar. I became known for that in the region in Arkansas.”
After graduating with a degree in marketing and PR from the University of Arkansas, Barrett sold radio advertising then moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas with his wife where he sold television advertising for NBC.
“I knew I wasn’t being the best dad I could be because I wasn’t doing work that really fulfilled me. I knew it was my responsibility to be the best human being I could be and best example for my kid.”
Q. How did you decide to pursue music as a full time career?
A. “That whole time in advertising I was gigging on the weekends and writing songs. I finally got to the point where I felt I was writing songs that were good enough to cut some demos and records myself. I got fed up with the corporate world and felt kind of empty. I knew I wasn’t being the best dad I could be because I wasn’t doing work that really fulfilled me. I knew it was my responsibility to be the best human being I could be and best example for my kid.”
“I always had a thought in my head that I would want to teach so I got my teaching license and became the debate and forensics coach at Fayetteville High School. I credit that decision for setting me on course for what I do now because I felt what I was doing was important; I started writing some of my best songs. When I felt fulfilled I started releasing better sounding records.”
“I am a firm believer that what you do, even if its not your dream job, it will aid you in your dream job once you get there.”
Q. How did you decide to audition for NBC’s The Voice?
A. “I met a guy named Luke Wade playing at a bar in Fort Worth, Texas. He later auditioned for The Voice season 7. He asked to send a YouTube link of me singing to the casting director. Then I got an email from the casting director asking me to come to Oklahoma City to do a private audition.”
“I am a firm believer that what you do, even if its not your dream job, it will aid you in your dream job once you get there. When I was teaching I told the kids that I can’t stand in front of you and tell you to chase your dreams and take risks if I’m not willing to take those risks myself. I told them there was only one job I would leave teaching to go do and that’s make music. I think it was fun for them to see that reveled later.”
Q. What does your new single “Fight On” mean to you?
A. “I’m really excited about this song. It’s been a great couple years since The Voice. I’ve been touring and writing like crazy. I was able to release a full-length record, A Room Full of Fighters. I’m proud of that work because I did it independently with my manager and producer.”
“When I was promoting A Room Full of Fighters, I started using the #FightOn. That became my mantra last year because I was in a writing room full of people just like me in Nashville, who were fighting for there own dreams to come true. Then out on the road after each show I stand at the merch table, shake hands (with fans) and hear their story. ”
“I felt a tug on me to write about how we are all in a fight for something, even if those dreams are different it’s still hard to make them come true.”
“So many of the stories I would hear are of people overcoming adversity and people chasing their dreams. I felt a tug on me to write about how we are all in a fight for something, even if those dreams are different it’s still hard to make them come true. I had t-shirts printed that say ‘Fight On’ we sold. People loved them and I wanted to start supporting some smaller non-profits and individuals that have been reaching out to me, so I decided to give the net profits of every Fight On t-shirt that I sold.”
“I met a sweet little girl from my hometown who was fighting a rare form of cancer. I went to high school with her mom and was talking to her after one of my shows. I could tell they were struggling, trying to beat this cancer. This is my first benefit; I’m sending checks to help this little girl.”
“I feel like this world we are living in needs this song and it’s message. The win for me with ‘Fight On’ is not whether it’s a hit, but when I get messages from people on my social media who tell me they needed to hear it. I think that’s the reason it will be successful and continue to grow into something special. There are so many people fighting to make their lives better and sometimes they need told to get back up.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about writing music? Tell me more about the process.
A. “I didn’t start working hard to be a good songwriter until about 7 years ago. I used to only write a song when I was inspired of felt like it and the results were the results. I would only write 4 or 5 songs a year. So 7 years ago when I decided I don’t know if this artist thing will happen for me, I started learning as much as I could about being a songwriter. I learned there’s more to writing when you’re inspired. I write daily and start almost every writing process with a title.”
“One of the first things someone asks in a song writing process in Nashville is if you have any good titles and we will see what sticks out to us. Then we decide what the chorus and verses need to say to support the title in a creative and poetic way. Song writing is like anything else, you get really good at it when you do it a lot. Now I am at a place self-confidence wise where I’m not afraid to sit down in a room with anyone, people who have written number one hits for major artists. There was a time where that would have scared me.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream in music, but is struggling with taking the steps to make it a reality?
A. “My advice is different than the standard, go for it. That’s part of it, there has to be a leap of faith by anyone that wants to do this. That leap of faith ought to be done in an educated way; in a way that isn’t reckless and is thought out. Nothing goes to according to plan every time, but there has to be some groundwork.”
“It takes grind, effort and determination. Often times, years of development when you see a successful artist or songwriter, regardless of how it appears.”
