March 10, 2024 • 58 mins
Hello Backstory Fans! Join us for yet another fun episode, where we are catching up with the amazing singer-songwriter Mackenzie Phipps. Talking about her latest song, written as a tribute to truck drivers, "18 Wheels", Mackenzie reveals the story behind writing it,
We touch upon a myriad of topics which include new sound equipment, our surge in listenership from Ghana and Nigeria, and some random items from the Backstory Facebook group. Ranging from their funnily divergent preferences on food to agreeing that all chocolate is great, it's a fun chat filled with laughter, and memories. We also talk a bit about a new project, "Heart-Shaped Box", and talk about the significance of St. Patrick's Day.
Mackenzie walks us through her journey, and reveals what she's been up to since last we chatted. A move, new music, and new opportunities are all discussed, as well as her small-town roots give listeners a view into her life these days.. She also shares a funny story of a chance encounter with one of her idols.
Buckle up and join us for a heartening deep dive into Mackenzie's world. Follow her on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to see her ascent as a rising star in the country music scene.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Music.
(00:51):
Hey everybody, it's Kat, and I'm going to welcome you to this episode of Backstory Sessions.
I'm joined today by my co-host, Matt.
Hey, Matt. Hey, Kat. Hey, everyone. How are you?
Well, we should be sounding pretty good, I think, on this episode,
because we have new sound equipment.
(01:11):
Yeah yeah it'll be uh interesting to
see what happens here because it's got like all kinds
of buttons and dials and sliders and more buttons and so you're just like in
gadget heaven to get to push all those yeah i'm just still trying to figure
(01:32):
it all out so uh yeah so if we sound like Charlie Brown's teacher or whatever,
you know, you'll know that.
Yeah, you'll know that I screwed something up.
Yeah, I should, you know, if I could, I would just like talk like that the whole time.
And then that way they would think that you messed mine up or something. That would be funny.
(01:55):
Well, I mean, it's certainly a possibility here because I have,
you know, it took me a couple of minutes to get mine working.
Well i think we're probably sounding pretty
good and you know there's a
lot going on in the backstory world uh yes so what do we what do we have going
(02:19):
on hmm lots of well well we just we just hit 50 000 yes we did that and that
was great and you know we're we're like Like already,
what, 50? I mean, we're already another thousand or more.
Like it's climbing right along.
Yeah. Yeah. We're doing really well lately. And we're big in Ghana for some reason.
(02:41):
Yeah. So keep listening, Ghana. And also all your friends in other countries. Nigeria.
I think Nigeria was number four recently.
Well, hey, Nigeria. Like, hey. Hey, everybody.
(03:02):
Yeah. You know, it's really cool. It is cool.
Like, every time when you tell me the, you know, the countries or whatever,
it's always surprising.
And really, really neat, too, to just know that, you know, we're,
like, people in those countries are listening to us.
Yeah. Yeah, it's, you know, I go, I go through the list and I thought,
(03:27):
I think last time I looked weird and like.
Since the beginning of the month, it was like 30 different countries.
And, you know, you look at where they are and things, and it's really,
there's no rhyme or reason for it.
I'm just, you know, thankful that people listen.
But it's pretty interesting, for sure.
Well, we have a lot of really good guests.
(03:50):
So, you know, I'm not surprised that they would be interested in the guests that we have.
You know and maybe they find us entertaining
or like could be laughing at us you
know you know a
number of things but and we do offer some insights
sometimes and you know a
(04:11):
little bit of nostalgia thrown in there yep yep
last week we had donnie most on that was pretty nostalgic
oh yes i love that episode he
was so nice you know really a great
interview i love that and you know
so we're gaining also a lot in
our backstory group you know on facebook so
(04:33):
listeners you can come join us in that
group and here we have polls and song challenges and you get to find out all
about the guests that we're going to have all you know we promote that the whole
week But we're getting a lot of new people in that group that are commenting
and participating in the polls.
(04:54):
And there's a couple of really interesting ones recently.
One of them is about that adults generally work 34 minutes a day on household chores.
I'm sure sometimes it feels a lot longer than that. yes yes it does like almost
(05:17):
every time really right does that include laundry.
Yeah, we would have to, you know, because laundry is a chore.
Yeah, it does feel like laundry takes forever.
Well, so the question was, out of that 34 minutes, how many minutes per day
(05:41):
do you think that are attributed to men?
And so, you know, we have a fair number of people have said zero.
Zero like they don't like men you know
do any of that sure well in
my house men are the only ones who do anything
(06:01):
so yeah well i was going to say you
know otherwise there would be like zero minutes
period but you know
then you got some people that went to the high end
and said you know 30 to 34 four minutes like
pretty much all of it was done by men so
yeah i don't think that like it's i
(06:23):
don't think it's delineated along lines of men or women i mean it really just
depends on the situation well i mean i would think that you know if one person
is staying home and the other person is working outside the home,
then the one person that's staying home probably does the 34 minutes that get done.
(06:48):
I mean, unless they're working from home.
Yes, I see. That's another, you know, like there's so many variables to this.
But, you know, I do find the polls interesting just to see how people,
you know, perceive the minutes.
And so far, no one has guessed the correct answer.
So, you know, the actual answer, I'm going to go ahead and tell,
(07:11):
because that way everybody will find out first here when they listen, 19 minutes.
So men are doing 19 minutes, about 34 minutes. Really? Yes. Yes.
You know, that's pretty good.
So let me get this straight. Men are cleaning like 19 minutes a day.
(07:36):
Yeah. of the 34 minutes that get done so that means that women are cleaning 15 less less yes.
Oh we would you know who would have thought but yeah i mean you would have thought
i would have thought the number was much higher you know as a total and then
(07:59):
as far as men versus women i mean I mean, I would have guessed that women clean more.
I mean, I don't know. Like, if you look at the daily, I mean,
like, I would rather, I guess, or, well, I don't know if I would rather.
I'd rather not do any of it.
(08:20):
Like, I find myself like on certain days, you know, I will work for a long period of time.
And then, you know, another day I might not do anything, basically.
I mean, that really amounted to anything.
So, you know, maybe it's just an average, like a weekly average.
They come up with the 34 minutes because certainly, you know,
(08:43):
I know there's days that I don't do 34 minutes of cleaning.
Names so so let's see
19 let's say 20 minutes a day so
men are cleaning for two hours a week
yeah so and and that was
the point of this this poll and then
(09:04):
they analyzed it was to show like
you know how much people how much
work you if you were being paid for it you
know how much you would would be earning in a year so that
was the point of the article however i just
pulled out yeah so i just pulled out
the the minutes because i thought that was pretty interesting of how it was
(09:28):
you know how men were 19 minutes of it so what's the going rate for cleaning
these days oh gosh i mean like 15 to 20 dollars an hour i think yeah yeah it's
probably pretty close yeah.
I mean, you know, you might not even be able to find anyone to clean. That is true. Yeah.
(09:51):
You know, during COVID and, you know, all that kind of thing.
I know that was one part of the, you know, the economy, like people that worked
in that were like, people didn't want them coming into their homes,
you know, because COVID.
I mean, everybody was afraid. So, you know, that was at that time,
(10:15):
really, I'm sure that that part of the job market did suffer a lot.
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure it did.
Now, another part of our poll that
I found really interesting is there was another poll about what people.
So there's a list of foods, and it's a list of foods that they have determined
(10:40):
people either love or hate.
There's a lot of foods that you might be like, oh, it's okay.
But then there's probably some foods that you're like, oh, I would not eat that.
So it's those kinds of foods, supposedly. Like vegetables.
(11:01):
Well, some of these are like really interesting because, you know,
when I looked at the list, okay, well, let's do this.
Run down the list and I'll give you my answer now.
Anchovies. That was the first one I posted because on that list, like, I hate anchovies.
(11:23):
So I'm like, that's a big hell no from me.
Yes. So, but you know, some people in our group love anchovies. It's not surprising.
I mean, well, it surprised me. I was like, how on earth?
But anyways, okay. So the next food, coconut. Now, I love coconut.
(11:44):
Yeah. Yeah, coconut's pretty good.
I mean, all the joys, man. Right, exactly. Those are the best kinds.
I could eat, like, I could eat so much coconut, it would make me sick.
That's how much I love it.
Okay, pickles. I also love pickles. It depends on what kind.
Yeah. Yeah, there's like sweet pickles. I like dill pickles.
(12:07):
I do too, but like I don't, you know, like they have the pickles in a jar that
are like whole cucumbers or whatever.
Yes. Yes. I mean, I'm not a big fan of that.
That is true. Well, in this next one also, people did, you know, they broke it down.
Licorice. No, not for me.
(12:30):
Black licorice. some people most people said
they hate it and red licorice some people said
they loved so they broke it down further yeah either one i just really i don't
know to me it tastes like eating plastic or something weird too honest you remember
those like lips and things that yeah yeah the wax lips and Yeah,
(12:54):
I feel like that taste to me is like, okay, this other one, I'm pretty sure
I know how you are about it, too. Candy corn.
No. Yeah. So, you know, I haven't posted that in the group yet,
but I would definitely say that is a food that people never hate.
Yeah, just like jelly beans.
(13:15):
And you don't like jelly beans. I do not. Yes. So I do remember that, too.
All right. Right. Mayo. Now, I'd have to say I was surprised that was on the
list because I didn't really know that people hated it. Like, hated.
Well, I mean, I guess for mayonnaise, I mean, like, it has to be Hellman's and
(13:38):
it depends what you're doing with it.
Well, I'm not going to eat it by the spoonful. No, no.
But like, I mean, if you're putting it on like a sandwich, probably not.
Yeah. I mean, unless you're making like tuna. yeah like tuna salad or something
you need like there's certain things i don't know how you would eat them really
(14:01):
without that but right and don't try and give me that miracle whip crap.
