Interview: Canaan Smith Talks About His UK Experience and More!

Currently supporting The Shires on their huge My Universe tour across the country, Canaan Smith has been thrilling old fans and winning over new ones.

Canaan, who last year released his debut album Bronco, has set social media buzzing with his opening set and if you were to take a peek at my Twitter and Facebook feeds right now, you may think that he's on his own headlining tour - people are loving him and the feeling is mutual.

Canaan managed to find a few minutes in his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his tour so far, his album and his future plans.

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SC: You’re a week into touring with The Shires...how have you found the UK so far?

CS: Incredible! The crowds have been super generous and warm....it’s going to be hard to leave.

SC: Have you had much time to explore the country whilst you’ve been over here so far?

CS: Here and there. The parts we've seen have been beautiful! From Windsor Castle to Stonehenge to the beaches of Brighton, this scenic country has made quite an impact on me.

SC: Bronco is your debut album and it is an absolutely stellar album...how would you describe the album/your sound to those not yet familiar with your music?

CS: Thank you! I'm not sure how to sum it up, but lyrics are a top priority for me. Musically I've been inspired by everything from George Strait to Goo Goo Dolls and elements of each appear on Bronco. At the core of these songs, I'm just trying to make honest music.

SC: ‘Love You Like That’ was a #1 single for you in the states. Just what goes through your mind when you find out your song is #1? 

CS: I could feel it in my whole body. I wanted to run around screaming!  We worked long and hard for that # 1 and it was incredibly rewarding the day it happened.

SC: Who are some of your biggest influences?

CS: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Third Eye Blind, George Strait, Jeff Buckley, The Beatles

SC: What artists are you listening to right now?

CS: The new Sting album, Desi Valentine and Dirty Heads.

SC: And finally...what are your plans for 2017? Another trip to the UK, perhaps?

CS: A tour back home and playing the Country 2 Country festival in March!

SC: Thanks for your time & enjoy the rest of the tour!

CS: Thanks so much for the interview.

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For the latest on Canaan, including his last few UK dates this year, visit canaansmith.com. His album, Bronco, is available now.

Interview: Lucie Silvas

'It's so good to be back!' Lucie Silvas beamed this past Wednesday, in a packed out Oran Mor. The feeling was most definitely mutual.

Since relocating to Nashville nearly ten years ago, Lucie has kept busy over there writing new music and touring with the likes of Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town. It's been a while since she last toured the UK but the songstress made sure that the wait was worthwhile with an hour and a half long set that left the crowd hanging on every note.

The set was mostly comprised of tracks from new album, Letters to Ghosts. It didn't seem to matter much that the album was only a few days old (in the UK, at least), the crowd still knew all the words just like they still knew all the words to tracks from her first two albums, which were dotted in between the new stuff. 

Fans demanded an encore and were treated to a final three songs, including the immensely popular 'Breathe In', before Lucie and her wonderful band took their final bow with the promise that they'll be back 'soon'. For everyone in the audience, 'soon' can't come soon enough.

Before the show, Lucie was kind enough to take a few minutes to chat with us about the new album, living in Nashville and more.

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You had your first show last night, a sell out in Manchester. Could you have asked for a better start?

I could not. It was unbelievable. It’s the first time in however many years that I’ve been back and it was such a warm crowd and I was nervous. I knew that I would see familiar faces, I knew that I would have a good time but it was the first show back in the north of England for a while. And this [Scotland] is very special as it’s a little bit of home.

You said that you were a bit nervous. Were there also any nerves about releasing an album after so long?

I wasn’t nervous. You do get bouts of that when something is about to happen, like ‘okay it’s coming out today’. I get nervous in those moments but I don’t get nervous at the overall picture because I made an album that I love. The process was so on my own terms that doing that in itself made me so happy that nothing could possibly ruin that.

The album is quite personal. Were you nervous to release something that was so personal?

No, because they’ve always been that way. I think that The Same Side was very much that way. It’s funny with songwriting because I feel that people, songwriters, creative types or whatever, they know what’s inside their heads more than they realise. I’ll write things, like on the second album even, I’d realise later how apt and how true to life it was. With Letters to Ghosts it was the same way. You write it and then afterwards go ‘wow, I clearly needed to get that out’.

You moved to Nashville and obviously there’s a country sound to the album. Was that intentional or did it just happen naturally?