“It’s difficult to be successful as a musician and a songwriter. There has to be a lot of work, I worked day jobs for 15 years before I was in a position to where I could do this (music) all the way and I needed it. I needed those 15 years of work and playing hundreds of acoustic shows when nobody cared. I needed that development. Sometimes our society thinks when you have ability like being a vocalist, that the world should had you your success. There are thousands of people that can really sing, but it takes more than talent. It takes grind, effort and determination. Often times, years of development when you see a successful artist or songwriter, regardless of how it appears.”
“It appeared this way for me because all of a sudden I was on television like I was an overnight success, but that ‘overnight’ was about 15 years worth of work to get to the point where I could take that opportunity. It happened at the right time for me, I needed that to happen when I was 35 not when I was 25. When I was 25 I wasn’t making music at the level I needed to make it at and I wasn’t a grown enough adult to handle it and be on the road for a hundred days.”
“My advice is to understand things take time. If you’re not working at that everyday to get there in some way, then you’re falling behind.”
“My advice is to understand things take time. If you’re not working at that everyday to get there in some way, then you’re falling behind. So work, read books, listen to podcasts, watch documentaries and learn as much as you possibly can about what it means to me a songwriter and artist. Learn as much as you can about the business side, because going in the better prepared you will be. Regardless of what you see on social media, doing music for a living is not all that glamorous. It’s beyond hard and at my level I do everything myself. That’s a good thing, but you have to ask yourself, is being a musician and songwriter what you what to do or is it about who you are?”
“Music is always been something I’ve done, I cannot exist on this earth without making music.”
“If it’s about who you are, then dive in and do that work. If it’s about what you want to do and make a living, then there are lots of ways to make a living in the music business that are important and valuable and you will probably make a better living than I do. Whether it is in publishing or at a label or a tour manager. There are lots of ways to work in the music business that are fun. If you’re going to make music regardless of what you do and every free moment you have is about making music I would tell that person to take that leap of faith. If it’s about making money, then there are better ways to do it. Music is always been something I’ve done, I cannot exist on this earth without making music.”
To follow Barrett’s music and the Fight On Initiative visit barrettbaber.com
Stream Barrett’s music on Spotify!
Social Media:
Photo Credit: facebook.com/barrettbabermusic
Country Music Artist Greg Pratt Will Sew Up Your Heart With Different Strings
Country music is a sentimental part of my childhood. I remember my dad had an old guitar in the closet with rusty strings that I was so fascinated by. During car rides I would memorize every word to 90’s country songs. I fantasied about being like Shania, Martina or Faith with a guitar in hand. Later my dreams changed to writing the stories of country musicians. When I visited Nashville earlier this year, the deep melodies of Greg Pratt captivated my heart. He is definitely an artist I play in my car and try to memorize the the words just like I did as a kid. He has the “traditional country sound of tomorrow” that I could listen to on repeat all day. From hard core fast paced guitar pounding songs to soft melodies with deep vocals to tug at your heart strings. Greg Pratt is “sewing up the heart with Different Strings.” Read my interview with Greg to learn about winning his dad’s approval, his responsibility as a songwriter to affect someone’s life and his newly released album!
Q. Take me back to the beginning of your career, tell me how you found your love and talent for music and decided to make it a career aspiration?
A. “I started playing guitar at a young age. I opened up my Dad’s guitar (a top-of-the-line JF-30 Guild American Classic guitar) and I was not allowed to play it, so he put it right back in the case and gave me this old guitar (a weathered Ovation) that was painful to play with rusty strings. I didn’t start singing until right before I moved to Nashville so it was a pass time, it didn’t become serious until the past three years. Once you get it in your mind, you can’t get it out and it has become a career.”
Q. How did you make the decision to move to Nashville?”
A. “I quit college to come pursue this (music), I worked in a kitchen for the first year and did no music because I didn’t know how to get into everything. There would be times when I went home to visit my Dad for Christmas and I didn’t have the nerve to play the song for him. I put a song out to play on radio in 38 states… it was cool to get that phone call from him saying he heard the song and is supportive as a dad.”
“To me, country music has always been around the lyric and what you build around that lyric to send that message to change someone’s life if you can.”
Q. Who’s your biggest musical influence?
A. “I grew up listening to traditional country including Alabama, John Denver, Garth Brooks, George Straight and George Jones. To me, country music has always been around the lyric and what you build around that lyric to send that message to change someone’s life if you can. I feel that’s critical to country music and there’s several ways to do that. One person’s method of getting that point across is different from someone else’s.”
A. What was the inspiration for your latest project? What does it mean to you?
Q. “It’s an album of eight songs called Different Strings, it’s a song I played tonight about my Dad. What I try to do with my projects is have songs that are all different, there are no two songs that sound the same, and they’re not interchangeable. Each one has it’s own story, vibe and feeling that will put you on a different island so to speak when you start the track.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about writing, recording or performing music? Tell me more about the process.
