1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:01,360 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 2: I think there's also about installation to like protecting myself 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 2: during this time of a physical creation and also just 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 2: musical creation. 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 3: Hum buzz night. And this is the Take a Walk Podcast, 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 3: and we're going to be with someone who knows that 7 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 3: in this life, no one gets out alive. That doesn't 8 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 3: mean we can't make the journey beautiful. Grammy nominated singer 9 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 3: songwriter Maggie Rose. She's been spinning musical gold from life's 10 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 3: raw materials her twenty twenty four album No One Gets 11 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 3: Out Alive. Rolling Stone called it one of the best 12 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 3: albums of twenty twenty four. It proves she's not just 13 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 3: surviving the music industry, she is transforming it. And she's 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 3: going to talk to us about new music, the EP 15 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 3: called Cocoon, and lots more on the Taken a Walk Podcast. 16 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 3: Taking a Walk, Maggie, Welcome to the Taking a Walk Podcast. 17 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: I'm so happy to have you. 18 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: I'm so happy to be here. Thanks for having me. 19 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 3: So The opening volley we like to bring out is 20 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 3: the question, no, what's coming you do, don't you? The 21 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 3: question being if you could take a walk with somebody. 22 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 3: I'm blushing now, you see, if you could take a 23 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 3: walk with somebody living or dead. Who would you take 24 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: a walk with? Then maybe where would you take that walk? 25 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm going to cheat because I have to say 26 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: two people. Paul McCartney because he's the greatest and I 27 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: want to hear all the stories about those early days 28 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 2: and the caverns, but I also want his take on 29 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: where music is today, And if I can be so greedy, 30 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 2: I have to also say Abraham Lincoln because he was 31 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: one of our greatest presidents during such incredibly divisive time, 32 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: and I would want to know what he would think 33 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: about today and how he would navigate today. 34 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 3: That's awesome. I just recorded a future episode yesterday with 35 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 3: Eric from the band Midlake, and he said Abraham Lincoln, 36 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,119 Speaker 3: and he was talking himself out of it a bit 37 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 3: at first, and I said, wait a minute, you know 38 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 3: he's he's one of the guys, right, He's like. 39 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 2: He's one of the guys. Yeah, absolutely, paramount to our history. 40 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: People kind of chuckle when I say that, because they 41 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: think that as a musician you sort of need to 42 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: default to another musician. But you know, I'd also work 43 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 2: very hard to make Abraham Lincoln a fan of my music. 44 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 2: That would be a cool accomplishment to have. But yeah, 45 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: I mean I think that those really were unprecedented times 46 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 2: and how did he turn down the temperature and how 47 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 2: could how could he possibly unite our country today? 48 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 3: Yeah? What could we learn from our past? 49 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 2: You know? And what would he think about where we've arrived? 50 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm sure that might be a kind of 51 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: brutal criticism from him to see where we've come, But 52 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 2: you know, I think that it would just be a 53 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 2: eye opening to have some perspective from someone who's who 54 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 2: was able to in some sort of solution during a 55 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 2: time where it felt impossible. 56 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 3: And Paul McCartney would then set us straight down industry 57 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 3: wise where things are absolutely heading. One of the things 58 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 3: I love about all of your music, the new song 59 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 3: Staying Cocoon, the EP, and certainly your great career is 60 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 3: the fact that you touch many different genres. You like 61 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 3: bending bending the rules a bit over your career. What 62 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 3: inspired you to always think that way? 63 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 2: I think it's less about bending the rules and not 64 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 2: really regarding rules, trying to kind of serve each song 65 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: with the sonic arrangement that it needs. And I like 66 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 2: to explore my capabilities and continue examining myself as an artist, 67 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: so I think that just naturally brings me to these 68 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: different these different soundscapes, and I'm very collaborative, so I 69 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: know that that also lends itself to some of the 70 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 2: different sounds that you hear. Is just all the different 71 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 2: people I work with. 72 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 3: And you were a fan favorite at Americana Fest recently. 73 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 3: It sounds like you had multiple great experiences. Do you 74 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 3: want to talk about the one with the symphony in particular? 