Just naturally. When I moved to Nashville, it wasn’t about country necessarily. It was just about being in a musical environment. But everyone was in close proximity. Everyone wanted to help each other. Everyone aspires to what each other is creating. I took in my surroundings, started to play the mandolin and then you write that way and it becomes more of that sound. My sound touches edges of pop and Americana and country so I never really thought about it. I just did something that I enjoyed listening to.

There’s so many great songwriters in Nashville. Who have you had the privilege of working with?

Some of my favourites are people like Barry Dean, who has co-written some amazing songs with Little Big Town and Carrie Underwood, and Busbee. There is an amazing guy who I got to write with, Allen Shamblin who co-wrote ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ for Bonnie Rait. She’s one of my heroes so it was lovely to get to work with him. Artist-wise, I got to write with Miranda Lambert recently which was an amazing experience because I’m such a fan of her and we seem to connect on lots of levels.

Did you listen to country before you moved to Nashville?

I did but there were lots of people who I didn’t know. I didn’t even know who Vince Gill was before I moved there and now this guy blows my mind and I couldn’t believe that I had missed out on years of listening to him. My mum would listen to Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton. I knew Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and all that stuff. But more of the pop-country that exists these days, I didn’t know a lot of those artists because it wasn’t something that had crossed over to the UK.

Would it be fair to say that country music is expanding in the UK now?

I think it’s starting to. I’m not here all the time so it’s hard for me to know how it’s doing but I see C2C is building and I know the Nashville show is taking off. I think its such an amazing genre because I think its one of the truest forms of lyric writing and music there is. It’s very reflective of the lifestyle. I really hope that the rest of the world can embrace country as much as they’ve embraced pop, gospel, blues and RnB. I think it’s an amazing genre that is the most truthful of them all.

You recently played the Opry. What was that like?

I’ve been in Nashville more or less on and off since 2007 and when I played the Opry, not only were my parents there and, because I’ve been living in different countries for ages, it was the first time that they’d seen me perform on stage since 2008. So they had come in from New Zealand and were in the audience. I had done so many things in Nashville, worked with lots of people, performed at the Ryman, opened for Chris Stapleton, I had done loads of different things but when I performed on the Opry stage, I got this feeling that I must have made it in Nashville. That’s when, after all those years of watching other people and my heroes play the Opry, I thought I cannot believe that I was on that stage. I felt embraced by Nashville.

So definitely a career highlight?

Absolutely.

So the album only recently came out here in the UK. Was there a reason why there was a year between the US and UK releases?

It was just because that I didn’t plan any of it. I was doing it independently. I made the album without any backing, which was hard but it was fun because I got to do everything. I didn’t have an A&R person, I didn’t have a manager when I was making the album. I didn’t want to wait for the music industry, I didn’t want to wait for a record label. I had music that I wanted to release. I didn’t have a promo team, I didn’t have radio play so it’s amazing to see what the album was able to do by itself and gain support. Then Decca suddenly came along and said that they wanted to put this album out commercially and that they wanted to hear me on the radio. It’s very hard to cut through on your own, as an indie artist and I felt like I was definitely starting to but this was an opportunity to reach wider.

You talked about being an indie artist. Do you prefer the sort of freedom that being an independent artist offers? 

Because of the point that I signed my deal at, I feel like I’m in a certain mind-set that I can’t change now which is a good thing because I’m like ‘this is how I’m doing it’ and they seem to understand how I operate, that I want to make music and live a happy, balanced life. I’m not after the pop scene of fame, I just want to make music and tour. I still feel that I have a lot of freedom.

Have you started work on the next album?

I have. I’ve started writing it and in the new year we’ll start recording. But I want to give Letters to Ghosts a really fair shot first.

You’ve played the Opry, released your new album…what’s next?

Next is, after these dates which have been a long time coming so I’m going to make the most of this week and enjoy myself, I’m going on tour with Brothers Osborne in November and December. Before then I’m playing all these festivals across America. It’ll be all touring and then we’ll see in the new year, hopefully I’ll be back in the UK again.

And finally. What advice would you give to upcoming artists, especially country artists in the UK?