A. “Someone told me to treat a song like a kid. I’ve never had a kid, but I’ve raised several dogs. If I treat a song like my dog, it takes time, training, care and develops a lot of different facets over the course of its growth. A song is kind of the same. When you first perform it out you don’t know what’s going to happen, but I play writer’s rounds and play downtown six days a week. The circles I play in allow me to play those originals for a brand new crowd everyday.”
Q. What is a memorable experience for you in your music career and how has it impacted you?
A. “My first one was when my dad actually gave me the guitars. There was an original song of mine and this lady came up and gave me a hug, crying and told me a story about something big that happened in her life and the song touched her in a way that she hadn’t felt in a long time. She said to me to keep doing what I am, my Dad saw that and he decided to give me the guitars. Those guitars are rare and I haven’t seen another one like them.”
“You have a responsibility as a songwriter, down to the individual word, to put it in a way that affects somebody else’s life…”
“Here at The Commodore, I was performing the song ‘What a Minute Really Means’, from my last project. A woman came up and said she lost her son in a car wreck a year ago, his funeral was last winter and she was so dead inside and didn’t even cry, but she cried with me.”
“…If we all adhere to that responsibility it will make an impact.”
“You have a responsibility as a songwriter, down to the individual word, to put it in a way that affects somebody else’s life. You’re playing to speak to someone else and it’s not always about the person performing it. It can be easy to write what’s going on inside of you, but to open that up to speak to someone else and their experiences can be more important. It’s a responsibility for songwriters and performers to deliver that message in a way that someone’s emotions can be dead for months or years but when they hear a tune or set of words in a song, immediately there’s life. If we all adhere to that responsibility it will make an impact.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream in music, but is struggling with having the confidence?
A. “There are several confidence levels; one is actually getting here (to Nashville). My advice would be to not worry as much about what you sound like, but focus on delivering your message and making it a moment. Don’t focus so much about being on key, it’s important, but not what music is all about. It’s about getting that message out to spark emotion in people.”
Q. Can you tell me some of your exciting plans for 2018? What long-term goals do you have for your career?
A. “I’m trying to make sure quality music is made this year and get to the next level. That will take longer than a year, but it’s important not to give up. The website is up so anyone in the world can purchase music and merchandise and open up the opportunity for gigs across the country.”
“Focus on delivering your message and making it a moment… It’s about getting that message out to spark emotion in people.”
Visit www.gregprattcountry.com to support Greg’s music and find upcoming shows!
His new album Different Strings is now available!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/different-strings/1385860286
Schedule for CMA Week:
Monday, June 4 – Tequila Cowboy 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 5 – The 5 Losers outdoor stage for Whiskey Jam CMA 7 p.m.
Thursday, June 7 – Crazytown Broadway floor 1 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Friday, June 8 – Crazytown Broadway Rooftop 1:45 p.m.- 5:45 p.m.
Saturday, June 9 – Crazytown 10 a.m. floor 2 and Jason Aldean’s 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 10 – Jason Aldean’s 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Mellow Mushroom Broadway 2 p.m.- 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 9 – Crazytown 10 a.m. floor 2 and Jason Aldean’s 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 10 – Jason Aldean’s 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Mellow Mushroom Broadway 2 p.m.- 6 p.m.
Social Media:
Photo Credit to Greg Pratt Facebook and Instagram
Warren Garrett Eats, Sleeps and Breathes Music…Rewards on the Rough Road to Success in Music City
Photo Credit: @storytellerproductions1
When you want to make a dream reality, there are no excuses you just have to do it. It can be hard to make the call, pack up the car and move. It can be hard going to the gig and singing to a room of strangers. You wonder what they will think, how will they respond and will it make a difference? When I talked to Warren Garrett on the phone, I didn’t have to be in Nashville to understand that a music career isn’t easy. You have to eat, sleep and breathe music. There are no excuses and the reward will be worth the rough road to success. Success doesn’t always come in wealth and fame, it comes in the connection you share with someone when they hear your song for the first time. Read on to learn how Warren got his start in music, made the decision to move to Nashville more than once and his new single Girls Get Wings…
Q. How did you find your love and talent for music and decided to make it a career aspiration?
A. “I grew up in upstate South Carolina and started playing music when I was eight. I tell people all the time how my dad and I joke when he says, ‘Son, I want you to play something,’ and the only thing I could think of to play is a mandolin. So I played the mandolin with my dad for a long time, until I was 13 and started playing guitar. My dad taught me how to play on his old guitar. We would write songs together, go out and play with old timers around town. We played old bluegrass and gospel.”