Well you know i mean i i don't even i can't even believe it but my mom and some
other members of the family you see mayonnaise sandwiches so So,
well, I guess those were the times.
(14:22):
Yeah. I mean, although I would eat a mustard sandwich, I guess it's not really that different. I know.
It's weird, but I would. I would not eat a ketchup sandwich.
Yeah, probably not. Unless it had a hamburger between it.
Yeah, well, or french fries and tater tots dipped in it. On a sandwich?
(14:48):
Well, and two, only certain kinds of ketchup. I mean, some of that is awful.
Oh, yeah, it's got to be Heinz.
Yes, yes, that's it. And like normal Heinz. Don't give me the sugar-free,
gluten-free, whatever, made with olive oil or whatever. I don't want that crap.
(15:09):
I want Heinz ketchup.
Well, they have, like, you know, colored ketchup and everything.
Yeah, and I don't want the green or the purple or any of that crap.
Just give me red. Red Heinz ketchup.
That's right. We're, like, too old for it.
(15:29):
That's right we're chained at this point okay the next one like mushrooms i i really like mushrooms,
you know i mean yeah i mean
again it's like what kind and what are
you doing with them yeah yeah well and
some of them i you know i'd be afraid because you could
(15:51):
need the poison one you know whatever i guess yeah
or the magic one if i
had to pick love or hate i'm you know i
would go with love more than hate because i i mean i
can eat them for sure all right now this one did surprise
me i put this one in the group today olives do
(16:12):
you know some people hate olives yeah i'm actually one of them yeah well see
i i love olives say a greek salad give me that but there's you know i love them
the only time i eat olives is if they're on pizza yeah it's black olives and only if i don't see them.
(16:35):
They're disguised under the mushroom yeah yeah otherwise i'm picking them off
okay well this This was the last one, but it also shocked me. White chocolate.
White? I love white chocolate.
So is there really any difference in taste between white and dark chocolate, or white and, you know?
(16:58):
A milk chocolate. Yeah. Yeah.
Yes, there is. And, you know, I like white chocolate more than the milk chocolate.
Oh, see, there's something wrong with you.
Well, I think we have to have milk. Goes without saying.
But I do. You know, I love white chocolate. Now, dark chocolate, I will eat.
(17:24):
It's bitter, you know, but I eat that for health benefits, you know, like.
Right. health benefits yeah yes you
know like well honestly i i can only eat
the little like taste of it because it is bitter yeah
i like i like dark chocolate better than white
or milk chocolate well well i
(17:45):
would put the dark chocolate a second but white
chocolate would be my favorite so all righty
i mean there's well you
know like snickers like all the candy bars really have
the milk chocolate so i don't know i mean
there's not much bad chocolate really you know
(18:05):
i don't hate any chocolate let's just
say that unless it's got fruit in it like you know
chocolate covered raisins or chocolate covered orange
slices or something like that it's like or those
the christmas candy boxes that
have like cordial cherries or
(18:26):
whatever no no no no yeah i hate those yeah that's that's just wrong i mean
if it's a caramel or something like that yeah bring it on yes or not you know
the like kind of but yes when that cream like and those Those are so sweet.
Like, honestly, I think you could be diabetic just from eating a half of one. It's horrible.
(18:54):
Yeah. Well, I mean.
Yeah, I'm just not a fan of chocolate and fruit. Well, the great thing is for
people listening is, you know, you can come to our Facebook group and the polls
are still up. So you can go and look.
If you love or hate something. All right.
(19:18):
They're probably going to be like, do we love or hate Matt and Kat after this? Yeah.
Well, we are an acquired taste. So we have, you know, our guest today,
Mackenzie Phipps, who was a guest before.
She's got a new song. And, you know, it's 18 Wheels.
(19:41):
It's a tribute to truck drivers, you know, really.
But it's told from the perspective of a daughter, a little girl daughter,
you know, watching her dad go away.
Right and you know
of course that brought back a lot of memories i could really relate to that
song with my dad being a truck driver and you know the sound and all of that
(20:06):
that you you just i don't know you don't forget the sound of it and all of that
as the truck's pulling away because you know,
and uh yeah and the dad of course in this song dies so it's very hard it was
very hard for me to listen to.
Not that I didn't enjoy the song and the meaning, but it's an emotional song. So I definitely...
(20:33):
Into that part of it so i really have a lot of questions you know about the
writing of it and you know is it from her you know her own experience or that
kind of thing yeah i want to find out if she likes white chocolate or not.
Okay listeners do you see how we went from.
(20:58):
Yeah quite the segue yeah well
you know chocolate is good
like i said there's no bad chocolate yeah before
we go uh and talk to mckenzie is
there anything else that we want to talk
about let's see well you know
we um like this i
(21:23):
i've got a new show with mystery meet starting it's
gonna be in april april's a big month
coming up for me right and i know that march you know next our next week's episode
is on saint patrick's day ah yes that's true yeah and that's a big day for you
yeah like a lot of events in your life have happened on that day so Yeah.
(21:50):
Yeah, it'll be interesting. You know, it's 16 years since brain surgery.
And we had your play reading, you know, on St. Patrick's Day.
Oh, that's right. We did. Yeah. Yeah. Winchester, Kentucky.
Yeah. And then that's also my mother's birthday.
(22:14):
Yes. And what else happened that day?
So, you know, a lot of, a lot of stuff on that day. Yeah.
So, and see, I kept right up with it. So. Yeah. Yeah. I totally forgot about
it. That's next Sunday, huh?
(22:34):
It's good. One of us is like, you know, the calendar. Yes. Yeah.
It is good. Now you can keep up with April for me. Yeah.
My mom's birthday is April 1st. So we can start with that. Your mother was born on April Fool's Day?
Yes, she was. Hmm.
(22:56):
I know. It's been quite the day to... Yes, yes. Say if you're listening.
I know. She, you know, well, you can imagine, like, all the jokes and stuff on your birthday.
What did she say about me?
(23:19):
There was a video that you did when she was in the van and you were asking her about it.
Yeah, she was, you know, like, so it was after Love and Jello and she had read it.
I was asking her, like, you know, was anything surprising about it?
She was like, yeah, but Matt wrote it.
(23:40):
Like, you know, why did you think he was a dumbass?
I didn't think that. I just didn't know he could write.
Well, that made two of us.
But, you know, she loved that book and she loved your writing.
(24:04):
Yeah yeah so i've been writing on
another project that i have going
on and yes we definitely should mention that because it is great heart-shaped
box yes that is the working title i don't know if that's going to be the final
one but well that's what i started with so it's a good title Yeah, yeah.
(24:29):
I don't remember what the, so that was like a Valentine's Day thing.
It was a writing contest and you had to like. Yeah, yeah.
And they give you, you know, different prompts that you could choose from or whatever.
Yeah, and that one was like, write about something in a heart-shaped box or something.
(24:56):
Yes. Yeah. And we both, you know, we both took that.
And, you know, I wrote like a really short story, like three pages or something.
And you wrote like a novel.
I did. Yeah. So I think that was like last year that I started that.
(25:22):
And it wasn't last year?
The year before. really yeah you were
you were you know in pennsylvania last year so
oh that's right yeah so all right well
yeah i started that two years ago apparently and uh i just recently picked it
(25:43):
up and started writing and i've been thinking about it and so that story's coming
along i would I would say I'm probably two-thirds done.
And yeah, we'll figure out what to do with that next when it is done.
Well, obviously, publish it. Yeah, but I mean, I have a plan for publishing,
(26:08):
so I don't really want to get into that yet.
But I will put it out, and hopefully it'll be done.
I'm hoping in another few weeks I'll finish it.
Well, I cannot wait to read the rest.
(26:30):
Well, I mean, you've already read the ending. I sent that to you the other day.
Well, I still want to see, you know, the filler stuff. I want to read every word.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's an interesting story. For sure, yeah.
And people will love it, you know, because, you know, I don't like to read.
(26:52):
Like, it sucks me right in. I can't put it away, so.
Yeah, yeah. Well, I have to, because I run out of, you know,
you stop riding, and I'm like, no!
You just do that to be mean, like you stop right at the time.
No, I usually stop because I have to go to bed, or, you know,
(27:13):
got something else to do, or whatever, so that's why I stop.
But it just so happens that I stop when you're into the story.
Yes, exactly. exactly so i don't
know listeners if that's true or not but um
yeah i i am the i am
(27:33):
pretty good at twists and turns in a story and
you know and cliffhangers so yes for
sure this one will be more of the same i
started that in love and jello where you couldn't really
guess where the story he was gone and this one
is more of the same i would say yeah
yes it is and you know
(27:56):
there's a there's a well there is romance in the other ones here but you know
like it's it's a little bit more a bit more detailed in this one i think and
yeah and then there's you know also some characters Characters from Love and
Jell-O may show up in this book.
Yes, they could happen to.
(28:20):
Yeah. Well, anyway, enough of that.
Let's talk to Mackenzie and find out what food she likes or doesn't like or,
you know, talk about her new song and see what else she's been up to.
Because it's been, what, two years now?
Yeah, I think so. So, and, you know, we'll just work food somehow into the podcast.
(28:47):
We'll, like, you know. Yeah, you know, if you think about it, it's like...
I think it's probably mentioned in almost every one.
Yeah. We just have a way, you know, with that.
Yeah. Yeah. It's kind of interesting. I think we have talked about food in almost every podcast.
(29:08):
Well, there are worse things we could talk about. That is true.
Anyway, let's talk to Mackenzie. All right. Let's do it.
Mackenzie, I want to welcome you back to Backstory Sessions.
It's so good to get to talk to you again.
Well, thank you all so much again for speaking with me. I've been very much looking forward to it.
