Hailing from North London, Natalie Shay is a 19 year-old multi award-winning artist who is deemed one of London’s hottest emerging talents. 

As a classically trained guitarist from the age of five, Shay's outstanding talents soon found herself accepted into the prestigious BRIT school, a place that Shay credits for encouraging independence. Her experience at the BRIT school propelled her into a successful solo career, performing to sold-out audiences at some of London’s most iconic and renowned venues, including The Roundhouse, Ronnie Scotts and Brooklyn Bowl, O2. 

Her new single, "This Feeling," produced by Pete Dowsett (The Vaccines), features a flawless and dynamic sound that centers around the excitement of young love and the passionate desire for someone. In advance of the song's January 19th release, Shay answered her Essential 8 and talked songwriting, her dream venue, and much more!

When/where do you do your best writing?
I do my best writing really late at night at home. Although I've written some really cool songs with other people in sessions, I write best alone at night when everyones sleeping.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
I write about all of these things. When I was younger and hadn't lived much, most of my songs were based on scenarios from tv or film. Now I suppose my songs are more about real experiences.

What’s your favorite venue and why?
My favourite venue is the Bedford in Balham. I played one of my first ever proper shows there in 2012 when I was just starting out at 13, and have played there many many more times since. Unfortunately the venue is due to close down next year, which is really sad as its always been a great music venue to launch new artists such as Ed Sheeran and Paolo Nutini.

What’s your dream venue and why?
Reading Festival Mainstage

Atlanta-based award-winning Christian artist Rahn Anthoni took the international press and airwaves by storm with 2017's most inspirational track, "I'll Trust You." The song earned him  numerous accolades including a Radio Music Award and an Indie Music Channel Award, as well as the Man-Up Award for his charity work. 

Encouraged by the support the country music world showed his r&b-flavored music, Rahn has returned with a new country soul tune, "Highway." Written by Rahn, it tells of his journey from tragedy to triumph, looking back on the story of his life. Here, Rahn answers his Essential 8 and talks inspiration, founding They Can't Talk, But We Can, and much more.
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Did you have a musical mentor?
Yes. My music mentor was my family Gospel called The Family Voice of West Jupiter. My mom Johnnie Mae Hatcher, Grandad Martin Hogg Sr., (rip) uncle Martin Hogg Jr., Aunt Phobia Williams, Grandma Willie Mae Hogg (rip)and my Aunt Thelma Freeman (rip) I grew up with them, and they were my mentors. Outside of my family, my mentor was James Cisco, the kick boxing Champion.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
I get all my inspiration from within. I listen to the voice inside of me and the energy moves me to write.

When/where do you do your best writing?
I do my best writing during meditation. When I'm calm seeking that quiet still moment that's when I hear the words from within.

What's the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
The best advice was to keep reaching people, no matter what happens in your life, because that's healing for you.

Now in its fifth year, the Ameripolitan Awards, honoring the sounds of Rockabilly, Honky Tonk, Outlaw, and Western Swing will take place in Memphis over four music-filled days, February 10-13th. The Ameripolitan Awards show, held on the final night of the festivities will be hosted by founder Dale Watson and Danielle Colby, an Ameripolitan music fan and television personality from the History Channel's American Pickers. In advance of this year's celebration, Watson graciously took the time to discuss the many facets of Ameripolitan from the awards and the showcases, to its worldwide reach, and more.

This will be the Ameripolitan Award’s 5th year, and instead of taking place in Austin, the celebration moved to Memphis. What spurred the move and why Memphis?
Well, with Austin being my home, and the city being so centrally located, it made it easy to do there, but from the beginning, I always wanted to move it around. Going into the fifth year I wanted to do something different, and once we had settled on having it take place in Memphis, a city I head to quite often, it took off like wildfire.

The wonderful city of Memphis could not have been more welcoming to us. Memphis is such a great town filled with a rich musical history, and creative people; it has so much soul and so many things to enjoy and I think the people who come will gain a whole new perspective of Memphis and discover the charm of the city.

