Project WILD would like you to know each of the 2017 Top 12 even better. We prepared five questions for each of the artists/bands to help us learn a little more.
1. What brought you to country/roots music?
At the risk of sounding trite, I believe country music chose me. My influences are as wide-ranging as anyone and I have tried to move away from country as a performer but to no avail. I have learned to simply embrace who I am and pivot toward my other influences FROM country as my center.
2. When did you write your first song – as an artist or as a band?
In my early teens, just me and my guitar. I did some co-writing with a friend from back home in high school as well.
3. If you could go on tour opening for any performing artist right now who would it be?
At this point in my career, I would love to open for Charlie Major (and then play guitar for his show as well – fingers-crossed). As I develop as an artist, I would love to open for fellow limit-testing artists like Brothers Osborne and Old Dominion.
4. What is the best trend in country/roots music right now?
I believe that the best trend in country music right now is also the thing that most purists despise: the continued influence of other genres like Electronic Dance Music and Hip-Hop. Chet Atkins faced serious backlash from fans of “hillbilly” music when he turned Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves into “cosmopolitan country” acts, but now they are highly revered as “country music legends.”
5. What part of Project WILD are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to working with and learning from the more roots-leaning artists in Project WILD. So many of my musical influences come from contemporary folk and roots rock, but my vision is to always draw from these influences while leaning wholly into modern country.