(29:29):
Yeah, so it looks like it's probably been like almost a year.
I think it was April of last year when we talked with you.
So first, I want to say happy birthday month to you.
Thank you very much. You know, everybody should have a whole month,
I feel like, for birthday. birthday and also you know you get an extra birthday
(29:53):
day this month being leap year so.
And I love my birthday because it is two days after Valentine's Day.
So I get after chocolate.
Well, that is super. And, you know, you had a song that released on your birthday, was it?
(30:16):
Yes, ma'am, it was. This is my current single and it is called 18 Wheels.
And I want to talk about that because
I you know I I'm going to tell you about my
first listening experience with it and all of
that but you know I wanted to start a
little bit about since it's been almost a year just to get everything caught
(30:36):
up and the listeners too so I just wrote some you know little things to get
your response to about what the year has been like so if you think Think about,
you know, kind of like, well,
we can go back to February of last year till now.
What's been the most incredible thing that's happened in this year?
(31:00):
Oh, my gosh. Well, especially from February last year, one big thing that occurred
not only in my personal life, but as well as my career was I moved to Nashville, Tennessee.
Awesome. Hey, Matt, that's pretty cool, don't you think? Yeah.
Yeah. How are you liking it there?
Oh, I absolutely love it. There's so many different things to do.
(31:21):
You know, there's so many places to eat at, to shop at, different places to
explore and new people to meet always.
So it's definitely been a change compared to my small city. Well,
my small town life in Louisville, Virginia, but I've been loving every minute of it.
Well, I am just so excited. And that's, you know, for your career is really a great place to be, too.
(31:44):
So I'm very happy to hear that you've been able to make that change in the past year.
All right. Thinking again about the year, what's been the hardest thing for you?
Oh, well...
A great question. You know, I've actually been very fortunate to not have many
issues as far as with last year.
(32:06):
And, you know, definitely being away from my family was a difficult decision
to deal with, especially with moving to Nashville.
But this year in 2024, I've been splitting up my time between Tennessee and
Virginia when it comes to shows.
So I actually do get to go back home pretty much every single month and visit with my family.
And I get to spend time with my friends ends before we head back
(32:26):
on to Tennessee so but other than
that I mean I've been very fortunate to not have to deal with anything negative
great and let's hope that you know you can keep saying that year after year
what has been the most unexpected thing oh definitely you know especially Especially
(32:48):
when I have released some of these songs,
not really knowing all that there was to getting songs released,
especially songs that I've never written before.
I mean, we have some issues as far as with maintaining licensing for the songs
and everything like that.
So that was definitely something new as I had never recorded pitched songs before.
(33:11):
You know, I've always recorded songs that my backup singer and guitarist have
written for me or songs that I have written.
So that was definitely something that was different for me to be working with.
Yes. Talk about that a little bit with the listeners, because,
you know, I sometimes think that, you know, people just listen to music and they think, OK,
(33:35):
you know, Anybody can just sing any song that they want to or record any song
that they want to, but that's not the way it works, right?
No, all I've got to say is, you know, especially these songs,
if you have not written them, they were pitched to you by well-known songwriters
out there in the industry.
(33:55):
I mean, they deserve recognition and they also get cuts and stuff of any kind
of streaming profits that you get.
And, you know, we wanted to make sure that everything was correct when it came
to licensing and you never want to do anything wrong by any means.
And, you know, it was definitely a learning experience for all of myself and my team.
(34:19):
Great. I mean, so that, you know, and that way, an unexpected thing is really,
you know, turned out to probably be beneficial for many years to come for you.
And it sort of ties into the next thing.
You know, what is the thing this year that you've learned? I have learned to
(34:39):
just really put everything into the Lord's hands because there may be times
where you think things aren't going to work out and that everything is just
going to be falling apart.
And I have just really tried so hard to implement that into my day-to-day life
in regards to if I'm stressed or I'm having any kind of personal problems or
(35:02):
problems with my career or anything like that.
I just love to put it in the Lord's hands because I know at the end of the day,
whatever I'm doing is what he thinks is the best and it is out of my hands.
I mean, he's paving the way for me every single day and I just have to trust
in him that he will do whatever he feels is best for me.
(35:23):
And that, I'm sure, brings comfort to you as you go through the day-to-day activities.
Oh, yes, 100%. Well, now I really do want to talk about 18 Wheels.
So, you know, I mean, when you look at titles, like, you know,
always if we're going to interview someone and I see, you know,
(35:46):
their new single or whatever,
you know, I look at the title and I start thinking, you know, what's this going to be?
Like? Is this going to be, you know, something that draws me in or,
you know, something I think I will like?
So I suspected it was going to be about a truck, you know, in some way, probably.
(36:07):
What I did not expect was that it was going to be about the singer,
you know, in this case, you, you know about
the dad the focus being
the dad and so I'd have
to say I cried the first time I listened to it a lot because yes because my
(36:28):
dad drove a truck you know he's since passed away and so many of the things
like about being the best friend and all of those lyrics uh really really resonated with me.
And, you know, even though it's tears,
because I miss my dad so much, you know, I think it's really speaks to the power
(36:50):
of the song that it can, you know, that I could connect with it in that way.
And I'm sure that many people will connect with it from a lot of different angles.
But for me, that was my connection.
And, you know, I, I love this song. So now I want to know like all about it.
(37:11):
You know, what's the backstory?
Who wrote it? What inspired it? So just, you know, tell me all about that.
Yes. Well, first off, I'm very sorry to hear about your father's passing.
And I very much appreciate all of his hard work and dedication that he had devoted being on the road.
And I'm glad that you were able to personally relate to the song in your own way,
(37:34):
as that was one of the main reasons we wanted to release the song was because
not only was the overall meaning of the song to be,
you know, we just appreciate all of the hard work and the sacrifices that our
truck drivers in today's world makes to be able to, to not only provide for
them, but to provide for everybody in America.
And how this song came about was my backup singer and guitarist, Shane Begley.
(37:57):
We got the opportunity to perform at the 50th Mid-America Trucking Show anniversary
that was held in Louisville, Kentucky, going on, gosh, I think it's two years now.
And my PR had thought, you know, what if you wrote a song about truckers in
honor of them since you're playing for this anniversary event?
And my aunt had actually suggested it too. too. So Shane, he is a phenomenal
(38:20):
songwriter, musician, singer.
I mean, he can write a song about anything and everything that you tell him.
And this song came very easily to him, he told me.
And he just wanted to write some kind of storyline that could be very emotional
for the individual listening to it to relate to, and as if they were actually in that scenario.
(38:45):
Scenario, and he had written, for those that have not listened to the song yet,
he wrote the song about, basically,
he said he envisioned a little girl and her family, and her dad was a truck
driver, and he was always on the road, and he talks about the different kind of hardships,
that the dad has being on the road, you know, talking about mama did her best
(39:07):
with daddy on the road, and it was a very difficult time, because,
I mean, I don't think people really, put into perspective,
these truckers are leaving their families for a length of time throughout the year, and.
Got to be something difficult for them to deal with. And I do think that's why
a lot of them turn to actually getting animals to ride along with them so that they're just not alone.
(39:29):
And I am just really hoping that when people listen to the song that they are
able to really get the picture of the storyline into their heads.
And at the end of the day, really realize, you know, I do need to be more appreciative
truck drivers in the world.
And whenever I go and see one on the road, I should thank them for all their
hard work and dedication.
(39:49):
Communication yeah you know I was thinking like now at least you you know can stay in touch through.
Like you know cell phones you can at least see the person and you know talk with them a bit more,
when I was growing up and with my dad you know they had like a cb or you know
(40:10):
that was like how I mean that was the extent of communication is him being able
to talk with other truckers or or whatever, through CB radio.
So, you know, it is very difficult when you have to be away from your family,
and then, you know, for them, like, not being me, not being able to see my dad while he's away.
(40:33):
You know, I do think this is just a great song to put all that in perspective,
but I loved the fact that it was told from the daughter point of view,
and, you know, I think often that's the case where you know daughters are just
close with their dads just have that special,
(40:55):
relationship so this song really you know if he was looking for the story or
the person that would resonate with you know easily could have been pulled from
me that's the way I felt when I heard it.
So I'm very glad to hear that. Yeah.
Were you close with your dad? Like, did you relate personally to the song? Like, like I did?
(41:20):
Yeah. So my dad, he is actually a nurse. He's been a nurse for going on,
gosh, I think over 20 years now.
And, you know, I'm very fortunate that he has a job to where he can come home
at the end of the day and we all get to see him and spend time with him.
And although I don't personally relate to the song, especially like you do,
(41:41):
I do think that Shane did a very good job at just writing the song to where
you are put into that little girl's shoes and you are relating to everything
that she was going through,
you know, talking about hearing the diesel engine and sitting in his seat while he was gone.
And I hope people out there, you know, especially if they don't,
if they don't have anybody in their life that was a truck driver,
(42:03):
at least they'll be able to.
Themselves in that position as if
they did have somebody in their life that was a trucker yeah and
i think even more so is like the
person that's lost their dad you know that'll just be an extra layer of how
someone might relate to the song regardless of the you know of the job that
(42:28):
their dad might have done so it's just really a beautiful song on so many levels you know matt,
From a writing perspective, you know, like how difficult it is to write that
thing that people feel like, you know, is their story.
So, you know, what are your thoughts on a song that can capture all of that?
(42:52):
I mean, all about the story for sure.
I really enjoy listening to songs that tell a story and it sounds like this one does.
So, yeah, that's pretty cool. Cool.
Mackenzie, do you, I forget, do you write at all or are you collaborating on
writing and that sort of thing?
(43:13):
I do write. Actually, the very last song that we're going to be releasing here
that will officially wrap up my EP, I did co-write on with Shane.
