1. Hi Emily, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? I am from Ajax, ON. Pretty much been singing since I could open my mouth. I use to sing myself to sleep as a child, ever since I did that my parents knew I was a singer. That’s pretty much how it all began.
2. What was the first country CD you ever bought and when did you know you wanted a career in country music? My first country CD was Shania Twain. I knew country music would be for me after I had tried out for my grade 8 talent show and my teacher had told me I reminded him of The Dixie Chicks. I quickly ran home to find out what they were all about. Since then country has had my heart!
3. What is the background story behind your newest single “Me or the Whiskey?” The one thing that I wanted to communicate through this song, is that the majority of us have had our fair share of partying, and for most of us it’s a fun thing we do on weekends, but for anyone who has been in a relationship with someone who drinks heavily on a regular basis can tell you about the heartache & damage it can cause to you & every single relationship that they are a part of. Alcohol abuse is one of the leading addictions many people face. I hope that this message can connect with the listener on a more personal and emotional level.
4. If you could sing a duet with a famous singer or group who would it be and why? Hands down Chris Stapleton, he is such a talented writer and artist all around. His voice has soul and blues and he sings with so my emotion. To me that is real music when you can touch someone all around with your lyrics, your voice, and musical composition.
5. Is there anything else coming up with your music for the rest of 2019? Yes, I have new music always on the go, and I plan to try and have an EP out by the end of this year or beginning of next year!
6. What are some of your favorite venues or events to play at? Any country venue around town is always fun because those are where your true country music lovers are at, and they always have appreciation for country music!
7. How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Soulful, sultry, emotional
8. What is one of your favorite quotes? “Success is a series of small wins.”
9. Is there anything else you would like to share? Stay tuned, as I always have new music on the go and I can’t wait to share!
Emily Clair is a country singer and songwriter from Ontario. The love and inspiration for music started for Clair when she was 2 years old. As a child, her parents would often be caught her singing to herself to put herself to sleep as a child.
Growing up with a musical family, she was exposed to many different kinds of music and soon grew a love for country music. Over 10 years of vocal and piano lessons she soon decided to learn how to play the guitar. The acoustic guitar allowed Clair to grown as an artist, as she started to write her own music.
Clair’s music is originated from own story. Her lyrics are all personal from her past life experiences so that she can connect with people on a moving level. In 2018 her single “Running on Empty,” was released to Canadian Country Radio. She has also played shows around the Ontario route with her band or doing acoustic performances in songwriter rounds.
On April 29, 2019, Clair put out her new single “Me or the Whiskey,” and the song is available both on Spotify and iTunes. If you would like to find out more about Emily Clair you can check out her website at (http://emilyclair.ca).
Seth Cook is a country artist, a songwriter, and musician. He grew up in a tiny town of Yorktown, Indiana. Cook started his musical career at only 4 years old. He shared the stage with his mom and dad’s touring group. His first instrument was the drums, but then he started to play the guitar at 15 years old.
The guitar helped Cook to write his music. He had a publishing deal offer in Nashville before he even before moving there at the age of 20. A Little bit after moving to Nashville, Cook started to write songs for what would become his first official release. His first release was a 6 song EP that came out in 2015. He got some help from Grammy-nominated producer Matt McClure (Lee Brice, Dylan Scott and Kellie Pickler).
Cook has already put in countless hours on the stage headlining venues throughout the Midwest and continues to still grow his fan base by playing at fairs, festivals, and clubs all over the country. Cook has been an opening act for many popular countries acts like Lonestar, Rascal Flatts, Montgomery, Luke Bryan, Rodney Atkins, and Vince Gill. He’s also had the experience of being on tour playing lead guitar for artists like Brett Young (Thomas Rhett Tour) and Julie Roberts as well as many other independent artists.
Cook’s 2018 EP “Sleep is Not an Option” including his single “Show ‘Em How It’s Done,” has gained over one million streams. His brand new single “Slippin” was released today and is available to listen and download on both Spotify and iTunes. If you would like to know more about Seth Cook then check out his website at (www.sethcookmusic.com).
1. Hi Seth, how have you grown as a country singer in 2019? I have really enjoyed working on continually improving my live performance. I feel I’ve grown in so many ways. Learning how to connect to an audience of all ages is a challenge, but I have really loved getting to see the connection grow from show to show. I love watching fans dance to my music!
2. How did you come up with the name of your brand new single “Slippin?” One of the cowriters on the song threw out the idea. Then we worked on hooking it the right way and the song was written pretty fast. One of my favorite writes. I think there are influences you hear in it from many different genres. I love listening to a wide range of music and try and incorporate ideas into everything I work on. It is a really fun song and I hope everybody digs it!
