EXCLUSIVE YMC INTERVIEW WITH NEW LOST CITY RECORDS / MV2’S NORA COLLINS - SHE TALKS PASTY CLINE, TIGER KING AND HER NEW SINGLE, “NEON HEALING.”
YOU’VE GOT A BRAND NEW SINGLE, “NEON HEALING”. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT!
I wrote “Neon Healing” with my producer Forest Glen Whitehead, (who you might know from also producing Kelsea Ballerini’s first two records) Jason Duke and Jason Massey about a year ago.
It is a song about community and finding refuge with good company under neon lights. During these uncertain times of isolation, we all could use a little “Neon Healing,” even if we can’t be out and about!
FOREST, JASON AND JASON ARE SUPER TALENTED WRITERS. WHO ELSE DO YOU LOVE COLABING WITH IN TOWN AND WHAT ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS AND WRITERS?
I loved writing “Neon Healing” with Forest, Jason M and Jason D! It was the first time all four of us were in a room together and it was just so easy and fun! I can’t wait to get back in the room with those guys. Any combination with Forest Glen Whitehead has been a great write for me. One of my favorites has been with Jessie Jo Dillion; she is such a badass! I’ve also been writing a lot of cool songs lately with Jason Duke and Keesy Timmer.
I moved to Nashville 4 years ago after I signed my Publishing and Artist Development deal with MV2 Entertainment. Because of this, I’ve been really fortunate to write with and learn from a lot of Nashville’s veteran writers. I feel really grateful for that opportunity and try to be a sponge every time I’m in the writing room with them.
The advice I would give to an upcoming artist and/or writer is the same advice that was given to me. Write as much as you can with anyone who will write with you and play as many shows as you can; anywhere that will let you! I played over 200 shows a year for 5 years in a row prior to making my move to Nashville. All of those shows helped me to be prepared for big opportunities. It also gave me the great chance to test out my original songs to see which got the best responses so that I knew which songs to play for publishers in my meetings. Having experience and being prepared is so important!
YOU RECENTLY RESIGNED TO MV2 / NEW LOST CITY RECORDS - TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT BUILDING YOUR TEAM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING THE RIGHT PARTNERS.
I’m so excited about New Lost City Records and to continue working with MV2 Entertainment. It is so important to find a champion in town and I really feel like I have found that with my amazing team at MV2. Having the right team and partners can really help propel a career. I am beyond excited to see what we are able to do together!
YOU RECENTLY RELEASED A VIDEO TRAILER FOR "NEON HEALING" AND YOU’VE BEEN DOING LIVESTREAMS - HOW HAVE THESE SORTS OF THINGS HELPED YOU CONNECT WITH FANS/ NEW LISTENERS DURING QUARANTINE?
Music brings people together and has such a healing quality. I think many of us might be looking for ways to feel connected during this strange time which is why I’ve been doing the Facebook and Instagram lives. Social media has been a great way to stay connected and I hope that my live Shows have made even just a few people smile or dance in their living rooms.
We put out a really cool trailer for Neon Healing prior to the release to let people know that something new was coming! It was a fun way to keep my audience engaged and wondering what exactly was going to be coming.
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR MUSIC, WHAT INFLUENCED IT, AND HOW YOU HOPE FANS CONNECT TO IT.
Some of my biggest influences are Patsy Cline and Miranda Lambert. There was a year in high school where all I listened to was Patsy Cline. A guitar teacher introduced me to her and I fell in love with the emotion that you could feel from just listening to her singing and the soaring melodies. I really admire Miranda Lambert for her honesty. It has inspired me to not hold back in my songwriting. A song that really showcases that is called “25.” It will be on my upcoming EP!
I am really proud of and excited for people to hear what Forest and I have been working on! It is a collection of songs that come from my heart. I hope people will dance and sing along and hear a little bit of their own story in mine.
YOU’RE FROM WISCONSIN. HOW DID YOU COME TO NASHVILLE AND HOW HAS BEING FROM WISCONSIN INSPIRED YOU? ANY CAREER PATHS YOU LOOK UP TO?
Before moving to Nashville, I played a lot of shows all over Wisconsin and was making a living doing that. I decided that if I wanted to take my career to the next level, I needed to start taking trips to Nashville. I would drive from Milwaukee to Nashville once a month for a year. I was really fortunate to meet my now publisher, MV2 Entertainment, on my first trip down. I developed that relationship for a year before they offered me a deal which allowed me to make the move.
I am proud to be from Wisconsin and look up to another Wisconsin songwriter, Josh Thompson. He has had quite the career as both a songwriter and an artist; having number one songs as both. I really admire that and aspire to have a successful and sustained career like his!
ANYTHING YOU’RE ENJOYING OR BINGING IN QUARANTINE? NETFLIX, PODCASTS, TIK TOK, ANIMAL CROSSING, ETC?
I binged Tiger King like everybody else!! Also really enjoyed Outer Banks!
WHAT’S NEXT FOR NORA COLLINS?
More music!! Forest Glen Whitehead and I have been working on a 6 song EP! So be on the lookout for another single and EP to follow real soon!!
