Kacey Musgraves Schools Us How To Be Bad In Redbook Magazine (July 2015 Issue)

Rights Reserved: Redbook Magazine

Kacey Musgraves may not be the most popular country superstar and she likes it that way coming from her new interview with Redbook Magazine in the July issue out now. It so happens Kacey's positive, sarcastic, delightful, unfiltered attitude is what fans relate with and her brand new music from the new album Pageant Material featuring the single "Biscuits" has a modern day country tone and vibe, reminiscing of those honky tonk Loretta Lynn songs.

Get the full interview and article at Redbook Magazine here
Redbook Magazine : Kacey Musgraves

Spotlight Artist of The Month: Amy Rose Gives Good Meaning To Country Music

Amy Rose

Amy Rose is as country as country can be, and they say Canada isn't country. The Barrie, Ontario born and bred vocal power house is that and more. In our first interview laughs were rolling and stories were exchanged but I'll leave that on the cutting room floor. Rose is charmingly witty,poised, and polished. Don't get me wrong she's a total redneck she told me. "We're like Duck Dynasty meets Honey Boo Boo, we're a large family you just never know what to expect from us". Aside from family country music is a huge part of Rose's career who's been performing since the age of 5 who stands up for female empowerment another reason to really push the women of country music from word of mouth at Country Music City Promotions. I never had this much fun interviewing a female artist. I literally cried with tears streaming down my face. Rose is so real, honest, all heart, she's infectious and has a way to make anyone smile. Rose is on the rise who's charted territory with 3 consecutive singles from "I Just Want You To Know"," (Redneck Reunion)Party Like A Redneck", and "Sunshine", so what's next? This is it! Find out here.

You began performing at a very young age, did you always know that you wanted to be a performer?  "I did, I did!" "It's funny cause I grew up in a house were country music was played 24/7 and that's all you heard we didn't have other genre's of music in our house it was only country and I'm talking about the classic country like Tammy Wynette, Pasty Cline, Conway Twitty, those type of artists. I grew up in it. I had a kids classic record player, it was a Strawberry Shortcake record player that played real records and I had this mix record of country classics, it was something like that with Patsy Cline on it and there was Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" I literally locked myself in my room to memorizing the song. I was 5 and remember going with my parents to the local fair, they had this karaoke contest going on and I told them I wanted to sing, it was a competition so I basically told them I wanted to do it, my mom talked to the judges and asked them if I could sing. I get up there and sang Tammy's "Stand By Your Man" from then on I was hooked.


Have you had any moments over the years that awe struck you or took you by surprise? Oh gosh, yeah, I've met so many people I got to open for Big and Rich last summer. Their really nice guys. I recently got to meet Crystal Gayle down in Nashville, I love her, so honestly at that moment I was awe struck. Honestly I really want to meet Dolly Parton.


How has your family adjusted to you're constant traveling? I love to travel, don't get me wrong, as long as I'm on land, we drive everywhere. I miss my kids a lot of the times when I'm gone, it is so hard, their still young and I don't want to have to take them somewhere where they have to be watched. In the future would love to take them on the road and make it out of a big ole family trip.


You have 3 girls do they see mommy as a big country superstar?  No, I'm mommy!

Of all the single releases you've released this past year is there one that means the most to you? I'm trying to get this full album done, realistically the way I see it right now I'm releasing all these singles. "I Just Want You To Know" was the first chart topping single then followed it up with "Party Like A Redneck". My most favorite one, wow! um, would have to be (Redneck Reunion) Party Like A Redneck is because I co-wrote it and it's about family it represents where I come from and my back round.



Country Crazy is you're newest single, what drew you to the song? That song was written by my chief producers Marty Beecroft and Glenn Coulson, they wrote it with Tal Bachman who wrote "She's So High". He brought the song to me and said listen to it and let me know what you think, so I listened to it, I liked it but already had four songs picked out at the time so let's put this on the back burner. Then when it was time pulled it back out and thought this is like me. It really describes me, so we decided to record it. Hopefully people will dig it.