In addition to the move, you’re also doing some new things this year including a new award, The Legend Award, which will honor Sam Phillips who had an enormous impact on music.
Sam wasn’t a performer, but he basically created the careers of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis at Sun Studios. We talked about giving him the Master’s Award like we did Ray Price or Charley Pride, but we felt he needed his own.

Unlike some other award shows, you let the fans decide the winners. Why was it important to you that it be done this way?
It’s 100% by the fans because the fans are the livelihood of this whole genre and the people in it. They are the ones who come to the shows and buy the records, so they’re the voices you have to listen to. Having the fans vote is more real than having some guys in a room pick the winner because to me, that can really begin to corrupt it.

Ameripolitan isn't solely about the awards; at four days, it’s definitely has the feel of a festival. 
The whole thing is like a mini SXSW, but it’s very focused. We have four days finalized now: on the 9th we have the Hot Rod Show and Pre-party, the 10th we have the Honky Tonk and Western Swing showcases, on the 11th there are the Outlaw and Rockabilly Showcases and the 12th has the Fashion Show and music on Beale Street and the 13th are the awards show and party. We have a lot going on.

Hailing from Florida, Whiskey in the Pines bring  warm, heartfelt Americana on their new EP, Sunshine From The Blue Cactus.

With songs as varied as the driving "Roses" to the somber, "Drunk With My Friends," and the love paean “Do You Believe in Hell,” the quartet connect with the listener on songs personal, yet universal. Recently, Whiskey in the Pines front man David Lareau (Singer/Songwriter/Guitar), - the band also consists of Kelly Chavers (Guitar), Aaron Halford (Bass) Guitar, and Erik Wutz (Drums) - answered his Essential 8 and talked the story behind the album's title, his unbelievably cool Goonies' gift, and much more!

What’s the story behind your album’s title?
We recorded the majority of the album right outside of Nashville proper.  We have a mild obsession with Mexican food and there was this little Mexican restaurant called “The Blue Cactus.”  We would frequent this little joint for afternoon beers and chips and salsa. The drummer, who shall remain nameless but played on the record, found himself infatuated with one of the waitresses. Ironically, she seemed to always catch our table, which I attribute to my excellent jacket collection and witty dialogue, but we’ll let the drummer think it was him. Anyway, her name happened to be Sunshine. Months go by and we were struggling to find the right album title when lo and behold the drummer speaks and says “Why not call it Sunshine From The Blue Cactus?” A light bulb goes off, and brilliance ensues. It’s most likely going to be his big life-defining moment. He’s actually moving to Nashville this month--I’m convinced he’s moving there for her. Sadly I don’t even think she knows his name. But thank you to her for all the mid-day buzzes!

Do you write about real things that have happened to you or are you a storyteller? Which is easier?
I tend to borrow from life experiences to help find the lyrics to the songs and tell the story. I wouldn’t say I write chronologically or autobiographically, and I never set out to write about a certain thing. The words just find their way. I’m a firm believer that the listener should be able to relate to the song and make it their own story, as some of my favorite songs are the ones I can put my own spin on.  I tend to find the best songs are the ones you don’t try to write; they just find you when you’re out mowing the grass or perusing the grocery store aimlessly.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? Books, Movies, personal experience, other musicians?
I can try to sound all ethereal and say inspiration is around us all the time, but quite honestly I find it comes down to whatever moves you. I think there also has to be a sub-conscious decision of taste as well. The best songwriters all have excellent taste. Whether that be in music, food, clothes, style, guitars, etc. it comes down to do you know what’s good and what other people will like. So if you see a movie and say, “Hey, that would make a really good song,” then sure, use it. Use whatever you can. That being said, if it’s a Polly Shore movie you’re choosing to write your song about, you’d better be one hell of a lyricist. 

