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Interviews Q&A

Top 25 Interviews of 2014: No. 21 Brandy Clark

 

When I interviewed Kacey Musgraves last year, she raved about Brandy Clark. Brandy was Kacey’s tour opener and songwriting partner and she told me that her album 21 Stories needed to be heard. And she was right.

Earlier this year, I finally sat down with Brandy and having had success on writing singles for Miranda Lambert and Kacey in the past, I was fascinated with the stories behind her songs and how she goes about writing a song. Brandy filled me in on everything (read an excerpt below) and I have a feeling you’ll be hearing a lot more from this country singer-songwriter. Today, she was nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for Best Country Album and the second for Best New Artist. I’m keeping my fingers crossed she wins both.

Long before Brandy Clark released her excellent debut country album 12 Stories, she had a publicist in Kacey Musgraves. The two songwriters penned several hits together, including Miranda Lambert‘s 2014 ACM Award-winning “Mama’s Broken Heart” and Musgraves’ recent single “Follow Your Arrow.” Naturally they formed a tight bond.

“Kacey Musgraves was a publicist for this record before we had a publicist,” Brandy told me. “So much of what she’s doing artistically is really opening major doors for a record like mine. Had Kacey’s record not come out when it did, I don’t know if my record would have been received the way it was. I feel like she’s really opened the door for a different kind of song and for some of those topics that are a little bit more taboo.”

Lead single “Stripes” is an example of Clark’s unique storytelling. What started as an idea to write a song called “Orange,” about a woman who wants to kill her cheating husband, transformed into a tell-all tale of what would happen if she didn’t hate stripes and looked good in the color orange.

“For me, to really sink my teeth into a song, I do have the characters in my mind, and they grow,” she said. “When I’m writing a song, I can picture the kitchen they’re sitting in and what their TV set looks like. Those are the things I have to do, just getting into that spot in your mind where the story is taking place.”

For my complete article, visit Radio.com.

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Interviews Q&A

Top 25 Interviews of 2014: No. 22 Phillip Phillips

I never quite fathomed an artist not enjoying being the center of attention, that is until I sat down with American Idol winner Phillip Phillips. Instead of reveling being the frontman, Phillip told me that he made sure to take a backseat on his sophomore album, Behind the Light, released earlier this year.

“It has a very band feel,” he told me, “which I like because I don’t like being the center of attention…I let those guys shine and put their own personalities in the song.”

As much as he’d like to hide behind his band, he confessed that he can’t help but write songs that read like they’re straight out of his diary.

“It was scary for me to put out the first album because it was so personal,” he said. “This second album is even more personal.”

While he prefers to not go into great detail of what each song is about, he says he will never stop writing honestly.

“Fans know when something is not really honest,” he said. “I want people to know I’m not just singing. I’m a guitar player first and I love to write. I want people to see that. If they like it, that’s awesome.”

For more of my interview with Phillip Phillips, visit Radio.com and watch the video above.

Had a lovely chat about songwriting with Phillip @Phillips yesterday at our station Fresh 102.7. #100happydays #day39

A photo posted by Annie Reuter (@yousingiwrite) on

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Interviews Q&A

Top 25 Interviews of 2014: No. 23 The Swon Brothers

I have not had to hold in my laughter this much ever in an interview. The Swon Brothers are comedians in their own right. Since we film all these interviews in our studio and it’s very easy for the microphone to pick up other sounds in the room, I am very cautious of having my voice heard on the video. So, I spend much of the time in interviews nodding in agreement to each artist I interview so they know I’m reacting to what they’re saying, even if I’m not commenting myself.

Throughout my interview with the Swon Brothers, Zach and Colton continually poke gentle fun at each other and I found myself holding in my laughter. Whether it was a topic such as Zach’s long-winded talking points, or Colton claiming his prowess at golf, this was clearly a conversation with siblings.

“Colton did much of the singing back then but then my voice developed into the talent of the group,” Zach jokes about their early years. “It’s hard being the face and the talent.”

A band of brothers, it was only a matter of time until the fighting side came out. In all fairness, Zach started it when prompted by the question of what it’s really like for the two of them to work so closely together.

“It’s really hard being in a band with your brother mainly because we can probably make each other madder than anyone else could,” he says.

Colton at first responds with a joke but then just as quickly turns and gets serious about their working relationship. “I couldn’t imagine being on the road by myself,” he says. “This is a lot of work. I can’t imagine not having someone to lean on. It’s corny, but it’s the truth.”

And like a good older brother, Zach was there to lighten the mood with a knock-knock joke.

