Blank Page

Josh Mattei, talks to Blank Page!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
This week on Country on Deck. He walks back into the room with
his guitar and he's like, I wantyou to have this.
This is yours. I'm like what?
I just start bawling. I'm just in tears.
I'm like, what is that? Because that's that was my dream
guitar. That's guitar I've always
wanted. And he like, just keep playing.
This guitar is yours. I want you to.
Have he just gave you a guitar? He gave me his guitar.

(00:20):
That's nuts. That's.
So that that was also like, OK, this is what I've got to do.
So for her to be able to have that same moment with one of her
favorite people was like, and now we both know for sure
country music, this is it. This is happening, Yeah.
Discover the stories of rising country stars Country on Deck
with Josh Maddie. Kick off your boots and settle

(00:52):
him country on this about to begin.
Josh Maddie's here. Stars on the rise.
Voices of hope, dreams in their eyes, singer-songwriter stories
on phone, Hearts of wander, hearts out of bone.

(01:17):
But does he? Rhodes?
She writes strange lines, captures the journey, shares
their fight. Country on day, We're tuning in.
Well, the new star stories are coming in from a small town

(01:38):
Greek. They're gonna take you away.
Country on day with just that day.
Hello and welcome to another episode of Country on Deck,
where I sit down with today's rising country stars and help
you discover the stories behind their music.

(02:00):
I'm your host, Josh Maddie, and I'm back at my desk in
Connecticut with more rising country stars on the show this
week for you. But first, if you missed our
conversation from last week, we sat down to talk to Scoot
Teasley all about his musical journey.
And he also told us all about his brand new song that's
available right now wherever youget your music, a song called

(02:23):
Tower Rd. Every time I turn down the road,
I just, he just feels like home.It feels like I'm going to a
place that I know very well and I'm just surrounded by family
and people that love me and people that I love every time
I'm there. And I think that the main goal
of writing this song was to write it in a way that people

(02:45):
could envision their own Tower Rd. that they have in their
life. Like the road that they pull
down that is starts to feel likehome like once you turn on it.
You can listen to our entire conversation with Scoot Teasley.
That episode is streaming right now.
Below this episode on the platform that you're listening

(03:06):
on. And don't forget to hit that
follow button on the platform that you're listening on.
We released new conversations with new rising country stars
every single Thursday, and we don't want you to miss one.
And if you're already subscribedto the show, first, thank you so
much for doing that. I really appreciate it.
And 2nd, consider sharing the show with a friend so that they

(03:27):
can listen every single Thursdayjust like you do.
Our guests this week are from Maryland and I believe they just
graduated high school. They fell in love through music
and formed their duo in 2023, naming themselves after their
idols. The Warren Treaty there because
of UEP is available now. Also, their latest single called

(03:50):
Family Tree came out back in Mayon the show this week, Avery and
Jack from Blake Page. Thanks so much for coming on,
guys. Yes.
Thank you so much. We really appreciate it.
Where are you guys calling in from?
Are you in Maryland right now? Are you down in Nashville?
Yeah, we're in Maryland. Awesome, I I went to Maryland

(04:12):
one time and I got a speeding ticket.
Oh no. They got me on one of those
cameras. Oh yeah.
I, I had no idea that even existed.
So I'm, I got the thing in the mail.
I'm like, you got to be kidding me.
Yep. They hide them pretty well,
they'll get you every time. Besides the the speeding

(04:36):
tickets, what's it like being being in Maryland?
A lot of cute little local spots, which is where we usually
gig and everything's pretty likeclose together.
So yeah. And you get like all like the
rural and suburban vibes, but then you can go downtown and get
like your city vibe. We love it.
We're going to be definitely sadto leave.

(04:57):
There there's a big like water community as well, right?
Like nice water views and. Yep.
Yeah, Maryland kind of has everything when it comes to
geography. You have the beach if you need
it, you have the mountains if you need it, all within 3/4 hour
drive. It's a weirdly shaped state.
So you can say you're from Maryland.
That can mean a lot of differentthings.
Sounds really nice. One place I saw that you guys

(05:19):
gig a lot. I'm a huge fan of Pennsylvania.
I saw you guys are in Pennsylvania a lot.
Yes, we love Pennsylvania. Did you just graduate high
school? Are you about to graduate high
school or? We did just graduate.
We graduated back in May. Awesome.
Congratulations. Thank you so much.
And in you're planning to to move to Nashville pretty soon?

(05:42):
At the end of August, we're going to go to MTSU as the plan,
about 40 minutes out from Nashville, but we will
definitely be playing some showsdown there.
Oh wow, that's great. So you'll be a little closer to
all the action. Yes, the first time we went was
two years ago together. Yeah, around two years ago.
Around 2 years ago, was it for camp or did we go for Americana?

(06:03):
Fest we we started going for Americana Fest the first time,
which is like, is it annual? I think it's.
Annual an annual conference festival, which was super cool
to be a part of. And the year after that, we went
for the Country Music Hall of Fame Advance Songwriting Camp.
Yeah, which I had been to a few years before, but it was her
first year and our first time together.

(06:23):
That's actually where we wrote Learned Something About You off
our EP and our new song Family Tree was in Nashville.
Oh wow, that that's cool to be able to write a song in
Nashville like that and then andthen have it on your EP.
Yeah, that was a super awesome experience because you also got
to, at the end of the week, perform at the Ford Theater as
part of like the culmination of the camp.