3. What is the background story behind your new single? The story behind “Slippin’” is pretty much just not wanting to admit to someone you’re crushing hard for them lol. But deep down you’re having all the feels.
4. What was your process in creating this song? The process for recording my music is always changing, but recently I’ve started building a demo of the song at my home studio. Build the track and create a vibe that i’m feeling for it. I’m super lucky to have a great friend and producer Matt McClure that knows how to embellish my ideas and fine tune them. Also, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the song. The two of us working together is something I feel is really special.
5. Is there something you wish your fans would take away from your single? My goal with my music is to bring some fun to peoples day. I love dance music and light hearted poppy lyrics and melodies. I want people to feel good listening to it. My favorite music brings a ton of positivity to my life. I wanna do the same for other people with my music.
6. Was there any other artists or producers that helped to create this song? Touched on this earlier. My cowriters were Matt McClure, Marty Dodson, and Zarni De Vette. Loved writing this with them. Always a fun collaboration. And great people.
7. Is there anything else coming up with your music in 2019? I’m very excited to be touring the country performing and continuing to release new music to my fans. You can keep up with me at Sethcookmusic.com or @SethCookMusic on all social media platforms.
8. Is there anything else you would like to share? Can’t wait for y’all to hear my new single. Love for you to go check it out!!
Q&A (Brooke Ansley~ Brand New Single “Another Hit”):
1. How have you grown as a country artist in 2019? It’s been a huge year for me personally. I made a commitment to myself to follow my gut more, trust the process and have faith that things will work out exactly as they’re supposed to. Music can be a tough and expensive business, and often times I find myself swimming against the current and getting burnt out – so I decided with this song, if doors weren’t opening, I wasn’t going to fight the current. I’d just let it unfold on it’s own, and share my gift with the world in the only way I knew how – to sing it. But I gotta say, my new philosophy was really tested with this song. I actually wrote the song in the summer of 2018 and recorded it in October 2018, but didn’t receive the final produced version until April of 2019 (nearly 10 months after it was written!). There were times when I thought maybe it just wasn’t meant to be, but I reminded myself not to fight the process and allow things to work at the pace they needed to. It was a huge lesson in trust, but had it not taken that long for the song to be finished, I wouldn’t have had the music video footage to go along with the release. So once again it affirmed that divine timing is always more magical and efficient than any plan I could have laid out. 2. How did you come up with the name of your brand new single “Another Hit?” It pretty much named itself. There are so many meanings behind this song – there is the obvious metaphor which is that love is quite literally a drug, and every time we jump back into a relationship that has failed before, it’s like taking another hit of an addiction. Then there is the suggestion that maybe part of living a balanced life is sometimes taking a hit from love – the idea of closing your eyes and jumping, even when you’ve been hurt before, is necessary at times. I think it’s kind of fun that before hearing the song, the listener assumes that the title is referring to the song itself being a musical hit… it’s a little surprise for the listener as the actual meaning unfolds. I love a good twist on a hook 🙂 3. What is your background story behind your latest single? Obviously another failed relationship (ha!). I say that with a smile because the person who inspired this song is now a very good friend of mine, and I love him dearly, but we had one of those relationships that wasn’t sustainable. I think almost everyone can relate to that feeling. This song is for anyone who has a memory of a past love that was incredibly passionate but had to be let go of because it just wasn’t healthy. Needless to say, he and I make way better friends… and great songs, apparently. 4. What was your process in creating this new song? Over the last 3 years i’ve been developing a daily meditation practice, and this is the first song I’ve ever written from a place truly tapped into that meditative connection. Before the hook came to me, I lit a candle, burned some palo santo, and took a deep breath. I sat in silence for a few minutes and just felt what I was feeling at the core of me, and what came up was “take another hit. we know where it’s goin, take another hit.” And then the song just flowed from there. It was pretty crazy how quickly it began to take shape. After coming up with the concept and a few verse/chorus ideas, I met with two of my songwriting friends, Brad Wray and Dru DeCaro, and the guys helped me shape it into the song it is today.
