We interview Carly Pearce on her first visit to Europe. We caught her to talk all about what to expect from her sophomore album, how her 2019 is shaping up and her creative process.
Catch our interview with Carly on the podcast as part of our C2C 2019 special.
So first time in the UK completely, or just to play?
First time ever anywhere other than Canada and Mexico, so it’s a big deal.
So exciting, did you have any idea of what to expect when you came over here?
What I’ve heard from every country music artist is that the fans are insane here, so I have huge hopes. Hopefully everyone delivers!
You’ve just wrapped up your tour with Russell Dickerson, how was that experience?
It was awesome, it was very fun to tour with someone I know has had a very similar path as me and to look out at the crowds and see people singing every word to every song and know that we packed the places out.
The new single, of course, is ‘Closer to You’ written with Busbee, can we expect him to be a part of the upcoming record because I know he wrote a lot on the debut?
He produced all of the record, he’s a writer on some of the songs, some with me, some not. We’ve been working really hard and he’s actually doing background vocals for it today so it’s getting close.
And what was the inspiration behind that song, where did it all come from?
I fell in love last year and I fell hard and that just started… Everything about my relationship has made me more confident than I’ve ever been and I think that it was only natural to take fans into this new phase of my life with me as they’re the ones who started it.
Do you think that the sounds going to have changed a lot to go along with the content?
I think more the content. I think it’s more mature and the production is more mature, but I don’t think it’s going to stray too far from what you know about me. I don’t really want to break the wheel that’s working.
You’ve also written a lot with Emily Shackleton, is that someone else you gravitate toward? Are there certain people that you turn to for certain kinds of writing?
For sure there are. Emily is a huge person. She’s written two outside songs on this record that I didn’t write with her that I love. She wrote one with me for sure on the record. Laura Veltz is another one; we have three songs on the record – one she wrote, two that she and I wrote together. Busbee, obviously, Hillary Lindsey, Natalie Hemby, I gravitate towards.
My favourite song from the record was ‘If My Name Was Whiskey,’ so what was the story behind that song?
Mine too. Busbee, Shane MacAnally and I wrote that song in 45 minutes.
It’s crazy so many amazing stories are written so quickly…
Emily Shackleton and I wrote ‘Careless’ eating panera in 20 minutes, we wrote ‘Every Little Thing’ in 45 minutes. I don’t know why that’s a thing, but I’ve had alcoholism in my family and just to write a song from the perspective of feeling second best to alcohol is something that I think so many people can relate to.
What’s the rest of the plans for the year?
I head off to Australia after this. I’m on tour for the rest of the year, I’m on tour with Jason Aldean’s ‘Ride All Night’ tour with Kane Brown – so I’m very excited about that. I’m a huge fan of both of them and I’m getting married this year, so that’s a pretty big deal.
Jake Owen’s playing at your wedding did I get that right?
Yes, we asked Jake to play this song that he has on his new record, but he wasn’t necessarily supposed to tell everyone, but he was so excited and I think that’s really awesome and we’re so excited to have him.
What record are you playing on repeat at the moment?
What record couldn’t you live without if you were stuck on a desert island?
Alison Krauss and Union Station’s live record
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
Wine.
Would you rather give up songwriting or performing?
Songwriting.
Complete the sentence…
Music is… my heart
Country music is… even more my heart
Carly Pearce is… a girl who because of country music fans is living ‘Every Little Thing’ she ever wanted.
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