(06:45):
So that was just an incredible experience that we're very
grateful for. I'm sure we'll talk a little bit
more about that EPA little bit later on, but I, I really did
love the the way you guys, your voices sound and learn something
about you. I really love that one.
Thank you so much. The the harmony singing
together, your voices really complement each other.
Thanks you You guys met in in high school at a performing arts

(07:10):
school. Yes.
So it's a public magnet school, so you didn't have to pay extra
for any for it or anything, but you did have to audition to get
in. So she was in the vocal program
and I was in what they called the digital instrumental music
program and they had, and they have a whole bunch of events
with art stuff going on and music.
So she was singing Make You FeelMy Love one day.

(07:32):
And I heard her and I was like, yeah, I need to.
I need to, I need to get to that.
Have you, have you guys always had an interest in music even
before the experience at school?As little as I can remember,
always was obsessed with and loved country music.
I would sneak up, I had a bed set bedtime when I was little so
I'd sneak up and I would turn onthe radio and afterwards CMA

(07:54):
awards night so I could still listen in to hear who won and
everything. I can't remember a time when
country music wasn't my everything.
How about you, Avery? Yeah, I have always loved to
sing since since the moment I could speak, I was I was singing
like crazy. I actually went to a performing
or I went to a magnet middle school, which means there's

(08:15):
different like concentrations and I went for performing arts.
So I kind of dabbled into theater into just vocal
training. I did a little bit of
instrumental stuff all throughout the program.
Unfortunately, that did get cut short because of COVID, but I
had about a year and a half of of that experience and it was

(08:37):
something I loved so, so much. I was really distraught when it
got cut short. But I got to then apply to
Carver, which I went for vocal music concentration.
I loved my my vocal prime program.
It was such a good experience for me and it really
strengthened my my love for music that I already had.
And it confirmed that I wanted to do that as my career.

(09:00):
So yeah. So since I, since I could sing,
I, I knew I wanted to be a singer.
I think in middle school I was more so like, I want to be a
background singer for like Adelebecause I love Adele.
I just want to be her backgroundsinger one day.
And then we met and I was like, OK, wait, maybe I can like, have
my moment, you know? Avery when when Jack came up to

(09:23):
you and and said how impressed he was and he wanted to start
like a a duo and and get together and and make some music
and and sing, what was going through your mind?
Were you like blown away and by that?
Yeah. Well, I was already, like, blown
away by how many instruments he could play and how well he could
play them. Like, his talent was like crazy.

(09:43):
But I think at that point when we first met, I was still kind
of hesitant on if I wanted to, you know, kind of not be the
star of things, but you know, like be the one up there and
like singing Maine. I guess like, and at first, like
we we did start playing at some like smaller events at our
school because like we said, ourschool is like an art school.

(10:04):
So there were a lot of performance opportunities.
So we kind of started with the more low key.
We did things called piano recitals, which was just like us
and a piano just sit there. There was a couple people in the
crowd and we tested out with, I think, a song called July by
Noah Cyrus. I think that was our first one.
And after that one, after we didthat one, I was like, yeah, OK,

(10:26):
let's let's just let's keep going with this.
You also played at Jack Jack's mom's coffee shop too, right?
Yeah, the local church's coffee shop that she runs.
Oh, the in the inside the church, yes.
Yes. So it was like I think half hour
45 minute performances, yeah. And that's kind of where you
Start learning some cover songs and singing the songs we had

(10:48):
started to write together. But yeah, that was also some of
the first performances where we were just background music.
But it was the ability to just start getting out there.
Must be fun to to look back on that now that there's been so
much going on. Yeah, it's definitely crazy.
It's. So crazy, it really is.
Did you guys start dating right as you started making music?

(11:09):
Did you know each other for a while or like when did the whole
relationship aspect of it start?Yeah, that's a great question.
We get asked this a lot and we honestly don't remember when the
first started and the other began.
Like I feel like it was all kindof the.
Thing yeah, it feels like a big like mesh like everything's just
like all mushed together like honestly, but I would say we
were probably in the. Relationship first.

(11:31):
In the relationship first, yeah,yeah.
But music, Music truly brought you together.
Yeah, for sure. One thing I'm curious about
being so young and, and being inhigh school, but you're, you're
doing so much in the music world.
How did you navigate that? How did you balance it all?
So during my high school classes, a lot of people like to

(11:53):
do their work. I liked to reach out to venues
to see if we could play. Yeah, I basically just spent all
all the time in class promoting shows, finding shows, getting
ourselves opportunities because the music thing, it's not going
to just happen by yourself. You have to make it happen.
And then we spend the weekend playing shows.
But I think the other thing was it's just high school was so

(12:17):
classes scored the hell out of me.
Music, music. So that's what I did.
And I still pass. You know, I have the diploma.
I walked across the stage but definitely made music a
priority. So if your school didn't have a
component of music, you'd reallybe bored out of your mind.
Oh yes, my, you would have kicked in and OverDrive.