And when I actually get back into studio here in the next couple of months,
the next two songs that I'm going to be recording are songs that I solely wrote
by myself. So I'm very much looking forward to sharing those with everybody
just to give them a little taste of how my songwriting goes.
(43:36):
What kind of songs do you tend to lean towards?
Are they like the story type or are they like, you know, heartbreak kind of things?
So, you know, topics kind of vary because I used to really write solely about personal experience.
Experience but now that I've
(43:57):
moved to Nashville I've kind of been inspired by other artists and
hearing them and their writing abilities and I've started
to tread away a little bit from personal experience and just write
something that comes to my mind that I feel maybe people out there
will enjoy whether it's for something that
they could relate to or whether it's something that they can find relatable
if they've never encountered the certain event but I've definitely been trying
(44:23):
to branched out a little bit more to just writing what comes to my mind yeah
what kind of song would you write.
Well yeah i mean so usually
to me songs come
in like a phrase or something
that i hear that triggers like that would not be interesting would not be a
(44:48):
plot twist so i like songs that are unexpected you know so i would definitely
i know that my songwriting would be a twist on something,
you know as far as the type i like to listen to
i i like these stories
that i you know the ones that i relate to that
(45:09):
that touch my heart in some
way whether it's like making me you know like have heartbreak or regrets or
you know whatever it is i like i like emotion like like power ballads and ballads
in general. And rap, of course.
(45:31):
What? And rap, of course, because you're a butter rapper. Oh, yeah.
There's no bad music, really. I really do love all genres of music.
There's just something I can find that I like in every kind.
But, you know, that's like the hair band.
(45:52):
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So, Mackenzie, are you playing out a lot or are you doing a lot of shows?
Yes. So for the entirety of 2024, I've managed to get 85 shows booked. Wow.
And like I said, I'll be splitting my time between Tennessee and Virginia because,
you know, I'm still fairly new to Tennessee.
I'm still trying to grow my fan base and get connected with people.
(46:13):
And I've been doing shows throughout Virginia for years and I have a very good
foundation built there. So I definitely did not want to play in Virginia because
we have a really good time playing back there.
So people can go to my website at mckinseyfips.com and check out where I'll
be and maybe our paths will meet.
And I am going to share that with the listeners because I noticed that you're,
(46:36):
you know, we're really lucky to get to speak with you because you're pretty
booked up. You stay pretty busy with your tour.
Yeah, I've always been one of those people where I'd rather be very busy than
not be doing anything at all.
And, you know, that's kind of gotten in the way as far as, you know,
I haven't had a vacation in like so long.
(46:56):
But I mean, I love doing music and I love going out and playing for people and
interacting with everybody.
So it's definitely not anything that I don't not want to be doing.
So your song, You Bring the Beer, I'll Bring the Noise. Tell us about that one.
Yes. So another song that Shane had wrote and
(47:16):
this song actually came last minute into our repertoire
that we were doing in recording recording because
we had had five and then we were like you know
what we need to come up with one more upbeat song so
i had asked him i was like you know write a song about me and he
decided to write about my upbringing in virginia but we
were trying to figure out what we could add into the mix for individuals out
(47:39):
there that have never been to virginia to resonate with the song so we just
threw beer into the mix beer makes everything better yes yes kobe keep always
said that yeah Yeah, that's funny.
So do you bring the noise?
Yeah, I do. Very much so.
(48:01):
So the song then, does it resonate with you and how life was,
you know, growing up in Virginia?
Yes, he did a very good job at capturing where I'm from because,
you know, he actually lived in West Virginia.
So he knew of Bluefield.
Of course, that's how we met.
(48:22):
But he knew all about Bluefield and he knew about all of our different mountains
and our simple living and everybody knowing everybody kind of vibe.
So he did a very good job at capturing what my hometown really is like.
Interesting. So what's it like when you go back to your hometown?
Do you like have a concert day?
(48:45):
Like, you know, what do they do to celebrate your success? test?
Oh, well, you know, every time I go back to my hometown, I'm usually doing shows
and people always try their very best to see where I'm going to be.
And they come out and support and they listen.
And I mean, my hometown has always been one of my biggest supporters.
They've always known me as so-and-so's daughter or so-and-so's granddaughter and so forth.
(49:09):
And they have always been very appreciative and supportive of my love for music.
And that's a great thing to come from a supportive community like that.
So how do you think that that shaped you as far as being an artist?
What did you gain from growing up in a small town that was close and supportive?
(49:33):
I mean, Bluefield was just a town where everybody knew everybody.
And, you know, there was never any surprise that I was in music.
Because, I mean, even from the start of me being in elementary school,
you know, everybody knew that I was the girl that could sing.
They were all very much aware of it. I would go and play at places when I was just 14 years old.
(49:54):
And they just always talk about it's so nice to see somebody like myself and
as well as other people that are from around my town going out and making their
dreams come true and shining light on our small town.
Just showing that, you know, people from a small town, they can still accomplish very great things.
(50:14):
And you have done that and you're living your dream right now.
So, you know, when we, if we talk to you again in a year from now,
what do you hope this next year brings?
Things oh you know I'm just hoping that more and more people find my music and
(50:37):
that they're able to relate to a song in their own way and that hopefully I
can start branching out more and more across the U.S.
And meeting new people and taking new
opportunities and hopefully everybody out there will
know of me so since you've moved
to Nashville have you just you know been at the grocery store someplace common
(51:00):
and ran into uh you know somebody that's like your music idol or music you know
crush or something like that have you seen anybody just walking around the grocery.
Did. I had went to Walmart one time with Shane and we were looking at the salads
(51:21):
and I looked at him and I said, I'm telling you right now, I swear on everything
that that is Ashley McBride.
And he was like, he was like, you're just saying that because that woman has
a streak in her hair. That's not her.
And I told him, I said, I am telling you with everything, every fiber of my being, that is her.
(51:42):
And he was like well I'm gonna go ask and he
went over and he asked and it was her
and I was shell-shocked because
you know I've met some very incredible celebrities in
my life and you know I'm definitely a talker so I had no problem going up and
speaking with them and taking pictures and shaking hands and so forth but when
(52:03):
I went up to that woman it was a deer in headlights like I could not speak I
was just like oh my god I don't know what to do oh my god She's right here.
She's a living creature.
And I felt so dumb with myself afterwards because, you know,
I'm not saying anything.
So she's trying to make small talk and she's like, you know,
I really love avocados. You know, they're in season.
(52:26):
And my dumb self, I look at her and I'm like, well, I don't like avocados.
And I go and I get in that car with him and I just look to him and I said, I am such an idiot.
I was like, if that woman told me to eat an avocado every day, by golly, I would do it.
That's so funny so yeah i i
(52:46):
am praying for the day that i get to reconnect
with that woman and say i apologize for my
stupidity i really do love avocados yeah
yes i tell her ever since then i've eaten an avocado and in memory of you uh
well how did shane act with her uh did was he in the headlight too no he was
(53:08):
just trying to talk to her but bless his heart oh my gosh I love him to death.
So he has issues with names sometimes, right?
So he knows 100% who my celebrity crush is. And this may shock everybody.
My celebrity crush, I've had a crush on this man since I was 13 years old.
(53:29):
Give us a clue and see if we can guess.
There's no way you'll guess. Give us one chance.
Food network gordon ramsay yes.
Oh my god he hasn't been
my celebrity crush since i was like 13 years old right so
(53:53):
shane is very much aware that he
is my celebrity crush but shane sometimes has issues
remembering whose name goes with
who right so if you ask him you're like
who is mckinsey's celebrity crush he may tell
you dave ramsey because he
mixes up names so bad and i remember
(54:15):
we got in the car and he looked at me and he said i am so
glad i didn't go up to that woman and ask if it was martina
mcbride and i told
him i said had you done that i would have left your butt
at i would have
had secondhand embarrassment i mean no
he he cracks me up i love him to death but hey
(54:38):
he cracks me up but yeah i when the next
time i meet that woman i'm i'm gonna talk to him yeah i mean i'm surprised she's
in walmart but hey would you like to sing with her yes he's someone that you
admire her music as well I do 100%.
(54:58):
I have loved her since the moment I actually, the first time I ever saw her
was she was an opening act for Miranda Lambert.
And this was back in, gosh, I think it was back in like 2018, 2019.
And she was an opening act and I had heard her doing Girl Going Nowhere.
And I really related to that song so much.
(55:20):
And from that point on, I've always followed her musical journey.
And I mean, gosh, she did Lindyville.
And that was one of the most elaborate albums I've ever heard.
I'm not an album person, really.
I just I just listen to songs that come up on my Pandora or that'll be just
resonating around with people and stuff.
But I, as soon as Lindyville came out, I listened to it and I was like,
(55:43):
oh my gosh, like this is so clever and nobody's thinking of stuff like that.
So she just, she's an amazing person and she's so awesome.
And I just hope one day I get to remeet her. And she loves avocados.
Yes. Yes. I will eat avocado toast every day. Yeah.
(56:03):
That's so funny. Great story, by the way. Great story. Great backstory.
So, you know, I do hope in this coming year that that's something that you get
to revisit, that you, you know, run into her again.
And maybe there will be a duet come out sometime.
(56:24):
Maybe. I pray. Yeah. Yeah.
Well, we are so happy that you came by and shared, you know,
your new song, 18 Wheels.
I really will not forget that song.
And we can't wait to see, you know, what does happen in the new year for you.
(56:48):
Well, thank you so much again for speaking with me today. I appreciate it.
And very glad that you enjoyed the song and that you related to it.