“Knock knock,” he says. “Who’s there?” Colton asks. “I’m there. And I’m always going to be there.”

Read the complete interview at Radio.com and for all the laughter, watch the video above.

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Interviews Q&A

Top 25 Interviews of 2014: No. 24 Frankie Ballard

 

I was fortunate to interview country singer Frankie Ballard twice this year. The first time, we sat down and discussed his sophomore album Sunshine & Whiskey at our CBS office in New York where he told me how he felt the first time he heard what would become his first No. 1 single, “Helluva Life.”

“The first time I ever heard ‘Helluva Life,’ it really moved me because it’s very parallel with the journey I’ve been on,” he told me. On the chorus of the song Ballard sings, “The bad times make the good times better,” and he says those lyrics sum up his musical journey.

“I’m more mature,” he said of the years since his first collection songs was released. “I feel like a better artist because of those things that I’ve been through. Because I’ve played in bars and honky-tonks and things that I’ve learned. I was selling beer long before I was selling myself as the product.”

“Helluva Life” has become an anthem for many country fans too, which doesn’t surprise Ballard.

“I knew that it would be that way for a lot of people,” Ballard explained. “No matter what they are trying to achieve on their journey in life, it’s important to remember that those struggles, and the good times as well, everything together is what makes your life what it is. That statement of saying, ‘Man, it’s a helluva life,’ it just evokes some hope. It’s a coping mechanism for some people.”

Ballard spent the past two years working on the follow-up to his debut and has enjoyed watching the success “Helluva Life” has brought. It has in a way given him a second chance in music.

“It’s been cool to watch it take on a life of its own, people making it their own,” he said. “The lyrics mean different things to people’s journeys. It’s such a blessing to see it take on a life of its own.”

 

I wound up interviewing him again at the ACM Awards in Las Vegas and asked him how he celebrated when that same song went to No. 1. His answer: he bought a Manuel suit, tailored by the same man who created so many famous country outfits, including Johnny Cash‘s all-black suits and Elvis Presley‘s signature gold lamé suit.

“I had it made because I wanted to do something to commemorate having my first-ever No. 1 song, treat myself a little bit,” he told me. “I always wanted one of these. It’s a Native American theme. It has a big chief on the back and I thought, ‘Where are you going to wear this?’ Las Vegas was the first thing that came to mind.”

 

frankie-annie-red-carpet

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Interviews Q&A

Top 25 Interviews of 2014: No. 25 Naughty Boy

Naughty Boy may have been my most challenging and most rewarding interview yet. I wasn’t too familiar with his music before I sat down with him as he had yet released his debut album, Hotel Cabana, in the states. His single, “La La La” which featured Sam Smith, was slowly getting more airplay and by the end of the summer it’s all I remember hearing being played on the radio.

Like every interview, I went into it as researched as I could be and it wound up being such an inspiring chat. His rags to riches story was so genuine. At the end, things seemingly went well as he told me when he left talking to me was like therapy. For a girl who only minored in Psychology in college that was the nicest compliment I could get! An excerpt of my interview is below.

When talking with Naughty Boy the words “fate” and “destiny” come up a lot. As they should. The former pizza delivery guy and hotel waiter started his music career thanks to a big win on the game show Deal or No Deal.

“I was in a bit of an all-time low,” he told me. “I never won anything so to go on a game show for the first time, the first time I ever applied for a game show, and to win gave me confidence.”

Before his Deal or No Deal win, Naughty Boy (real name Shahid Khan) was broke and struggling to keep his head above water. “My parents wanted me to take my life seriously,” he said. Khan was at first concerned that his appearance on a game show would ruin any chances of people taking him seriously, but he now believes his good fortune can be a lesson to others.

“Whatever I’m doing right now,” he said, “I believe anyone can do this if they put their mind and heart into it.”

“[Music] is the one thing that I don’t feel like I’ve ever worked a day and that’s what you ultimately want for your job,” he added. “I’m doing what I love.”

Read my complete interview at Radio.com.

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Interviews Song of the Week

Song of the Week: Jake Owen’s “What We Ain’t Got”

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Jake Owen is ditching the beach anthems and party lifestyle on his new single, “What We Ain’t Got.” The track leaves the laidback vibes behind for a much more emotional experience. I chatted with him over the summer about the new song, one that he says is career changing.