Q. How would you describe your musical influences and style?
A. “Playing with my dad, I grew up listening to everything from old school rock bands like Led Zeppelin to old school country like Hank Jr., George Jones, Waylon and Willie. I would play in church, playing guitar for youth group band. I always loved music in any fashion. When I lived in South Carolina I would help people record and play guitar for people. I sang a little bit, but I didn’t start pursing artistry until I moved to Nashville. I really came into my own in Nashville, figuring out what my artistry would look like. My style is a little more edgy. It’s old country mixed with a little rock and roll.”
Rough Road To Success Tip #1: Make it Work
“It was now or never, so I did… I slept on a hotel floor the first couple nights in Nashville… and just made it work.”
Q. How did you make the decision to move to Nashville?
A. “I knew I wanted to move to Nashville since I was little. I told my parents I want to do music. So the decision to move to Nashville was something I always wanted to do, but it happened on a whim. Two guys I knew from the musical circuit back home called one day and said, ‘We’re biting the bullet, we’re moving to Nashville.” It was in like two weeks, but it was now or never, so I did. We didn’t know what we were going to do, where we were going to live. I slept on a hotel floor the first couple nights in Nashville. I looked for jobs on Craigslist and just made it work.”
Q. How did you start meeting other songwriters and the people you are working with now?
A. “I’ve been in and out of Nashville going on four years now. When I first got here, I started working downtown. I was a bouncer for one of the clubs on Broadway. I asked the booking guy at the club I was working at how I could start playing? He told me to play a couple songs then he asked for me to play a couple more, then he hired me on the spot to do music instead of security. I’ve been playing for him ever since and that’s how I met a lot of my friends I still have today.”
Rough Road To Success Tip #2:
Believe In Endless Possibility
“You can do anything with a melody or lyric and watching that creative process happen with people in collaboration is so cool.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about writing, recording or performing music?
A. “I moved back to town (Nashville) to be a songwriter, that was my goal. I started going to the writers rounds. You find your place and the people you like to write with. One of my favorite things about music is the creative process with endless possibility. I imagine it’s how an artist feels looking at a canvas. You can do anything with a melody or lyric and watching that creative process happen with people in collaboration is so cool. Everyone has a different process, but it comes together to get something you’re all proud of.”
“There is curiosity when you take something you and your friends created that you like for whatever reason, but seeing how a crowd responds or connects to it is a reward. My passion has always been connecting with a crowd by communicating with song and watching how people respond to music.”
Q. What is a memorable experience for you in your music career and how has it impacted you?
A. “There are many that come to mind, from writers rounds and watching a crowd connect with a song they’ve never heard before, to shows I get to play on a daily basis. When someone I’ve never met before responds to something I did on stage because it connected or spoke to them, I think it’s the most incredible thing you can do in music.”
Rough Road To Success Tip #3:
There Are No Excuses
“Music is a constant thing, it’s not a job and it’s a lifestyle… If you really want to do it, you can do it. You don’t have an excuse.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream in music, but is struggling with taking the steps to make it a reality?
A. “Nobody has any idea what they are doing! You just have to do it if it’s really something you’re passionate about. Like I said, all my friends and I eat, sleep and breathe music. We love it and it’s what we feel like we were created to do. Music is a constant thing, it’s not a job and it’s a lifestyle. When I first moved to Nashville I slept on a hotel room floor then the second time I crashed with a buddy and slept on an apartment floor. If you really want to do it, you can do it. You don’t have an excuse.”
Q. How do you guys sleep? I would have song lyrics in my head all night!
A. (Laughter) I get those calls at 2 a.m. from someone saying, ‘Dude, listen to this!” My friends and I make fun of each other all the time because we eat, sleep and breath music. I’ll have a conversation and somebody will say, ‘That’s a great line for a song.’ I’m learning from the really talented people I’m lucky to be surrounded by.”
Rough Road To Success Tip #4:
Get Around People Doing What You Want To Do
“All my friends and I eat, sleep and breathe music… I’m learning from the really talented people I’m lucky to be surrounded by.”
Q. What is your latest project and what does it mean to you?
A. “I’m going into the studio tomorrow and I’m so excited to record my first single Girls Get Wings. I’m going to be in a competition in North and South Carolina to get radio play down there. Listeners can vote for which song they like and I’m excited to see how people respond to me as an artist and the song. It’s a big step into moving forward as an artist.”
Listen to Warren’s new single Girls Get Wings on iTunes and Spotify now!
Visit Warren on Social Media to hear his music and follow his journey in Music City!