When/where do you do your best writing?
I used to write late at night when it was quiet and there were no distractions. These days I have a four year-old son running around and sleep is something I have come to cherish, so late night writing is out the window.  I try to at least play the guitar for an hour or so in the morning over coffee, and I’ll normally stumble upon a melody of some sort.  The rest of the day I’ll try to piece together what the song is about in between building play-dough snowmen and imitating the cookie monster for the little one. 

Songwriter Johnny Dango's music is a confluence of country and rock, psychedelic riffs, folky roots and gospel touches replete with social critiques, intellectual musings, melancholy meditations, and humor. On his new album Dear Everybody, I Love You, he is introspective, battling the concept of time, and questioning his efficacy as a songwriter - all captured with energy and ennui. In advance of the album's release on January 19th, Dango answered his Essential 8 and talked the interesting story behind his album's title, the tunes on his phone, and much more.

What’s the story behind your album’s title?
It came from a dream. I was getting a Lyft ride and when the car arrived and I got in, the driver was Father John Misty. In my dream, I didn’t think much about it. Hard times for a lot of folks these days, right? So he’s driving and just going on and on, like lecturing me about social constructs and the need for an entirely new system, and it’s hilarious and interesting but I can’t get a word in. And he’s driving really fast. I’m pretty sure we were in Austin, but it was a dream, so it wasn’t exactly Austin, but I guess we were on MoPac or 360, one of those roads here that pass themselves off as quasi-highways, and Father John Misty kept driving faster and faster, and we were going downhill, into a big curve, him still talking about the patriarchy and me getting more and more nervous. We hit this curve and instead of riding the curve we shoot out straight into the air, Thelma and Louise style, and we’re flying thru the air for a few seconds before the nose of the car starts to dip and we see below us there’s another road and we’re gonna nosedive and crash. We’re about to die. Father John Misty says “oh man, I’m sorry!” and I say “it’s ok,” and then I close my eyes and say a little prayer, “Dear Everybody, I Love You.” Then I opened my eyes right at impact and woke up. The working title up to that point had been “Fun Hurts.”

Favorite (or first) concert you have ever attended?
Favorite would probably by Bob Dylan and His Band with Phil Lesh and Friends. Zoo Ampitheater, Oklahoma City. I don’t remember the exact year right now but it was before I moved to Austin in 2001, during the period when Bob still had Charlie Sexton and Larry Campbell on guitar. I’ve seen Bob a bunch of times, good and bad, but that show was magical. They were playing straight up rock and roll. Bob hadn’t gone into his keyboard phase yet. The playing, the singing, and the setlist were all superb. And then Phil and Friends played afterwards. It was almost too much fun. Like being at an old Dylan/Dead show, but where everyone was actually pretty much together. 

Which song of yours gets the best crowd response?
Probably “Boomerang,” from the first Memphis Strange record. It’s upbeat and bouncy. I got the idea for the drumbeat from a busted, wobbly ceiling fan. I think that beat gets people going, and a lot of times the crowd will sing along in the chorus, probably because there aren’t any actual words. It’s just a bunch of “woo-hoos.” That’s easy enough to remember, and you don’t even really have to sing in tune.

Husband and wife duo, The Time Burners (Becky and Travis Koester), met playing music in their high school years and have been together ever since. Their love of old music has remained steadfast and continues to blossom as their mature musically. Their new album, The Girl Can Cook, due January 9th, is a perfect blend of rockabilly, classic country, and roots based music. Recently, Travis took the time to answer his Essential 8 (plus) and talk about the album, relay the best advice he ever received, and much more!

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
I really didn’t, I learned drums and guitar when I was 14/15 years old by locking myself in my room. I had many people I learned a little from by watching and listening to them.

With "Hillbilly Blues", what was the “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
On our new album the song "Hillbilly Blues" I knew was done when I found a guitar lick on my old 51 Gibson ES 125 that hit the spot. It topped the song off and said perfect.

What’s the story behind your album’s title?
Pretty simple, my wife and bandmate Becky is a great cook. So The Girl Can Cook came natural for me especially this time of year!

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
Life experience to artists I love and of course the love of my life Becky. We really are best friends so there is a lot of inspiration that comes from that.