“It’s a big, big step for me to put out a song that’s a ballad that has a lot of meaning behind it,” Jake told me in July. “It’s a deep song that deals on a lot of levels with everyone looking at their own life. We all work so hard day to day, and we want more and more and more. This is a world of wanting more. It’s a song about looking at where you are and appreciating what you have, ’cause once it’s gone we all want what we don’t have.”

Owen said that it’s important at this time in his career to put out a song with depth and validity.

“That’s what country music was based on, great songs,” he said. Listen to “What We Ain’t Got” below.

Jake went on to explain that while he is happy with his life, family and career, he still wakes up every day to find things that he wants more of.

“That’s why this song really related to me. The main chorus of this song has the meaning of a guy losing his girl and wanting her back after realizing that everything he wanted previous to her leaving is what drew her away or took her away.”

He added: “I haven’t lost…thank goodness, I have the beautiful women in my life. But I don’t ever want my job and lifestyle to get in the way of what’s real back home. I really related to that song a lot, and I have a lot of friends that I’ve watched work their lives away, too, and sometimes you just have to step back from it.”

Read more of my interview with Jake Owen at Radio.com.

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Interviews Q&A

Interview: Kip Moore

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It’s no secret that I’ve been a massive fan of Kip Moore for years now. He’s been one of those dream interviews for me. I’ve lived with his excellent debut album Up All Night for two years and in a way, it’s been the soundtrack of my life for the past two years. I caught his tour opening show at New York’s Best Buy Theater back in September and when I realized he’d be playing at Starland Ballroom in New Jersey, I knew I wanted to see him again. Luckily, this time I also got to interview him.

It was home turf for me as throughout college I’d attend shows at Starland Ballroom and even began interviewing a few bands then as well. After his soundcheck, I followed Kip backstage to catering and then to a room with a big screen TV and leather couches where his band was hanging out. In between dinner and watching the news–which was reporting on the massive snowstorm in upstate New York–Kip filled me in on his latest EP Soundcheck and what we can expect from his new album, due out next year.

He released Soundcheck, a five-song live EP featuring four brand new tracks, two days before his tour kickoff in September. The release was aimed at his fans, and he told me that he hopes the new music will hold them over until his sophomore album is released sometime next year.

“We’re pretty passionate about those songs. It was a cool way for giving the fans that have been waiting so long just a taste of what’s coming without actually exposing the record. A live version is not quite the same as a studio album,” he explains. “There definitely will be some of the songs [from the EP] that will make it onto the record.”

While some fans have put fault on his record label for not releasing his project sooner, he explains his record label isn’t to blame—in fact as he describes it, they’re “protecting” him.

“People need to understand this is not my record label’s fault,” he asserts. “To be honest, it all comes back on me. I wrote a song, ‘Dirt Road,’ that I thought was going to get further up on the charts and high enough to release a record around, but my label is protecting me in a lot of ways. In my own stubbornness, I just want to put the record out. They know what they’re doing, and it’s hard to release a record around a song that didn’t get past number 40 [Moore’s first three singles all reached No. 1]. And that’s just the fact of the matter.”

So, adds Moore, “hopefully we can come with something next time with some more traction and we can put a record out around it.”

Read more of my interview with Kip Moore on Radio.com.

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Photos

Photo of the Week: Two-Stepping with Big & Rich

Big and Rich(Credit: Paul Familetti)

For years, I’ve been trying to immerse myself into the country culture as much as I can. Since the majority of music I cover is country I should be well versed in all things country, right? When I attended a Josh Abbott Band concert earlier this fall I was amazed at all the dancing going on. At first I thought it was line dancing, but I quickly realized that the couples weren’t dancing in a line — they were two-stepping. It was something I didn’t even know existed and I quickly wanted to learn!

Lucky for me, when Big & Rich came through New York to talk about their new album Gravity they were game to teach me. We did the interview first and the closer we got to the last question I could feel my nerves build, knowing that next up was my dance lesson. You see, I am the least coordinated person you’ll ever meet and it was a bit intimidating to be taught by guys who grew up doing the two-step. My biggest fear: stepping on one of their cowboy boots!

John Rich started off with the basics, which included explaining the difference between two-stepping and line dancing. “Anybody can dance by themselves,” Rich said of line dancing. “You’ve got to have something going on to get somebody else to dance with you. It requires a little coordination.”

Which is exactly what I learned. Most importantly, the guy has to lead. And as Rich says, if the guy doesn’t know what he’s doing it’s going to be a train wreck. Lucky for me, I had a good teacher.

big-and-rich-26(Credit: Paul Familetti)

“Full step, half step, back. Full step, half step back. That’s all it is,” he recites. “Once you get it down it’s like you’re walking.”