Photo credit: Warren Garrett Facebook and Storyteller Productions
Walker McGuire Isn’t Lost In Music City: The Duo’s story on meeting Luke Combs At a Bar + Their Harmonic Vocal Blend to Make Your Heart Throb
Driving through the Oklahoma plains in the back seat listening to the harmonic sounds of Walker McGuire just felt right that fall. Throwback to when I visited my friends attending Oklahoma State University in the fall of 2016. I fell in love with the raw unique sounds of the country duo. Walker McGuire had a sound of their own with song lyrics to make any newly single girl’s heart throb with songs like Till Tomorrow. Now as a newly engaged girl, they still make my heart throb with songs like Mysteries of the World.
This is why I couldn’t have been more excited to hear they were making their way to the heart of the Midwest to perform in Lima, OH right before my 29th birthday. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than rocking out to their music with $2 beers at UNOH Event Center. I was so excited to get up close with a small crowd. Walker McGuire took time to tell the stories behind their songs and hit songs they have written for major recording artists like Luke Combs. I even got the chance to meet them and tell about my interview with 90 Proof Twang as they are co-writers in the single Bench Seat. Read on to hear the story behind the music…
“Within six months we had a publishing deal. I could stop waiting tables and he could stop selling software. It was a blessing. When we got our first deal, we went down to Mexico to write some songs. For any of you that have been down to Mexico, you know there can be some distractions down there. With the tequila, food and the women. This song was written on an airlines napkin on our way back from Mexico about a girl we met. We shot a music video in Key West a couple years ago. We weren’t going to put it on our record, and then our label said that song is going on your record because it reminds everyone of their first trip to Mexico.”
Song: Ol What’s Her Name:
“You guys ever heard of Old Dominion? Those guys write a lot of different songs for artists in Nashville. They write killer songs. They wrote a song a couple years ago called I’m On It. We heard it, called them and said, ‘Would you mind if we take this song, record it and make it a Walker McGuire song?’ At first they said no because they were going to put it on their next record. We decided to send them a cure-all to change their mind, whiskey. Whiskey fixes everything! This is one of our new songs.”
Song: I’m On It
“Were any of you embarrassed by your first car? I’m lucky I had one, but probably shouldn’t have had one at all. We were song writing and I said I probably would have picked up more girls if I had a pick up truck in high school or a better car.”
Song: Pick Up Game
“Johnny grew up in Kansas City, when he was young a girl moved to town from California. We were drinking beer one night while writing and Johnny told me about this girl. We thought we have to write a song about this girl, her name was Holly. This song will be on the second record and if you know it, you’ve been listening to us for awhile.”
Song: Holly Would
“I (Jordan Walker) was at a bar and a guy came up to me in a Carhart jacket, ball cap and a big red beard. He said his name was Luke and he just moved here (Nashville) from North Carolina and I want to write songs. He said he knew I was in a band Walker McGuire and he would love to write a song with me someday. I said, ‘Luke I got a plan. Since these beers are $4.25 a piece and I got a 12 pack at my house and drink my roommate’s beer’, since he had a little bit of money and I had zero dollars at the time.”
“So we went to my house to think of an idea to write. I asked if he had been going through anything? He said hold on and started texting. I said who are you texting? He said I’m texting my ex-girlfriend. I said we might as well go back to the bar we’re not going to write anything tonight. He said, no I want to write a song. I said let’s write a song about your ex-girlfriend. He said, no man we can’t do that. About the time he said that his phone rang. He said, Hello… I really don’t have time to deal with this. I said, is that your ex-girlfriend. He said, no that was my ex-girlfriend’s mom.”
“I said, why don’t we write a song about your ex-girlfriend and her mom. He asked how we would phrase it? I said I think we call her mom you ex-future mother in law. He loved that idea… As of last year on my birthday this was the number one song in the country for two weeks in a row. This song changed my life and bought me a lot of stuff I don’t need. This is my first ever number one song, called When It Rains It Pours.”
Walker McGuire has just released their self-titled EP
Click on each song below to learn the story behind the songs!
It was awesome to meet the guys and I can’t wait to see their show again with all the stories behind their music!
Photo Credit: Walker McGuire Facebook and Luke Combs Facebook
Kyle Thomas is the Sound of Soul that Will Tug on Your Heartstrings in Music City
Kyle Thomas plays a writers round at Commodore Grille in Nashville Photo Credit: Zoë Weaver @zos_zoominphotography
Music can touch a place in our hearts differently for everyone. We all have different experiences in life and love. Songs can activate our memories, desires and imagination. The soulful melodies of Kyle Thomas can tug on your heart strings like no other. My heart didn’t know the treat it was in for when walking into the Commodore Grille this winter. All Kyle needs is his guitar and soft voice to make your heart feel like it’s ready to float out of your chest. You will remember moments of love you hadn’t thought about in years and long for breathless moments over and over again. I sat down with Kyle after the show to learn about his start in music, influences, the decision to leave Ohio and move to Nashville, faith and future plans.
