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Q1: How would you describe your indelible musical stylings to a fan just now discovering you?
Exactly! Just as you described my sound. My musical style pulls elements from all of those influences, but not necessarily in the way most people think about music production. It wasn’t a “conscious” effort to decide how to include my many influences in the tracks we recorded. As we ran down (played through) the songs prior to recording them, the musicians and producer would listen to me as I sang each song and were able to hear based on my vocal performance, what instrumentation, arrangement, and feel would work best to have the song mirror the way I felt it and performed it.
Q2: Can you talk about what inspired one of the best debut LPs of 2024?
From your lips to my listeners ears! You are so kind to refer to my release as one of the best debuts of the year. “What If I Fly” is the name of the release and also the title track. It poses a question that every artist sooner or later will ask of themselves, “What If I Fly?, What If I Fall?, What If I Catch My Dreams And Reach For Even More?” You’ll never know until you put yourself out there and that is exactly what I am doing. All of the songs on my release reveal a little about me as a person. Sometimes it’s about an event or situation that I’ve experienced. One song may be silly, one may be just for fun, another could be sad or reflective. I believe every song on my release contains a story or situation that almost everyone can relate to.
Q3: What can you tell us about your producer and engineer on What If I Fly?
Yes, He is extremely special to me! You refer to him as “the creative guru behind “What If I Fly”, which is 100% correct. I refer to him as “my everything, my husband.” He also answers to Hey Babe when I call. I’m lucky to have this amazing man as my engineer and producer but most importantly in my life. He has worked with so many other major label producers and artists on projects that have sold platinum and multi platinum during his career and he brought that knowledge and talent to my project. How lucky am I!
Q4: Can you introduce our ever-inquisitive readers to some of the talented musicians who lent their musical alchemy into making What If I Fly a reality?
Here is the list of the musicians involved on my project. Rather than try to write about each one of them I’ve included some quick links to bios and profiles to help the curious start on their quest.
Steve Peffer-Keys: https://www.stevepeffer.com/bio.html
Brent Milligan-Bass: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Milligan
Jason Roller-Guitars/Fiddle/Mandolin: https://www.opry.com/artists/jason-roller
Marshall Richardson-Drums: https://www.gretschdrums.com/artists/marshall-richardson
Mike Johnson-Steel Guitar: https://mikejohnsonproductions.com/mike-johnson-biography
Jon Conley-Guitar: https://welcometothesandbar.com/meet-jon-conley-musician-kenny-chesney/
Kevin Madill-Background Vocal Arranger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-madill-184bb627
Dave Racine-Drums: https://www.facebook.com/daveracinedrums/
Mike Rojas-Keys: https://insideblackbird.com/series/from-piano-prodigy-to-studio-maestro-the-journey-of-mike-rojas
Jonathan Yudkin-Violin,Viola,Cello,Fiddle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Yudkin
Vicki Hampton-Vocals: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/vicki-hampton-mn0000200487#credits
Robert Bailey-Vocals: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-bailey-mn0000759661#credits
Q5: We’re big admirers of the tune The Kind of Crazy I Like which is off of the What If I Fly LP! What’s the story behind what inspired you to put this gem of a ditty on the new album?
I’m so glad you like It! It was one of the first songs recorded for the release.I nicknamed it “The Bart Song”. It made me laugh when I heard the demo for the first time. He is the kind of crazy I like. In its own way the song tells a story very similar to how we met and got to know each other in the very beginning.
Q6: In your humble opinion, what differentiates the What If I Fly LP from the Distinguished Competition on the 2024 music scene?
In my opinion, answering that question the way it’s presented would require me to compare my art to every other artist who has presented their own work, and give a reason as to why my work deserves to be counted among them. “Distinguished” is an adjective,by the dictionary it refers to famous, respected, honored, acclaimed, celebrated, and legendary acheivement. There are many in the category of “distinguished competition on the 2024 music scene”, andmany, many more who hope to be. To “differentiate” is to set apart, single out, separate, characterize, individualize. Each of those artists is as unique in their own way, as I am. The stories behind the path they chose to get to where they are is also unique to each individual. I do hope to be counted among those who have achieved a place in that category, but that is up to the fans and listeners to proclaim. My hope is that listeners will hear, appreciate, and relate to my music. It’s not for me to give them “the reason” they should or should not based on my own bias.
Q7: Your roots run deep in the beautiful state of Tennessee! How does ‘The Volunteer State’ inform you as a person and as an artist?
Yes, we have lived in Tennessee for several years now, but to set the record straight I grew up in Texas, and so my early influences come from the artist and music I heard there. After moving to Tennessee I was influenced by the music and artists there. You can’t help but be inspired when you meet and hear your music heroes sing and perform in person.
Q8: Who are you inspired by in the world of music?
My musical inspirations are all over the genre map. There are so many past and current artists that have inspired and influenced me in my life that it would take a book to list them all. For me I hesitate to list names for fear of leaving someone out. Thanks to a family that loved so many different genres of music I grew up listening to it all, Soul, R&B, Pop, Rock, and Country, Contemporary Christian along with some Disco and EDM.
Q9: Hot on the heels of the release of the What If I Fly album, can fans look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit?
Yes, We are currently in the process of putting our road band together and finding the right manager/booking agent to complete the team. As soon as everyones in place we will announce upcoming show dates.
Q10: At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to your beautiful debut album What If I Fly?
At the end of the day, I would hope people who listen to my album feel they can identify and connect in some way with one or more of the songs and relate them to what is going on in their own lives. Maybe make them laugh, inspire them, comfort them, and know they are not alone in their situation or with their feelings about those situations. Whether or not any of us know the exact intent of the author of the lyrics of a song, We all seem to find a way to identify in our own personal way.
