Texas native Laci Kaye Booth first came to the world’s attention when she auditioned for ‘American Idol’ back in 2019.
Winning over audiences with her distinctive vocals and stylish, soulful renditions of country classics – and a duet with Brett Young on his hit song ‘Mercy’ – she made it all the way to the Top 5. Since then she’s signed with Big Machine Label Group and released her debut self-titled EP last August, which features eight tracks all co-written by Laci and even an appearance from Lady A’s Charles Kelley.
When she was in London recently for C2C Festival, I caught up with Laci to talk about the EP, her latest single ‘Shuffle’ – and its accompanying video – how she approaches her songwriting, life after ‘Idol’ and more.
Hi Laci, welcome to London!
Oh my gosh, I love it here! Thank you so much.
How are you finding it so far?
It’s beautiful. It’s one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to.
You’ve been over to perform at C2C – what can people expect from a typical Laci Kaye Booth set?
New music, which I’m so excited about playing. Also some old music which I released last year. But yeah, some new, whimsical, dreamy music which I heard the audience here kinda like, so I’m excited. I love how they listen to the storytelling.
You also recently released your first music video for the song ‘Shuffle’ – can you tell us more about the song and the video?
Yeah, so ‘Shuffle’ was a really fun song to write. I think I included about 17 different song titles in that song, and I wanted to make it all female, women of country song titles. The music video was really, really fun to make. It was my first music video ever, and it was me as a clerk… what would you call me? I guess like a clerk in an old vintage record shop. And it was so fun. I had a movement coach, and just the best time.
I wanted to ask you a little about your songwriting process as well. Do you have a typical way that you write or does it depend on the day?
It really depends on the day. But one of my favourite ways of writing is starting with a melody, and bringing it to the write, ’cause I like to co-write. In Nashville I do that a lot. But yeah, either with a title or with a chord progression is my favourite way to start writing.
You’ve worked with some really big-name songwriters and artists – is there anyone still on your list you’d love to work with? And have there been any collaborations or people you’ve worked with so far that have stood out for you?
I have one coming up that I’m super excited about. I don’t know that I’m allowed to announce it yet, but I also am just so excited about hopefully one day in the future, maybe collaborating with people like John Mayer or Post Malone or Stevie Nicks. That would be the absolute dream. Kacey Musgraves or Lee Ann Womack as well – just my favourite artists.
I also wanted to ask you a bit about your time on ‘American Idol’. Is there anything you learned from that experience that you’re applying to your music now?
I learned so much. It was really basically a boot camp for what I’m doing now. It really was. And I guess I just learned how to love myself more, and how to have thicker skin which is really important in this career. But yeah, ‘American Idol’ was really, really good to me.
I read that you wrote something like 400 songs for your debut project – how did you manage to get it down to just eight on the EP?
[laughs] It was the most painful experience of my life. What happened was I moved here and the pandemic hit right when I got signed, so I had all this time to write. But I think my collection of music I released is very well rounded because I had so much, so many different songs.
You’ve got some tour dates coming up later this year with Midland and Jordan Davis. How are you feeling about being out on the road?
Oh, I am. Because I really haven’t, besides ‘American Idol’, been able to really be on stage and connect with an audience yet. So I’m really excited about that and getting more comfortable on stage. And just to be out with people like Midland and Jordan Davis is just a dream.
Are there any songs you’re particularly looking forward to playing live?
Oh my gosh, yes. I’m looking forward to playing, of course the songs from my collection that hopefully some people know, but also new music. I love to try out new music on crowds and it’s one of my favourite things to do.
We’ve talked about the collection a little bit but I wanted to ask if you have a particular favourite song on there?
I do. It’s the very first track on the collection, which I did that kind of for a reason, because it was my favourite song at the time and it still is. It’s called ‘Used To You’ and it’s probably one of the most real songs I’ve ever written.
What’s the one song you wish you’d written?
Oh my gosh! There’s so many, this is a hard question. But I would say… gosh… probably ‘Marina Del Rey’ by George Strait.
What does the rest of 2022 look like for you? You’ve mentioned new music and we’ve talked about the tours – will those be your main focus?
Yes. My main focus would be the tours and just getting out there and getting comfortable with my band and on stage. I’m so excited to connect with audiences. But also hopefully recording new music.
Is the new music going to be similar to the collection?
Sort of. I think it will be more me. I think with that collection it was a little something for everybody. This will be honing in more on my sound and what that is. So hopefully people enjoy it.
And lastly – have you got any plans to come back to the UK at some point?
Oh yes, 100 per cent. It’s in the works, so I’m excited.
Laci Kaye Booth’s self-titled EP is out now on Big Machine Label Group.