75 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 2: Yes, it was surreal. So on my last album, No 76 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: One Gets Out Alive, I had a lot of these 77 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,799 Speaker 2: really great orchestral arrangements and we actually used a symphony 78 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: in Macedonia for the recording. This was something that sort 79 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 2: of came out of the pandemic where these incredible symphonies 80 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: were able to remotely record scores for films and arrangements 81 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 2: for albums like my own. So this is the first 82 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 2: time that I actually got to realize that kind of 83 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: presentation with an actual ensemble behind me. It was seventy people, 84 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: so that was daunting because that's a big train and 85 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: once it's moven, there's no stopping it, there's no improvising, 86 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 2: So that part was nerve wracking, But it just was 87 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: I just got totally swept up in the experience and 88 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 2: it felt like one of those moments where you know 89 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: there aren't many, but where you get there and you're like, Okay, 90 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: this is kind of that touch point of all this 91 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: work that I've been doing over the last couple of 92 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 2: years to be able to play this music with, you know, 93 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 2: these musicians who've dedicated their life to their craft and 94 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: just talk about a collaborative experience. It was like everybody 95 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 2: together helping carry these songs through. And something happened right 96 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: before I hit the stage where I was able to 97 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:19,119 Speaker 2: consciously slow my brain down and be like, please enjoy 98 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: this and don't let the sensory overload, just make it 99 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 2: go by so quickly, and I was able to really 100 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 2: settle in and enjoy the night. And just that concert 101 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 2: hall in Nashville, it's so beautiful, and all the people 102 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 2: that contributed to this record, so many of them were there, 103 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: and it just felt like a big celebration. And I 104 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 2: hope it's the first of many now that we have 105 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: these arrangements. I know there's symphonies all over the world 106 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 2: that I'd love to recreate that night with. 107 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 3: I got chills it's awesome. It's fantastic. 108 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 2: I got chills too. It was really very, very special. 109 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 3: I want to talk about the twenty twenty four album 110 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 3: One Gets Out Alive. It, you know, certainly has a 111 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 3: haunting title. What was your headspace as you were in 112 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 3: the midst of that project and that creation. 113 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 2: I kind of felt like I had nothing to lose. 114 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 2: I wrote that song with Natalie Humby and Sonny Sweeney, 115 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: and it was after I had lost people close to me. 116 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 2: I had people that passed away, I had friendships that 117 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: didn't sustain the pandemic and all the stress of that, 118 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: and I just felt like, my life is too short 119 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 2: and it should be celebrated and we should create things 120 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 2: that are beautiful. And I kind of took that approach 121 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: to the production as well, Like these were big arrangements 122 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 2: and we swung for the fences, and I tried to 123 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 2: put together like the best band that I could put 124 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 2: together in the studio, and I just really I went 125 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: for it, I suppose. And it's a lot about life 126 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 2: and all of its wonder and you know how different 127 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: events affect our perception of the passage of time, And 128 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: it's about gratitude and I think I just was at 129 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: a place in my life where it was just so 130 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 2: like incredibly palpable, and all the joy and sorrow just 131 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 2: felt like a really creative moment, I think for me. 132 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 3: And then moving into Cocoon, you have your son Graham, 133 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 3: your new young lad. How much did motherhood influence this 134 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 3: metaphor of sort of transformation and emergence. 135 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: I think there was also about insulation too, like protecting 136 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 2: myself during this time of a physical creation and also 137 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 2: just musical creation. I wanted to have this snapshot of 138 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 2: these collections of songs during this really special time in 139 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 2: my life. And it also was about growth and all 140 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 2: the beautiful things about it, but also the sharper edges 141 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 2: of it and how you know, not everyone wants to 142 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: grow at the same rate as you. Not everyone wants 143 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: to go with you to this new place that you're going, 144 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 2: and emergences worthwhile, but you've shed some things on your 145 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 2: way to that next phase as well. So I think 146 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 2: it was a lot of it about anticipation, letting go 147 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: of things that I didn't need to bring with me 148 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: in this new chapter as a mother, unburdening myself of 149 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 2: some resentment. And also there's song about hope that I 150 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 2: want to impart that idea on Graham and show him 151 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 2: that there is a world where hope is very much alive. 152 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 3: You collaborated on Cocoon with this this gentle flower who 153 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 3: needs to come out of her shell by the name 154 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 3: of Grace Potter. 