Do what’s authentic to you. You’ll have people tell you ‘this won’t fit here’ or ‘this won’t fit there’. If you really love what you’re doing and you really love the music you’re making, you need to stick to your guns. Keep your head down and work hard because there’s plenty of talented people in the world. Your work ethic and how humble you remain as a person are two of the most important things in this business.

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Lucie plays Birmingham tonight, London on Saturday (as part of the C2C Social) and Bristol on Monday. Her brand new album, Letters to Ghosts, is available in the UK now.

Interview: Megan O'Neill Discusses Megan & The Common Threads' PledgeMusic Campaign

Upcoming country band, Megan & The Common Threads have announced a PledgeMusic campaign as they are set to release their debut EP, offering a wide range of rewards for pledgers.

The band grew from the solo project of front-woman Megan O’Neill, whose track 'Don’t You' featured on hit US TV show Nashville and debut EP Coming Home was named UK EP of the Year by public vote at the W21 Music Awards.

We talked to front-woman Megan O'Neill to find out more about the band and their campaign. 

For those who may not be familiar with your music, how would you describe yourselves and your sound?

Megan & The Common Threads are a six piece Americana band based in London. We are from all over the EU - two Irish, one Scottish, one Welsh, one English and one Italian - hence why we initially joked that we should be called Megan & The European Union!!

Our new record is dabbling more in a Country-Rootsy sound than the previous EP Coming Home (2015) which was more Country-Pop.

How did Megan & The Common Threads come together?

For about 18 months (2013-2015) I had been playing under my own name 'Megan O'Neill' with two incredibly, trusty guitarists (Tom Smith & Dan Clark) and we were really enjoying being an acoustic trio. But after 18 months we decided that we needed to expand the sound - especially ahead of this new record. So we recruited in November 2015 for bass, drums and fiddle.

What/who are your influences? What/who has influenced this upcoming EP?

I have a lot of influences ranging from old-school, classic country singers to modern folk
singer-songwriters. I listen to all genres of music (aside from Heavy Metal) and at the moment am really loving Brandi Carlile's album 'The Firewatchers Daughter' and The Tallest Man on Earth.

I think with the upcoming EP our influences as a band have really come from one another which I'm really happy about. All six of us have been feeding off each others' ideas and artistic input. Its been really awesome to see the sound develop over the past 6 months.

Besides being able to boast that they were there from the beginning, what else is on offer for potential pledgers?

There is so much on offer! You could have an original song written about you or a loved one (which we think is such a unique gift idea!) or a personalised birthday video of us singing! Top pledgers can book us for a live show at a venue of their choice (even at their own homes) either as an acoustic or full band AND pledgers also have the opportunity to be thanked by name on the EP itself (in a hidden track)! There are also loads of smaller goodies up for grabs such as t-shirts, VIP guest list passes, handwritten letters and signed CD's.

Finally, where can fans catch you live in the upcoming months?
We have a number of shows coming up in August and September in London and surrounding areas. They're always listed on the website so you can check those out here.

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You can find out more information about the PledgeMusic campaign here.

Interview: A Few Questions with Jill and Kate

(Photo courtesy: Jill & Kate)

Jill Pickering and Kate Rapier - aka Jill and Kate - have toured the world both as backing singers for Kelly Clarkson and as a duo in their own right. The singer-songwriter duo, who first met in 2003, have amassed a strong following this side of the pond with a well-received appearance at Country 2 Country in 2014 which was followed a few months later by a tour of their own.

At the end of 2015, the duo released an album of lullabies, titled simply Lullabies. We caught up with them to chat about their latest release, the UK and more!

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You girls have a very loyal fanbase in the UK already but for those who may not have heard of you, can you tell us a little about yourselves?

Yes! We are a harmony-driven singer/songwriter duo based in Nashville, Tennessee and we've been singing together for 13 years. We are not sisters, though many people think we are! We love writing songs in hopes that they connect people to each other and that they prevent people from feeling lonely. We love coffee, wine, jumping pictures, and traveling...especially to the UK!

For nearly six years, you toured the world as backing singers for the incredible Kelly Clarkson. That must have been quite an experience.

It was so amazing. The places we were able to see, people we were able to meet, and the experience we gained from those 6 years were incredible. Kelly is one of the best singers in the world, so to sing with her every night was not only enjoyable, but also a great learning experience. We had so much fun with the band and crew who became like family...and they still are, even years later. Those 6 years were definitely a career highlight!