(12:40):
Well, it's good that you had that that extra passion, you
know, and reason to go to school.
Sounds like your study hall was like send an e-mail.
It's like, Hey, can I play at this venue?
You guys interested in book and us you know?
Yep, 100%. That sounds like a lot of fun.
You you were learning on the fly, like how to be your own

(13:03):
best advocate. Yeah.
No one's going to do it for you.What are some of the like things
you learn through that process? The biggest one is never take no
for an answer because especiallywhen you're starting out, you
will hear a lot of no's. And even though sometimes those
no's you can't change, there's often times where you can ask to
fix this thing or tell them thismore about yourself and just be

(13:25):
persistent always. You have to always believe in
yourself. No, like I said, no one's going
to do it for you and an opportunity is not just going to
magically appear. If you want to make your cure
happen, you have to work hard tomake it happen.
Which I feel like I kind of knewgoing into it, but then actually
experiencing it and doing it wasa whole nother thing. 50 plus
shows in 2024 and that was whileyou were still in high school.

(13:48):
Yes. That's that's impressive, guys.
Thank you. We were at least one show every
weekend. If we didn't have a book, that
was because we already had a family thing or something on the
calendar. With being so busy in 2024, did
you have a favorite memory from a show to look that you look
back on? I definitely did.

(14:09):
There's an event in Baltimore that the station does and it's
called Jingle Y'all and we've been going the past four or five
years ever since after COVID, they brought it back and it's a
Saint Jude charity event and they always have 3 or 4 artists
like right around style. They always had a local opening
act. So every year I would go and I
would love the local act, I would love the three doing the

(14:30):
writers round. So I was like that's where I
want to be. I want to be like that's big
goal to be that local act. So after the 2023 one, like the
day after I had started reachingout to people, anyone that had
anything to do with the venue, say do WPC, anyone who might
know anything going on, I started reaching out to them.
So I spent the whole year like we will play Jingle, we will get

(14:50):
Jingle annoying the hell out of all the radio people.
But I finally got the right contact.
It was actually Brodie Keene, who was another local opener
from years before, put me in touch with him.
And so then to be able to actually play Rams Up live, I
think it was like 2000 people were there and it was opening up
for Chris Lane, George Burge andChase Matthews.
So to be a part of that show andwhich is of course all the funds

(15:12):
were going to Saint Jude's also was just a highlight and dream
come true. I think that was definitely my
favorite 2024 memory. Yeah, that sounds like a a win
win for everybody. Avery, do you have a a favorite
memory that you look back on? Yes.
I do. I also love this the Saint Jude
event with WPOC that was that was definitely a hire for me as

(15:36):
well. But I would have to say my top
is is playing with the Warren Treaty in DC.
That was that was unreal moment and that day was just perfect
and had I had such a great time.For some context, we had been in
touch with Michael and Tanya from the Warren Treaty and their

(15:56):
band, but more so them with, with getting together and doing
something, whether it was, you know, riding or singing together
or whatever it may be, just sitting down and talking.
And the the first time they actually reached out, we were
in, we were on our annual familyvacation in Outer Banks, North
Carolina. And we were like, Dang it, of

(16:17):
course, the like 1 long vacationwe go on this summer.
Yeah, we found out. At dinner and I didn't, I
couldn't eat my dinner. I was like.
We're just sitting at dinner andwe get this text and like, OK,
well, I have no more appetite. Don't even bring the entree.
Thank you. And so that was we were very
distraught. And then the next August comes

(16:38):
up and they asked us they're like, So what are you doing in
DC? On what day was it like the 20?
So they. Actually accidentally sent us
the wrong date at 1st and we were having a whole panic
attacks. We're like, that is when we were
going to be in Outer Banks again.
Like what? Are the odds like we will?
And so the outer bank trip, we don't care.
We will. We will meet up and it's going
to happen. But then it was OK because they

(17:00):
accidentally sent us the wrong date.
Really. Yeah.
And it was. Just by like a day.
I think they sent us the 24th and it was the 25th and we like
the 20. 4th and DC dates, yeah. So we're like, did you mean this
date? And they're like, Oh yes, yes,
yes, so sorry. And we're like, yes, we can make
it work. So we drove back from Outer
Banks. We got here just in time.

(17:20):
We drove to DC. We got in super early.
We got to hang out with them fora little bit, got to do a sound
check that I was like almost passing out.
I'm like, what is happening right now?
Tanya just comes up and she's like no makeup, nothing on, no
hair, no like crazy outfit. Like it was so like stripped
down and pure and beautiful. And we just sang for sound

(17:43):
check. And then we got to like go up on
like this rooftop that had like the amazing DC view.
It was so unreal. And then we got to go on and
sing with them and enjoy and, and we still got to go and sit
in the crowd after we sang and watch their show.
And it was just a full circle crazy moment that I will never

(18:03):
forget as I remember the. Sound check of that.
I mean, when you see Mike, when Tanya sing, you know they're
incredible. You know, they're like next
level. But when Tanya was sound
checking, she was just casually standing there like it was
nobody's business singing. I will always love you belting
it out. I swear she sounded better than
Whitney Houston. And she's just sitting there in
her comfy clothes, like just asking for, oh, can I have one
more that's a little more that and she's over here belting like

(18:23):
nobody's business. I'm like, how are we on the same
stage as that? Sounds amazing.
And at that time, you guys had only been doing this for like, a
couple of years now, yeah. That was the day we put out our
first song. That's the day we sang.
Oh wow. That was simple love song,
right? Yes.
Awesome. So it's safe to say that you
won't be booking any more trips to the Outer Banks, right?