155 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 2: You know, she's such a wallflower, she's so shy. I 156 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 2: loved y'all's episode by the way she's She's such a 157 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 2: great person. The song is about, you know, not necessarily 158 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: being able to support someone else in their successes and 159 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: the antithesis of that. She's so supportive and like her 160 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 2: Vermont community benefits from that, but also her creative community. 161 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 2: You know, she's always lifting people up. And I shared 162 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 2: this music with her after it was done because I 163 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 2: wanted her to hear it and I wanted her feedback 164 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 2: on it. But really I was angling to get her 165 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: to jump on this song with me, and she, just 166 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 2: the way she is, she said yes on the spot 167 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 2: when I asked her over to the phone. And her husband, 168 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 2: Eric Valentine, is an incredible producer and engineer, so the 169 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 2: two of them, I think that night went and put 170 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 2: Grace's part on Poisoning My Will, and she sent it 171 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 2: back the next day and I just was like, this 172 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 2: is surreal and an example of like asked for what 173 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 2: you want and you might get it, and we certainly 174 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 2: did with what she contributed to that song, It's so great. 175 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 3: I love it poisoning my will And thanks for your 176 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 3: nice words on having Grace on. She makes it very 177 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 3: easy to roll with the flow because she's got such 178 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 3: amazing energy and focus. 179 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 2: And I love going on walks with her. I mean 180 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 2: just she is. She's so generous with just her her thoughts, 181 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,719 Speaker 2: her takes on what's going on, and she'll just sit 182 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 2: in it with you and kind of you know, there's 183 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 2: not an agenda. She's trying to figure it all out 184 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 2: and work through it with people. 185 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 3: Can you remember the first time in your life that 186 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 3: you were impacted by music? 187 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 2: Yes, I mean I was very young, and I actually 188 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 2: think it was because I always loved just sing around 189 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 2: the house and I love to perform for my parents' 190 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 2: friends and they'd come over for dinner. Like I justk 191 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 2: a bit of a show boat in that way. But 192 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:39,599 Speaker 2: I think what impacted me was seeing this group of 193 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 2: adults all of a sudden fall silent and pay attention 194 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 2: and gather together just to like commune and music. I 195 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 2: think seeing the power of that in the community that 196 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 2: it brings at such an early age was pretty impactful 197 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 2: to me. And there were some pretty cool opportunities as 198 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 2: a very young person to sing with other people in 199 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 2: choirs and just kind of getting to learn from that. 200 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 2: And also my parents played great music around the house too, 201 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 2: Like my mom would just be like, what do you 202 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 2: think about this song? She'd played like the Duds and 203 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 2: MARYA Shape and Carpenter and talk about their songwriting, and 204 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,839 Speaker 2: it just was like a very alive in my house. 205 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 3: And very diverse musically, which leads to your diverse musical approach. 206 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 3: Certainly there was a pop side. I mean you grew 207 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 3: up outside of DC, right. 208 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 2: That's right, Yeah, so you were. And also the divas 209 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 2: were just like abound when I was growing up, I 210 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 2: feel like more so than now. It's just like the 211 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 2: female singer was everywhere in every genre, really celebrated, and 212 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 2: I think that definitely shaped my inclination to want to 213 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 2: sing and belt it out like them. 214 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: We'll be right back with more of the Taken a 215 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:16,319 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Welcome back to the Taken a Walk Podcast. 216 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 3: How much since you moved to Nashville quite a few 217 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 3: years ago. Has Nashville changed. 218 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 2: It's a totally different town in my opinion. But I've 219 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: also found a different Nashville myself personally. I think in 220 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 2: the creative community that I have around me. And when 221 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: I moved here in two thousand and eight, I was 222 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 2: releasing commercial country music. I was doing the country radio thing, 223 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 2: and you know, being dragged around the country doing radio tours, 224 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: trying to get that one song played on that station. 