And I hope everybody out there will go check out 18 Wheels and follow me at
any socials. I'm available on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
And we definitely will be posting your touring concert schedule so that,
(57:09):
you know, any listeners that are near can come and even if they're not near,
maybe they'll be traveling through at that time because you are,
as you said, you know, 85 tour dates.
It's going to take you through like a lot of this year.
So there's a good chance that most of the listeners will be close to you at some point.
(57:34):
Yeah, they can come on out and we will have a ball. Guaranteed.
And if we happen to talk to Ashley McBride, we'll put in a good word for you.
Oh my god, please do. Tell her I'll buy her all the avocados.
And maybe even Martina.
Music.
Music.
(00:51):
Hey everybody, it's Kat, and I'm going to welcome you to this episode of Backstory Sessions.
I'm joined today by my co-host, Matt.
Hey, Matt. Hey, Kat. Hey, everyone. How are you?
Well, we should be sounding pretty good, I think, on this episode,
because we have new sound equipment.
(01:11):
Yeah yeah it'll be uh interesting to
see what happens here because it's got like all kinds
of buttons and dials and sliders and more buttons and so you're just like in
gadget heaven to get to push all those yeah i'm just still trying to figure
(01:32):
it all out so uh yeah so if we sound like Charlie Brown's teacher or whatever,
you know, you'll know that.
Yeah, you'll know that I screwed something up.
Yeah, I should, you know, if I could, I would just like talk like that the whole time.
And then that way they would think that you messed mine up or something. That would be funny.
(01:55):
Well, I mean, it's certainly a possibility here because I have,
you know, it took me a couple of minutes to get mine working.
Well i think we're probably sounding pretty
good and you know there's a
lot going on in the backstory world uh yes so what do we what do we have going
(02:19):
on hmm lots of well well we just we just hit 50 000 yes we did that and that
was great and you know we're we're like Like already,
what, 50? I mean, we're already another thousand or more.
Like it's climbing right along.
Yeah. Yeah. We're doing really well lately. And we're big in Ghana for some reason.
(02:41):
Yeah. So keep listening, Ghana. And also all your friends in other countries. Nigeria.
I think Nigeria was number four recently.
Well, hey, Nigeria. Like, hey. Hey, everybody.
(03:02):
Yeah. You know, it's really cool. It is cool.
Like, every time when you tell me the, you know, the countries or whatever,
it's always surprising.
And really, really neat, too, to just know that, you know, we're,
like, people in those countries are listening to us.
Yeah. Yeah, it's, you know, I go, I go through the list and I thought,
(03:27):
I think last time I looked weird and like.
Since the beginning of the month, it was like 30 different countries.
And, you know, you look at where they are and things, and it's really,
there's no rhyme or reason for it.
I'm just, you know, thankful that people listen.
But it's pretty interesting, for sure.
Well, we have a lot of really good guests.
(03:50):
So, you know, I'm not surprised that they would be interested in the guests that we have.
You know and maybe they find us entertaining
or like could be laughing at us you
know you know a
number of things but and we do offer some insights
sometimes and you know a
(04:11):
little bit of nostalgia thrown in there yep yep
last week we had donnie most on that was pretty nostalgic
oh yes i love that episode he
was so nice you know really a great
interview i love that and you know
so we're gaining also a lot in
our backstory group you know on facebook so
(04:33):
listeners you can come join us in that
group and here we have polls and song challenges and you get to find out all
about the guests that we're going to have all you know we promote that the whole
week But we're getting a lot of new people in that group that are commenting
and participating in the polls.
(04:54):
And there's a couple of really interesting ones recently.
One of them is about that adults generally work 34 minutes a day on household chores.
I'm sure sometimes it feels a lot longer than that. yes yes it does like almost
(05:17):
every time really right does that include laundry.
Yeah, we would have to, you know, because laundry is a chore.
Yeah, it does feel like laundry takes forever.
Well, so the question was, out of that 34 minutes, how many minutes per day
(05:41):
do you think that are attributed to men?
And so, you know, we have a fair number of people have said zero.
Zero like they don't like men you know
do any of that sure well in
my house men are the only ones who do anything
(06:01):
so yeah well i was going to say you
know otherwise there would be like zero minutes
period but you know
then you got some people that went to the high end
and said you know 30 to 34 four minutes like
pretty much all of it was done by men so
yeah i don't think that like it's i
(06:23):
don't think it's delineated along lines of men or women i mean it really just
depends on the situation well i mean i would think that you know if one person
is staying home and the other person is working outside the home,
then the one person that's staying home probably does the 34 minutes that get done.
(06:48):
I mean, unless they're working from home.
Yes, I see. That's another, you know, like there's so many variables to this.
But, you know, I do find the polls interesting just to see how people,
you know, perceive the minutes.
And so far, no one has guessed the correct answer.
So, you know, the actual answer, I'm going to go ahead and tell,
(07:11):
because that way everybody will find out first here when they listen, 19 minutes.
So men are doing 19 minutes, about 34 minutes. Really? Yes. Yes.
You know, that's pretty good.
So let me get this straight. Men are cleaning like 19 minutes a day.
(07:36):
Yeah. of the 34 minutes that get done so that means that women are cleaning 15 less less yes.
Oh we would you know who would have thought but yeah i mean you would have thought
i would have thought the number was much higher you know as a total and then
(07:59):
as far as men versus women i mean I mean, I would have guessed that women clean more.
I mean, I don't know. Like, if you look at the daily, I mean,
like, I would rather, I guess, or, well, I don't know if I would rather.
I'd rather not do any of it.
(08:20):
Like, I find myself like on certain days, you know, I will work for a long period of time.
And then, you know, another day I might not do anything, basically.
I mean, that really amounted to anything.
So, you know, maybe it's just an average, like a weekly average.
They come up with the 34 minutes because certainly, you know,
(08:43):
I know there's days that I don't do 34 minutes of cleaning.
Names so so let's see
19 let's say 20 minutes a day so
men are cleaning for two hours a week
yeah so and and that was
the point of this this poll and then
(09:04):
they analyzed it was to show like
you know how much people how much
work you if you were being paid for it you
know how much you would would be earning in a year so that
was the point of the article however i just
pulled out yeah so i just pulled out
the the minutes because i thought that was pretty interesting of how it was
(09:28):
you know how men were 19 minutes of it so what's the going rate for cleaning
these days oh gosh i mean like 15 to 20 dollars an hour i think yeah yeah it's
probably pretty close yeah.
I mean, you know, you might not even be able to find anyone to clean. That is true. Yeah.
(09:51):
You know, during COVID and, you know, all that kind of thing.
I know that was one part of the, you know, the economy, like people that worked
in that were like, people didn't want them coming into their homes,
you know, because COVID.
I mean, everybody was afraid. So, you know, that was at that time,
(10:15):
really, I'm sure that that part of the job market did suffer a lot.
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure it did.
Now, another part of our poll that
I found really interesting is there was another poll about what people.
So there's a list of foods, and it's a list of foods that they have determined
(10:40):
people either love or hate.
There's a lot of foods that you might be like, oh, it's okay.
But then there's probably some foods that you're like, oh, I would not eat that.
So it's those kinds of foods, supposedly. Like vegetables.
(11:01):
Well, some of these are like really interesting because, you know,
when I looked at the list, okay, well, let's do this.
Run down the list and I'll give you my answer now.
Anchovies. That was the first one I posted because on that list, like, I hate anchovies.
(11:23):
So I'm like, that's a big hell no from me.
Yes. So, but you know, some people in our group love anchovies. It's not surprising.
I mean, well, it surprised me. I was like, how on earth?
But anyways, okay. So the next food, coconut. Now, I love coconut.
(11:44):
Yeah. Yeah, coconut's pretty good.
I mean, all the joys, man. Right, exactly. Those are the best kinds.
I could eat, like, I could eat so much coconut, it would make me sick.
That's how much I love it.
Okay, pickles. I also love pickles. It depends on what kind.
Yeah. Yeah, there's like sweet pickles. I like dill pickles.
(12:07):
I do too, but like I don't, you know, like they have the pickles in a jar that
are like whole cucumbers or whatever.
Yes. Yes. I mean, I'm not a big fan of that.
That is true. Well, in this next one also, people did, you know, they broke it down.
Licorice. No, not for me.
(12:30):
Black licorice. some people most people said
they hate it and red licorice some people said
they loved so they broke it down further yeah either one i just really i don't
know to me it tastes like eating plastic or something weird too honest you remember
those like lips and things that yeah yeah the wax lips and Yeah,
(12:54):
I feel like that taste to me is like, okay, this other one, I'm pretty sure
I know how you are about it, too. Candy corn.
No. Yeah. So, you know, I haven't posted that in the group yet,
but I would definitely say that is a food that people never hate.
Yeah, just like jelly beans.
(13:15):
And you don't like jelly beans. I do not. Yes. So I do remember that, too.
All right. Right. Mayo. Now, I'd have to say I was surprised that was on the
list because I didn't really know that people hated it. Like, hated.
Well, I mean, I guess for mayonnaise, I mean, like, it has to be Hellman's and
(13:38):
it depends what you're doing with it.
Well, I'm not going to eat it by the spoonful. No, no.
But like, I mean, if you're putting it on like a sandwich, probably not.
Yeah. I mean, unless you're making like tuna. yeah like tuna salad or something
you need like there's certain things i don't know how you would eat them really
(14:01):
without that but right and don't try and give me that miracle whip crap.
Well you know i mean i i don't even i can't even believe it but my mom and some
other members of the family you see mayonnaise sandwiches so So,
well, I guess those were the times.
(14:22):
Yeah. I mean, although I would eat a mustard sandwich, I guess it's not really that different. I know.
It's weird, but I would. I would not eat a ketchup sandwich.
Yeah, probably not. Unless it had a hamburger between it.
Yeah, well, or french fries and tater tots dipped in it. On a sandwich?