(18:44):
Just in case somebody calls. So we have one book for a few in
for in a few weeks. We're taking our.
Own car This time we're taking our.
Own car. Just in case, just in case Luke
Bryan calls or something. Hey, hey, I need you to play
this show, right? So you guys were so inspired by

(19:06):
the Warren Treaty that you namedyour duo after them after their
song Blank Page, right? Yes.
That's. Awesome.
Why are you so inspired by them?I think.
How do we? I don't even remember how we
first found them, but I know when we first went to their show
there was maybe like us and 40-50 other people, maybe like
50. Yeah, it was like us and. 50

(19:27):
people in the room. So it was just a super special
moment. Their live show, if you've ever
seen them, is unmatched. I mean, their band's incredible.
They're incredible. They've been doing this I think
over 10 years now together. But their voices are just and
their. Stories just like are unreal.
Like it's shocking. And their voices.
Are so like In Sync like you have I've never seen a do of

(19:49):
that as as syncing on the same page vocally as them and they
just always write everything together and their music just
felt real and that was like whatwe wanted to do and that was
also just such a special moment for us.
It was like only a 50 other people in the room were like, so
we didn't feel like we were taking anything from them by.
Giving homage their name and then when we did, they were

(20:10):
nothing but kind and gave us waymore than we ever thought.
From yeah. Naming ourselves after them.
Absolutely. How did?
They discover you. Did you like tag them in some
videos and then they reached outor like how did they come about
your your music shortly? After we officially formed the
duo, we were like, so should we,like, sing the song that we

(20:32):
decided to name our band after and post it on Instagram?
And we're like, and he's like, yeah, like, let's do it.
So we actually went to the church that we were doing the
the shows in at first in the little coffee shop.
We went into, like the main church, and we used the grand
piano. We set the phone up, ran through

(20:52):
it a few times, made the video, posted it.
I think they saw it like a few weeks later days.
It was a little bit, it was a little bit after, after the
video, it had like had to type or whatever.
And they commented and said likeyou guys are so beautiful or so
special. Yeah, they commented.

(21:13):
And then Michael sent us a videohe DM D us and then Michael.
Sent us. Fair enough.
And he was. Like this means so much.
Y'all are so beautiful like Oh my God.
Yeah. Crazy it it was.
Yeah. So that was like our first
experience and touching base with them your first.
Holy crap is this real life experience?

(21:33):
Yep. Did they give you any like, cool
advice when you were talking to them for that couple minutes
before and after sound check andstuff, Tanya?
Was expressing what she hasn't like told us yet, just like how
how she's like very proud and like she shocked her most.
Like proud parents moment, it did, It felt.
Like proud parent moment. Like they were just like sitting

(21:53):
there on the edge of the couch right in front of us, just like,
you know, parents would. And we're kind of like looking
down at us and we're like, we'rejust so proud and just being so.
Playing and an unspoken lesson, just how they treat their band
and their crew and the staff there.
They were like always being super polite with everyone,
making sure everyone had what they need.
And I think just overall experiencing their whole show

(22:14):
and how they took care of their team and make sure everyone.
I think that's something we'll definitely take with us when we
get to the level where we have those people is making sure you
look after them. And everyone felt like family,
like the everyone from the smallsound people to everyone in the
band, like you felt like they had known each other all their
lives. Cool that they had that family
vibe created throughout their team sounds.

(22:34):
Like you were learning from the the right people, yes.
Definitely for sure. Absolutely it.
It'd be cool. If you could go on like the road
with them, like be their opener on a big tour one day, that'd be
that'd be wouldn't. That be so cool Josh say it
louder for people I'm. Manifesting for you guys.
Thank you so much your your debut song, simple love song

(22:58):
that was inspired by some of your favorite love songs over
the course of time. Like Tim McGraw was one of the
people that you were inspired byfor that one?
Yes. Tim McGraw, in my opinion, is
the king of country. I think he's just, he's had the
all time classics and now he's still pumping out great music.
And then of course his duets with Faith Hill.
I think he is just unmatched. But when we did that song, we

(23:20):
definitely want to have some references just for the people
who wanted to have some clever lyrics in there and that would
pick up on it. I think we had Cover Me Up.
Jason Isbel was in there. It's your love.
It's. Your love to Him.
And faith, is there another one that we slid in there?
That does something to us. I think that's yeah, I think.

(23:40):
Oh, that's. From To and Faith Yeah, we just
want to have a little mod too. A lot of songs that came before
us that we love so much. Yeah.
Are you? Both big love song lovers.
Do you love love love songs? So I.
Actually before we started dating and got in this
relationship did not like love songs.
I actually really thought they were stupid and.
So it was Avery changed your mind?

(24:02):
Wait a minute. These songs are actually kind of
good, eh? Oh, I've, I've always loved
them. I'm totally opposite.
I just, I would just like listento them and just like be like,
wow. I just look off into the
distance and just imagine, yeah,maybe one day.
Who? Whose?
Idea was it to start working on the debut single like what were
those initial conversations likelike oh we should probably put a

(24:25):
song out you know so I've. Been writing songs for three
probably like 5 years now and I just love songwriting The show
song Land on NBC with Shane McNally that like that got my
interest in it seeing how it allhappened.
So I was writing a whole bunch of songs and she had never
written a song before. She didn't think she could do
it. I was like you have to do it
it'll be fine let's do it let's do it.

