Hello Chancie, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician?

I didn’t grow up in a musical family. My dad loved country music but other than listening to music, it was foreign. I grew up training horses and running barrels. I was actually a world champion barrel racer at age 9. I started playing music when I was 13 and moved to Nashville when I was 15, so music became my life very early on.

What was the first country concert you ever attended?

I went to see Brad Paisley- Rodney Atkins and Taylor Swift opened in Bossier City, Louisiana. My mind was completely blown! 

What is the background story behind your latest single “Rodeo Money?”

I grew up training and breaking horses and traveling all over the US competing in rodeos. Sometimes that one paycheck was only enough to pay your fuel to get to the next one, but it made you feel like you were on top of the world.  

I always say that growing up in the world of rodeo prepared me to have a career in music. It’s a lot of late nights, sleeping wherever you can, miles and miles of highways and a ton of hard work and responsibility. You have to work hard if you want to win. Music is so similar! 

Is there anything new coming up with your music in 2020?

I have 3 singles planned for 2020! My next single is going to be a song I wrote by myself called “Flowers Can’t Fix” and I am so proud to be able to say that. The one after that is going to rock the boat a little. It’s called “Hell Mary” and it just may be my favorite song on the EP.

Do you have any New Year Resolutions for 2020?

I really want to do a tour in Europe. That is more of a goal that a resolution, but I love how country music is becoming so global and I would love to have that opportunity. Also, I am a very active person with horses and a farm, and I love working out- so getting in the best shape of my life is a big focus for me this year while also loving myself no matter what my body looks like. I encourage everyone to do that!

How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words?

ACTUALLY country, True to me, Tells you a story

What are some of your favorite venues or events to play at?

I love playing festivals. I get to meet so many new people and fans in those settings. And they are music LOVERS. When I sing and someone who has never heard of me comes up and compliments my singing or my songs, it never ever gets old and takes me back to my roots of why I fell in love with it so much. I also got to play the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this year and that was a bucket list show for me!

What is one of your favorite quotes?

“Only dead fish go with the flow”

It’s a little “out there” but that’s what I love about it. I am not sure who said it, but it spoke to me because Lord knows I do not go with the flow. My other favorite is “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” -Mark Twain. As a songwriter, I can totally relate. We tend to dissect every word in a song and it matters.

1. Hello JT, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country music artist? I like a lot of  boys, I thought I was going to be a pro baseball or basketball player haha…. I was obsessed with  sports, they were my first love… but as I became an adult this hidden dream of being on the radio and playing big stages stole my focus and I’ve been dreaming of that ever since
2. What was the first country concert you ever attended? Reba!!! She was incredible!!! At the Shark Tank in San Jose. Amazing stage presence, great performer, just as good as it gets 
3. What is the background story behind your brand new song “If I Ain’t Got You?” Well this is a very special song to me…. I wrote this song about me and my girlfriend, we broke up very soon after I started this song…  it was my FIRST ever write in Nashville. I Brought what I had written and Derek George finished it with me, and made it a million times better… my last single “Heaven Lost An Angel” I was very proud of, but it was a little more serious, I like that this song is more fun and light-hearted…. all the money and things in the world don’t matter if you don’t have someone special to share them with 🙂
4. How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Feels. PARTY!!  truthful FUN!!! HopefulI’m touching on everything with my music 
5. Is there anything else new coming up with your music in 2020? There will be a lot!!! There will be some awesome music videos, and at least three more singles coming this year… probably some other surprises as well, but I can’t tell you everything 😉
6. If you could sing a duet with any singer or group who would it be and why?  John Fogerty… or Bob Seger, those are my two favorite voices  of all time 
7. What are some of your favorite venues or events to play at? We play so many great places and I’ve had the privilege of being on stage for some amazing events and festivals… My band and I built most of our Fan base at Moonshine Flats and Moonshine beach in San Diego, simply amazing venues, and We played Stoneys in Las Vegas as well a few years back.  Old Crow in Huntington Beach, CA is also one of our favorites. As far as festivals, we opened for Jake Owen and Josh Abbot band at Coastal Country Jam and later that month played Stagecoach Festival the same day as Luke Combs, LANco, Thomas Rhett and Kenny Chesney… that was an amazing day 
8. What is one of your favorite quotes? The Harder You Work, the luckier you get …. I don’t know who said it, but it has held true in my life. 
9. Is there anything else you would like to share? The support so far from all the amazing people that have been with me for years as well as the thousands of you that are hearing my music for the first time, from the bottom of my heart I appreciate everything. We’re gonna keep this train movin !! gonna give you guys all the feels!

Q&A:

Questions:

1.     Hello Haley, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician?

2.     What is the background story behind your latest single “Slowly?”

3.     Is there anything new coming up with your music in 2020?

4.     Does your family play an important part in your music career?

5.     How would you describe your music in three to five words?

6.     What are some of your favorite venues or events to play at?

7.     What was the first country album you bought?

8.     What is one of your favorite quotes?

9.     Is there anything else you would like to share?

Answers:

1. I’ve been surrounded by music my whole life. My dad works in country music, so I’ve been around it for years! I started doing background vocals for his clients before I got the bug to start writing my own music! I wrote my first song when I was 12, and as expected…it was awful! Nevertheless, I kept on and really fell in love with the process. I just finished writing for my first album! 

