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

Sure!! Growing up I loved music and was always creating and writing songs in my head. When I was 8-years-old, I was doing some acting in Los Angeles and one day I was singing in the break room. Someone had overheard me and handed my mom a music producer’s card. We went to visit him and over the years, he became a wonderful mentor, supporting and guiding me through the industry. We produced a very fun song and music video together! When I was 11, my agent had me try out for a Kidz Bop audition. Out of thousands, I found myself invited to Dallas along with 11 other boys and girls for a boot camp. I am still the best of friends with the kids I met there. I didn’t make the final cut, but they told my parents I had a raw talent that needed developing, which launched me into a whole new exciting world! Three to four days a week, we were driving to LA for dance classes, guitar lessons, vocal coaching and so much more, and I absolutely loved every minute of it.

2. What made you want a career in country music?

After Kidz Bop, I decided to learn to play the guitar and I took to it like a fish takes to water. It was as natural to me as eating or sleeping! I was so excited about my first guitar as it was given to me in reward for babysitting. My guitar teacher was in a country band, and he really understood me! He developed my skills and told me I was going to be a country singer one day. At first, I didn’t believe him, but then it clicked because even at a young age, I knew I loved country music! The stories country music tells mesmerized me, and I began learning as much as I could about the women in country music who paved the path!!

3. What is the background story behind your brand-new single “Hideaway?”

“Hideaway” boils down to “letting go and letting God.” It’s a bluesy song that reminds us to not be someone who we aren’t, but to embrace who we are meant to be in this world. Don’t hide away but go and be your best self every day! That’s where you’ll find peace and serenity. 

4. How did you come up with the title “Hideaway,” for your new song?

Gabby Neeley, who I co-wrote “Hideaway” with, came to my house one day and when we created the song, the title just clicked! Don’t let your flame go out, don’t hide it away, let your light shine. 

5. How was it working with Jamie O’Neal?

Jamie O’Neal is so talented, beautiful, helpful and kind. She shares her knowledge freely, and we communicate with such an easy understanding. It’s effortless when we work together! It’s so cool that she did background vocals on this song. She has such a powerful voice!

6. What is your recording process like when creating and making new music?

I love more than anything to collaborate with the studio musicians, and we all really guide each other through the process. Trying new things, listening to each other’s ideas, laughing, telling stories and bringing it home! It’s an amazing experience, and I feel like I learn so much from them. I admire their Nashville number system so much and hope someday to learn it. We just work till we get it done, and then get to watch the engineering magic happen!

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

Happy, insightful, meaningful, personal. 

8. Who are some of your musical icons?

Tanya Tucker, Shania Twain, Dolly Parton. 

9. What is one of your favorite quotes?

“Some people go a lot further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.” Helping others is what makes our lives purposeful. 

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

I just hope you all enjoy my song “Hideaway!” I have another song coming out late March, so please stay tuned! Thank you so much for your support!! Stay safe!