When/where do you do your best writing?
I do my best writing alone, usually just a guitar and a notebook. I don’t have to go anywhere it just comes naturally when I feel the bug to keep it going. I also draw inspiration from the travels and shows we do and the fine folks we meet.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
More about personal experiences and observations of what I see or feel.
 
What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
“Keep It Simple, No Need To Be Fancy” Magic Slim when I was a younger blues slinger and also a great one that told Becky and I “No matter what you do with music do it together and don’t let other people come between that no matter what.” Rod Piazza when we were younger.

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Don’t be afraid to just get out and try stuff. I always tell musicians that I listen to especially when they try to record is don’t overdo it. Keep it simple and let it shine!

Singer-songwriter Wes Youssi's passion for country music began at six years old listening to his grandmother play Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves records. The Portland-based artist, who is preparing to release his new album, Down Low, on January 19th, kindly took the time to answer his Essential 8 and talk about the album's title, success and struggle, and much more.

What’s the story behind your album’s title?

The name Down Low was chosen because this whole project, for me, was about bringing up emotions that I held deep within. Like so many other artists, I can’t communicate like most “normal” people do. My feelings are often way too strong (or complex and interwoven) to be conversational. The world wants simplicity, and avoids more personal dialog. For me at least, there’s an aquifer of emotion laying underneath looking for a way to rise up.

The title and cover art direction also reference wandering. That’s not a concept people value so much anymore. To me, NOT having a clear direction is a good thing. It means you’re about to discover something unexpected...by that I mean your life. A wanderer has to deal with feeling misunderstood, and at times, alone in thought and journey. Even though loneliness can take you to some dark and down low places, it always leads to personal transformation. This whole album is much like themes in Homer’s Odyssey. Learning to hear yourself and find your way home. 

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?

This sounds weird to say, but I’m not actively looking for any inspiration. It’s more like I’m trying to sift through a network of emotions going on inside my head. Songs tend to come to me in my sleep, driving, or zoning out. I’ll hear a rhythm like someone was playing it down a long hallway, or a vocal like a ghost whispered it in my ear. I find myself having to be very still in these moments, so I can piece together what I just felt and heard.  For example, when I wrote "Everything’s Blue", I had this tremendous sense of sadness, and started writing the song (and that wasn’t a song I was trying to write consciously). When I finished writing it, I had no idea where it was going, I just followed the feelings as they came. When I was done, I looked out the window and realized the cabin I was staying in was next to a lake that had been drained, and all the boats and docks were sitting on the bottom of the old lake…rusting out. I’m very “room-affected” and react to wherever I am, and write about the emotions that are stirred up. Environment and subject matter impact my emotions in different ways (though not literally). "Everything’s Blue" was about a lost love from my past, but I had forgotten about it until I saw that empty lake. It all hit me, though I wasn’t searching for it. 

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?

If another musician asked for my advice, I would share this: Make 10,000 imperfect pots, instead of 1 perfect pot. The person that makes the most pots, will make the perfect pot first. 

Crisscrossing the country in their 32-foot Winnebago armed with their blues-drenched Americana, The Wide Open (Allen Rayfield and Season Ammons) has discovered their calling––and fans of honest music are grateful for it. The pair’s sophomore release Long Road Home, out January 12th, pulses with raw immediacy; a tight collection of confident, original songs that is driven by Ammons’ and Rayfield’s undeniable chemistry. In advance of the album's release, the duo answer their Essential 8 and give you the story behind the album's title, list their must-have tunes for the road, and much more!


What’s the story behind your album’s title?
Long Road Home is the musical story of love, life, hardship, joy, passion, beauty and misery. It's a collection of songs that cover the emotional spectrum that make up the human experience. When we met unexpectedly and fell in love over 4 years ago, it was at pivotal moments in our life. We didn't know where the journey would take us, but we forged a romance, followed our hearts and became musical partners. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to listen to your heart and endure the constant struggle to go against the grain and follow you dreams. Home is where the heart is...and our hearts lie in the music we make together along with the hundreds of thousands of miles that make up the Long Road Home. 

