Get to Know: Troy Cartwright Who Talks Roots, His New Record & More

For Troy Cartwright, music, both writing and performing, is what he has to do. A rising star on the Texas music scene, the singer songwriter has been the recipient of the B. W. Stevenson Songwriting Competition Award and the 2014 Rising Star Texas Music Award. In addition, he was named ‘One to Watch’ by the Dallas Observer. In February he released his self-titled album, which has seen its debut dingle “Next Flight Home” land in the Top 25 on the charts. Cartwright graciously took some time to talk about his roots, writing and more.

For anyone who may not be familiar with your music, can you give the back story as to when you began to have an interest in music and started writing, playing and singing?

Remember Razor scooters? Well, when I was twelve years old, I really wanted a Razor scooter. My parents usually gave us all one really big present on Christmas; so on Christmas we went to the garage and popped the trunk. I was sure there was going to be a scooter in there, but there wasn’t; it was a guitar. So my involvement with music started with disappointment (laughing), but that’s how I started playing. Really though, I thought the guitar was pretty cool, and so I started figuring it out, taking lessons from a kid at school and then began playing in church along with the youth choir. Around fourteen I began writing songs; they weren’t very good, but it was a start! I was in bands, graduated Berklee [College of Music], worked in NY and then did the wedding singer thing when I realized that wasn’t why I did music. When I started looking at my options I realized the Texas scene looked like a pretty good place to be for what I wanted to do--which was sing my own songs. So I moved back down to Dallas and have been doing that ever since.

So you knew that you wanted to pursue music from an early age. What was your area of study at Berklee?

I actually graduated with a degree in music business. I always thought I’d live in New York, work in the industry and play music, but I did an internship in New York and really didn’t find the work interesting. It was then I began looking at the bigger picture asking myself, “Am I going to work here or am I going to play music?”

When you decided to move back to Texas why did you choose to return to Dallas instead of say, Austin?

Dallas was home. In fact I have a story about it on the record called “Come Home.” I knew I wanted to play music, but I didn’t know exactly what that would look like and how long it would take to get going, so I asked my parents if I could move in with them. I lived with them for about a year and they let me sleep for free (laughing)! I’m really thankful to them because they allowed me to let me get my feet firmly on the ground before I ventured off on my own.

Since you ventured off you have not only been earning accolades, but earlier this year you released your self-titled album. The first single from the project, “Next Flight Home,” is sitting in the Top 25 on the Texas charts. You must be very happy with the reception!?

Oh yeah I’ve been really happy. I feel so lucky because it’s just so early on in my career to have that happen. The song has been in the Top 25 for over a month, which is just really great. Having a song in the Top 25 has been a goal of mine, so for the song to be there and then to sustain it—that’s just gravy. What’s cool for me too is looking at the other names in the Top 25—some of them are my heroes. 
Now, the tricky part is going to be able to do it again and again and again. I hope people like the other songs on the album just as much!

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The album, which was released in February, contains nine well written story songs. How many of them did you have a hand in writing?

I wrote everything myself, which is something I am very proud of. I love to write. I think of myself as a songwriter first, that’s definitely what drives the carriage for me. As I get busier and spend more time on the road it is harder to find the time to write every day, but I do it as much as I can.
I’m still trying to figure out this whole co-writing thing here in Texas. It is not as common as it is in Nashville. It’s easier to do in Nashville, because the songwriters are there, so all you have to do is drive across town. If I wanted to co-write with someone in Austin [Cartwright is based in Dallas] it’s hard to find time because its a few hours away and someone is usually on tour which makes it difficult to coordinate. 

There are a lot of songs on the record that deal with love, both the happy and sad aspects of it, but "Stuck" is a song that stands out to me. What is the story behind that song?

Basically it’s about when you first start dating and you’re pretty sure there’s a connection, but you have to play it cool. Then you might sense the other person isn’t responding fast enough and your mind starts running like “they must not like me, what am I doing wrong?” I had the twisted thought, "what if something bad would happen to me, then she’d feel sorry for me and that would get her attention." That’s the basis of the song. It starts off asking if she would come visit me if I cracked my head then progresses into a line I love “when you love something so much that you could die and not let go.” When you really do love someone, or even something, you have to do it, you know? Like with music, sometimes you wish you could do something else, but you can’t. It’s like that way for me….it’s what I have to do.  

In a short time you have been able to play with some heavyweights. Is there anyone that you admire or someone that has become a mentor to you?

Yes, Zane Williams. I have been able to play with Zane lately and he is a really nice guy with a really good heart. He’s incredibly talented, one of best songwriters I’ve ever known. He’s also an incredibly busy guy on a tight schedule, but he takes the time to talk and let me pick his brain. It’s really cool because he doesn’t have to do that. 

Having a song in the Top 25 is a great accomplishment. Is there anything else you want to accomplish this year?

Well, I would really like another single in the Top 25 for sure and then I have some personal, business related goals, like completing my team. As far as long term goals, I have my sight set on the next five years. I would love to sell out a full band show at Billy Bob’s. Sometimes you just have to look at where you want to end up and figure out how to get from here to there. The tricky part is just finding all of the little steps to make the big one.

As an independent artist, how much of the business side of things do you do yourself?

I have a radio promoter, Angela, who is wonderful, but as far as booking and management I do it all myself. I have had various people at different points, but for now it’s just me, which can be exhausting! I basically had to learn the lesson that no one is going to advocate for you as well as you can and if you find yourself in a situation where that is true then it’s best to do it yourself. I know a team is important to long term success, but for me, it’s important that I find the right people. 

So then, what are your profession plans for the summer?

We have a couple of big shows coming up including the Buckin Wild Fest in Oklahoma. Then we play with Mike and the Moonpies on Panther Island which is really cool because the stage faces the water so people float out in tubes and listen to the music. We’ll also open for the Dirty River Boys and then head to Nashville for a showcase in May. Then it will be time to choose and release another single and before you know it will be time to get back into the studio in early 2016. I’m really looking forward to all of it. 

As you travel from show to show, is there one record that you find yourself listening to the most? 

That’s a great question. The record that I listened to the most in the past few months has been Jason Isbell’s Southeastern, which isn’t that new, but it’s an incredible record. He is an incredible songwriter and every time I listen to it I find something new that blows my mind. 

For more information visit his official website
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Purchase the album Troy Cartwright here