Lullabies

You’ve just released Lullabies - an album of, as the title suggests, lullabies - and caught everyone off guard with this sudden announcement of new music. it must have been hard to keep the project a secret from both your fans, as well as one of your friends who inspired you to write the album, surely?

So hard! We felt so secretive all the time when people would ask us what we were working on. We're not very good liars! Haha! This album was so different and so rewarding for us to make. It was a gift for our friend Jenny and her new baby, Annie...but it became so much more than that. It's always fun to work on something totally different than what you would normally do.

It’s a very beautiful and very well crafted album, from start to finish. How long did it take to make it?

Thank you!! That is very kind and means a lot. The writing process took about a month. We recorded it in our office completely by ourselves which took about a week. Then with mixing, mastering, and re-production, there were about another 3 weeks. So it took about 2 months all together!

As mentioned, you were inspired to make the album because of one of your friends’ pregnancies. Where else do you find inspiration from when writing?

As we started to write these songs, we realized the words and melodies were really important. It wasn't just a "Kids' album" but songs that would lull children and adults to sleep. As we were writing, we thought about what kinds of words and themes we would want spoken over us as we fell asleep. So a lot of our inspiration came from those thoughts...asking for "love to be near" or saying that "Angels are watching over you." We often find inspiration from life all around us. We find that you have to be experience life to gain inspiration and to write. Sometimes when you are stuck in a writing rut you just need to get outside and live for a bit--life continually offers inspiration...you just sometimes need to go out and live it.


In July, you played the main stage at Country Thunder to a crowd of around 30,000. Do you ever find yourselves nervous on stage, especially with huge crowds, or is it quite the opposite? 

Yes, that was SO much fun! There's always the tiniest bit of nerves whenever we have a show, but they're often excited nerves more than anything. Sometimes very intimate crowds are even more nerve-racking than huge audiences. We're not sure why that is, but that's what we find!

It’s been a little while since you last toured over here, with a handful of dates in England in 2014 as well as appearing at Country to Country that same year. I’ve heard many fond stories from your fans who got the chance to see you. Can they expect any more tours imminent (with maybe a date or two in Scotland for us Scots?), perhaps in 2016?

Jill and Kate and C2C in 2014 (photo courtesy: Jill and Kate)

Ahhhh! We would LOVE to come back ASAP and we hope to! We absolutely LOVE the UK. As independent artists, it can be difficult to financially make certain things work and traveling to the UK is one of those things. We are working on getting back over there (hopefully in 2016) and we hope to make a Scotland date happen too! Perhaps we can have a wee dram together!

Did you expect such a warm reaction when you first came over, for the Country to Country festival?

It was so wonderful. The UK audience has always been so welcoming and lovely to us. We didn't know there would be so many people at the C2C, so that was a welcomed surprise!

Finally, I just wanted to talk about your blog and, in particular, one of your recents posts you’ve made, ‘When Someone Calls You Huge’. It was a very inspiring post written about what was a horrible experience and, unfortunately, it’s not that uncommon in music for women. And, of course, at the start of the year there was the whole #SaladGate issue - the music world can seem like a pretty horrible and scary world for young girls wanting to pursue a career in the industry. Do you have any words or advice for them?

Yes, it was definitely a significant part of our year last year. What we most want to encourage young girls, (and really all women) to do, is to be yourself, love yourself, and to not be afraid. There are so many haters and people who thrive off of putting others down. If you feel overwhelmed, start small. Start making a list of things you like about yourself. Ask people you trust to help you if you need help. Say positive affirmations each morning. We all need to recognize that we are unique and each have a purpose. You are loved.

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Follow Jill and Kate on Twitter, like them on Facebook, check out their site and download Lullabies from iTunes.

Interview: Lindi Ortega

Photo credit: Julie Moe

In today's country music scene, it can be hard to see past all the ballcaps, flannel shirts and red plastic cups. Yet if you do look hard enough, you can find the veil, black dresses and trademark red boots of Lindi Ortega, a Toronto native now based in Nashville. A fine singer and songwriter, Ortega has recently released her fourth full-length album, Faded Gloryville and has
been touring Europe in support of it.

Before her show at The Mash House in Edinburgh, Lindi was kind enough to take some time out to chat to us about her tour, her album, playing at the Grand Ole Opry and share her views on the current country scene.