1. Hello Sydni, can you tell us all a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? Throughout my life, music has been a huge channel for my personal growth and healing. I always had dreams of sharing my songs with the world, but never thought it was a possibility. I thought I would be a dentist, a teacher, and even a geologist. I knew I always wanted to do something to help people. Then, I decided “why not help others heal through my music, just like my music has helped me heal?!” and went for it! 
2. Who are some of your musical icons? Some of my many musical icons include the honorary Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Trisha Yearwood, Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain, Chris Young, Jo Dee Messina, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Eagles, Jackson Browne, and Fleetwood Mac. 
3. What is your recording process like when creating and making new music? The recording process is so much fun! It’s so amazing to be able to be in such a creative space with awesome musicians. It’s such a surreal experience seeing your music and lyrics that you’ve worked so hard on turn into something that you’re so proud of. We go in to lay down instrumental tracks with scratch vocals. Then, I come back into the studio to record my vocals over the completed tracks. After that, if there are any other things we want to tweak, we do it then. Then the tracks get mixed! It’s such a cool and fun process. 
4. What is the background story behind your latest single “Dirt Road Daisy?” “Dirt Road Daisy” came to me one night when I was going to bed. I had a denim jacket with a floral embroidered pattern on the back hanging on a hook on my wall. As I looked at it, the melody and title words came to my mind and I instantly started writing. I hold my family and values very close to my heart, especially when it comes to all the strong women in my life and those before me in my family line. Their strength, love, and character have been so prominent in my life when it comes to who I aspire to be to make them proud. This song is for the women in my family, as well as all girls and women in the world to feel their roots deep in their family ties. 
5. What is your favorite song off your Sydni Cole’s (4 Songs EP)? My favorite song off my EP? Can I pick all of them?! Just kidding! I love how all of them have such different sounds, but are all cohesively “me” at the same time. My honorary choice would be “Dirt Road Daisy” because of my family, but I would have to go with “Blame Game”. This song surprisingly isn’t one of my favorite songs that I’ve written, but I was shocked when I heard how well it was turning out. It turned out greater than I could have ever imagined and, I’ll admit, “Blame Game” gets stuck in my head quite a lot! 
6. How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Written to uplift and empower. 
7. What are a few of your favorite venues to play at?  Due to the pandemic and when my musical career started recently, I haven’t had many opportunities to play at venues yet. I am looking to play at many writers’ rounds. My absolute dream would be able to play at the Opry someday though! 
8. What do you like to do in your free time? I love to spend time with my family and go on road trips in my free time. One of my favorite road trips I’ve ever been on was a Route 66 trip I took with my mom a few years back! We had so many great experiences driving across the country and meeting such amazing people along the way. 
9. What is one of your favorite quotes? “Sometimes, your most driving forces aren’t your greatest memories.” – Garth Brooks
10. Is there anything else you would like to share?  A fun fact about me is that for 13 (ages 6-19 y.o.) years, I played ice hockey!