(14:48):
Well, and two, only certain kinds of ketchup. I mean, some of that is awful.
Oh, yeah, it's got to be Heinz.
Yes, yes, that's it. And like normal Heinz. Don't give me the sugar-free,
gluten-free, whatever, made with olive oil or whatever. I don't want that crap.
(15:09):
I want Heinz ketchup.
Well, they have, like, you know, colored ketchup and everything.
Yeah, and I don't want the green or the purple or any of that crap.
Just give me red. Red Heinz ketchup.
That's right. We're, like, too old for it.
(15:29):
That's right we're chained at this point okay the next one like mushrooms i i really like mushrooms,
you know i mean yeah i mean
again it's like what kind and what are
you doing with them yeah yeah well and
some of them i you know i'd be afraid because you could
(15:51):
need the poison one you know whatever i guess yeah
or the magic one if i
had to pick love or hate i'm you know i
would go with love more than hate because i i mean i
can eat them for sure all right now this one did surprise
me i put this one in the group today olives do
(16:12):
you know some people hate olives yeah i'm actually one of them yeah well see
i i love olives say a greek salad give me that but there's you know i love them
the only time i eat olives is if they're on pizza yeah it's black olives and only if i don't see them.
(16:35):
They're disguised under the mushroom yeah yeah otherwise i'm picking them off
okay well this This was the last one, but it also shocked me. White chocolate.
White? I love white chocolate.
So is there really any difference in taste between white and dark chocolate, or white and, you know?
(16:58):
A milk chocolate. Yeah. Yeah.
Yes, there is. And, you know, I like white chocolate more than the milk chocolate.
Oh, see, there's something wrong with you.
Well, I think we have to have milk. Goes without saying.
But I do. You know, I love white chocolate. Now, dark chocolate, I will eat.
(17:24):
It's bitter, you know, but I eat that for health benefits, you know, like.
Right. health benefits yeah yes you
know like well honestly i i can only eat
the little like taste of it because it is bitter yeah
i like i like dark chocolate better than white
or milk chocolate well well i
(17:45):
would put the dark chocolate a second but white
chocolate would be my favorite so all righty
i mean there's well you
know like snickers like all the candy bars really have
the milk chocolate so i don't know i mean
there's not much bad chocolate really you know
(18:05):
i don't hate any chocolate let's just
say that unless it's got fruit in it like you know
chocolate covered raisins or chocolate covered orange
slices or something like that it's like or those
the christmas candy boxes that
have like cordial cherries or
(18:26):
whatever no no no no yeah i hate those yeah that's that's just wrong i mean
if it's a caramel or something like that yeah bring it on yes or not you know
the like kind of but yes when that cream like and those Those are so sweet.
Like, honestly, I think you could be diabetic just from eating a half of one. It's horrible.
(18:54):
Yeah. Well, I mean.
Yeah, I'm just not a fan of chocolate and fruit. Well, the great thing is for
people listening is, you know, you can come to our Facebook group and the polls
are still up. So you can go and look.
If you love or hate something. All right.
(19:18):
They're probably going to be like, do we love or hate Matt and Kat after this? Yeah.
Well, we are an acquired taste. So we have, you know, our guest today,
Mackenzie Phipps, who was a guest before.
She's got a new song. And, you know, it's 18 Wheels.
(19:41):
It's a tribute to truck drivers, you know, really.
But it's told from the perspective of a daughter, a little girl daughter,
you know, watching her dad go away.
Right and you know
of course that brought back a lot of memories i could really relate to that
song with my dad being a truck driver and you know the sound and all of that
(20:06):
that you you just i don't know you don't forget the sound of it and all of that
as the truck's pulling away because you know,
and uh yeah and the dad of course in this song dies so it's very hard it was
very hard for me to listen to.
Not that I didn't enjoy the song and the meaning, but it's an emotional song. So I definitely...
(20:33):
Into that part of it so i really have a lot of questions you know about the
writing of it and you know is it from her you know her own experience or that
kind of thing yeah i want to find out if she likes white chocolate or not.
Okay listeners do you see how we went from.
(20:58):
Yeah quite the segue yeah well
you know chocolate is good
like i said there's no bad chocolate yeah before
we go uh and talk to mckenzie is
there anything else that we want to talk
about let's see well you know
we um like this i
(21:23):
i've got a new show with mystery meet starting it's
gonna be in april april's a big month
coming up for me right and i know that march you know next our next week's episode
is on saint patrick's day ah yes that's true yeah and that's a big day for you
yeah like a lot of events in your life have happened on that day so Yeah.
(21:50):
Yeah, it'll be interesting. You know, it's 16 years since brain surgery.
And we had your play reading, you know, on St. Patrick's Day.
Oh, that's right. We did. Yeah. Yeah. Winchester, Kentucky.
Yeah. And then that's also my mother's birthday.
(22:14):
Yes. And what else happened that day?
So, you know, a lot of, a lot of stuff on that day. Yeah.
So, and see, I kept right up with it. So. Yeah. Yeah. I totally forgot about
it. That's next Sunday, huh?
(22:34):
It's good. One of us is like, you know, the calendar. Yes. Yeah.
It is good. Now you can keep up with April for me. Yeah.
My mom's birthday is April 1st. So we can start with that. Your mother was born on April Fool's Day?
Yes, she was. Hmm.
(22:56):
I know. It's been quite the day to... Yes, yes. Say if you're listening.
I know. She, you know, well, you can imagine, like, all the jokes and stuff on your birthday.
What did she say about me?
(23:19):
There was a video that you did when she was in the van and you were asking her about it.
Yeah, she was, you know, like, so it was after Love and Jello and she had read it.
I was asking her, like, you know, was anything surprising about it?
She was like, yeah, but Matt wrote it.
(23:40):
Like, you know, why did you think he was a dumbass?
I didn't think that. I just didn't know he could write.
Well, that made two of us.
But, you know, she loved that book and she loved your writing.
(24:04):
Yeah yeah so i've been writing on
another project that i have going
on and yes we definitely should mention that because it is great heart-shaped
box yes that is the working title i don't know if that's going to be the final
one but well that's what i started with so it's a good title Yeah, yeah.
(24:29):
I don't remember what the, so that was like a Valentine's Day thing.
It was a writing contest and you had to like. Yeah, yeah.
And they give you, you know, different prompts that you could choose from or whatever.
Yeah, and that one was like, write about something in a heart-shaped box or something.
(24:56):
Yes. Yeah. And we both, you know, we both took that.
And, you know, I wrote like a really short story, like three pages or something.
And you wrote like a novel.
I did. Yeah. So I think that was like last year that I started that.
(25:22):
And it wasn't last year?
The year before. really yeah you were
you were you know in pennsylvania last year so
oh that's right yeah so all right well
yeah i started that two years ago apparently and uh i just recently picked it
(25:43):
up and started writing and i've been thinking about it and so that story's coming
along i would I would say I'm probably two-thirds done.
And yeah, we'll figure out what to do with that next when it is done.
Well, obviously, publish it. Yeah, but I mean, I have a plan for publishing,
(26:08):
so I don't really want to get into that yet.
But I will put it out, and hopefully it'll be done.
I'm hoping in another few weeks I'll finish it.
Well, I cannot wait to read the rest.
(26:30):
Well, I mean, you've already read the ending. I sent that to you the other day.
Well, I still want to see, you know, the filler stuff. I want to read every word.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's an interesting story. For sure, yeah.
And people will love it, you know, because, you know, I don't like to read.
(26:52):
Like, it sucks me right in. I can't put it away, so.
Yeah, yeah. Well, I have to, because I run out of, you know,
you stop riding, and I'm like, no!
You just do that to be mean, like you stop right at the time.
No, I usually stop because I have to go to bed, or, you know,
(27:13):
got something else to do, or whatever, so that's why I stop.
But it just so happens that I stop when you're into the story.
Yes, exactly. exactly so i don't
know listeners if that's true or not but um
yeah i i am the i am
(27:33):
pretty good at twists and turns in a story and
you know and cliffhangers so yes for
sure this one will be more of the same i
started that in love and jello where you couldn't really
guess where the story he was gone and this one
is more of the same i would say yeah
yes it is and you know
(27:56):
there's a there's a well there is romance in the other ones here but you know
like it's it's a little bit more a bit more detailed in this one i think and
yeah and then there's you know also some characters Characters from Love and
Jell-O may show up in this book.
Yes, they could happen to.
(28:20):
Yeah. Well, anyway, enough of that.
Let's talk to Mackenzie and find out what food she likes or doesn't like or,
you know, talk about her new song and see what else she's been up to.
Because it's been, what, two years now?
Yeah, I think so. So, and, you know, we'll just work food somehow into the podcast.
(28:47):
We'll, like, you know. Yeah, you know, if you think about it, it's like...
I think it's probably mentioned in almost every one.
Yeah. We just have a way, you know, with that.
Yeah. Yeah. It's kind of interesting. I think we have talked about food in almost every podcast.
(29:08):
Well, there are worse things we could talk about. That is true.
Anyway, let's talk to Mackenzie. All right. Let's do it.
Mackenzie, I want to welcome you back to Backstory Sessions.
It's so good to get to talk to you again.
Well, thank you all so much again for speaking with me. I've been very much looking forward to it.
(29:29):
Yeah, so it looks like it's probably been like almost a year.
I think it was April of last year when we talked with you.
So first, I want to say happy birthday month to you.
Thank you very much. You know, everybody should have a whole month,
I feel like, for birthday. birthday and also you know you get an extra birthday
(29:53):
day this month being leap year so.
And I love my birthday because it is two days after Valentine's Day.
So I get after chocolate.
Well, that is super. And, you know, you had a song that released on your birthday, was it?