(24:46):
So the first song we ever wrote together was actually the first
song on our EP Good Heart Feelings.
And we wrote that at her grandfather's pool is the one
that the time I got her to be able to write some write some
lyrics. But then I think Simple Love
Song was shortly after that I got her on the writing tree, I I
think. Actually, I think you wrote most
simple love song and then you were like, what do you think?

(25:07):
And I was like, oh, wait, I could critique this and add
this. Yeah, but he he wrote most of
simple love song. I felt like that was before good
heart feelings and you kind of brought that you were like, I
wrote this for you and I was like, wait, can I can I fix
something? Yeah, I, I, like you said, I'd

(25:29):
never written a song because I, I kind of always thought I was
going to be like a, not like a background character, but like,
you know, not front and center. And I honestly, as, as when I
was younger, I didn't have a bigamount of confidence.
And I was, I wasn't really confident in myself and my
ability to, you know, sit down and write a song, especially

(25:51):
that I liked because I'm pretty critical of myself.
So yeah, I, I was definitely newer to it.
And he, he helped me out a lot with it.
And as we got, got started, got the ball rolling, I definitely
like, I started to come out of my shell, you know, and I, I
started to, to write some stuff that I, that he'd not only I

(26:11):
really like, but he also really liked it too.
So that was kind of some of those first moments.
Do you feel it was easier to come out of your shell knowing
that you were working with someone that you were so close
with, that you were like in a relationship with?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And also someone who I knew
really supported me, I could go outside and, you know, kick a
soccer ball and he'd be like, yes, good job.

(26:34):
He's always been super, super supportive of me.
And, you know, whatever, whatever I do, he's he usually
makes it clear to me that, you know, he likes it or, you know,
he, he thinks I could improve inthis and like constructive
criticism and doesn't like tear me down while doing it.
So that definitely brought me out more.

(26:56):
Are there any like obvious challenges working together on
music so closely and being in a duo, traveling around and
playing all these gigs while also being in a in a
relationship? That must be like tiring
sometimes. I definitely drive her crazy.
Oh, yeah. And I feel like, I feel like we

(27:18):
have, you know, while we've beenworking a lot and there's been
some, some hardships so far, I feel like we haven't really, you
know, gotten to the point where things are going to be their
toughest. And I think that when tough
things do come up, we sit down and we're like, we noticed this
and we realize it. And we also realize that there's

(27:43):
going to be harder in the future.
So let's figure out how to handle it in the right now and
do our best with it right now before, you know, we get to
those harder things. And I think that definitely
helps, like breaking down these smaller moments while we, you
know, still have things to fall back on.
We're still, you know, in our hometown.
We're about to move. We're about to enter, enter into

(28:03):
a bigger world of, you know, themusic business.
So I would definitely say that, you know, taking those those
smaller hardships and obstacles and, you know, realizing them
and digesting them and then deciding how you'll move forward
if same thing were to happen again or something worse, you
know, Yeah, I think also. Communication and balance, I

(28:25):
would say, would be the two words that came to my mind.
Like as long as you talk about things, don't leave things, go
inside and make sure it's fixed for sure.
And then also. Finding that balance with, OK,
we have set time to just be us and then set time that we get
work done and making sure there's always balance between
the personal life. Yeah, and.
Set time also to just be teenagers and, you know, go and

(28:46):
do teenage things and hang out with our friends and, you know,
stay out late and, you know, play board games and, you know,
like the regular things that teenagers do.
We've also made sure to balance that in so we didn't, you know,
lose ourselves in our, yeah, ouridentity, you know, Are you?
Are you sure you guys are just out of high school?

(29:06):
You. You.
You sound so mature and and wellspoken on on this.
Yeah, thank you. So.
Much. Yeah.
We're freshly at high school. I would I.
Would never guess that if we hadnever discussed that.
I think you guys are like in there in your 30s or something.
Thank you. Very mature thank.
You we try. Maybe it's the songwriting, you

(29:29):
know? Yeah.
Right. Your your song Family Tree that
came out this year. There's a reference Humble and
kind. Is that another Tim McGraw
reference? You.
Know I love my Tim McGraw. Yep.

(29:51):
Yes, that's all we wrote about our family.
So she had the lyric razor wild and set her free.
So that's a tattoo that her mom has.
Razor Wild. And Razor Wild is the tattoo
your mom has. Yeah, Razor.
Wild and my plan was always to get set her free with like a
whole bunch of like wildflowers and she has like yeah she has
like butterflies and wildflowerson it I think it's on her one of

(30:14):
her shoulder blades so yeah thatwas that was good yeah.
So you. Her mom had that, and then my
mom's song Raising Me was AlwaysHumble and Kind by Tim McGraw.
So those were 2 lyrics to be amounts to that.
OK. There there's also some
references about hometown and, and leaving the hometown.
Is that kind of paying homage tohow you guys are going to be

(30:37):
leaving and going to Nashville, Oh?
Yes, Yep, that's exactly it. Because we wrote this, like we
said, the Country Music Hall of Fame songwriting camp.
And literally we're right in theheart of downtown at the museum,
a beautiful, beautiful place. And we have like we're sitting

