This year has seen our small but very dedicated team working tirelessly to bring you the best interviews, reviews, features and news throughout this wonderful genre we call Country music. As 2024 comes to an end and we reflect on the year just gone we'd like to say thanks to all the artists, labels and PR firms that trust us in handling their content and music with the due care and respect it deserves. We pride ourselves in always staying positive – we'll never resort to easy soundbites or sensational takes just to get clicks like other sites and platforms do. We'd rather not cover an artist, album or concert if we don't like what they are doing rather than snipe at them. Stay classy, Country music.
We did over 100 interviews this year and here are, for many different reasons, our favourite 10.
Drew Baldridge
We interviewed Drew twice this year, once when ‘She's Somebody's Daughter' had just cracked the Top 10 and once again recently, when Drew had the time and wisdom to reflect on what he had achieved this year and was looking for to the future with new single ‘Tough People. Both interviews can be read here.
Dasha
Similarly to Drew Baldridge, it's been a privilege to be involved in a tiny way with an amazing rags-to-riches story, this time with Dasha. We started shouting about how good we thought she was in 2023 and have spoken to her twice this year and got to touch base with her about her remarkable achievements. Both times Dasha has been warm, friendly, funny and very generous with her time as we dug into her wider songwriting and aspirations beyond just having a viral hit. Read both interviews here.
Chase Rice
We've always had a strong relationship with Chase and it's been fascinating watching him transition from the Bro-Country dude he was to someone earthier, more authentic who has become fascinated with the craft of Country and produced two very deep albums in a row now. Our interview with him back in September found him in a very open, honest and reflective mood in which he expressed uncertainty about whether he was more popular than ever now or just going away quietly. His honesty was humbling and it made the interview one of our favourites of the year. Read it here.
Fancy Hagood
Fancy was our ‘breakout star' of this year's C2C festival in London and it was fabulous to grab 20 minutes with him in a corridor backstage at the O2 arena with his parents sitting on a sofa next to us – yes folks, Country journalism is that glamorous! His enthusiasm and dedication to music was infectious and he'd been swept up in the clamour that us Brits were showing towards him, which was infectious to be around. Read the interview here.
Meghan Patrick
Meghan released her terrific album ‘Golden Child' in Q4 this year and what an amazing listen it was. We got to speak to her about it in October and was humbled by her openness and willingness to share the family history and trauma that had shaped a large part of the album. She's coming over to Europe for the C2C festival in March an we can't wait! Read our interview with her here.
Carly Pearce
Carly has really blossomed, both as an artist and an interviewee in the last few years. Ask her the right questions and you'll get an honest and sometimes sassy answer back, which makes the job of putting interesting questions together all the more fun. In our face to face interview at Big Machine's London offices in March this year we surprised her by asking about THAT line in ‘Heels Over Head' which made the whole room laugh. Read the interview here.
Stephen Wilson JR
One of the most intelligent and measured artists in the genre, Stephen has been a joy to speak to over the past 2-3 years. Our interview with him at C2C in March was one of our favourites and we had to apologise to Lauren Watkins after we'd finished because we lost track of time and got swept away in the discussion, as two music-lovers are want to do sometimes! Read the interview here.
Randall King
We've interviewed Randall twice this year and both times have been impressed with his enthusiasm and love of the music he's producing right now. King's ‘Into the Neon' phase has imbued him with a confidence and passion that is infectious to be around, long may it continue! Read both interviews here.
Ira Dean
We saw Ira play a songwriters round in Nashville during CMA Fest week and were entertained and intrigued by his history and views on Country music. We caught up with him in July and shared a fascinating 20 minutes with him about his time in One Trick Pony, the songs he's written for other artists and his upcoming album. Read the interview here.
Thomas Rhett
TR is someone who has always been generous with his time with us. He's been around Country music all his life and always has measured and interesting takes on life, music and his place in Nashville. We caught up with him in August this year and he took us on a deep-dive into the inspirations behind the making of his new album, ‘About A Woman,' which we found fascinating and privileged to be part of. Read the interview here.
Other interviews we've loved this year:
Drake White, Corey Kent, Everette, Jackson Dean and George Birge were all fascinating artists who were very open and generous with their thoughts and time this year.