(30:16):
Yes, ma'am, it was. This is my current single and it is called 18 Wheels.
And I want to talk about that because
I you know I I'm going to tell you about my
first listening experience with it and all of
that but you know I wanted to start a
little bit about since it's been almost a year just to get everything caught
(30:36):
up and the listeners too so I just wrote some you know little things to get
your response to about what the year has been like so if you think Think about,
you know, kind of like, well,
we can go back to February of last year till now.
What's been the most incredible thing that's happened in this year?
(31:00):
Oh, my gosh. Well, especially from February last year, one big thing that occurred
not only in my personal life, but as well as my career was I moved to Nashville, Tennessee.
Awesome. Hey, Matt, that's pretty cool, don't you think? Yeah.
Yeah. How are you liking it there?
Oh, I absolutely love it. There's so many different things to do.
(31:21):
You know, there's so many places to eat at, to shop at, different places to
explore and new people to meet always.
So it's definitely been a change compared to my small city. Well,
my small town life in Louisville, Virginia, but I've been loving every minute of it.
Well, I am just so excited. And that's, you know, for your career is really a great place to be, too.
(31:44):
So I'm very happy to hear that you've been able to make that change in the past year.
All right. Thinking again about the year, what's been the hardest thing for you?
Oh, well...
A great question. You know, I've actually been very fortunate to not have many
issues as far as with last year.
(32:06):
And, you know, definitely being away from my family was a difficult decision
to deal with, especially with moving to Nashville.
But this year in 2024, I've been splitting up my time between Tennessee and
Virginia when it comes to shows.
So I actually do get to go back home pretty much every single month and visit with my family.
And I get to spend time with my friends ends before we head back
(32:26):
on to Tennessee so but other than
that I mean I've been very fortunate to not have to deal with anything negative
great and let's hope that you know you can keep saying that year after year
what has been the most unexpected thing oh definitely you know especially Especially
(32:48):
when I have released some of these songs,
not really knowing all that there was to getting songs released,
especially songs that I've never written before.
I mean, we have some issues as far as with maintaining licensing for the songs
and everything like that.
So that was definitely something new as I had never recorded pitched songs before.
(33:11):
You know, I've always recorded songs that my backup singer and guitarist have
written for me or songs that I have written.
So that was definitely something that was different for me to be working with.
Yes. Talk about that a little bit with the listeners, because,
you know, I sometimes think that, you know, people just listen to music and they think, OK,
(33:35):
you know, Anybody can just sing any song that they want to or record any song
that they want to, but that's not the way it works, right?
No, all I've got to say is, you know, especially these songs,
if you have not written them, they were pitched to you by well-known songwriters
out there in the industry.
(33:55):
I mean, they deserve recognition and they also get cuts and stuff of any kind
of streaming profits that you get.
And, you know, we wanted to make sure that everything was correct when it came
to licensing and you never want to do anything wrong by any means.
And, you know, it was definitely a learning experience for all of myself and my team.
(34:19):
Great. I mean, so that, you know, and that way, an unexpected thing is really,
you know, turned out to probably be beneficial for many years to come for you.
And it sort of ties into the next thing.
You know, what is the thing this year that you've learned? I have learned to
(34:39):
just really put everything into the Lord's hands because there may be times
where you think things aren't going to work out and that everything is just
going to be falling apart.
And I have just really tried so hard to implement that into my day-to-day life
in regards to if I'm stressed or I'm having any kind of personal problems or
(35:02):
problems with my career or anything like that.
I just love to put it in the Lord's hands because I know at the end of the day,
whatever I'm doing is what he thinks is the best and it is out of my hands.
I mean, he's paving the way for me every single day and I just have to trust
in him that he will do whatever he feels is best for me.
(35:23):
And that, I'm sure, brings comfort to you as you go through the day-to-day activities.
Oh, yes, 100%. Well, now I really do want to talk about 18 Wheels.
So, you know, I mean, when you look at titles, like, you know,
always if we're going to interview someone and I see, you know,
(35:46):
their new single or whatever,
you know, I look at the title and I start thinking, you know, what's this going to be?
Like? Is this going to be, you know, something that draws me in or,
you know, something I think I will like?
So I suspected it was going to be about a truck, you know, in some way, probably.
(36:07):
What I did not expect was that it was going to be about the singer,
you know, in this case, you, you know about
the dad the focus being
the dad and so I'd have
to say I cried the first time I listened to it a lot because yes because my
(36:28):
dad drove a truck you know he's since passed away and so many of the things
like about being the best friend and all of those lyrics uh really really resonated with me.
And, you know, even though it's tears,
because I miss my dad so much, you know, I think it's really speaks to the power
(36:50):
of the song that it can, you know, that I could connect with it in that way.
And I'm sure that many people will connect with it from a lot of different angles.
But for me, that was my connection.
And, you know, I, I love this song. So now I want to know like all about it.
(37:11):
You know, what's the backstory?
Who wrote it? What inspired it? So just, you know, tell me all about that.
Yes. Well, first off, I'm very sorry to hear about your father's passing.
And I very much appreciate all of his hard work and dedication that he had devoted being on the road.
And I'm glad that you were able to personally relate to the song in your own way,
(37:34):
as that was one of the main reasons we wanted to release the song was because
not only was the overall meaning of the song to be,
you know, we just appreciate all of the hard work and the sacrifices that our
truck drivers in today's world makes to be able to, to not only provide for
them, but to provide for everybody in America.
And how this song came about was my backup singer and guitarist, Shane Begley.
(37:57):
We got the opportunity to perform at the 50th Mid-America Trucking Show anniversary
that was held in Louisville, Kentucky, going on, gosh, I think it's two years now.
And my PR had thought, you know, what if you wrote a song about truckers in
honor of them since you're playing for this anniversary event?
And my aunt had actually suggested it too. too. So Shane, he is a phenomenal
(38:20):
songwriter, musician, singer.
I mean, he can write a song about anything and everything that you tell him.
And this song came very easily to him, he told me.
And he just wanted to write some kind of storyline that could be very emotional
for the individual listening to it to relate to, and as if they were actually in that scenario.
(38:45):
Scenario, and he had written, for those that have not listened to the song yet,
he wrote the song about, basically,
he said he envisioned a little girl and her family, and her dad was a truck
driver, and he was always on the road, and he talks about the different kind of hardships,
that the dad has being on the road, you know, talking about mama did her best
(39:07):
with daddy on the road, and it was a very difficult time, because,
I mean, I don't think people really, put into perspective,
these truckers are leaving their families for a length of time throughout the year, and.
Got to be something difficult for them to deal with. And I do think that's why
a lot of them turn to actually getting animals to ride along with them so that they're just not alone.
(39:29):
And I am just really hoping that when people listen to the song that they are
able to really get the picture of the storyline into their heads.
And at the end of the day, really realize, you know, I do need to be more appreciative
truck drivers in the world.
And whenever I go and see one on the road, I should thank them for all their
hard work and dedication.
(39:49):
Communication yeah you know I was thinking like now at least you you know can stay in touch through.
Like you know cell phones you can at least see the person and you know talk with them a bit more,
when I was growing up and with my dad you know they had like a cb or you know
(40:10):
that was like how I mean that was the extent of communication is him being able
to talk with other truckers or or whatever, through CB radio.
So, you know, it is very difficult when you have to be away from your family,
and then, you know, for them, like, not being me, not being able to see my dad while he's away.
(40:33):
You know, I do think this is just a great song to put all that in perspective,
but I loved the fact that it was told from the daughter point of view,
and, you know, I think often that's the case where you know daughters are just
close with their dads just have that special,
(40:55):
relationship so this song really you know if he was looking for the story or
the person that would resonate with you know easily could have been pulled from
me that's the way I felt when I heard it.
So I'm very glad to hear that. Yeah.
Were you close with your dad? Like, did you relate personally to the song? Like, like I did?
(41:20):
Yeah. So my dad, he is actually a nurse. He's been a nurse for going on,
gosh, I think over 20 years now.
And, you know, I'm very fortunate that he has a job to where he can come home
at the end of the day and we all get to see him and spend time with him.
And although I don't personally relate to the song, especially like you do,
(41:41):
I do think that Shane did a very good job at just writing the song to where
you are put into that little girl's shoes and you are relating to everything
that she was going through,
you know, talking about hearing the diesel engine and sitting in his seat while he was gone.
And I hope people out there, you know, especially if they don't,
if they don't have anybody in their life that was a truck driver,
(42:03):
at least they'll be able to.
Themselves in that position as if
they did have somebody in their life that was a trucker yeah and
i think even more so is like the
person that's lost their dad you know that'll just be an extra layer of how
someone might relate to the song regardless of the you know of the job that
(42:28):
their dad might have done so it's just really a beautiful song on so many levels you know matt,
From a writing perspective, you know, like how difficult it is to write that
thing that people feel like, you know, is their story.
So, you know, what are your thoughts on a song that can capture all of that?
(42:52):
I mean, all about the story for sure.
I really enjoy listening to songs that tell a story and it sounds like this one does.
So, yeah, that's pretty cool. Cool.
Mackenzie, do you, I forget, do you write at all or are you collaborating on
writing and that sort of thing?
(43:13):
I do write. Actually, the very last song that we're going to be releasing here
that will officially wrap up my EP, I did co-write on with Shane.
And when I actually get back into studio here in the next couple of months,
the next two songs that I'm going to be recording are songs that I solely wrote
by myself. So I'm very much looking forward to sharing those with everybody
just to give them a little taste of how my songwriting goes.
(43:36):
What kind of songs do you tend to lean towards?
Are they like the story type or are they like, you know, heartbreak kind of things?
So, you know, topics kind of vary because I used to really write solely about personal experience.