2. When I started writing “Slowly”, I reached out to my friend Sego. I sent him the voice memo, and he loved the idea so less than a week later I met up with him, he made the track, I recorded vocals and that was that. I had been through a really complicated relationship that was headed in a bad direction. I knew it wasn’t going to last so I decided to end things before I got hurt. I was talking to my best friend about it, and I said,” I just can’t stand to watch him let me go”. As soon as I said it, I wrote it down in my phone and later that night I started writing. 

3. I just finished writing for my first album, so the next couple of months will be full of studio sessions, to finish up production and track vocals! I’m shooting for the album to be out before the summer. I’m so excited to share the new music. It comes from a very vulnerable place, and I just hope that my listeners can relate to them! 

4. My family plays such an important role in my music. My mom is the most supportive person and is always excited to listen to my new stuff! I wouldn’t have a career at all if it wasn’t for my dad. He is the sole reason I have made the connections that I have made and have been able to create the music that I have created. I am so thankful for everything he does. My brother is also such an important person in my life. We are only three years apart, so he always knows what’s “current”. He’s usually the first person I share my music with because I know he will give me an honest opinion. 

5. Honest, Powerful, and Fun. I try to be as open and honest with my music as possible. Some of the hardest things I have had to go through are expressed through my songs. I try to make music that I would want to listen to, which is usually something that you can put on in the car when you’re riding around with your friends, screaming the music at the top of your lungs! 

6. I love to play anywhere downtown! The bigger the crowd, the better! I did play the bluebird when I was 17, and I had the time of my life! As fun as big crowds are, there is something so special about the small intimate settings!

7. The first pop album I bought was Aly and AJ “Insomniac”. I still have it in my car and sing my heart out just like my little 7-year-old self did! The first country album I bought was Carrie Underwood “Some hearts”. I watched her on American Idol, and when she released her album, I was so excited to get my hands on it! 

8. “Take everything with a grain of salt” People are so hard on themselves, and especially in my generation everyone is so quick to judge others, without really knowing much about them. I don’t want to live my life with any regrets, so I try to not take myself too seriously. At the end of the day I want to enjoy making music! 

9. I am so excited to share my music with everyone this year! I want to say thank you to everyone for sticking with me so far and being so supportive of everything that I have released. 2020 is going to be a year full of music and performances, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear what I’ve been working on for the past four years!

Hello Elizabeth, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? Born and raised in the Midwest… I’ve always had a love for music and performing. I’ve always had a town of energy and when I put my mind to something I do everything to try to get it done. 

What was the first country concert you ever attended?
Kenny Chesney at Soldier’s Field with Luke Bryan as the opener!

What is the background story behind your brand new song “24?”

“24” is an ode to being in your twenties and not knowing what is next in life. I wrote the lyrics when I was 24 in Nashville and finished ’24’ when I was 27 with co-writers in New York City. There aren’t enough songs about being in your twenties and wanted to tap into those feelings and emotions of this chapter of life. Listen HERE. 

Many are prepared for the transition between high school and college, but few are ready for the real world after graduating college” It’s the first time in your life when everyone is in different stages of their life; some of my friends are in relationships, some are completely single, some have defined dreams, some are still figuring out their passions, some people are making money, some are struggling.

“24” has been 4 years in the making and a fan favorite during Lyons live show. “24” is about feeling lost and not knowing what will happen in the future but following your heart even when there’s no clear road and finding out where you’re supposed to be and who you’re supposed to be. We did a lot of stack percussive and toms stuff playing around with keys and guitar throughout evoking and the confusion one has in life.

Is there anything else new coming up with your music in 2020? Yes! I’m super excited about the next single! It’s my always been a favorite of mine.

What are some of your favorite venues or events to play at? I recently had the privilege of singing the National anthem at Yankee Stadium Playoff Game and it was a dream come true. Its important to honor our country and veterans.

How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Empowering, Inspiring, Real

.If you could sing a duet with any singer or group who would it be and why? I got to open up for Little Big Town at one of my favorite festivals Country Fest. They called me the girl that sang in the rain because I did my entire set regardless of the rain. “Boondocks” was one of the first country songs I could not stop replaying over and over again. It would be a dream come true to do a duet with them because I love how they use their music to spread a message.

What is one of your favorite quotes? “STOP TRYING TO PREDICT THE FUTURE!  Stop wasting your time thinking about what CAN happen and start spending your time MAKING SOMETHING HAPPEN TODAY!”

Is there anything else you would like to share? I’m so grateful to record and release this new single communicating my struggles as I know all 20 somethings experience and where I’ve been personally and continue to go through. My single’s goal is to try and help other 20 somethings know they’re not alone – we all feel it. Putting this message into music is a real gift. These songs feel more personal and more rooted in my truth than ever before and I’m so excited and nervous to share them with you. Thanks for being on this journey with me and being patient while I focused on writing and what I wanted to say to the world. I also thought would be cool given it’s 2020 – to release my ode to the 20’s in the 20s!

This is a twenty-year old’s anthem “24” I co-wrote with Charlie Brennan, Jonny Fung, and JD Pinto in New York City, produced by Johnny Dibb (produced Lacy Cavalier, Taylor Edwards and more), mixed by Jonathan Roye (Kelsea Ballerini, Jana Kramer, and more), and mastered by Daniel Bacigalupi (Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum and more) in Nashville. I worked with Nashville photographer Alex Berger (Abby Anderson, Jon Langston and more) on album art and the music video shot in New Orleans to be released on January 31.