Q. Take me back to the beginning of your career, tell me how you found your love and talent for music and decided to make it a career aspiration?
A. “I grew up playing music and I jumped around from bass to electric guitar, trombone and keyboard. I was involved in choir and musical theater in high school. Then I got away from it and played football in college. We had a fellowship of Christian athletes, they heard I played music and asked me if I would start leading worship. I fell back in love with music then. I started writing music and decided I wanted to do it for a career.”
Q. How did you make the decision to move to Nashville?
A. “I’m originally from Ohio and after I graduated from West Virginia University I moved home for a year. I got a band together and did some regional touring. I finally decided if you want to be the best you got to be around the best. This is where (Nashville) the industry is for what I want to do, so I had to take the leap and come down here.”
“I finally decided if you want to be the best
you got to be around the best.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeIIyEzA2Qk
Photo Credit: Cleveland Country Magazine
Q. Who’s your biggest musical influence?
A. “Growing up through middle school my parents didn’t let me listen to anything but Christian and Gospel music, so I was heavily influenced by that. Once I started seeing some other music like classic rock while I was learning electric guitar, Steve Perry of Journey influenced me on vocals. A lot of my influences growing up were Motown and 70’s music with that funk, good vibe and harmonies. Along with The Temptations, Ben E. King and The Drifters. Then I started listening to some soulful stuff like John Mayer and Dave Matthews.”
“From my inspiration I want to try to do
something different, that’s really authentic
to me and who I am.”
Q. How would you describe your inspiration and musical style?
A. “When I moved back I did a lot of country because it was the easiest to get booked for. I am a country music fan, but to be authentic to myself I would say I’m more soulful and Jazz kind of musician. From my inspiration I want to try to do something different, that’s really authentic to me and who I am.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about writing, recording or performing music? Tell me more about the process.
A. “I love going into a room and creating, a lot of times it can be a release to write about whatever is going on in your life. It can also be cool to help someone else, I’ve had a lot of situations where people are working on albums and they have something they’re going through they want to write about. So it’s unique to help them through those situations and be able to write a song we’re both proud of…. It’s cool to play rounds with guys you write with then sometimes rounds will be with nobody you know and it’s cool to get an idea of what they do and network with them.”
Q. What is a memorable experience for you in your music career and how has it impacted you?
A. “I’ve got to play some cool shows like open for Craig Morgan and play at the house of blues and Hard Rock cafes in different places. It’s really cool to have people sing your songs back to you. More than anything it’s inspiring to me when you write something with someone that you really love jamming to. It’s cool to create something you love. You can write a hundred songs and not like any of them, but then there’s that one you do. My inspiration is to continue to search for that song that’s going to be meaningful to me.”
“You got to chase after what you love and once you decide to do it, it’s like anything else. You have to treat it like it’s more than a 9 to 5 job because you can never clock out.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream in music, but is struggling with taking the steps to make it a reality?
A. “If it’s what you want to do, just believe in yourself and go for it. There’s going to be people that ask what’s your plan? You’re not always going to have a plan; it’s an uncertain career path. You got to chase after what you love and once you decide to do it, it’s like anything else. You have to treat it like it’s more than a 9 to 5 job because you can never clock out. It’s practice, write, and reading helps a lot lyrically. When you are ready to do it, you have to be in a city like New York, Nashville or LA to write and network with other writers that can feed your creative process and help you grow.”
Q. Can you tell me some of your exciting plans for 2018? What long-term goals do you have for your career?
A. “I plan to get a group of songs together and get in the studio. I’m meeting with publishers, so my goal is to hopefully be signed. More than anything write songs that are true to myself and I’m proud of.”
Kyle needs your support is recording his new music so we all can enjoy! Please support him in anyway you can by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/kyle-thomas-ep or https://venmo.com @kylethomasofc
To hear Kyle’s new projects and upcoming shows visit http://www.kylethomascountry.com and follow him on social media:
Photo Credit to https://www.facebook.com/kylethomasofficial
Texas Country Musician Kyle Park Says, “Don’t Forget Where You Come From”
“Thanks for a great time last night Fort Worth! Always an honor to play Billy Bob’s Texas!” – Kyle Park
Interview with Kyle Park back stage at Billy Bob’s Texas, can you spot his name on the wall?
Texas has a flavor of country music all its own. It’s tradition in pride and loyalty by fans is special by all means. When a Texas FFA girl introduced me to Kyle Park’s music while visiting her in Austin in 2010, I was forever a fan. Eight years later, I finally made the trip to Fort Worth to see Kyle in concert and better yet, interview him on how he has evolved as an artist in his music, his journey across the Lone Star state and beyond.