(30:58):
in this corner where it was justall windows and we could see
right out and we're staring at the Batman building.
We're staring at everything downtown, all the, the cars with
people dancing in and like the, the bike cars.
I don't know what they're calledwhen you like the drunk.
Bike cars, Yeah, like the. Drunk bike cars, we think

(31:18):
they're. Pedaling, yeah.
Watching all of it and writing this song about how how we're
moving and and and leaving them,which at the time we hadn't
actually even applied to any colleges yet, but still we were
like, because we had. Known like when we kind of when
we first started, like Tennesseewas we were headed after to make
this happen. And I've I've been wanting to go

(31:40):
to Tennessee for years. I've like the idea completely
came from her. I was just I've been excited sat
on Tennessee and she's like my family, my home.
I'm going to miss it. Yeah.
Valid. Yeah.
It's like, I think that was my, like, when I officially started
accepting, like, yeah, I'm goingto, I'm going to be here in a
year, like, no doubt about it. So I was all sappy and emotional

(32:01):
and like, that's right for our family.
Hey, what's up? Everybody, it's Josh, Maddie,
and we are back at the Barn in Groton, CT for another night of
original music and storytelling.We're back at The Barn for
another Nashville Style writers round, August 13th.

(32:23):
That's Wednesday night, August 13th, starting at 7:00.
We couldn't be more excited for the lineup that's going to be
playing. You can get more information
about the lineup on our Instagram account at Country on
Deck. If you attend.
Our writers round on August 13th.
You'll also have a chance to wina pair of concert tickets.

(32:44):
Dasha playing the Sun Patio at Mohegan Sun August 17th and
we're working with Mohegan Sun once again for another big
ticket giveaway. Your chance to win a pair of
tickets to go see Dasha. The weather is warmer and this
is a unique opportunity to get outside and enjoy it.
Enjoy. Enjoy the weather, enjoy some

(33:06):
music, there's food trucks. I really love the Sun Patio
every single summer at Mohegan Sun and I couldn't be more
excited for for Dasha to be playing it.
And we have your chance to win apair of tickets on Wednesday,
August 13th. Tickets on sale right now
through Ticketmaster. You can get more information

(33:26):
through mohegansun.com. But hey, come on out.
August 13th, enter the drawing and and we have your chance to
win. Thanks so much to Mohegan Sun
for making this possible. They've been a great partner and
we can't thank them enough. And we hope to see you on August
13th for our next writers round.What are you guys most nervous

(33:48):
about moving to to Tennessee andleaving your hometown?
Oh, easy for me, I am. I have never ever lived outside
of Maryland. I've this is like the second
home I've ever lived in in Maryland too.
So I don't, I have, don't have much experience with like moving
or being away from my family. I'm such a mama's girl.

(34:08):
It's crazy. I just like, you know, attached
at her hip. It's like I'm a growth on her.
I just always want to be with mymom.
So I'm definitely afraid of the homesickness.
I'm already a very anxious girl,so we're going to we're going to
have to navigate through some things moving but not weird.

(34:30):
Me myself, I'm going to have to do some self reflecting and
really have to come to peace with being so far away.
But yeah, that's that's definitely for me.
What is what's it for you? I'm not nervous.
About anything personally exceptfor you being nervous.
He's nervous for me, you know, he's just got you there.
So he's all set, yeah. I'm ready as can be.

(34:51):
Tennessee, every time I go thereand it's like this is home.
All the music going on, all the opportunities.
I have so many more people I cane-mail in Tennessee.
No. No speeding ticket cameras.
Probably no speeding ticket cameras more.
Than. That.

(35:11):
What what are you guys going to be?
So you're going to the same college.
What are you, what are you guys going to be studying?
So we're going to. MTSU for commercial songwriting
and what's nice is we actually get in state tuition because in
Maryland doesn't have that program.
So that's. Interesting.
A bit of money as. Well, which is a big plus
that's. Really cool that you you guys
are able to go to the same school and not everybody has

(35:33):
that that ability. That's cool that you're able to
do that. Yeah, we're really.
Excited about that. So excited.
The duo gets. To stick together, yes.
Yeah. Murfreesboro is a cool little
town they have because we will definitely be traveling to
Nashville to be there and play shows.
But Murfreesboro also has a handful of small establishments
that has its own kind of local scene that we're excited to dive

(35:55):
into as well. OK.
How far outside of Nashville is it?
It's only like a. Half hour drive from the
airport, but usually around 40 minutes to downtown things
that's not. Bad.
Yeah, not bad at. All so you get the.
Like the best of both worlds, you get your school experience
and like probably a little bit smaller of a town and then you
can go into Nashville and get all your music cravings in.

(36:20):
Yeah, we're definitely. Excited for that.
We were looking at, you know, bail bonds and the Nashville
colleges. But we do want to buy a house
one day so. We opted.
For something with a better price tag.
Yeah, I was wondering, like what?
Why you didn't go after Belmont?That's such a prestigious
school. Yeah, Belmont.
Definitely has its advantages for those who like it, but I

(36:44):
think the price tag is just absolutely insane to if you want
some. If you want the opportunities
Belmont has, you can make them happen for yourself if you work
hard enough. Makes sense?
It's just, it's just too much, too much money, too much money.
Comparing the numbers, it was like, OK, 60 grand a year or

(37:05):
6000 a year, yeah. Probably a no brainer for you
guys. Yep.
Yep, that was a no brainer. I did apply to Beaumont and I
ended up getting in and I was like, oh, if I get in because I
that was my first acceptance andI was like, oh, if I get into
Middle Tennessee State, I I can't, I can't do this.

