We had the chance to talk to Sandra Lynn for Episode 69 of the podcast, to talk all about her latest singles and her unique approach to the release of her EPs.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with me! I know it’s been completely crazy since the release of your singles. How do you feel now that they’re finally out in the world?
I’m so excited. Every time leading up to a release there’s so many components and things going on. You have everything together but it’s sort of like releasing one of your babies out into the world.
You’ve listened to it so many times and have been waiting so long, but I can imagine it’s nice to finally be able to share that with the world?
Exactly and to see the response. It’s been good so far, I definitely can’t complain.
You grew up in California, so did you grow up surrounded by country music or all different influences?
Growing up I listened to all kinds of music, but country music is what I most strongly was drawn to. I think part of that is because as a child I loved to listen to the strong female country artists like Faith Hill and the Dixie Chicks and Deanna Carter. I really realised once I grew up and started pursuing this that those strong country female artists really had a big impact on me and what I hoped and aspired to do with my own music.
So was it always music you wanted to pursue or were there ever any paths that you didn’t go down?
Music has been my first and foremost love. I’ve been performing my whole life, I started dancing when I was 3 and acting when I was 5, then I started singing when I was 7. So, I’ve been in the creative space and performing my whole life. During high school, I loved journalling and writing poetically, but it was after college that I really started working with other songwriters to put lyrics to melodies and that’s when I knew I had to do music.
You still spend a lot of time between LA and Nashville…
I do, I go back and forth. My husband and I are based in LA but we have been travelling to Nashville for the last several years working on my music, with teams both here in California and Tennessee.
I can imagine that brings its own element to your music and different influences into your music?
It’s absolutely true. I think that’s one of the things that I find so exciting is taking all different types of music and influences from different artists and genres that I have listened to growing up. Again, it’s honing in on that storytelling aspect and that beautiful simplicity and honesty that I’ve always felt country music has, then going into the studio and creating your own unique thing.
The ‘Fight’ EP was released last year, which probably already feels like forever ago. You talk about the different chapters in the story of the three-part EP. When did that idea come to you to present the EPs that way?
At the beginning of last year is when I released my ‘Fight’ EP. I was working with different songwriters and having different songs sent to me and was working toward a full-length album and I was realising how it ebbs and flows and how the creative process is always changing. I thought why not have the release of the music reflect how the creative process works, so instead of putting out a full-length album all at once why don’t we break this up and allow the story of the music to be experimental on where it goes. I did want to obviously have a storyline thread through the three chapters, very much like old records used to do.
Country music is all about storytelling so it’s like you’ve taken that heart of the genre even further…
Thank you I appreciate that and that’s what’s been exciting for me about this project. You know last year we started the storyline with the four songs on my ‘Fight’ EP. Now this year this next part is where the couple is post break-up but they’re still trying to figure out if there’s something there or not. So, all these songs in the second phase focus on the aftermath of a break-up that still lingers on and it’s that in-between phase. You know how your mind is always scattered after a break-up and you’re dissecting what went wrong. That’s why we decided this time to have several releases of music and content this summer for the second chapter.
Was it important to you to go down the route of releasing singles?
Exactly, people are listening to music in different ways today. I think that was part of it and the idea behind why we thought it would be cool because a. after a break-up your mind is all scattered and these songs reflect that, and b. people are just listening to music differently, just keep the content rolling and give people multiple things to grab onto and listen to this summer.
For sure. So ‘Lose the War’ was one of the tracks you’ve released and it was written by Emily Shackleton, Phil Barton and Cameron James. Was it one of those songs you fell straight in love with, was it instant?
They’re amazing songwriters from Nashville, and the first time I listened to it I knew I had to cut it. I mean, not only did I find it to be extremely relatable and vulnerable, but I also felt like it was the perfect reflection song in terms of where the storyline is at and where the relationship is at with this couple. What could they have done differently? It’s ultimately about putting the petty fighting aside so that you don’t lose each other; why fight if it’s going to hurt the both of you? I really thought this one was such a strong one. I knew immediately that I had to go into the studio with it.
‘Am I Just Dreaming’ was the other track released, which you co-wrote. Can you talk about the story behind that song and where the inspiration came from?
Yeah I wrote ‘Am I Just Dreaming’ with Joey Ebach and Ryland Fisher, two young guys from Nashville. They’re just incredible songwriters and every time I get in the room with them, we get such a good flow and we just really enjoy writing with one another. This was one of the first songs we ever wrote together and it just sort of came out. I explained this project and the idea behind it and we came up with this title, ‘Am I Just Dreaming.’ The song’s about the realisation that you might still have feelings for this person who you thought you were so broken and done with, but it’s kind of that moment where you’re like ‘Am I Just Dreaming’ or should I give this thing another go, is this person really the one? It’s fun because it’s kind of a heavier idea lyrically but it’s a fun uptempo song, so we love that being a different aspect to it. It was a fun one to write.
Obviously, off the back of that will you be releasing more singles as part of the EP?
Yes, there’s more singles coming this summer as part of the EP, with that idea of will the couple end up together? It’s all those songs where they’re dissecting what went wrong or maybe second guessing going back to one another. We will have more releases and more content this summer. Then chapter 3 will be the final chapter of what happened to this couple’s journey.
Have you got plans for touring off the back of that?
Yeah so we have tour dates that we’re setting up and are in the works. They’ll be up on my website. I’ll also be at CMA Fest.
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Final Few
Wine or whiskey? Wine.
Your pre show ritual? A little whiskey, a prayer and I get together with my guys in a huddle before we go out.
What record couldn’t you live without if you were stuck on a desert island? Endless Summer by The Beach Boys
Favourite memory from the past few years? This past November, I got to have my debut at the Ryman auditorium.
Complete the sentence…
Music is.. Everything
Country music is… heart-wrenching and perfect.
Sandra Lynn is… your friend.
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