5. Is there something you wish your fans would take away from this new single? I hope listeners get the message to stop judging themselves for the decisions they’ve made in the past. This song is about being aware of the decisions we’re making, knowing we might hurt ourselves, but jumping anyway. Falling in love anyway. Having the experience anyway, even if the recovery is painful. Life is full of wrong turns and taking hits to the gut. Just like Elizabeth Gilbert says in Eat Pray Love, “sometimes losing balance for love is part of living a balanced life.” 6. Was there any other artists or producers that helped to create this song? Bradford Hunter Wray and Dru DeCaro. Brad is actually the person who pushed me to start writing my own songs 7 years ago — I rarely release or finish a song without running it by him first. Dru is an amazing guitarist, producer, and songwriter and brings his own unique vibe to my music. Each of us has a different musical background, so we get this ecclectic sound every time we work together. Also it’s cool because we’re all from Maryland, I like that we get to rep our home town 🙂 7. Is there anything else coming up with your music in 2019? I’m just going to faith bomb “Another Hit” into the ethers and go from there 🙂 We shall see…
With their different strengths and unbending friendships, the members of the country group Campbell Station have a special bond that moves them and raises their music. Showcasing powerful female vocals and guitar, the three of them never stop to deliver wonderful and entertaining live shows.
Their new album will come out on May 31. The 4 EP’s will come out in the course of a year (South, West, North, and East), and this Q&A is about “South.” The main reason behind the EP is finding a location to belong and a place that feels like home, and the story will keep going through the other albums once they are released on a later date.
Q&A:
1. Hi Campbell Station, how have you guys’ grown as a country music group in 2019?
We have had some major opportunities in 2019 that we haven’t had in the past – one is a HUGE festival that we will be able to announce soon (stay tuned!) and another is that we get to play the famous Bluebird Café this year. We have also grown musically – we are releasing our second EP in a couple of weeks, and we are writing for some movie soundtracks as well. Our creativity has developed as our opportunities have grown.
2. What is the background story behind you guys’ “South EP” and what is your favorite song off this EP?
C: We have 4 EP’s being released in the next couple of years: South, West, North, and East. Seth came to us with this idea, and we immediately loved it. I am fully obsessed with the title track, “South”. We wrote it together with our friend Emily Reeves, and it is based off an experience I had while I was living in Boston. The imagery and the feelings are so raw and real in this track. It is my favorite song we have ever written.
E: I also love “South”. It’s one of the songs we have that really brings out the emotion in me when we sing. It’s just something about the story, music, melody, and harmony together. I love “Last Cigarette” for the same reasons. It starts out softer and by the last chorus I’m giving it all I have vocally and emotionally! I think you can tell on stage when we sing them. I’ve always loved songs that have some sadness in them. Also for me personally, all the songs kind of represent milestones and memories – all our hard work we’ve put in, what we’ve gone through, how we’ve grown, fun we’ve had, spur of the moment ideas, chances we’ve taken… I’m proud!
3. What are you looking forward about your new EP coming out on May 31, 2019?
We are mainly just hoping that the fans love it as much as we do, and that they understand the story we are trying to convey. We’re also really looking forward to performing these songs in some new places and getting to meet new people everywhere we go. And we obviously are hoping to get on the charts and perhaps be added to some really cool playlists!
4. Is there something you wish your fans would take away from your guys’ new music?
C: The principle message I’d like to convey is the importance of the journey, and being able to enjoy the process of finding one’s self.
E: Yes! Our experiences and what we decide to take from those experiences help us to become stronger people. I also hope they can hear us growing and exploring different sounds. I want them to know there’s even more to come. I hope they can hear the attention to detail and ear candy too. 🙂
5. If you had to describe in your music in 3 to 5 words what would they be?
C: unique, genuine, lovely 🙂
E: soulful, collaborative, fun, OUR ART haha! 🙂 (the haha doesn’t count)
6. Was there any other artists or producers that helped to create this great song? **EP
S: There were so many amazing people who helped on this project. Robbie Artress is like our “fourth member” of the group and our main producer. Whenever we begin on a recording project, Seth and Robbie do most of the foundation of building the songs. Robbie has done a great job at networking with lots of talented musicians regularly, so we get to use them as well when we really need that certain sound or instrument. It usually takes us 3-4 months to record an EP because we’re lucky enough to be able to explore all the creative routes possible within that time.
7. Is there anything else coming up with your music in 2019?
S: We plan on having the second part in our series of EPs out called “West”. It’ll have more of that western vibe and a little darker in tone and subject matter, but it still falls in line with the theme of finding home and a place to belong. And we’ve always discussed doing a Christmas album, so maybe this will be the year for that!
Hello David, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician?
I was born in Littleton, Colorado. We then moved to Houston, Texas, then Cartagena, Columbia, and then Arlington, Texas. It was in Arlington that I started playing guitar. I started writing music when I was 13. Before I picked up a guitar I used to write a lot of poetry as a kid. I’ve always had a penchant for writing. When I began learning how to play an instrument, I realized that I enjoyed marrying lyrics with melody. There is a magical feeling that comes with creating something out of thin air. I grew up in a very religious household. My mom was from West Virginia and my Dad grew up in Columbia. His folks were missionaries. I moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada when I was 21.
