Joe Nichols
As far as where Im at with my new music and my new label, Red Bow, this is more than a new chapter. Its a new book. My new single Sunny And 75 is getting as great a reception as anything Ive ever done, and the album it comes from is something I might have hoped I could do at other points in my career, but have been held back from. And Ill be the first to say that the holding back has mostly been me. What strikes me this time is how much freedom Ive felt in this process, the depth I have in my relationships personal and professional, it really is a family thing. And, to be honest, just how much fun Im having. Freedom, family and fun ... theres your sound bite.The hard part of this journey, if thats not too clich a word for it, was leaving my last label, because the wheels in Nashville just turn really slow sometimes. And time turned out to be our enemy and our friend. The more distance I was able to get from the last few years of stops and starts, the better. But our enemy was losing a consistent presence with the fans and radio. That hurt, but it set up some anticipation for something new; it was also very healing and kind of humbled me a little bit. I went into the studio to start making music with my own money. One of those sides, a song called Yeah, will probably be a single on this record. The other was a stone-cold country song called Billy Grahams Bible. So, we walked into labels with something to play for them. Quite a few were interested, but the majors tend to have a lot of artists in line and wanted me to look at a late 2014 release. I wanted to be in business with somebody who had the same sense of urgency about me as I do, and Broken Bow did. Being one of the flagship artists on their latest imprint, which is a joint venture with Sony Red, helped this all feel brand new. The one thing about my approach to this record that I was almost militant about was that I wanted to find hit songs that might be a bit unexpected. Having a hit, writing or making good albums has never been a problem for me, its been that momentum you get from a consistent series of hits. Thats why I wanted to be rigorous about finding songs that cut through, even if they didnt seem to fit the idea people have of what I should sound like. I wanted to be able to say weve got six singles on this album. Or ten. And that meant being open to songs and sounds a lot of folks wouldnt have thought would work. The interesting thing is that weve ended up with a very balanced record. There are lots of songs that feel like theyd sound great getting heavy airplay, and there are also some that I think people will say, Thats a cool moment on this album. Sometimes those coincide. A lot of that has to do with my relationship with the label. People warned me that Benny Brown, the founder, is very involved in the A&R process. At first I didnt know how that would go because Ive been very hands-on with the music throughout my career. After working with Benny, I can say hes very involved, but all in good ways. When he finds something hell say, I like this for you, what do you think? Would you try this for me, because we dont know how its going to sound until you try it. Thats a push in a healthy direction with the understanding that if it doesnt turn out in the studio, we dont have to show it to anyone. That was comforting and allowed me to try things with nothing really to lose. It was freeing and very different from where Ive been in the past with the A&R process. In some more jagged situations, I probably did become a bit of jerk about cutting what I wanted to cut. So Bennys approach let me gracefully bow out of that kind of attitude. I was able to approach this album with a new heart for the music and a new set of ears. Its worked out tremendously. Several are songs I probably never would have found or thought were right for me if I had found them. Having Benny bring them to me and having that ability to try, to see what something sounds like, has been great. My producers, Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George, have also helped me understand that whatever I do vocally, its going to bring it back to traditional no matter how far out there we get. Just as the drive for hit singles led to a balance of material on the album, my voice and the ability to be edgy with song selection created a balance, too. In an organic way, it made for a unique sound. You can have a rock-pop feel with the track, because the traditional vocals bring it back. Theres always going to be a traditional element in my music that I wont change, and really just cant change. But I can reach beyond my comfort zone, too. Certainly in 2013, it would be foolish not to try. I realize there are purists who could be let down by that mindset, and there have been times I have absolutely felt that I was letting people down by trying new things. And, of course, that created massive fear in me that probably led to decisions that hurt my progress. So Im glad that I now feel comfortable enough in my own skin to know what being true to myself really is. I am true to traditional country music and always will be. I have bled and sweat and cried country music my entire life. And broadening my approach wont change that one bit. Thats the freedom to be happy and successful and make music Im proud of. There are layers to my relationships and the people around me. Theres a depth there that Ive never felt before, especially in a working environment. I care passionately and deeply about the music, as well as the people Im working with. I care about the overall well-being and success of everybody. That is a wonderful feeling, and way more important than having hit records and looking good to the outside world. This is family. I have been a Nashville guy for a long time and would move back there in a heartbeat, but I also love Texas because its the place I want to raise my children. Its just a great way of life here. When Im home, there are no crowds, no industry events to go to, none of that. Its just family, friends and a normal pace of life. The new music is going over awesome on the road, especially Sunny And 75. The other new songs we play get an incredible reaction, too. As far as the crowds go, Ive been almost two years without a single at radio and people are still showing up in awesome numbers. Im impressed and incredibly grateful for country fans, because they are amazingly loyal. Im also thankful radio is welcoming me back with open arms. I love that I have true friends there who care about me beyond the music and career stuff, because I care about them in the same way. So Im especially proud to give them music they can play in good conscience. Its not just my friends hooking me up with airplay, its something deserving, and I hope to continue giving them that. The biggest thing I feel is just that its a new day. Im wiping the slate clean and starting something brand new. I love my old catalog of music Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, Brokenheartsville, The Impossible, Gimme That Girl and the rest. But Im starting the first chapter of that new book now. Im pretty sure its got a happy ending, but I also hope there are a few surprises for people along the way.
at The Wilma
131 South Higgins Street
Missoula, United States
Orignal From: Joe Nichols
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