Country music has become the most popular in years,do you think you have to continue to raise the bar as a country female artist? Yeah,It's funny and something that I'm getting compared to great vocalists such as Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson who I don't stand a chance to, their great and I'm a big fan of both of them.Typically in today's society men are dominating the charts, the women  have to keep pushing  it's harder for a female to make it in the industry than it is opposed to a male. It's a man's world and we need to take charge of it. Women hear us roar! We've got these songs to sing and we want you to hear them.


If you could collaborate with any female country artist who would it be and why?  Dolly Parton, I love her, I look up to her, honestly, I want a career path such as her. She's an inspiration to so many artists not just myself. By the trend and the image she paved the way for women telling them you don't need to look a certain way. She's more than just an artist, she's an actress, a screen writer, she's a producer, she did broadway, she's a director, she's really done it all and I love her I think she's great.


Can we expect a new album later this year?  Eventually, yeah we're gonna have a full album but like I said right now it's like having an album full of singles. I would like to release a full album and I would want it to be called "The Real Me"  out of all the albums I've done I took some time out to become a mom I got to experience life in so many ways and found the real me and searched for the inner artist I am. I did all the co-writes, the graphics, everything.  I feel like this project itself is the real me, it's the sweat and tears I put into it. Once this projects finished I want it to be titled "The Real Me" this is the real Amy.


What has been you're biggest highlight  this year?, or have there been several?  There are so many, um, I was invited to do the Billy Block show, I was really excited to do that, uh! um!, as well as winning the award for the Nashville Universe Awards it was really unexpected, honestly I'm thinking WOW this Canadian girl from Ontario get's nominated I'm not even American. I literally was jumping up and down like a kid in a candy shop "I won, I won, I won!" That was pretty cool. Uh, oh gosh part of CMA Fest, I had such a great time. I love Nashville I want to move there. It's my goal crossing my fingers to one day pack up the family and move there.


Lastly, were do you see yourself in the next year with music and family? 
Hmmm, my goal my ten year plan is, I wanna be performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage it's always been a dream of mine since I was little. We've been working on this for years and hoping that one day it will pay off, it would be a great opportunity. To ever get to that point would be a great accomplishment. I want to get up there and I want Dolly Parton to introduce me. That would be super awesome. 



Get to know Amy, hear her music, you won't be sorry.She's in great company in this industry. We can only image what's next in store for Rose. Join on Facebook, Follow on Twitter and get all the music on ReverbNation and YouTube here
Amy Rose Music | Facebook

@Amy_Rose_Music

ReverbNation | Amy Rose

Amy Rose | YouTube

I want to thank Amy for taking the time out of her busy schedule to go one on one and it was such a blast to talk to the lady who's captivating audiences across Canada and American soil.Country Music City Promotions will keep you up to date on Amy Rose.

Super Country Cowboy Doug Briney Exclusive Interview

Photo Courtesy of Doug Briney, Doug Briney Music, MTS Management

When you think of cowboys you vision rough riders, smoking gun, dust and grit, that is not the case with Alaskan cowboy Doug Briney who picked up his life and family to move to Nashville, Tennessee a little over a month ago. Briney is the complete opposite of a rough rider. Poised, relaxed and laid back Briney is anxious to release his Tate debut Super Country Cowboy to be nationally released November 5,2013. In our brand new interview Doug and I talk country music, the album, what made him decide to move to Nashville and a growing career.

Before getting a word in edge wise, I was happy to talk with Doug again, like most artists, independent or mainstream it is the person behind the music who enriches an interest me. Personality and character, Doug Briney by  heart and soul has the comfort of a southern man through and through, his words flow effortlessly and Doug jumped right in. " It seems as if it's been a long time coming but it really isn't, it just seems that way to me. We started in February with the tracks. In May I did the recordings, and we went from there ". "I'm very excited about it"." It will be a real step up in quality and what we're doing with the marketing of it."  In talk of his Tate debut Super Country Cowboy Briney explains. 