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How are you finding the tour so far?

- Well, it’s been a little challenging just because I ended up getting sick in Belfast.

It’s a long tour as well, isn’t it?

- It’s a long tour but it’s really just started. We’re about eight days into it and for most of those eight days, I’ve been battling a cold. But I think it’s on the way out soon. I can’t imagine it can get worse than it’s been.

Lindi Performing at The Mash House (23/1)

What’s the tour been like so far? You’ve already played in England, how was that?

- We’ve only done a couple of shows in England. We started off in Ireland and then Glasgow last night and it’s been great. I mean, as good as it can be with me trying to battle a cold and make my way through the shows.

Do you like touring?

- Yeah, when I’m not sick, it’s fun.

Is it difficult being away for so long from friends and family?

- From family, it is. I also have cats so I miss my cats. It will also destroy any relationship you’ve ever had in terms of anything romantic. It doesn’t work out ever for me. It makes for good songs so at least I get something out of it.

You’re off to other parts of Europe after your UK dates. What’s it being from an English speaking country, what’s the language barrier like?

- I mean Sweden has a language barrier, Germany has a language barrier. I’m just used to dealing with countries that their first language isn’t English but people are always, if they like my music, they understand what I’m saying. They make an effort to speak to me. And I make an effort to speak to them, I try to learn little bits and phrases everywhere I go which I think is the kindest thing to do when you’re going to a country that doesn’t speak English.

Let’s talk a little bit about your album. I read that your Cigarettes and Truckstops album was inspired by a Hank Williams biography that you read?

- The album wasn’t inspired by that. I would say that my whole career has been inspired a bit by Hank Williams. My move to Nashville was inspired by that biography as I read a lot about Nashville from reading that biography but no, that record wasn’t really inspired by one particular thing.

So, is it fair to say that Faded Gloryville is the same, that it’s inspired by over the years and not just one thing?

- Yeah. I named – this is the problem I have with naming my record after one song as everybody thinks that the whole record is about the title of that one song and I’m starting to realise that the next record I make isn’t gonna be the title of any of my songs, it’s just gonna be completely different. Yeah, it was just one song that was inspired by a Jeff Bridges movie called Crazy Heart and I wrote this song but all the songs, they’re not all connected and there’s no major or overarching themes or anything.

What’s your songwriting process like? Do you write when you’re on the road or do you sit down and write when you know you’re gonna make an album?

- I don’t really have like a procedure or a formula for how I do it, I just do it differently. Sometimes I’m just inspired, I’ll think of song lyrics when I’m walking down the street and they’ll turn into something and other times they’ll just all come out at once.

Lindi's latest album, Faded Gloryville

You wrote and co-wrote this album all but one song on this album. Do you have a favourite song from the album or any that mean the most to you on the album?

- It changes. And that co-writing my album is very different, I’ve never did that before. I co-wrote a couple of songs on my records before but the reason there was so much co-writing on this record was time constraints, so we were just trying to get songs together in a particular amount of time. It sort of came up quite quickly the fact that we were gonna be making a record so I started to open myself up to working with a bunch of different people and try to come up with a bunch of songs but I rather enjoy writing my own.

There’s obviously a cover on the album, of a Bee Gees song. Was that also down to time constraints or was it just a song you really wanted on there?

- No, I actually really liked that song and I was singing it in my live sets for a really long time so I just wanted to put it on the record.

Last year, you were at the Grand Ole Opry. What was that like?

- It was amazing. I was nervous, I don’t think I’d ever been more nervous for anything in my whole life. That experience…I mean it’s the stage where all my country music heroes played and it was just an incredible experience. I can’t even articulate what it was because it was surreal to me.

What was it like to get that call to play?

- It was surreal. I mean, how could you say no? Are you even asking? Of course!

I read an opinion piece that you did on women in country music. Do you think it might be off putting for women wanting to pursue a career in country music right now, if they don’t think radio will play their music or they don’t think they’ll get heard in the same way that, perhaps, men do?

- It depends. What I do is not considered country music in terms of that world, in terms of mainstream market in new country and radio so I personally don’t chase that, so I can’t speak as I don’t know as that’s a world that I don’t really exist in, but I don’t think anybody should be dissuaded from wanting to do anything that they want to do. I just think that you have to follow, whether you’re a man or a woman or whatever, a path that feels right and passionate for you and don’t listen to what anyone else has to say if you intrinsically feel that way in your soul.