225 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 2: And I feel like I would put a whole year 226 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 2: of my life into promoting this one song when you 227 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: know we have multitudes within us, and just the template 228 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 2: didn't really work for me. And I think that forced 229 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 2: me to explore my sound and that's when the soul 230 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 2: started to come out. And my departure from that approach 231 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 2: actually just opened up my world of music. So I 232 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 2: started working in a different way, and I think that 233 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 2: that made me attract people who maybe aren't what you 234 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 2: would typically assume a Nashville musician to be. Like Nashville's 235 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 2: music is, the spectrum is so much more broad than 236 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 2: it was before. You'll find people making all kinds of music, 237 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 2: and I love that it's growing. The traffic sucks, but 238 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 2: the food's gotten really good. I do wish that there 239 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: was some reverence for the old music venues around town. 240 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 2: This being music city, I think that we've forsaken some 241 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 2: of those really awesome institutions that made people want to 242 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 2: move here in the first place. There's so much that's 243 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 2: given way to the bottom line and tourism and all 244 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 2: those things which are necessary proceeded to grow. But yeah, 245 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 2: I think I'm missing the soul of the music scene 246 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 2: a little bit in terms of the live entertainment. But 247 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 2: there are some incredible places still. 248 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 3: There's a lot of unsung musical heroes, songwriters, session people 249 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 3: that need to be showcased and acknowledged more. I know 250 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 3: there's a ton of them that worked on Cocoon with you. 251 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 3: Why don't you shine a light on some of these 252 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 3: at times unsung heroes. 253 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think Melissa Fuller is an incredible writer. She's 254 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 2: also a great artist, and I've written songs with her 255 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 2: on previous projects. Davis Nash he was one of the 256 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 2: producers with Bent Tanner who produced my last album, and 257 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 2: Davis helped me write a lot of the songs. He 258 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 2: is an incredible programmer and musician. The Ben tanner Is. 259 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,120 Speaker 2: He's with the Alabama Shikes out on tour right now, 260 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 2: and he's been so instrumental to my evolution. We made 261 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 2: an album down at Fame and Muscle Shows a couple 262 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 2: of years ago, and then we worked on No. One 263 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,640 Speaker 2: Gets Out Alive. And he's someone who really gets into 264 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 2: trenches with me and helps me with the a and our 265 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,400 Speaker 2: process and selecting the songs, and I mean the role 266 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:46,679 Speaker 2: of producer he takes and he runs with it. He 267 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 2: offers so much more. And of course Natalie Hemby's a 268 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 2: great friend of mine. She collaborated on it. Steph Jones, 269 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 2: who's had a hell of a year. She's written a 270 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 2: bunch of songs for Sabrina carpon Or has a great 271 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 2: op sensibility. Oh boy, I know I'm forgetting a bunch 272 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 2: of people. But my sound guy, Anderson Clendennen helps with 273 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 2: the mixing of it. And he's like this young kid 274 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,879 Speaker 2: who comes out on the road with us and is 275 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 2: such a whiz. I'm very excited to watch his career grow. 276 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 2: I forget that he's like only twenty four or something, 277 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's exciting. I stay inspired by the people 278 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 2: I get to work with. 279 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 3: I mean, you've been an independent, you know, kind of 280 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 3: self founded in your own way. Can you give a 281 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 3: piece of advice to artists trying to make it without 282 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 3: the big machine behind them. 283 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 2: Yes, I mean I think you have to be resolute 284 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 2: and the fact that this is what you want to do, 285 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 2: and definitely don't let what's around you you validate your efforts. 286 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 2: I've done this with a big machine. I've done it 287 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:11,479 Speaker 2: independently over the years, of course, and I think just 288 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 2: always wanting to write that next song and staying curious 289 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 2: and wanting to continue to examine myself that's never gone away. 290 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:29,679 Speaker 2: I think staying creative is a choice. You have to 291 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 2: just be diligent about it. I think that's an approach it. 292 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 2: I feel like I need to always be trying to 293 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 2: flex that muscle. And also I have done this in 294 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 2: such a grassroots way. I think playing live regularly and 295 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 2: all these different markets and making sure that I go 296 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 2: back and nurture those communities that have come out and 297 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 2: seeing me over the years, like that's a really important 298 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 2: way for me to sustain my audience and what I do, 299 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 2: even if it's a little bit longer of a lapse 300 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 2: in between releasing new music, like we just we try 301 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 2: to stay out there because the live show is so 302 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 2: important to me in connecting with people. 303 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 3: Talk about some more of the songs on Cocoon that, 304 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 3: in particular you feel are going to really play great 305 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:24,639 Speaker 3: out in front of people. 