You're taking a new approach with you're style and sound on Super Country Cowboy, do you think fans will like this new approach?
I'm performing these in live shows, the responses from the fans in the crowd have been positive, their feedback on these songs are divided one of them being Believe and the other two being Pretty Big Deal and Super Country Cowboy, their connecting to these songs on the level I'm connected to them. Folks are really enjoy it.

Did you have much of a decision on picking the songs for this album?
I had a lot of decision in it, on the first album I listened to over 300 hundred selections to listen and choose from, it was narrowing it down to ten, four of them were covers at the time that I wanted to do already, Michael (Michael Stover , MTS Management) my manager listened through I don't know how many on this project and sent the one's he felt would fit my voice over in my direction. There were those I felt personally connected with.It was still quite a process. Eugene Fuguay I feel especially excited about. Randy Owen from Alabama had the song on hold for three and a half months, it wasn't even a demo at the time it was a work tape, he heard it, put on hold and the day he released it, his manager contacted Michael in regard of listening to it. I love the story of the song, it was so different. The song itself reminds you of the story line of Reba's The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia, I just really felt connected. There were a number of patriotic tracks as well, when I heard them they just didn't fit, it wasn't until I heard Unknown Solider, I knew I wanted to record it. I was really hands on involved with the entire selection of the album. The Money the Gun and the Bible yet another track I felt a personal connection to.  When I'm performing these songs they sound believable because of the connection I have with them.


Did you know much about Tate Music Group before you were signed?
No I did not, I didn't know much about Tate Music Group before I was signed. Michael contacted me, we weighed through options what Tate had to offer. We went to contacting a couple of the artists Tate is working with and had come to being pleased with the outcome what others were saying about them. I have to say they have been a great group to work with, from Acquisitions to all the way down to now, Joe Reese, to marketing, Don Johnson in production, not Don Johnson the TV actor, he used to travel with Emmylou Harris, he's a musician in his own right. I'm pleased every step of the way with Tate. It's been very well communicated along the lines of the album. I'm really excited with the overall product of it.




Since the move from Alaska to Nashville what has been the most challenging for you and you're family?
I roll with the punches pretty easily. The first week in Nashville we went through a number of issues from the kids going back to school, to renovations of the house, you name it. There are a number of challenges, we don't really see it as a challenge it is how we can get things done, figure it out and move on from it. Why waste your energy when you can find a solution to it.
The biggest struggle is the humidity, Alaska weather is either dry or very cold, we're adjusting. What ever life throws at us we're up for it.




Do you feel there have been more opportunities for you career wise?
Yeah, well, I was blessed to perform at a showcase in the heart of music row recently and have had a couple other opportunities to also perform around the area. That was the first one though , it was incredible. I have a couple other things coming up, one in Cookeville, a couple of shows and CD signings, one in Henderson the Chester County Fair to a bunch of other events coming up. We have several things in the hopper, it is really shaping up.



Someone such as Doug Briney enjoys what life has to offer without slowing him down in the process. Whether it is moving from Anchorage, Alaska to the heart of country music to traveling performing for fans. Doug Briney has a way about him that is truly remarkable, his go getting attitude, his philosophical point of views, it is no wonder I support Briney through and through. His journey is yet unfinished, it is simply beginning. "I'm not a spring chicken anymore, I'm a risk taker at chance. I feel this is where I need to be. I think Super Country Cowboy will be that boost to get me to the next level. I don't take it lightly and not for granted, I appreciate the opportunity I've been given". Spoken real and authentic Doug Briney will be around for a long time.



For more in Doug Briney visit his official website and follow Doug on Twitter and Facebook.

Doug Briney - Home  
@DougBriney
Facebook - Doug Briney

Pre-order Super Country Cowboy

Stay Tune to Country Music City Promotions for the latest.

Getting Country With Tammie Davis

Photo Courtesy of Tammie Davis, Tammie Davis Music

In our first interview together Tammie Davis and I talk about Loretta Lynn, the traditional sounds of country music, the driving force behind a growing career, Marine life and NASCAR, yes NASCAR! North Carolina is the home state of NASCAR racing. The deep southern voice of Tammie Davis melts hearts, her infectious out going personality is simply contagious. It was a pleasure getting to know this local Carolina talent.

