We are so obsessed with your voice – what inspires your Sound?
Thank you so much! That is very kind of you to say. While I have been obsessed with Janet Jackson most of my life, I actually grew up listening to alot of country music (Reba McEntire was my very first concert). I’ve always had a love for the storytelling aspects of that genre and I’m really drawn to acoustic sounds and textures. Later on, I really connected with the music and songwriting of a lot of indie Folk and Americana artists like Patty Griffin (who I first heard at The Chicks concert when I was in college and obsession ensued), the Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman, Lori McKenna, and the like. I would say these kinds of Artists were most influential early on in me wanting to be a songwriter in addition to a singer.
What is your songwriting process like? Do you work with others or is it a solo endeavor? I
I don’t have any set process. Sometimes I create in a disciplined way when I’m carving out time and space to write but, as a busy working mom, It’s often that I’m in the middle of a shower and jump out to get my phone to do a quick voice memo or I’ll wear my guitar while making dinner and work on songs during that time. Inspiration can come from a title idea, life experience, chord that evokes a feeling I want to explore or a phrase that I find compelling. Sometimes it works out well and other times it feels like trying to get a square peg into a round hole so I relent and move on. But I always store those ideas that I move on for the time being because sometimes they are meant to have life in another song that hasn’t been born yet. I often write solo but I love to collaborate with others as well and I have had fruitful experiences in doing so. This new EP, The Clearing, is a testament to how beautiful collaborating can be.
You have a new song on the way – tell us more about it.
I sure do! It’s called Poison in the Water and I wrote it with Sam Gyllenhaal. It’s a very personal song about the struggle in continuing to love someone when life circumstances have made it a toxic relationship to be in. I think it’s always tricky trying to balance being there for those you love when they are struggling and also practicing self-care. This song deals with that. Alex Wong did a phenomenal job with the production and I’m really excited to share it with the world.
What else do you have on the horizon you can share with us?
The full EP, The Clearing, will be released on March 8th, which is both my birthday and International Women’s Day! The EP release show will be in mid March and I am beyond pumped to bring these songs to the stage with a full band!
Thanks for chatting with us today Tracee! Where can our readers find you online?
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