JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Nation singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer says she has the town the place she grew as much as thank for her introduction to the style.
BRITTNEY SPENCER: I discovered nation music in Baltimore – you already know? – from my pals who folks would have a look at and doubtless suppose they do not take heed to nation music, however they do, you already know? We have been going to church downtown, and my good friend Keisa (ph) mentioned, you have to take heed to – again then – the Dixie Chicks, and I did, and I fell in love.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LANDSLIDE”)
THE CHICKS: (Singing) Can I sail by means of the altering ocean tides? Can I…
SUMMERS: Spencer grew up singing in church choirs and on reward groups, and he or she was instantly drawn to the harmonies of nation music. That affinity led her to depart Baltimore for Nashville a decade in the past with little plan and few connections. And she or he says hitting her stride in Nashville took time.
SPENCER: I do not know, simply loads of trial and error and loads of, like – I do not know – following little pebbles within the forest. That is what it looks like. It is grotesque and great simply not realizing what the hell you are doing.
SUMMERS: In 2020, her cowl of The Highwomen’s tune “Crowded Desk” caught the eye of the nation supergroup’s Maren Morris and Amanda Shires. And now Brittney Spencer is out together with her first album. It is referred to as “My Silly Life.” The primary single from that album, “Larger Than The Tune,” pays tribute to among the girls who got here earlier than her.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BIGGER THAN THE SONG”)
SPENCER: (Singing) Be fancy like Reba, a queen like Aretha, in love like Johnny and June. Get mad like Alanis, scream like Janet, do all of it like Dolly would do.
SUMMERS: I like that refrain since you’re name-checking among the greats – Reba, Queen Latifah, Alanis Morissette, Dolly Parton. I imply, the checklist goes on. And it is this unimaginable journey down reminiscence lane paying respect to those girls which have given us all a lot. Inform us about that tune.
SPENCER: You already know, it is humorous. I really – I did not know till I began doing interviews that I name-checked virtually all girls. Like…
SUMMERS: Yeah.
SPENCER: …It is just one man I examine on this tune, Johnny, however I nonetheless pair him with June (laughter).
SUMMERS: And also you did not notice that?
SPENCER: No, I did not notice it. That wasn’t intentional in any respect. I simply – I like girls. I actually do. Like, I feel we’re so cool. And I feel, like, particularly proper now, at a time in music the place – significantly in nation music, the place we’re not at all times seeing girls shine – I feel, like, on the charts proper now, I do not suppose there are any girls on the Prime 20 charts proper now.
SUMMERS: Why do you suppose that’s?
SPENCER: I really – I do not know. And I additionally simply do not care ‘trigger it is simply silly. I am simply ready on the day that modifications.
(SOUNDBITE OF BRITTNEY SPENCER SONG, “IF YOU SAY SO”)
SUMMERS: Speak to us concerning the technique of placing collectively this album. What was happening in your life if you have been recording it, and the way does that replicate itself within the music?
SPENCER: Once we have been recording, I used to be in the course of touring. So I used to be type of deliriously drained. And after I walked into the studio, like, Daniel, the producer, Daniel Tashian, he is, like, very, excellent. He is very inventive. He’ll get within the studio. He is type of like a studio rat (laughter). After which I had a few of my pals are available and…
SUMMERS: Yeah, like who?
SPENCER: Ashley Monroe got here in. Maren Morris, she got here in. She sang on “Night time In.” That was so enjoyable. She’s considered one of my heroes, in order that was actually enjoyable to get to observe. Grace Potter, she despatched in her backgrounds on “Reaching Out.” Like, I actually made a file with those that I actually admire, respect, get pleasure from, love. It was a enjoyable course of. Like, bringing this all collectively was positively a dream.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “NIGHT IN (PHONE CALL)”)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Hello.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Hey, lady. What you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Completely nothing. What’s up?
SUMMERS: I wish to ask you a few tune you’ve got talked about a few instances. The tune is named “Night time In,” and it is this enjoyable anthem. It celebrates friendship and ladies coming collectively and the enjoyment of not going out on a regular basis. And I’ve to say, as an individual who additionally loves to remain in, this was a really deeply relatable tune. Are you able to inform us about it?