You're the absolute opposite of what country music is today, I adore the traditional sounds of country music, do you think this is what separates you from most country artists?
I think it does, for me It is what's real. What works for me might not work for someone else. Everything I perform comes out traditional, it is how I sound. I couldn't sing what is being played these days it wouldn't come out country. It's more distinctive, you know who it is when you hear it.


What was your first initial reaction when you heard you were opening for Loretta Lynn? Would you say this has been a highlight in your career at this point?
I was floored and yes, she is such an icon and came from nothing, built it from the ground up to where she is now. I've had a lot to go through, the similarities of her story and mine weren't much different, her husband has really been a force of nature in her career, where as mine drives me to continue my own path in music. It is hard for women in country music.The whole experience was nothing as I expected. Loretta didn't even know there was an opening act the night I opened for her, as she usually watches her openers, will come off her bus to watch. She was so apologetic to me, she gave me a hug, she really embraced the moment and kept apologizing.It was a moment I'll never forget.



Did you always know you wanted to sing country music?
Well, I remember thinking how am I going to get out of town. At the time I was at a NASCAR event in Charlotte interviewing a staff Sargent for a high school paper I was doing and what came from it that he was at this NASCAR event looking for band musicians. I look at him and said where do I sign up. He pretty much stopped me at that moment and said there is a process to sign up, asked me what position, there are several in the Marine Corp. I pretty much rehearsed every day, just practicing and practicing right up until the initial  audition. The learning process was a challenge and when I did audition was shocked, I didn't really know what I was doing, he had to show me, I was trained to read music. He learned I was a fast learner and passed me to sing.

What made you decide to serve as a Marine?
A recruiter was looking for Marine band musicians. 


Serving for our country comes with such sacrifice, do you feel it was worth serving?
From being in the Marine Corp band to basic training were well worth the experiences, the training involved alone was all that you did, your put into a room performing Jazz  music, in training you can't improvise jazz or piano, your taught keys and cords, before even going into it I knew piano and it's fundamentals, jazz though was different. Among attending classes and training I still had to do my Marine corp duties from field work to testing it was my job. 


Of all the shows has their been a favorite of yours? Do you have a favorite?
Opening for Loretta Lynn, It was a moment I'll never forget, I wasn't really nervous though my husband was. The crowd really got into it from my original material to the covers l I performed. At the end of the show threw in Rocky Top, if you watch the video from YouTube you'll see the crowd really getting into it.

When your writing a song do you find it easy to collaborate with other songwriters or do you write soley for yourself?
Being the artist that I am whatever needs to be done get's done, if I don't do it, it won't get done. I've written more this year. When I started writing with Kristy and Jen I felt an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. I don't ever really get excited, It was that moment in itself to write with a songwriter. Driving home afterwards rolled down the window and gave a fist pump, it was a fist pumping moment. 

Have there been times you felt like giving up?
What made you keep going?
I could have given up during the struggle. My husband was that driving force, reminding me what I'd be missing. It would be much easier to go back to a normal job. You think about it, I went through a rough spot a couple years ago, nothing was really happening, I could have given up, after a couple weeks realized I've worked too hard not to give up. I went back at it full force. It was all or nothing and I'd be angry with myself if I did give up.People  start to give up when the chips fall into place, it was just this year when things really took off.


What advice would you give someone who wanted to pursue music as a career?
You don't  have to be business minded but it helps to be, to know the business side of things.  Just to be thick skinned, how you present yourself, to having communication skills to every aspect of yourself. People pick up on those things. Be well rounded, don't stop and don't give up. There's plenty of room for improvement. Treat others how you want to be treated, what goes around comes around.



If you couldn't perform/sing what would you do?
With the knowledge I have of the business,realistically I could be an artists manger,I have this knowledge of the business side and how it works being at this for so long now Aside from the business I'm very creative, with the desire I could see myself living in the country owning my own antique shop.