Walking back stage at Billy Bob’s Texas was like stepping back in time to see all the great country music artists who had performed on stage including Kyle Park. Kyle told the audience during his show how much it meant to him to have his name on the wall back stage. We sat down to talk about his start in music, song writing process, his advice and exciting plans for the year ahead.
Q. Take me back to the beginning of your career, tell me how you found your love and talent for music and decided to make it a career aspiration?
A. “I took guitar lessons when I was about 9 or 10. It was like two lessons; I didn’t like guitar. My dad passed away when I was 12, then when I was 14 I picked up the guitar again. It was maybe out of boredom because I lived in the country with no driver’s license, so I was stuck at the house. The first song I played was a Chris LeDoux song called ‘Seventeen’. I played it for my cousin and he said it was really cool, that I should learn to play guitar, so I did. I loved music, but there were no musicians in my family. I think my love for country music came out of the challenge. It was so hard at first; I remember playing for 56 minutes out of every hour for 8 hours a day for 6 to 8 months.”
“I think my love for country music came out of the challenge. It was so hard at first; I remember playing for 56 minutes out of every hour for 8 hours a day for 6 to 8 months.”
“When I was 16 I got the guts to play in front of a garage band full of my buddies. I loved singing, but I was scared to sing and someone say that wasn’t very good. When they said I was good and asked me to sing another one, it relaxed me and I started writing my own songs. When I was 17, I did nothing but guitar playing and singing. I took my guitar to the cafeteria at school and played parties. When I was 20 I put my band together and here we are 12 years later.”
Q. Who’s your biggest musical influence?
A. “My biggest influences are George Strait, Clint Black, Mark Chesnutt and 90’s country guys. Chris LeDoux is a big influence because his style is unique. I also find out their influences are Merle Haggard, and I love him too. Then I find out Merle’s influences are Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys and I love them too. It’s funny how with my influences, I like their influences and they like their influences.”
Kyle went from playing his influences’ songs to opening up for them!
Q. What was the inspiration for your latest project? What does it mean to you to share the message of “Don’t Forget Where You Come From”?
A. “That song is autobiographical to me because I did loose my dad when I was young. He didn’t work in the oil field; he was a plumber. I didn’t want to be a plumber, but if music hadn’t worked out for me, I know I would have been back at home taking over the plumbing company for my dad. That song reminds me of him so much. When we wrote the lines ‘Pray out loud, makes us proud, and don’t forget where you come from,’ we thought this is something we will tell my kids. It’s important to not do things your parents wouldn’t approve of. For me, in my music career and in this new album especially, I haven’t forgotten where I come from. This current record is absolutely me, and this song is the definition of the record.”
“In my music career and in this new album especially, I haven’t forgotten where I come from. This current record is absolutely me, and this song is the definition of the record.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about writing and recording? Tell me more about the process and how The Blue Roof Sessions was different for you?
A. “That album was totally different, sometimes I feel it wasn’t received how I wanted it to be. I can understand why, because it’s my fifth album now and people had an expectation of what I would sound like because of the previous four albums. The Blue Roof Sessions intentionally wasn’t like that. As an artist, I wanted to do something different. Why would an actor make the same movie over and over? As a writer and producer as well, half those songs I had for years. I wrote the song ‘Work on Love’ so long ago, but just never found the right album to put it on. When I committed to making an edgy record, I had all these ideas of songs that would work so well. Just like ‘Don’t Forget Where You Come From’ or ‘What the Heaven’ wouldn’t have fit The Blue Roof Sessions record.”
“As an artist, I wanted to do something different… It was cool to stretch my artistic talent and do something different.”
“With that album we didn’t have a recording studio. We had a house, I leased a mansion on Lake Travis, and for one month I lived there from Sunday through Wednesday and was on the road Thursday through Saturday. I would get home on Sunday and work on songs to record Monday. Half the songs were written in the last ten years, the other half were written that month. We recorded 19 songs and I kept 12 that fit the project the best. I wanted it to sound cohesive. It was an old school sound with the big room and drums and echo vocals. So much of country music has rock in it… It was cool to stretch my artistic talent and do something different. I may never do something like that again and it may be the most rock music I ever make.”