SPENCER: I imply, like, I am an introvert with FOMO. I actually wish to, like, you already know, keep in, however I additionally do not wish to miss out. I really feel like extroverts at all times get the enjoyable turn-up songs. Dude, there’s a lot happiness in doing not a factor.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “NIGHT IN (PHONE CALL)”)
SPENCER: (Singing) I simply desire a night time in, getting excessive with pals, not an evening in town killing time once more. No excessive heel stumbling down the town streets. No drunk boys mumbling, can I purchase you a drink?
I really wrote this tune – it began with my good friend Jessica Caine, a author right here on the town. I went to her home. And she or he, like, made this bomb dinner. Like, it was, like, salmon and, like, one thing else. And it was fireplace. After which we watched “Cruella.” After which we, like, I feel – I do not even know if we paused the film or if we ended up ready until the top, however we began simply writing a tune about eager to be in the home. I can hear the place we have been simply stream of consciousness, like, writing and simply speaking, like, very conversational. And I feel being sleep disadvantaged positively helped that tune (laughter).
SUMMERS: You have talked about among the unimaginable folks that you simply collaborated with on this album. And in “Reaching Out,” that features Grace Potter on vocals, Jason Isbell on guitar. I do know you’ve got carried out alongside each of them. That tune is simply so highly effective.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “REACHING OUT”)
SPENCER: (Singing) I haven’t got a tank filled with completely satisfied endings. That ship sailed a very long time in the past.
SUMMERS: Are you able to inform us the place that is coming from?
SPENCER: It was my first – perhaps not my first, however positively considered one of my first makes an attempt at type of describing a deep disappointment that I’ve felt most of my life and probably not putting blame on anybody factor or particular person, however simply making an attempt to explain the occasions of my life in a approach that hopefully – I do not know – articulates this sense that I’ve had. This – it is is known as a tune about longing. It is a tune about eager to be seen.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “REACHING OUT”)
SPENCER: (Singing) So I am reaching out for one thing higher than this. I do not know what it’s.
I am a Black lady from Baltimore Metropolis in nation music. In fact belonging is a factor. It is – and it is much more of a factor for me proper now, truthfully. I do not know. It is about eager to know if, like, my story and my existence issues. Lots of people really feel like their tales do not matter as a result of they don’t seem to be mirrored, they don’t seem to be represented on a regular basis. And I simply – I come from that world of individuals the place virtually typically, like, your existence can really feel inferior. That is – it is not one thing that weighs on my mind on a regular basis, however it’s positively like when you poke round deep sufficient, you will get to that half the place you’ll be able to hear in me the place I nonetheless wish to know the place I belong or if I do.
SUMMERS: Yeah. I do need to ask. I imply, as you mentioned, you are a Black girl in a style that has not at all times made house for Black girls, even in recent times. However as we speak, there are extra artists that appear like you and me in nation music. Do you suppose that, for the style, we’re at a turning level and that we’ll see extra Black girls nation artists such as you who’re stepping out and getting observed for his or her expertise?
SPENCER: I hope so. That is type of – yeah, that is type of simply my solely reply. I hope so. You already know, greater than that, I hope that there is any person on the market or there are folks on the market who, you already know, may need a distinct story. You already know, they may look totally different. They may have a distinct background, a distinct upbringing, one thing that makes them not at all times really feel linked.
And I hope that, in seeing what’s occurring proper now in nation music, it encourages so many individuals to pursue the factor that, truthfully, it took me years to resolve to really do. It took me years to, like, resolve to depart Baltimore because of this. My want for this music, it grew to become so overwhelming that it grew to become, like, louder than the voices in my head. So I hope the business modifications, you already know, as a result of the world most actually is.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “NEW TO THIS TOWN”)
SPENCER: (Singing) I am new to this city, so simply hanging out.
SUMMERS: Brittney, thanks a lot.
SPENCER: Thanks. I recognize it. I hope you will have a beautiful day. And thanks a lot for having me on.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “NEW TO THIS TOWN”)
SPENCER: (Singing) All of the folks I do know are…
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