Project WILD would like you to know each of the 2016 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 music?
Each member of The Dungarees has been inspired by several diverse genres that shaped our personal musical style but the one commonly held influence shared between all of us is country music. We all seem to have memories from our childhoods of our parents listening to artists like Eddie Rabbit, Rodney Crowell, Dwight Yoakam and Clint Black when we were younger. Country is our roots and it feels like the most natural, visceral, almost instinctive musical response we have as a group.
2. When did you write your first song – as an artist or as a band?
We have all been playing music independently for many years but we did all come from backgrounds where it was important to write and perform our own songs. We all started writing tunes in our teens and playing them with our various musical projects. That’s why, when The Dungarees were initially formed as a cover band, the idea was doomed from the beginning; we all had song writing in our veins. It only took a few months for our own original tunes to creep into the setlists. We now go on annual trips to Nashville where we co-write with incredible writers in addition to the writing we do together at home.
3. If you could go on tour opening for any performing artist right now who would it be?
Eric Church, Willie Nelson or Dwight Yoakam. And we are incredibly honoured to announce that we will in-fact be opening for Dwight in October for a handful dates!
4. What is the best trend in country music right now?
We love and are inspired that there are some Roots/American country artists creeping into the mainstream. Artists like Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Margo Price and Kacey Musgraves, are connecting with audiences all over the musical universe, not just with country fans. They are staying true to their roots in the country world but are making a connection through musical honesty and integrity. Music fans respond to that no matter the genre.
5. What part of Project WILD are you most looking forward to?
Learning!!!! And improving! So much of being a musician/performer is DIY right from Day 1. And an integral part of being an artist IS DIY in order to create something that is unique to yourself. But at a certain point you need guidance and training so you can take those skills and make them your own. We’re really looking forward to learning about the business/marketing side, as well as performance coaching. Each of us has been doing this for a long time. But we’ve never been given the opportunity to refine and hone our skills as performers and business people. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity!!