Lindi Performing at The Mash House (23/1)

I saw Angaleena Presley the other day and she performed a song called ‘Outlaw’ and she talked about how her lyrics are seen, by some, to be purposely controversial even though she is not trying to be. Your lyrics could also be seen to be edgier too – do you ever consider the potential reaction to them when writing?

- No. If I was looking to be on country music radio then I would be singing songs that I would hate to perform every night and I don’t have any desire to do that.

Do you think that’s [edgier lyrics] a reason why radio doesn’t want to play your and other women, such as say Angaleena’s and Brandy Clark’s, music as much?

- I honestly don’t know and I don’t think about it and I don’t really care. Country music, as far as I

know now right now and what they play on the radio are men talking about women in blue jean shorts, drinking beer, calling women ‘girl’ and dirt roads, hanging out in trucks, dirt roads whatever and it’s like…do I care that they’re not playing my music or that they wouldn’t play something edgy? No, I don’t. I honestly don’t care.

How would you define country music?

- I couldn’t define it. I have no idea what it is right now. I could tell you what it was and where it came from and the history of it. Right now, country music as far as mainstream radio is concerned is something that is so foreign and alien to anything that I would have considered country music of what I traditionally would listen to. I love classic country. I love Hank Williams – he’s one of my favourites -, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton is a really good example because she’s one hell of a songwriter and a lot of people don’t realise what a huge repertoire of songs she has and what a smart business woman she was. And it seems like lyrics were really such an important thing in country music for a long time and now it seems like they, lyrics, are taking a back seat and that it’s really more for the party crowd and for people going to the bar and wanting to drink and frat boys on a Friday night with their trucks and it doesn’t appeal to me in any sort of way so I really can’t comment on something that…you know. I really can’t comment on it as I don’t listen to it enough. I’ve heard it and it hasn’t seemed to change, it’s the thing that has been going on for the past two, three years. Until it changes, until it becomes something that’s not all that all the time, I’m not really interested in listening to it.

Do you think it will change anytime soon?

- I don’t know. We keep thinking that’s gonna happen when people like Kacey Musgraves win CMAs and get mainstream attention. The same thing with Chris Stapleton but whether that translates to it actually changing and to whether country radio is actually to start playing more songs like that is yet to be seen. And they don’t seem to want to change the formula and perhaps, cycling back to your mentioning of my article that I wrote, perhaps it’s because people like Keith Hill, who was the radio programmer who suggested that we take women out of country music radio, perhaps it is those damaging words that lead to this stagnancy in country music radio and a lack for it to evolve in any sort of way and it’s been the same way for three years so until the evolution really starts occurring, which I don’t know what the catalyst for that is – I thought that maybe it would be a Kacey Musgraves, I thought maybe it would be a Chris Stapleton but we have yet it see it happen.

Finally, one of the things our blog is about is promoting upcoming artists in UK. Do you have any advice for any new artist trying to break through right now?

- I do have advice for somebody who wants to make a living doing what they love and I would just say: be prepared to work your tail off and to sacrifice your rooted life and don’t do it unless you absolutely love it because otherwise you’ll end up resenting it because it takes you away so much. It becomes your whole life and it’s all encompassing. It’s something that you really shouldn’t do unless you have a great passion for it.

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Special thanks, again, to Lindi Ortega and to Six07 Press. You can keep up to date with Lindi through her website and through following her on twitter @lindiortega.

INTERVIEW: A Few Questions with Angaleena Presley

Angaleena Presley visited us only a few months back and left a lasting impression. I don't think I saw a single tweet or comment on Facebook about her debut shows over here in July, that wasn't singing her praises. People wanted her back and, thankfully Angeleena granted our wishes in swift fashion, announcing new dates in the new year.

We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask Angaleena a few questions about last summer, the reappearance of the Pistol Annies and more!



SC: You only just toured over here. It must feel great to have the opportunity to come back over here so soon, yeah?

AP: It feels absolutely amazing. I had been dreaming about Europe since I was a little girl, almost like I was destined to spend time there. When I finally got the chance to go, it felt like home right from the minute I stepped off the plane. I'm looking forward to clocking a lot of hours in the UK and eventually all over Europe.