With that said, he grabbed me close (much closer than I had anticipated) and walked me through it while I very timidly tried my best not to step on his fancy cowboy boots.

“John Rich can two-step backwards!” Big Kenny shouts as Rich twirls me.

“I can two-step anywhere!”

“He’s a good two-stepper,” Kenny asserts. “And you’re doing good. You’ve never two-stepped before? By golly, you look like a natural.”

For my complete interview with Big & Rich visit Radio.com.

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Artist of the Week Band of the Week

Artist of the Week: Sam Hunt

For country fans, Sam Hunt is no new name. He’s the songwriter behind many hits you’ve heard on the radio including Kenny Chesney’s “Come Over,” Keith Urban’s “Cop Car” and Billy Currington’s “We Are Tonight.” But last week, his first song as an artist — “Leave the Night On” — went to No. 1 on the country charts. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it crosses over into the pop world. With slick beats, rapid fire lyrics and his blend of R&B and country it’s easy to picture hearing the country artist alongside the likes of Drake and Ed Sheeran on the radio.

Hunt is now part of these two worlds colliding, explaining that his first love is country music, but the “best way to represent me as an artist is that R&B side…the R&B thing is the strongest for me and I feel like I can do it the best.”

“I never listened to a lot of Drake but I imagine that Drake and I are influenced by a lot of the same people,” Sam told me. “There was definitely a sound that was heard throughout ’90s R&B. I think that influenced a lot of what I’m doing. I remember the first time I listened to Usher. I was blown away by that vibe and I think that stuck with me since then.”

 

It’s taken Sam a few years to pinpoint his own sound, but he’s finally found it with his first album, Montevallo, which dropped on Oct. 27. On his debut, Hunt blends country and R&B to make his own kind of music. For more of my interview with Sam, visit Radio.com or watch the video above. Catch Sam currently on tour with Kip Moore and Charlie Worsham.

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Features First Person

You Sing I Write Celebrates Seven Years

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It’s incredible to me that seven years ago I started You Sing I Write with a dream to cover concerts and interview bands. It was a very lofty goal at the time but one I was so sure of, more than anything else in my life at the time. Getting to where I am today was a long journey, full of highs and lows. I definitely hit rock bottom too. Living in Brooklyn with a dwindling savings account and no steady paycheck, the freelance life was hard. But it’s those difficult times that test you and for me, there was no plan B. Music journalism was it. I refused to settle for a boring corporate job that I dreaded waking up every day for.

Years later, I came to learn that family members and friends often questioned my path and wondered when I’d give up this crazy dream for a “real job.” Today, though they marvel at my persistence and determination to make this career work. I’ve been asked for career and freelance advice a lot recently and it always surprises me that people want to know my story.

For me, music was always a major passion, as was writing. From the first time I covered a concert (Gavin DeGraw at Rutgers University for The Daily Targum), I was hooked. It was as if a light bulb went off. I remember standing in the front row of the show, notebook and pen in one hand and camera in the other and it clicked: if I could do this for the rest of my life, I would. From there it was countless internships at Jane Magazine, MTV News and Rolling Stone. While interning and freelancing for free was definitely not easy, along the way there were signs I was headed in the right direction. An internship turned into paid work, a simple blog post turned into more review requests. And the more people I met in the industry, the more contacts I gained and the opportunities started lining up.

Hanson

Seven years ago, I never imagined I’d have a byline in Rolling Stone, Billboard, MTV News, AOL or Marie Claire but somehow it happened. And then, after a trip with some friends to Nashville for CMA Fest this boy band loving girl (that’s Hanson above, fyi), turned into a country fan. Who would have thought?

I eventually landed my first full-time gig at CBS Local back in 2012 and things felt like they finally were falling into place. It was a job where I actually got to write every day for a living. While I had always dreamed this was a possibility, I was starting to have my doubts. The gig has allowed me to meet some of my favorite artists and to sit down and have in-depth chats with them about their music, life and songwriting. Truly a dream come true, this little blog helped me get to where I am today.

Darius Rucker

The past seven years came full circle this year when I got to sit down with Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys (my childhood obsession) as well as Darius Rucker, who really made me fall in love with country music. Hearing the stories behind their songs and realizing that they are just regular people is always refreshing. I’m not sure who else this field will bring me into contact with, but I have a feeling the next seven years will bring even more moments to write about. And hey, who knows, maybe all these adventures will make their way into a book one day.

Thanks for reading and being a part of my journey over the past seven years. Here’s to many more years ahead!