2. When did you start listening to country music and when did you know you wanted a career in it?
It’s funny because I personally listen to Hard Rock and Metal most of the time, but I write predominantly Country now. Just given all of the places I’ve lived, almost all of them (excluding Columbia) have had a very strong Country theme. Back in Texas, we grew up listening to George Strait. I would say he was my favorite artist at that time and I still love his music. My Papa (my Mom’s dad) was a huge Johnny Cash fan. So we listened to him a lot when we would visit them. As an artist, Country music was something I’ve always dabbled in since I was about 19 or so. I’ve gone back and forth with it since then. At the age of 34, I realized that Country was the place I was best suited to. Music was always my focus but for a long time I thought I might just stick with being a songwriter and try and write for other artists; just because I liked to write across all genres. It made it difficult for me to choose to wear one hat. I’ve always loved so many aspects of Country music. Nashville players are some of the best in the world. I love the story telling, the melodies, the sincerity and the humility to Country music
3. Who are some of your musical icons?
From the Country realm, I would say George Strait. I always enjoyed how genuine he seemed. Honesty is an important trait for me when it comes to music. A real rancher with a great voice and what seemed like a good heart.
It sounds strange I suppose coming from a Country artist, but Corey Taylor is one of my biggest icons. He’s the frontman for Stone Sour and Slipknot. Slipknot is one of my favorite bands of all time.
4. What is the background story behind your latest song “A Little Light?”
“A Little Light” is about how much we struggle for a piece of peace. All the trials and bad times we go through that produce the moments and gifts in life, however brief they may be. Facing so much darkness for just a little light. It seems daunting at times but when we see that bit of light, we know it was all worth the cost to create that spark of hope. There is great beauty in the sadness.
5. Where are some of your favorite venues or events to play at?
One of my favorite recent experiences was at a local coffee shop. I played with two other local artists. It was a songwriters showcase. There, we had the pleasure of telling our stories behind the songs to the audience. It was a wonderful way to connect with people and create new fans in a meaningful way.
Other than that, the best events are the ones where people strictly go for the music. Often times as struggling independent artists, we tend to be in the background. So when I get a chance to perform at events where people are just there for the music, I revel in it.
6. What do you like to do in your free time when you are not working on your music?
I am a full time musician, but in my part time I am a CrossFit coach. I’ve been in the fitness industry for the last 10 years and did some competing with it as well. I’m also a pretty big video game nerd!
7. What is your recording process like when creating new music?
It varies. When it comes to the creative process, I feel it’s best for me to just let it flow. I don’t like to force things, otherwise, it creates dishonest music. Many times I dream songs, voice memo it in the middle of the night and then wake up and start writing/recording. I like to keep things as simple as possible. It can be easy to overdo it but the less is more approach is a good motto to keep in the forefront of the process. I always try my best to speak from the heart.
8. What is one of your favorite quotes?
I tend to write my own quotes/mantras. One of the benefits of being a writer. I would say one of my favorite quotes I’ve written is:
“Your journey does not begin with the stars, it starts in the dirt.”
It’s a reminder that most of us have to struggle quite a lot to get anywhere. Life is hard earned, especially the achievements that are worth the toil. Never expect to be handed anything. You have to fight for everything.
10. Is there anything else you would like to share?
I think that pretty much covers it! Thank you for reaching out and asking more about who I am as a person and an artist. It’s always enjoyable to open up and let people discover more about who you are as a creative person.
David Bradford is a strong acoustic singer and songwriter from Calgary, Alberta. He was born in the United States and he started connecting with words and music at an early age, as a means to channel his hardships of trying to make his music dreams come true.
After he moved to Calgary in 2006, Bradford started playing upwards of 90 plus show’s each show. He played in clubs, restaurants and, bars. In 2016, Bradford recruited Juno Award Winning producer Russell Broom, to produce his first EP “Cry Your Sleep.” This song was recorded in Calgary at Broom Closet Studios. This was Bradford’s first time being in an actual studio. In 2018, Bradford recorded a Country EP “It’s Okay.”
Bradford is among Canada’s most popular unsigned songwriter and artists. He has worked with Emmy award and winning producer Jamie Houston from Nashville and co-wrote the song “Make it to the Diamond.” This song has been picked for Spotify’s “Down Home Country playlist. This playlist showcases new and popular country tunes.
On April 5, 2019, Bradford put out his latest single “A Little Light,” and it is available to listen to on Spotify and iTunes. If you would like to find out more about David Bradford then check out his website at (https://www.dgbradford.com).
