Q+A
TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW SINGLE “HEROES” AND HOW IT CAME TO BE:
I’m so excited for “Heroes” to finally be released! I remember the day we wrote it in 2018. I was driving to Savana Santos’s apartment and it was pouring down rain. I was listening to the audio book “Big Magic” (highly recommend), and suddenly I felt like I wanted to tell a story. So when I met up with Gina Venier and Savana Santos, we tossed around a couple ideas before I told them I had this title and a rough angle how to write it. Thankfully, they got it! It was an effortless collaboration of everyone creating a story from scratch and investing their hearts in the character’s point of view. So no, this song wasn’t about any of our lives. We wanted to step outside of a world we knew and imagine what it would be like to live in a world we didn’t.
YOU’VE GOT A FEW SONGS ON BIG MACHINE’S GIRL GROUP, AVENUE BEAT. TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE THERE:
I will forever love Avenue Beat! I can’t begin to describe how writing with them has changed my life. To elaborate, I was always a very sarcastic silly person who loved to joke and play around in the writing room, but all the songs were straight forward and not very experimental. The first day I wrote with them we wrote “Delight.” Sam Backoff had the title and for some reason a light just went on in my brain and I was like “ooh this is gonna be fun!” All my silly little sarcastic things they loved and understood. It gave me the freedom and confidence to actually be myself in song form! Since that day it has been absolutely magic. Our writing chemistry is like nothing I have experienced and it never feels like work.
I still am honestly surprised they still choose to write with me lol. They are so talented and they could write with anyone. So I’m just happy to be involved.
WHICH ARTISTS ARE REALLY INSPIRING YOU THESE DAYS?
Caitlyn Smith, Caylee Hammack, Patty Griffin, Lori McKenna, Jon Bellion, JP Saxe, Charlie Puth, Ashe, and Audra Mae (I think she’s the shit!)
TALK ABOUT GROWING UP IN A MUSICAL FAMILY, AND HOW THAT’S EFFECTED YOU:
I grew up one of six kids with a father (Paul Overstreet) who has won BMI songwriter of the years five years in a row. So no pressure! We were all required to learn at least one instrument, and if we could sing — maybe even try to write a song. Today most of us work in the music/entertainment industry. It was one of the best ways to learn lessons early that many people don’t find out til after they move to town and have been hitting the pavement for a couple years. My father was always honest about my songs and didn’t sugar coat anything which I really appreciated. So by the time I went to co-write in town I had already dusted off some of the kinks that arise from being green on Music Row. He had experienced it all so he warned me how long it could take, but also that that one “hit” could change everything. I am eternally grateful to grow up like that.
Today, it’s amazing to be able to see all the cool music my siblings are making! My brother Nash’s band Hot Chelle Rae is back together and their new EP is crushing it! My brother Chord’s solo project is amazingly beautiful, and inspiring! We all support each other, and it has never been a competition.
TALK ABOUT BUILDING YOUR TEAM AND FINDING GREAT COLLABORATORS IN TOWN:
Gosh! My team! I have been writing in town for 8 years and it took a while to find the right fit! But last year I finally did at Warner Chappell! They are unbelievable and I feel like they get me! Until recently, that had been a struggle for me. Regarding my team of co-writers: I have found by what seems like a series of random coincidences. I was put in a band with Gina Venier and Zack Dyer who are now my good friends and frequent co-writers. Through Gina I met Joe Fox, who is now producing my music and doing a killer job!
I have found so many great collaborators just by working in town and hanging out at shows. Some of my go-to’s are: Avenue Beat, Nelly Reeves, Audra Mae, Emily Falvey, Joe Fox, and so many more I wish I could name all of them!
I have been writing for in town for awhile so it feels like little by little I’m collecting a solid roster for my musical rotation. It’s so important to have a great collaborative team and to be able to rise up together!
YOU’RE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF RELEASING A SOLO ARTIST PROJECT, TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.
I had all these songs I loved and a specific way I wanted to say things - that weren’t so “ready to wear” (if you will) for an artist looking for a country radio hit. I didn’t want to wait for the industry to accept it so I said “F***k it, let’s just put them out!”
My vision was to make something modern, honest, and just fun! I wanted to make good music, not worry about genre, and I wanted to say shit people wanted to say but for whatever reason maybe hadn’t yet.
I’m a realist. I like to look at everything with a touch of irony. So I think my personality is going to come through in all of my songs moving forward.
I’ve got a couple more songs that I’m really excited for - they are different and experimental (for me) in the best way. I just wanna create music that I love and hopefully the listener loves!
WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO QUARANTINE BANGER?
”Thank you Anxiety” by Avenue Beat and “Wildflower” by 5SOS
ANYTHING BOOZY YOU’RE ENJOYING IN QUARANTINE?
Any alcohol in orange juice (sometimes minus the Orange juice) - I mean I’m in quarantine who do I have to impress?
CHECK OUT THE NEW RELEASE, “HEROES” BELOW