1. Hi Hunter, can you tell us all a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? I graduated high school in 2012 and decided I’d go to the fire academy that fall. I remember being in the academy and being passionate about music. I was always showing the guys in my class new music I had discovered, though I did not play guitar or write songs yet. After I graduated that Winter, the job hunt began. It took me 3 years to find a firefighting job. In that time, I waited tables at Harrah’s Casino In Kansas City. Then attended Community College in Springfield, MO where I started learning how to play guitar in my 600 square foot apartment. 
2. What made you want a career in country music? I didn’t know I wanted a career in country music. At first, I just wanted to be good enough to play around the camp fire, or play a song or two at a party my friends were having. Then, as I progressed, I started getting some good feedback from my friends. They may have been lying to me, because lord knows I was probably horrendous, but their encouragement back then carried me all the way to where I find myself now. I can’t thank those early believers enough. Then, I wrote my first song “Can’t Get Enough,” and the reaction to that song was unreal. I still have people tell me all the time it is their favorite song of mine. It felt great to sing a song people loved that you wrote yourself. I still get that same high to this day when I write/record a song and people love it. That is what has kept me going. 
3. Who are some of your musical icons? When I was young, one of my first memories is listening country music. I vividly remember riding to the creek for a swim with my family and hearing “My Maria” blaring out of the speakers. I also remember hearing my dad’s tapes in his truck. Our favorite was Mark Chesnutt’s album. The song “Almost Goodbye” was our jam! I remember always asking my dad “Who sings this?” and he would always tell me. From an early age, I wanted to know who to give credit to for the music I was enjoying. Fast forward to today, I really love the Texas country music scene. Cody Johnson, Koe Wetzel, Randall King, Turnpike Troubadours, Flatland Cavalry, and William Clark Green are some of my favorites, but that just scratches the surface of who I listen to. But, my favorite artist of all time is Eric Church. He has shaped my perspective about music and continues to inspire me with every record he puts out.  
4. What is the background behind your latest single “Alone in the Lone Star”?  “Alone in the Lone Star” was not my idea at all. It was the third song I wrote with my good friend Joe Costa. The first two songs we had written were both my ideas, but the day we wrote Lone Star, I was out of ideas. When I asked him if he had any ideas he simply said “Not really, but I do have one line.” He had just talked to a friend on the phone who lives in Texas. His friend said he was drinking Ranch Water which is Vodka and Topo Chico. He sang the first line of the song, “Tonight I’m drinkin’ vodka and Topo Chico.” Something about that line alone drew me in, so I said, let’s work with that, and see where we end up! 
5. What is your recording process like when creating and making new music? Get the song written correctly. Get it to a spot you are extremely happy with, but also, don’t over think it too much. Get a simple iPhone Recording so you have the melody, chord progression, and lyrics. Then, when you are ready to take the song to the studio, tell your producer if you have a vision for how the song should sound, or send them a reference song if you want it to be in the same world as something that has already been done. If you have no idea what direction the song should go, just let the producer and the session players go to work. I’m extremely lucky to have a Producer that I trust. Kenny Royster at Direct Image Studio always nails my recordings and I never have any regrets about how the songs come out. The session players he gets in there are world class, and have played on songs that have collectively been played around the world billions of times. It’s honestly overwhelming to think about. 
6. What are few of your favorite venues to play at? There are 3 shows I can think of right off the top of my head that I’ve had the pleasure of playing multiple times. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival. This festival has thousands of people show up. They love original music. The people who book it have been gracious enough to put me on stage as Direct Support for the headliner both of the times I’ve played it. Dallas Safari Club Benefit in Casper, Wyoming. Though it’s not always the same venue, this group of people take care of the band and I and they support everything we do. We love playing for them, and we love the great cause they champion all over the world. The Cass County Fair. It is always incredible to play in front of my hometown crowd. They know every word to most of the songs. They are wild. I’m always reminded of my purpose and how valuable music is when I play at the fairgrounds in Pleasant Hill, MO. 
7. How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Full Name, Full Flavor Country
8. What do you like to do in your free time? I love hunting and fishing with my dad and brother. I love long drives to new places. I love skiing in the mountains.I don’t do any of these as much as I’d like. 
9. Is there anything else you would like to share? 2021 is going to be a big year for my music. I’m putting out a ton of new songs, music videos, and other content. I’m also going to play more shows this year than I ever have before. 
10. What is one of your favorite quotes?  Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. —Theodore Roosevelt 

1. Hello Nikita, can you tell us all a little bit about yourself, before you became a country artist?

Hi! Yeah of course I can. So my name is Nikita Skogen, I’m a 27 year old country artist and songwriter from Norway. I started to sing and Dance when I was just a little girl. I have always loved Music. So there was no doubt that I was gonna do something that had to do With Music. I was an active kid. I was a dancer and I tried gymnastics for a while. But I always ended up back With singing. When I was around 12 years old I started going to a vocal Coach. She said that she heard something in my voice and she believed that if I really wanted to, I could make something out of it. That made me believe in myself. I started to Write songs and I spent every day in my room, singing and dreaming. I recorded my first single when I was 12. Just for fun, for my own. I did some School performances and stuff. I went on auditions for Norwegian Idol, Norway’s got talent, x factor, etc. But it never went my way. But looking back, I am glad. Because they were right. I wasnt ready. I then recorded my first Public single in 2010. «I Wonder», a song by Kellie Pickler that I did a cover of. It was just released to youtube. As the years passed I felt that something wasnt right With my body. I felt so tired, always sick. In and out of hospitals etc. But the doctors never believed me. In 2014 when I gave birth to my daugther, it was like my body gave in. It didn’t want to work normaly anymore. I was tired all the time, I got sick just by doing the laundry and easy Things like that. I kept going in and out of hospitals, trying to figure out what was wrong. Finally in 2016 I got diagnosed With Fibromyalgia and ME. Not something you want, but it was an explanation to why I was feeling so sick. So to shorten Down the story I can say it like this. I am a stay at home mom because of my illness. I spend most of the day on the sofa or in bed. I have good days and bad days. But i 2020 I got the oportunity to make my dream come true. I got to know Davis Branch. He wanted to produce my Music, it was a once in a Lifetime thing. And I am glad I took it. I can do everything from home, that is why I can do this. I want to spend the little engergy I have on doing something that makes me happy. I now have a Family. A fiance and two kids. They support me all the way and we’re making it the best way possible so that I can fullfill my dream, despite everything.