Experience but now that I've
(43:57):
moved to Nashville I've kind of been inspired by other artists and
hearing them and their writing abilities and I've started
to tread away a little bit from personal experience and just write
something that comes to my mind that I feel maybe people out there
will enjoy whether it's for something that
they could relate to or whether it's something that they can find relatable
if they've never encountered the certain event but I've definitely been trying
(44:23):
to branched out a little bit more to just writing what comes to my mind yeah
what kind of song would you write.
Well yeah i mean so usually
to me songs come
in like a phrase or something
that i hear that triggers like that would not be interesting would not be a
(44:48):
plot twist so i like songs that are unexpected you know so i would definitely
i know that my songwriting would be a twist on something,
you know as far as the type i like to listen to
i i like these stories
that i you know the ones that i relate to that
(45:09):
that touch my heart in some
way whether it's like making me you know like have heartbreak or regrets or
you know whatever it is i like i like emotion like like power ballads and ballads
in general. And rap, of course.
(45:31):
What? And rap, of course, because you're a butter rapper. Oh, yeah.
There's no bad music, really. I really do love all genres of music.
There's just something I can find that I like in every kind.
But, you know, that's like the hair band.
(45:52):
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So, Mackenzie, are you playing out a lot or are you doing a lot of shows?
Yes. So for the entirety of 2024, I've managed to get 85 shows booked. Wow.
And like I said, I'll be splitting my time between Tennessee and Virginia because,
you know, I'm still fairly new to Tennessee.
I'm still trying to grow my fan base and get connected with people.
(46:13):
And I've been doing shows throughout Virginia for years and I have a very good
foundation built there. So I definitely did not want to play in Virginia because
we have a really good time playing back there.
So people can go to my website at mckinseyfips.com and check out where I'll
be and maybe our paths will meet.
And I am going to share that with the listeners because I noticed that you're,
(46:36):
you know, we're really lucky to get to speak with you because you're pretty
booked up. You stay pretty busy with your tour.
Yeah, I've always been one of those people where I'd rather be very busy than
not be doing anything at all.
And, you know, that's kind of gotten in the way as far as, you know,
I haven't had a vacation in like so long.
(46:56):
But I mean, I love doing music and I love going out and playing for people and
interacting with everybody.
So it's definitely not anything that I don't not want to be doing.
So your song, You Bring the Beer, I'll Bring the Noise. Tell us about that one.
Yes. So another song that Shane had wrote and
(47:16):
this song actually came last minute into our repertoire
that we were doing in recording recording because
we had had five and then we were like you know
what we need to come up with one more upbeat song so
i had asked him i was like you know write a song about me and he
decided to write about my upbringing in virginia but we
were trying to figure out what we could add into the mix for individuals out
(47:39):
there that have never been to virginia to resonate with the song so we just
threw beer into the mix beer makes everything better yes yes kobe keep always
said that yeah Yeah, that's funny.
So do you bring the noise?
Yeah, I do. Very much so.
(48:01):
So the song then, does it resonate with you and how life was,
you know, growing up in Virginia?
Yes, he did a very good job at capturing where I'm from because,
you know, he actually lived in West Virginia.
So he knew of Bluefield.
Of course, that's how we met.
(48:22):
But he knew all about Bluefield and he knew about all of our different mountains
and our simple living and everybody knowing everybody kind of vibe.
So he did a very good job at capturing what my hometown really is like.
Interesting. So what's it like when you go back to your hometown?
Do you like have a concert day?
(48:45):
Like, you know, what do they do to celebrate your success? test?
Oh, well, you know, every time I go back to my hometown, I'm usually doing shows
and people always try their very best to see where I'm going to be.
And they come out and support and they listen.
And I mean, my hometown has always been one of my biggest supporters.
They've always known me as so-and-so's daughter or so-and-so's granddaughter and so forth.
(49:09):
And they have always been very appreciative and supportive of my love for music.
And that's a great thing to come from a supportive community like that.
So how do you think that that shaped you as far as being an artist?
What did you gain from growing up in a small town that was close and supportive?
(49:33):
I mean, Bluefield was just a town where everybody knew everybody.
And, you know, there was never any surprise that I was in music.
Because, I mean, even from the start of me being in elementary school,
you know, everybody knew that I was the girl that could sing.
They were all very much aware of it. I would go and play at places when I was just 14 years old.
(49:54):
And they just always talk about it's so nice to see somebody like myself and
as well as other people that are from around my town going out and making their
dreams come true and shining light on our small town.
Just showing that, you know, people from a small town, they can still accomplish very great things.
(50:14):
And you have done that and you're living your dream right now.
So, you know, when we, if we talk to you again in a year from now,
what do you hope this next year brings?
Things oh you know I'm just hoping that more and more people find my music and
(50:37):
that they're able to relate to a song in their own way and that hopefully I
can start branching out more and more across the U.S.
And meeting new people and taking new
opportunities and hopefully everybody out there will
know of me so since you've moved
to Nashville have you just you know been at the grocery store someplace common
(51:00):
and ran into uh you know somebody that's like your music idol or music you know
crush or something like that have you seen anybody just walking around the grocery.
Did. I had went to Walmart one time with Shane and we were looking at the salads
(51:21):
and I looked at him and I said, I'm telling you right now, I swear on everything
that that is Ashley McBride.
And he was like, he was like, you're just saying that because that woman has
a streak in her hair. That's not her.
And I told him, I said, I am telling you with everything, every fiber of my being, that is her.
(51:42):
And he was like well I'm gonna go ask and he
went over and he asked and it was her
and I was shell-shocked because
you know I've met some very incredible celebrities in
my life and you know I'm definitely a talker so I had no problem going up and
speaking with them and taking pictures and shaking hands and so forth but when
(52:03):
I went up to that woman it was a deer in headlights like I could not speak I
was just like oh my god I don't know what to do oh my god She's right here.
She's a living creature.
And I felt so dumb with myself afterwards because, you know,
I'm not saying anything.
So she's trying to make small talk and she's like, you know,
I really love avocados. You know, they're in season.
(52:26):
And my dumb self, I look at her and I'm like, well, I don't like avocados.
And I go and I get in that car with him and I just look to him and I said, I am such an idiot.
I was like, if that woman told me to eat an avocado every day, by golly, I would do it.
That's so funny so yeah i i
(52:46):
am praying for the day that i get to reconnect
with that woman and say i apologize for my
stupidity i really do love avocados yeah
yes i tell her ever since then i've eaten an avocado and in memory of you uh
well how did shane act with her uh did was he in the headlight too no he was
(53:08):
just trying to talk to her but bless his heart oh my gosh I love him to death.
So he has issues with names sometimes, right?
So he knows 100% who my celebrity crush is. And this may shock everybody.
My celebrity crush, I've had a crush on this man since I was 13 years old.
(53:29):
Give us a clue and see if we can guess.
There's no way you'll guess. Give us one chance.
Food network gordon ramsay yes.
Oh my god he hasn't been
my celebrity crush since i was like 13 years old right so
(53:53):
shane is very much aware that he
is my celebrity crush but shane sometimes has issues
remembering whose name goes with
who right so if you ask him you're like
who is mckinsey's celebrity crush he may tell
you dave ramsey because he
mixes up names so bad and i remember
(54:15):
we got in the car and he looked at me and he said i am so
glad i didn't go up to that woman and ask if it was martina
mcbride and i told
him i said had you done that i would have left your butt
at i would have
had secondhand embarrassment i mean no
he he cracks me up i love him to death but hey
(54:38):
he cracks me up but yeah i when the next
time i meet that woman i'm i'm gonna talk to him yeah i mean i'm surprised she's
in walmart but hey would you like to sing with her yes he's someone that you
admire her music as well I do 100%.
(54:58):
I have loved her since the moment I actually, the first time I ever saw her
was she was an opening act for Miranda Lambert.
And this was back in, gosh, I think it was back in like 2018, 2019.
And she was an opening act and I had heard her doing Girl Going Nowhere.
And I really related to that song so much.
(55:20):
And from that point on, I've always followed her musical journey.
And I mean, gosh, she did Lindyville.
And that was one of the most elaborate albums I've ever heard.
I'm not an album person, really.
I just I just listen to songs that come up on my Pandora or that'll be just
resonating around with people and stuff.
But I, as soon as Lindyville came out, I listened to it and I was like,
(55:43):
oh my gosh, like this is so clever and nobody's thinking of stuff like that.
So she just, she's an amazing person and she's so awesome.
And I just hope one day I get to remeet her. And she loves avocados.
Yes. Yes. I will eat avocado toast every day. Yeah.
(56:03):
That's so funny. Great story, by the way. Great story. Great backstory.
So, you know, I do hope in this coming year that that's something that you get
to revisit, that you, you know, run into her again.
And maybe there will be a duet come out sometime.
(56:24):
Maybe. I pray. Yeah. Yeah.
Well, we are so happy that you came by and shared, you know,
your new song, 18 Wheels.
I really will not forget that song.
And we can't wait to see, you know, what does happen in the new year for you.
(56:48):
Well, thank you so much again for speaking with me today. I appreciate it.
And very glad that you enjoyed the song and that you related to it.
And I hope everybody out there will go check out 18 Wheels and follow me at
any socials. I'm available on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
And we definitely will be posting your touring concert schedule so that,
(57:09):
you know, any listeners that are near can come and even if they're not near,
maybe they'll be traveling through at that time because you are,
as you said, you know, 85 tour dates.
It's going to take you through like a lot of this year.
So there's a good chance that most of the listeners will be close to you at some point.
(57:34):
Yeah, they can come on out and we will have a ball. Guaranteed.
And if we happen to talk to Ashley McBride, we'll put in a good word for you.
Oh my god, please do. Tell her I'll buy her all the avocados.
And maybe even Martina.
Music.
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