Nashville singer and songwriter Hannah May Allison put out her brand new single, “Right Now,” today on May 17, 2019. This song is a country/pop song about not falling into trap of waiting for a person who does not want to commit. This song connects to what happens to many girls- falling for a guy who is not ready to be in a meaningful relationship. Many females in this type problem will stay around because they hope in vain that the guy will eventually be ready for a serious relationship. Most of the time they will get their heart broken. “Right Down,” is a powerful message for any girl waiting around to be love. Hannah shares, “She thinks many girls need to hear that if the guy they are with is not willing to go all in, then you are better off without him. Also Hannah shares it is a easy trap to fall into, especially in our generation, to wait around in hopes of being ready for a relationship.” Hannah May Allison, Casey Cattie and Lauren McLamb wrote this song. The song can also be found on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon.
Bio about Hannah May Allison:
Nashville singer/songwriter Hannah May Allison grew up in Palo Alto, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley, and a half-hour drive to San Francisco. Like most California girls, Hannah May grew up listening to pop music. But she also developed a deep love of traditional country music through the influence of her mother, formerly a professional country singer who hails from the western plains of Kansas. Being a part of such a musical family, Hannah started singing and writing songs on the guitar in high school and moved to Nashville right after graduation. Hannah May’s laid back West Coast personality mixed with her southern roots makes her the definition of California country.
Hannah has written with some of Nashville’s best writers, played at top venues like the world-famous Bluebird Cafe, and has secured cuts with other artists. Hannah loves connecting with her fans online and has built a following through posting originals and covers on instagram. Her latest single, “Stand Corrected,” got 3000 spins on Spotify and 4000 views on the music video within the first week. The single helped her get noticed by CMT, and she is now a part of their selective CMT/Ram Trucks artist mentorship program this year. She is working on releasing her next single, “Right Now”, which will be out May 17th! Keep an eye out for her on tour and for anything new up coming next at (http://hannahmayallison.com).
1. Hello Rachel, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before becoming a country singer? Hi! So I grew up singing pretty much all my life. It started with singing along to Shania cassette tapes with a little microphone around the house. Growing up, I would perform at school talent shows and sing in the children’s choir at church. Then in high school, I performed in show choir all four years and loved it. After graduation, I was set to attend Purdue University but close to the start of classes, I decided last minute to instead move to Nashville and chase my dream!
2. What was the first country album you ever listened to and when did you know you wanted a career in country music? I think Shania Twain’s “Come On Over” record was the first one I ever listened to. Shania got me to start singing very early on. Then when Carrie Underwood released her “Some Hearts” album, I began to love singing. And that album is the reason I became a vocalist and taught me so much. But it wasn’t until high school, when I fell in love with performing that I viewed it seriously as something I would want to pursue as a career.
3. Who are some of your musical icons? I pretty much like any kind of music but some of my musical icons are Whitney Houston (my favorite singer ever), Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. All of these women helped shape me into the vocalist I am. Also I credit so many artists who I look up to for helping me discover various creative sides of my songwriting and artistic direction. Taylor Swift and H.E.R. are a couple.
4. What is the background story behind your latest single “How Lucky?” The idea for “How Lucky” actually started when I randomly thought of the first two lines of the song one day. I made a voice memo of it but honestly never touched it for years! I so loved the idea of it and was scared that I would finish writing it and hated it. But one day I was in a write and for some reason I knew it was time. I pulled the voice memo up and we wrote it all that day!
5. Is there anything else new coming up with your music in 2019? I just released my debut EP, “Lucky” so I plan on playing a lot of fun shows this year, singing those songs and maybe some new ones too! A music video and new march is also in the works so be on the look out for those!
6. Where are a few of your favorite events or venues to play at? One of my absolute favorite events to play is Whiskey Jam. It’s such an amazing opportunity for upcoming artists to be a part of and it’s always a party! Also any writer’s rounds I get to do with friends is the best. Some of my favorite venues are Ole Red here in Nashville (I play on Monday nights there!) and also Moonshine Flats out in San Diego!
7. What do you like to do in your free time when not working or playing music? I love food and trying out new restaurants in town since there are so many great ones. Love spending time with friends and family. Also, the occasional lazy day watching Netflix (mostly Grey’s Anatomy) is one of my fave past times to
8. What is one of your favorite quotes? “Good things come to those who wait.” My mom has always said this and it has given me so much comfort in many situations.
9. Is there anything else you would like to share? Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to share with people a little bit more about who I am and what my music is like! My debut EP “Lucky” is currently out. Download it on iTunes or stream it on Spotify and give ya girl a follow! Hope you love it!
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