(37:29):
Paying off debt. Forever.
I just. Yeah.
So you guys are in your, your summer right before freshman
year, yes. What?
What are? Your anything on your bucket
list for the remainder of what'sleft for summer before you.
So we're going to do. A special day with each of our
little siblings before we leave to have time with them 'cause

(37:50):
that's going to be hard for me. It's leaving all the little
siblings we have here. I have a little brother and a
little sister and then she's got2 little sisters.
So we're each going to take them.
They're all going to have their own special day.
We're going to take them here tothe arcade or just do something
fun with them. So that's something you still
have to do this summer. That's fun.
And we have our farewell show. We're doing the big final
concert before we move to Tennessee at one of our favorite

(38:11):
venues here, so we're super excited about that.
That's August 8th. Nice.
What? What's?
That venue called. So it's at Bull House Winery and
usually we just stay high risk and we were background music,
but we actually got permission for them to do a special event
since it's our final show. And we're going to have they
have blind available, obviously.And then we're going to have our

(38:33):
T-shirts, new T-shirts coming in, which are also available to
order online if anyone would like to, but we'll have new
T-shirts coming in for that. And then just a great time
hopefully. Yeah, we also.
We did our Simple Love Song release party at this venue as
well. So they kind of like they didn't
shut down the place, but they gave us like half of their

(38:53):
space, the outside portion and we decorated and got cupcakes
like did all this fun stuff and and tributed to Simple Love Song
and our debut release. So they've been amazing.
So it's great to have our last show with them.
There they have been. Amazing.

(39:13):
You guys also, you played the York, Was it the York Fair or
the York? York State Fair?
York State Fair. You opened up last year you
opened up for Ashley Cook, and then this year you opened up for
Corey Kent. Yes.
Oh wow, that's cool. Yeah, and then the even even
crazier part was in December, they also do an event where they

(39:35):
have, I think it was two other people on the lineup, 2 But
usually they do three Nashville acts, except for the past
December they had Jackson Dean, Kelsey Heart, and they asked us
to be on the lineup. So that was crazy cool because
that was like an indoor arena with a few 1000 people in there.
And Jackson Dean is just in general one of our favorite
artists. So to fangirl over having that
experience was also really cool.What's what's it like opening up

(39:58):
for such big name axe and only having like a couple years under
your belt like it's. It's definitely a cool feeling
it makes, it makes us know that like we're doing the right thing
and we're on the right path, butalso goes to show you that if
you keep reaching out and keep making it happen, like this is
something that the free stage, the that frog has been doing,
they've always had local people.So I've always kind of knew it

(40:18):
was a possibility. But you can't just wait around
for it to happen. You have to reach out and ask.
But I mean, Ashley Cook, she wasawesome, great.
Jackson Dean was, he's just one of my all time favorite artists.
That was definitely one of my favorites.
So you've had a lot of support from your local radio station?
Yes, we did the WPOC event Froggy one O 7.

(40:39):
We're in a weird Maryland, such a weirdly shaped state that
we're actually closer to a lot of parts of PA than Maryland.
And same with like Virginia's right next door.
So we've had we did WMCQ fest this year, which was in
Virginia, but that was that was incredible.
We had Dierce Bentley was the headliner, Zach Top was on there
and then John Morgan and Greenland James were also on the

(41:00):
lineup. But that was super cool to kick
off. So that was a Virginia slash
Maryland and then WPOC is the Maryland area when we did and in
New York PA frog one O 7 is southern PA so.
Yeah, it's and, and Froggy especially, they've been very,
very supportive of us. Like they have had a lot of
faith in US and they really, youknow, took a test with us and

(41:24):
took a risk, but it, it wasn't arisk, but probably felt like a
risk to them because they're bringing 217 year olds to big
stage for the first time, a big event that they hold every year.
So they, they, they put a lot onus and it was, and just to bring
us back for Jingle Bell Jam and then to bring us back for the

(41:45):
York State Fair. It was, it was very, very
generous. And they even.
Had us on air once, that was pretty cool.
Yes, they had us. On air, they did an interview
with us before we performed the first, the first year with them
at the the York State Fair. Yeah, just and such kind people,
very down to earth. And Scott loves all of the

(42:06):
emails that Jack sends about. Getting on the.
Lineups. He loves it.
He talks about it every single time.
Every time we're about to perform, you make sure to let
the crowd know that Jack is in his inbox.
Jack sounds like me. I love sending out emails and
trying to reach out to people. And it it comes in with the

(42:27):
territory of doing a podcast. Yeah.
You have to. Sounds like if if you ever left
music, you'd make a great manager, Jack.
Right. Have you ever thought?
About that as an. Independent artist, you have to
kind of wear all those hats, butI definitely think that when you
want something, you have to go for it.
And it's always been my dream tobe the artist.

