Photo credit: Jacqueline Justice
Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
Our touring vehicle is a 2013 Chevy Express, 15 passenger. It’s got about 117k miles on it – 60k of which were put on by us. Thankfully, all we have to do is change the oil on it, and she runs like a dream (KNOCK ON WOOD). We don’t have any good breakdown stories about this current van, but our last van almost caught on fire in rush hour Atlanta traffic. She died that day, poor gal.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
Probably one of the hardest things to do on tour is eat healthy! I have to resist gummi bears at the gas stations like crazy, so I’ll try and grab a piece of fruit instead. On really long tours, we like to pack a cooler and bring our own snacks and meals.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I used to break strings like crazy many years ago when I was still learning that I didn’t have to strum so hard on my guitar to keep rhythm, but now it rarely happens. My strings are about $14 a pack I think?
Where do you rehearse?
Jason and I just bought a house in Nashville, and we’re finishing up the attic space to be a rehearsal space/studio, which will be amazing when it’s finished. So, I’ll have to get back to you on that!
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
The first song I ever wrote was when I was 12 and it was about Star Wars. The chorus went, “Luke, I am your father/ Luke, I am your father/ May the force be with you, it’s with you ’till the end, my friend.” Real groundbreaking stuff there.
Describe your first gig.
When I was 19 years old, I moved to Newcastle, England to study English for a year. I played my first ever solo show at a pub in Newcastle to a handful of very gracious and loving friends who encouraged me to sing and share my tunes with the world. At the time, I HATED singing in public – I used to let my closest friends hear me sing or play my songs ONLY if we were alone together with no audience. I had no confidence, but I knew I had a passion for it, more than anything else in the world. I was so nervous that night, but I felt so empowered and elated when it was over. I guess you could say it’s a feeling I’ve chased ever since. Everyday, I’m so thankful for that year of discovery and for those friends who encouraged me to sing and write. It quite literally changed my life forever.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
My last “real” job was in the communications department at the Georgia Department of Labor in Atlanta. It was an 8-5pm type job and I had to dress up and wear heels and stuff. I really enjoyed my time there though – I learned a lot about myself and work ethic those years. I guess it was my favorite day job.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
Well, I’m not working a day job anymore so I guess you could say that’s changed. I work for myself, which is cool. I hope that in another 5-10 years that I will still be working for myself as a musician!
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
I wish I’d known that I didn’t need to be so hard on myself for so many years. Just do your own thing and live your own truth and good things will come your way!