306 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 2: Well, I failed to mention Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly 307 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 2: as some of my collaborators. They wrote the title track 308 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 2: with me, and they also wrote Relentless with me, and 309 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 2: they actually are very celebrated songwriters. They've written songs for 310 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 2: Miley Cyrus and all sorts of people. But I think 311 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 2: Relentless is a really great message for the EP as 312 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:57,880 Speaker 2: a whole because I wrote it just a few days 313 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 2: after I found out that I was dropped by my 314 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 2: previous record label. I have a new home and everything 315 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 2: turned out all right, but that was one of those 316 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 2: moments where you're asking, like, how does an artist keep 317 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 2: going without the big machine. That was definitely a moment 318 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 2: where I decided to double down and press on. And 319 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 2: I think that that always goes over really well in 320 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 2: the audience because it's not necessarily providing a solution for 321 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 2: the listener, but it is definitely an encouraging message. 322 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 3: The Washington Post little newspaper called you one of music's 323 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 3: rising storytellers. What stories are you most compelled to tell 324 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 3: right now, at the stage of year of your life 325 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 3: right now? 326 00:21:53,280 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 2: Stories of hope. The last song on the EP is 327 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 2: a song called Fly, and it's the only song in 328 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 2: this collection of songs that I didn't write and record 329 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 2: while I was pregnant. I actually wrote it years ago 330 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 2: with Caitlin Smith and Rollie Goldswick, and it almost I 331 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 2: felt like I was like, this is too too hopeful, 332 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 2: this is too positive, and because of where I am 333 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 2: right now with my son and I'm excited about the future, 334 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 2: I felt like, Okay, this is time to share this 335 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:39,479 Speaker 2: message and maybe it'll be like Field of Dreams. If 336 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 2: you put it out there, it'll happen, and I think 337 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 2: that's what we need right now. No, it sounds trite, 338 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 2: but if you can package it in a way that 339 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 2: you can believe, and I feel like I'm trying to 340 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 2: get there, then that's okay. We can. I'll have more 341 00:22:58,280 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 2: of that out there for sure. 342 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 3: Maggie, you clearly have this approach which is not leaving 343 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:12,239 Speaker 3: anything you know taken for granted and just playing and 344 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 3: creating as if it's the last time you're going to 345 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 3: play and create. You you have that all in thousand 346 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 3: percent approach for sure. Do you know when that first 347 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 3: clicked in as a musician, that attitude. 348 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 2: I mean, I think sometimes it's it's almost like I 349 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 2: just need to get in that mode and hope that 350 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 2: I will mentally arrive there. So like it appears that way, 351 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:45,880 Speaker 2: but I think it's because I see this as a vocation. 352 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 2: I think it's a there's not really a plan. B, 353 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 2: there's not something else I would rather be doing. So 354 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: it makes it very simple in a way because you're 355 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 2: just like, well, this is it, and I'm getting to 356 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 2: do what I love. And yeah, it comes with some 357 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,439 Speaker 2: challenges and it can be kind of gnarly at times, 358 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 2: but I don't have to wonder about what else I 359 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:13,479 Speaker 2: want to be doing, So that kind of makes it 360 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 2: easy in a way to just say, Okay, we're all in. 361 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,239 Speaker 3: I'm so grateful that she came on the podcast, and 362 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 3: for I'm so grateful for the music that you continue 363 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 3: to give us and the performances, and oh I neglected 364 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 3: to let you plug your podcast, so why don't you 365 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 3: plug your podcast? 366 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 2: Thank you? It's called salute to songbird, and I get 367 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 2: to interview all my favorite women in the industry. And 368 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 2: I just did a special episode with Caitlin Smith and 369 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 2: Lucy Silvis and Jillian Jacqueline about motherhood and being a 370 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 2: working mom in the industry. But I've had Melissa, Ethri 371 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,440 Speaker 2: John and Nancy Wilson, and it's just it's so dreamy. 372 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,360 Speaker 2: And now I'm doing in front of a live audience, 373 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,919 Speaker 2: which is really fun because I'm talking to other performers 374 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 2: and they just really give me great interviews with that 375 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 2: energy in the room. So I hope to continue doing it. 376 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 2: And the list of people that I'm being recommended that 377 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 2: just never ends. It's constantly growing because there's so many 378 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 2: amazing people out there to talk to. 379 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 3: Well, and those people want to be on with the 380 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:28,479 Speaker 3: cool people, and you are one of the cool people. 381 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 2: So thanks us. 382 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:33,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks Maggie, I'm trying. I appreciate you being on. 383 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:33,920 Speaker 3: This is awesome. 384 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 2: It's great to talk to you. Thank you so much 385 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 2: for having me. 386 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 387 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: Walk Podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 388 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 389 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts, 390 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.