Country Newcomer Lindsay Ell recently released her new single, “Shut Me Up,” to country radio. Signed with Stoney Creek Records, the talented singer, songwriter and musician is currently working on her debut album. Ell is making a significant impact on country radio and country music fans with her new music.
CountryMusicRocks got the opportunity to catch up with Lindsay Ell to talk about her new single, forthcoming album, life on the road and much more!
CountryMusicRocks (CMR): You recently released your new single “Shut Me Up” to country radio. Give us a little background and tell us a little about that song?
Lindsay Ell: It was one of those songs when you found it just felt so right. I really was able to dig into all the guitar parts and write a whole bunch of things that I felt really represented me as an artist. One thing about moving to Nashville is that you are surrounded by so many talented musicians and writers and producers, left, right and center, and sometimes to find your voice is a very important thing. I just think that this song has a lot of that girl power that the early Shania stuff articulated so well. And really, we haven’t seen some females in a long time, so it’s my goal to bring it all back.
CMR: “Shut Me Up” was the 2nd most added song to country radio on it’s release week. How did that moment feel to have the country radio industry embrace you & your new music?
Lindsay Ell: It is so humbling. Being able to wake up every morning and do what you love is such a gift in itself, let alone have people like country radio want to share your accolade and give you a little head knod and be like “yeah, we’ll endorse what she is doing” is just amazing. I’m so, so grateful for it every single day.
CMR: You’ve been working on your debut album. Where are you at in that process, and how would you best describe the album?
Lindsay Ell: I’ve been writing more and we’ve been cutting more in the studio. It is definitely taking on a more definite life of itself. Just as any project, as you get deeper into it you just figure out more about what you want to say. I’m so excited about everything we’ve been working on, I feel like we’re really falling into the vibe of it. It’s going to have lots of guitar solos, lots of really cool acoustic moments as well, and a lot of good songs.
CMR: So far, what has been one of your favorite moments recording the album?
Lindsay Ell: My producers New Voice have just been so receptive to letting me be me, letting me play guitar and do all my own solos. I know that sometimes it might take me longer than a bunch of session guys in town who can probably play circles over me, BUT they know, just as I do, it is so important to me that if I’m not playing guitar on my record, what’s the point of making a record. They have been so open to that which has been very very nice, and I can allow it [the record] to be me.
CMR: Going forward, is playing on your own album something that is going to be important to you as it is with this one?
Lindsay Ell: Absolutely. As an artist, and you look up to Keith Urban and Brad Paisley, the guitar is a huge part of what they do, and of their sound, and who they are. Making sure I can be part of the project in that way is going to be huge for me, absolutely.
CMR: I’ve read in several times that you are the female version Keith Urban. What is it like for you to be compared to someone like him?
Lindsay Ell: Well for someone being my idol, it’s amazing. When I hear that I’m still just like “man that’s crazy!” It’s amazing and it makes me so happy that people can look at me in the same light as Keith. I have so much respect for that man as a guitar player, as a songwriter, as a singer, as a performer, and just being a really good guy. I’m EXTREMELY humbled by it.
CMR: Speaking of Keith Urban, you got the opportunity to share the stage with him this summer, what was that moment like?
Lindsay Ell: It was so incredible. I got the call a couple of hours before the show asking, “Hey Lindsay would you like to come up and sing “We Were Us” with Keith tonight?” and it took me like two seconds to decide and say “uh yeah I would absolutely be honored to!!!” Keith and his whole band have been really supportive of me and wanting to help me out where they can. So the fact that I was able to finally have that moment and trade licks with Keith on stage and everything, it was amazing.
CMR: You’ve been out on the go much non-stop this year. How would you best describe this past year out on the road?
Lindsay Ell: It’s been a whirlwind. The best whirlwind possible. It was really over the past year my first experience being on a radio tour, and being able to see a lot of amazing parts of the country. It’s been a go, go, go. You get in this groove, and you get used to this walking and loading. It’s incredible when you look back and go my goodness where has the past 3 months gone . How time can just fly when your in the thick of it. This past year has been so amazing. Radio tour has been so much fun. I got to debut at the Grand Ole Opry. It has definitely been full of a bunch of incredible moments.
CMR: What is one thing from home that you HAVE to HAVE out on the road with you?
Lindsay Ell: Well I never leave the house without my phone or guitar. Those are probably my two staples. With both of those things, I can pretty much go anywhere or do anything., but if I don’t have either one then I definitely feel naked.
CMR: You are very active on social media, especially Twitter. Who are some of your favorite celebrities to follow?
Lindsay Ell: Oh my goodness, there are so many. Jimmy Fallon is always great. Ellen is always great. I mean Blake Shelton has a life of his own on that thing. The list could go on, and on, and on…..
CMR: You always look so great both on and off stage. Where are some of your favorite places to shop?
Lindsay Ell: I shop a lot out on the road. I love shopping in little boutiques that are local to different cities. When we are in a town, and we have a couple minutes before sound check, I love even walking down the street and hopping in to a shoe store and seeing what they have. In town I even hit up TJ Maxx all the time when I’m on the road. Sometimes you can find really weird, random things from different designers. Definitely a mix-match of everything.
CMR: If there were one thing that you would like to convey to fans about you & your music, what would it be?
Lindsay Ell: I want fans to know I’m authentic. I care so much about getting to play music and getting to write songs and letting fans learn lyrics to my songs and sing them back to me. I definitely want them to know when they listen to my music, that I’m real and that I’m in this for the long haul. When I’m up there on stage singing, it is definitely coming from the heart.
CMR: Country Music is consistently evolving and growing. What is it that you love most about this genre?
Lindsay Ell: I love that people can be people in country music. I know it sounds weird. Sometimes I find, and I listen to all different kinds of music, but I find sometimes in other genres you need to put on this facade of something that, maybe somebody is, but sometimes it’s fake or its this act that they need to put on when they’re on stage. I feel that country music just lets you be a human being. You can have a life, you can get married, you can be real, you can talk about stories, you can sing story songs, and country music fans embrace that which is so amazing.
Lindsay’s new single “Shut Me Up” is available now on iTunes HERE. The hot new single is also featured on our CountryMusicRocks September 2014 Playlist. Be sure to pick up a copy!!!
Keep up with Lindsay Ell by visiting her Official Website, Like her on Facebook and Follow her on Twitter.