Last, but not certainly least when you look back on the past few years what did you learn from the music business?
I can't really pin point it specifically,truth be told it is how much alike the country music industry and NASCAR racing are alike,I married into it. The marketing aspects, the networking with those in the NASCAR circuit, how a NASCAR driver became who they are, when they perform they're wearing their sponsors on his outfit. I've learned things about myself, my voice, to learning new things to the industry itself. My life experiences from being a pianist, to the military, to being a country artist, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I'm striving to be better at my craft in moving forward.


Country music has defined Tammie Davis though her southern roots, NASCAR, Military experience is who she is. Deep down she's philosophical, easy going, creative and loves God.
"I feel like this is what I'm suppose to do. God plays a role in it, I'm grateful", she explains. Though I love every aspect of interviewing an artist, getting to know them is much more of a joy to me. Tammie Davis is making her mark in country music her way, she's here to stay for the long haul.


For more on Tammie Davis, her music, tour dates, events, and more visit her official website.
Tammie Davis - Home
Follow Tammie Davis on Facebook and Twitter.
Facebook | Tammie Davis

@TammieDavis

Shy Blakeman Interview

 photo courtesy of the official website Shy Blakeman

Country Music City Promotions design

What many might not know Shy Blakeman truly has heart, he's wise beyond his years an old soul at that.  His love and passion for music run through his veins and it shows. The winner of Billy Bob's Honky Tonk Recording Contest 2012 has been on the road throughout most of the year performing for you the fans. Shy has taken time out of his busy schedule to sit down with me for his first interview here at Country Music City Promotions with many to come in the future.
I feel blessed for any opportunity to interview an artist,the connection is more than a sweet moment in the spotlight, I'm not one for sugarcoating, it's simple as this,the love for great music.


Shy, you really sing from your soul, where does all the passion come from? That's a tough question, It comes from a place deep inside, you can't really explain it,either it's there or not.

Did you always know that this is what you wanted to do? Yes!

Was there ever a time when you felt like giving up, what kept you going? There were times,yes this could have all gone away,I've had to sacrifice a lot, I've had to streamline this path I chose. The passion really keeps you going.

In this business you have to be thick skinned, what hurts the most getting told you're not good enough or your music isn't what people want to hear? Either people will like you or they don't,they don't have to listen to you, I get this all the time, I've had to look at it this way, people will criticize you, there are people who are closed minded they don't see it happening so they'll put you down. You just have to let things roll off your back. It hurts but that is what keeps you going for what your passionate about.

Has your family been supportive of your career choice?  It's taken years for them to realize this was my dream,my dad was a musician, he knew what it was like,they were fairly supportive at first now a days their more supportive than ever.

Aside from performing and making music, do you have any hobbies? There really isn't time to do anything else these days with a busy schedule; visual art, history studies, philosophy.


TV reality has given performers many opportunities, did competing on Nashville Star give you the push you needed to get where you were going? What came out of  competing was making relationships with the other contestants, learning what I needed to make a go at this, yeah it did.

You worked with Miranda Lambert on the song "Crying In Your Sleep" who as well competed on Nashville Star how did the collaboration come about?  I had the music written with the lyrics and it needed another person, without a partner the song wouldn't have made sense. I asked Miranda and she jumped on it. Growing up our families lived close by to one another, we traveled together for shows. It was a no brainer not to have her on the song.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to pursue a career in music? Disregard others opinions,make what counts, risks are worth taking even if it means taking the long road, it's lonely, you eventually get there.


Who have been your biggest influences? I've always looked to the musical style, the message and performance of an artist such as Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Lastly, what's been the biggest highlight in your career at this point? I've opened for Bob Seger above all highlights and winning the Live @ Billy Bob's Recording contest.


Shy you continue to bring the best out in yourself and in all you do, the best is yet to come. I'm so happy to be there a long the way, I appreciate all that you do and appreciate the music your bringing to the fans.