2. What made you want a career in country music? 

When I was a teenager I heard the song «Remember When» by Alan Jackson. That song made me fall in love With country Music. It was how he told the story,  how it moved me. Even though I was so Young. Then Carrie Underwood won American Idol. I loved her Music, her way of writing and telling storys. Before that I only listened to pop Music. But country pulled me in , because it was storys I could relate to in a deeper way. I could cry my eyes out or I could Dance on the table. I could also see how country Music brought People together. I thought to myself that this is what I want. I want to Write storys like these. I want People to relate to my Music as I related to country Music. So that built the Foundation for me and country Music.

3. Who are some of your musical icons?

Growing up my first musikal icon was Britney Spears. I think a lot of Young Girls were there at some point. But when country Music came along, it was Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler that I looked up to. They were the kind of artists I inspired to be. But today, Gabby Barrett is a huge inspiration. I love her Music, how she tells the storys , and she can tell one story in so many different ways. So that People can relate in different ways. She has got me singing on her songs every single day.

4. How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words?
   Modern, true, inspirational, happy, country
5. What is your recording process like when creating and making new music?
   I start With the writing. I don’t play any instruments myself, so it’s just me and my pen. I sit Down and think about what story I want to tell. And then I get inspiration from either my own life, or maybe a friends life. But sometimes I can just Write about something I think that a lot of People can relate to, and that I think People need to hear. Then I sit Down With my producer and co-writers , to make a melody and go over the lyrics. That is such a fun part. Then The Music is made, then I lay Down vocals. Since I live in Norway, I record my vocals in my very own studio at home. Then I send them Down to Nashville where my producer Davis Branch lives. He puts it all together and does the mixing and stuff there. So even though I live in Norway and records the vocals here. Everything else is done through Nashville. That’s why I can Call myself a Nashville recording artist. I just can’t wait for Covid to be over so I can travel Down there!
6. What is the background story behind your latest single “Break Your Heart?”
   The story behing «Break Your Heart» is easy to tell. When I was gonna record and release my first single I thought about what I wanted to release as my first. I wanted it to be personal. I wanted to be able to tell the story behind it, and let the fans get to know me. So what was better then writing a story about my life at that point. Me and my boyfriend has been together for 8 years now. We have two kids. But Things are never just a Dance on roses. It has been ups and Downs. And what I sing about in «Break Your Heart» is that sometimes Things are so bad that you just want to end it, but then you hang on to those little Things. You find the Things that made you fall in love in the first Place, and you fight. You love the person so much that you fight for it. And a love that big will be even harder to lose. A fling will die like a little spark in the end, but a love like this will break you if you lose it. It’s the kind of love that will never og away. It will leave you With a broken heart, to hard to fix.
7. What are a few of your favorite venues to play at?
   I don’t play any live gigs yet. So that I don’t know. Maybe I will in the future. But what I do know is that I have Places I really want to play. The Bluebird Cafe and The Listening Room in Nashville are of course on that list. But I reallu want to play some Places in the UK as well. I have just started out, so I Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
8. What do you like to do in your free time? 
   Since I am a stay at home mom I have a lot of free time. And I usually relax and sleep. Because that’s what I need to do because of my illness. But I also work on my Music. When the kids are home from School and kindergarden and my fiance is home from work, we spend time together as a Family. The most important time of the day. We can play games, watch a Movie, Dance in the living room. All those little Things are the Things I like to enjoy on my free time.
9. What is one of your favorite quotes?
   “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”
   ― Victor hugo
10. Is there anything else you would like to share?
    Yes there is! In February, my second single «I’m My Own Person* Will be released! I hope you all will like that one. It’s a good one. So keep Your eyes and ears open!
    And remember, I am just getting started. This is just the beginning.