Q. What is it like to play new music for a crowd and see how they receive it?
“Usually I will play a song live before the album comes out. It’s always the best feeling to have a brand new song, like right now our new song is ‘Ain’t Nobody Hotter,’ it’s not even on the radio yet. I’ll watch the crowd sing it when I know they haven’t heard it before, but they learned it in the last two minutes. It makes me feel good about what we’re doing and as a writer it’s the coolest thing. I’ll watch people sing every single word to ‘Don’t Forget Where You Come From.’ It takes a lot of time to remember the words to a song. It’s not like you can just hear it once, you may know the chorus, but to know every word you have to listen to a song 10 to 15 times. You have to like a song a lot to know every word and that is the absolute number one honor of being a writer.”
“You have to like a song a lot to know every word and that is the absolute number one honor of being a writer.”
Q. What is a memorable experience for you in your music career and how has it impacted you?
A. “My agent asked me yesterday, ‘When was you’re defining moment that you’ve made it?’ It wasn’t a big show; I was 21 years old on stage in Lubbock at The Blue Light Live. We had a pretty good crowd, it wasn’t sold out, but I made enough money to pay everyone in the band what I would, plus a little bonus. We had our own bed in our own room that night because a lot of times we would bunk up. I sold some merchandise and paid for my gas. We drove from Austin to Lubbock, it was a long way to drive and I still made money that night. I made like 300 bucks, but I thought man this is it. I’d rather chase this dream, be on stage playing music and watch people sing along, than any 9 to 5 job sitting behind a desk and being miserable. I was serious before then, but that was the moment when I thought I can do this forever.”
Throwback to the first Kyle Park song I heard and loved:
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream in music, but is struggling with taking the steps to make it a reality?
A. “Take every gig you can and play as much as you can because you never know when that one person that can make a difference is out there listening. It doesn’t have to be a record label; it could be someone like you spreading the word in Cincinnati. It takes that one person to get the ball rolling sometimes. For me in college it was a big deal, I would play at every fraternity and sorority party, every bar that was available to me. It didn’t matter the money, I would play two in one day if I could.”
“Don’t forget where you come from. There’s never been a time I thought music wasn’t for me.”
“Besides that, don’t forget where you come from. There’s never been a time I thought music wasn’t for me, but maybe I wasn’t doing the right thing or following the right path in my music career. Maybe I shouldn’t do this record, or song or hire this person. You always have doubts, but don’t forget where you come from. For me, it’s passion for music. It hasn’t been about the fame and money; it comes along with success.”
Q. How are your Texas fans different from when you travel to other states?
A. “Texas is definitely loyal and there are a lot of them. When we go from Midland to Fort Worth to Austin to the Valley to Houston, that’s like seven states in the Northeast. We can drive 7 hours everyday and still be in the state. We were in Wichita, Kansas a few weeks ago and there aren’t better fans, they love country music and to be there. Texas has so many artists and venues to play in. That’s why we’re great, but at the same time if you go somewhere like Kansas or Montana where they don’t get that many concerts, they really take it seriously and love it. It’s cool to be from Texas, playing Texas style music and be so from from home.”
Q. Can you tell me some of your exciting plans for 2018? What long-term goals do you have for your career?
A. “I want the album to come out right now, I’m so excited about it. I wish we didn’t have to wait for so long. I think it will be June 1st. We are touring constantly, and I hope we will play a little more out of state this year than we have. We want to go more north and west as far as we can. By spreading the word, it will be a bigger year than last year. We will play more and reach more fans.”
Kyle’s new album will feature the released singles: “Rednecks with Pay Checks“, “Don’t Forget Where You Come From“, “What the Heaven” and “Ain’t Nobody Hotter”.
“On the new album I have a song called ‘So God Made a Farmer.’ I played at the Texas FFA Convention years ago for 10,000 kids. It was one of the coolest gigs I’ve ever played. I still have some people tell me it was the best show they ever saw 8 years ago when they were 15 years old. In 2013, I was watching the super bowl and there was a commercial with Paul Harvey. I had known Paul Harvey my entire life, but I thought it was the most incredible speech. His delivery was everything, but also every word he says. So I thought I have to write that song someday. I held onto that idea until last year, I finally wrote the song, ‘So God Made A Farmer.’ Anyone who had family in farming, I think it will be their theme song. The chorus is,
‘That’s why God made a farmer, To keep us between the rows. To work hard and love harder, and you’ll reap what you sow. So when you say grace for the food on your plates, Pray a little longer,’Cause that’s why God made a farmer.’
I will never forget my interview with Kyle Park. His musical advice to take a chance on love, know when to move on and to never forget your upbringing, has touched the lives of those across the Lone Star State and beyond. Kyle Park’s music can help you celebrate all the ups and downs in life, reminding you it is a great thing to be alive and you can make your dreams happen!
To listen to more of Kyle’s music and stay up to date on his new album and tour visit:
Snapchat @ontheroadwithkp
Photo Credit to https://www.facebook.com/kyleparkmusic/photos/
One more of my favorite songs!