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
S: Work your ass off, nobody is more invested in your career than you are!
​A: Don't look back or you'll be trampled to death! 

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
Writing comes from many different sources. We write together and separately and each process id different. For Allen, writing is insanely honest and almost to a point of being biographical. I walk a line between writing, living and purging tragedy or happiness so that I can find some comfort somewhere in the middle. I really feel things very deeply so I use music to medicate myself. 
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For Season, writing comes in spurts. Lyrics, phrases and hooks will just "fall out of the sky" and I stop what I'm doing and write it down, record the melody or pick up an instrument and feel it out. If the song "stocks" me and won't "leave me alone" for days then I know it's a good one and I have to finish it. Sometimes, I'm going through something personal and will use a song to deal with my emotions. Other times, I imagine I am somebody else and pretend to put myself in certain situations to try and write a song that's relatable to a wide audience. 

Since the release of their second album, Vinyl and a Heartache, Norweigan Americana trio Darling West have played concerts all over the world (including Americanafest), appeared on the Top 100 Country charts in the US, and won a Norwegian Grammy.

In advance of the February release of their new album, While I Was Asleep, the self-described "coffee geeks" took the time to answer their Essential 8 and talk songwriting, their favorite road food (and drink), and much more!

When/where do you do your best writing?
We have family and good friends who have cabins in the mountains in Aal, where Tor comes from. We’ll go there for maybe a week and just work on writing songs. It’s really good for us to get away from the city and be close to nature. Just focus on that one thing and be away from everything that will disturb you. Then there are other songs that are written, or at least started, on the road, and just a few written at home in our apartment in Oslo.
 
Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
Definitely a combination. I think we often draw from personal experience to some degree, but that also includes being inspired by the ones around us, their lifes and stories. Musicians and artists often lead a nomadic existence, and that enables us to meet a lot of people and see a lot of things that will serve as inspiration for songwriting. So observations certainly come into play as well. And I believe most of us have felt what it’s like to have your heart completely broken, to feel hopelessly lost or euphorically happy. We can tap into those experiences and feelings even though that’s not where we’re at while we’re writing.
 
What’s your favorite food on the road?
We’re suckers for Mexican and Indian food. We’re not vegetarians, but still try to stay away from too much meat. On an off day we might go for a proper BBQ place, but we could never play a show after a meal like that. We’re also complete coffee geeks. We travel with a grinder and a brewer so we can brew our own coffee, but we also try to seek out the good places in every city we go to.

​After seven albums and many years of solo music making, roots rocker Rich McCulley is still finding new inspiration in life. With his latest record Out Along The Edges, he writes of both love and loss, the good and not so good, and hard and better times.  McCulley, whose credits have included tunes appearing in several movies, as well as television shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Cold Case,” among others, recently answered his Essential 8 and talked songwriting, the story behind the album's title, and more.

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you? 
My friend, bandmate, and co-writer Duane Jarvis was a big mentor and influence on my approach, unfortunately he lost the battle to cancer a few years back (RIP DJ). I learned so much from him, so much about less. He always pushed to get the most out of a little, fewer chords, less noodling on guitar, leaving a lyric open, no fluff, just get to the heart of the matter of the song. A very Zen approach, I often find myself thinking what would DJ do when writing.
 
With your songs, is there an “a-ha” moment when you know they are completed? 
When it feels done, sometimes its quick, sometimes I keep working on it for a while, but when it feels right, even if I know there are some imperfections, I’ll keep playing the song and at some point those “fixes” reveal themselves. I try not to get to hung up or force it.
 
What’s the story behind your album’s title? 
“Out Along the Edges” is a song I wrote with Will Kimbrough about our children. The 1st first verse is basically my boy, and the 2nd verse is his oldest daughter. We both feel that our children, reeled us in and made us real. Having a kid pretty much changed everything in my world, both in perception and reality.