SC: Of course this is only one date, as part of the Celtic Connections festival. Can UK fans expect to see more of you in 2016?

AP: YES, I announced the tour yesterday! I'll be over there in January. The fans in the UK seem among the most loyal variety so I have faith that they'll provide the support that I need to visit as often as I can.

SC: Let’s talk about the last time you were in Glasgow because that was a truly special night. I still remember that night very fondly and it has to be one of the best concerts I’ve been to and I know others left feeling the same. For your first ever UK show, you killed it. Were you expecting such a warm reception?

AP: I had no idea what to expect and I was a nervous wreck. When you play solo acoustic, you might as well be naked. I always say it feels like getting in bed with the audience. I can honestly say that Glasgow was one of the most intimate and special shows of my career and I think it always will be. When I get nervous I forget lyrics and when it happened, they embraced it whole heartedly. They laughed at all my jokes and they were as quiet as mice during my darker moments. It's definitely one for the history book of my little life and I can't wait to do it again. You know, I'm a McCoy of the original Hatfield's and McCoy's... I have Scotland in my blood and the connection I felt was as real as it gets

SC: You had a pretty full on week of shows in July. Did you get the chance to do much sightseeing?

AP: Yes, I brought my son, sister and niece with me and we squeezed in everything we could. The London Eye, Tower of London, The Mona Lisa, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and lots of train rides

SC: Miranda and Ashley are also headed over in 2016 as part of the Country to Country festival. Do you think we might get to see the three of you together over here one day?

AP: I sure hope so. The whole time I was there I kept thinking how inspired we would get, tooling around Europe together. It would definitely spark interesting song ideas

SC: Of course, you girls reunited recently on Miranda’s tour and finally put an end to all the speculation about the hiatus that ranged from ‘they drifted apart’ to ‘they hate each other’. I think one of the more popular ‘stories’ was that you and Miranda were sworn enemies. What did you think of the rumours? 

AP: I thought they were exactly what I'd dream up if my favorite girl band suddenly canceled a tour. I think we need to put labels on things so our brains can figure out how to sort through them. I try not to get caught up in celeb gossip. The music is what I connect with and try to stay focused on.

SC: Miranda’s tour featured some talented ladies. Was it always the plan to use this tour as a chance to bring the Pistol Annies back or was it simply impromptu?

AP: No, we never really planed anything. That's what was so special about it. We just started hanging out and then things began to happen. Songs happened, a record happened, shows happened and then it started happening all over again. We never put much thought into it and we kept doing it until it became too much to manage alongside our solo careers. We looked at the calendar in September and realized there was a weekend where we could all be in the same place at the same time so we took advantage of it. I'm sure that's what we'll keep doing.

SC: Your album, American Middle Class has received a lot of praise both here and in the States. A lot of people want to know if you’ve started thinking about, or even started work on the follow-up. So…have you?

AP: I've noticed a few blossoms in the vine... I feel like my records grow from seeds that get planted in my soul. Once the fruit is good and ripe, It'll be harvest time. To me, a record is a cohesive body of work, not just a collection of songs. So, yes, I definitely have a direction and now I'm just waiting for it to take shape

SC: American Middle Class is a very personal album, with songs such as ‘Knocked Up’ and ‘Drunk’ being directly inspired by your personal life and songs like ‘Pain Pills’ inspired by the community you grew up in. Would it fair to say that the album is kind of your own diary?

AP: You bet. I worry about putting all my business out there until a fan comes up to me and says it helped them feel like they weren't alone. I tell the truth about my pain and joy because I don't know how not to.

SC: Finally, what artists/albums are listening to right now? 

AP: I'm in love with Sound and Color by Alabama Shakes and I also love Robert Ellis's Lights from the Chemical Plant. I've been listening to both of those records like it's a school project. The writing and the originality of the production are top notch.


Angaleena's critically acclaimed album, American Middle Class is available to buy now and she returns to the UK this coming January. Check out below for dates and tickets.

January 17th - The Louisiana, Bristol
January 18th - Greystones, Sheffield
January 21st - Tron Theatre, Glasgow (Celtic Connections w/Noah Gunderson and Anderson East)
January 22nd - The Ruby Lounge, Manchester
January 23rd - Bodega, Nottingham
January 24th - Con Club, Lewes
January 25th - Bush Hall, London