(42:50):
And Sugarland was my absolute favorite when I was younger.
So I'm like living out my childhood Sugarland dreams with
us. It it is cool, though, you you
say the the state is shaped weird, but it it sounds cool to
have all those states kind of within general vicinity of each
other. You can kind of bounce around
and kind of gives you guys more options to just get out of your

(43:12):
your one like little area. Yeah, it's definitely.
Been nice to have opportunities through so many different
stations because you can literally tune into so many
different country stations in the spot we are just because of
how it all reset with the different markets.
So definitely grateful to have been able to explore and have
all these different opportunities.
Speaking of opportunities, I sawthat you guys played the

(43:32):
Bluebird Cafe, yes? That's awesome.
That. Was.
Awesome. Jack actually had played on the
stage before. So this was like actually my
very first time being in the place and being on stage.
And I was just like, I was pretty starstruck by the place

(43:53):
at first. I was starstruck by the sun
because we were standing outsideand I was so sweating.
It was so, so, so hot. And we got in.
I was like, wait, this is this is so beautiful.
It was, you could feel like the history in that place.
It was it's it's unreal. It's so crazy.
Yeah, we, we met some really nice people, watched really nice

(44:15):
performances. We got to do 3 songs because I
got a spot to play, he got a spot to play and then we got
chosen as a for a random draw tobe part of the like the last few
acts. So getting to play not only one
but three songs was so fun. What's it like playing?

(44:40):
In such a intimate spot like that.
Oh, for me, I would much rather I play out to a crowd of 3000
people and I get the energy up and I'm dancing.
For me, a room of 60 people where I can see everyone's face,
that makes me, that's what makesme nervous.
I'd prefer the huge crowds. Yep, that.
Was so incredibly nervous because everyone is there to see

(45:01):
you and like kind of pick apart your writing and like really
understand what you're trying toor try to understand what you're
writing about and that is something that that intimidates
me a lot because like that's interesting I.
Wasn't nervous about our writing.
I knew our writing was good. It's just for me performing and
seeing everything it can see. If they don't like it, I can see

(45:22):
them like, you know, I wasn't. Nervous about I wasn't nervous
about my writing. I think I was more nervous about
their response. And, you know, like what?
Like what you said, Like if theydon't like it, you can look them
in the face and they can, they can make a, you know,
disappointed look and you'd be like, oh, darn it.
I definitely agree with you guys.
I, I host writers rounds in Connecticut at this place called

(45:45):
the Barn. And sometimes we'll get a little
bit of a light turn out and I'm up on the stage doing my
introduction. And I would much rather be in
front of like a big packed room because if there's like maybe
10-15 people there, you can really kind of feel the
judgement if you say like the wrong thing or if you don't
like, if you stumble on your words, You can.
Yep. You have the too much of the

(46:06):
ability to kind of like look people and make eye contact.
And yeah. It's intimidating.
So Jack, when you said that you played or Avery said that Jack,
you played the Bluebird prior tothat, was that through the
writing camp that you were goingto Yes, I.
Was going to the camp, I think 2years before was the first time

(46:28):
I went to the songwriting camp because I was looking for any
reason that my parents would letme go to Nashville.
So I applied and when they let me in, that was the first time I
had gone to Nashville and from even before that trip.
But then going to that trip confirmed that Nashville is
where I want to be. But the camp has been nothing
but incredible. And Adam Allendorf from camp
actually produced and played steel on Family Tree, which was

(46:51):
super cool to have that kind of full circle, full circle moment.
Oh wow, that is. Cool.
And it's cool that you were ableto, like, you went to the camp
for a couple years and then you were able to bring Avery along
with you and include her. Yes, that.
Was that was so exciting to havethat and her I think the most
exciting thing was her getting able to meet Adam because I had
established that connection withhim.

(47:12):
But he's he's incredible. He toured with as Kacey
Musgraves, the musical director.I think for a little bit.
Or steel player. I know definitely for sure steel
player. But he's played with Carrie and
on the Grammys and this, that and the other.
So I feel like the first year I was starstruck by him.
I'm just like, what? How is he playing with me?
And the second year I was like, this is really cool.
And the third year, to be able to now have a song out produced

(47:33):
by him and working with him. Yeah.
And. I think the second year, you,
your second year you had went, you were trying to get me to
come with you. You're you're trying to commit.
I think you had a family. Vacation plans, yeah.
He was like songwriting camp. I'm like, well, I have a family
vacation. I also don't write songs because

(47:54):
at that point I was not writing yet, so.
What was cool about? That year is that's when they
still have Demo Day, which is the song you wrote that week.
They would take you in the studio and you would record a
demo and they were going throughthe list of people or got this
guy on the drums, this guy on guitar.
Just run from all Dominion on bass and like what?
All Dominion so that we walk into the studio, I'm trying to

(48:16):
keep my cool together. Wait my turn.
Be patiently not fangirl. No, it was my turn of room.
I saw and I I was like, I'm the biggest Old Dominion fan.
I saw you guys in 2019. I'm a huge fan.
He's like, dude, this is awesome.
Like when can we see you next? So then he put put us on the
list for their VIP in Baltimore and we got pit tickets and
that's when Avery and I both gotto meet the whole band.

(48:38):
So even though she wasn't that for that camp, that experience
kind of got to run over. I think the show was in
December. Didn't you write a song with him
as well? He was just there for the demo
day, but he played all my song. OK, OK.
I love, I love listening to you guys like kind of relive these
memories. It's cool.
So it's so. Cool.
We don't. We don't have, but we don't have

(49:01):
like time like this often. It just kind of, yeah, usually
we're very. Forward.
What's next? What's next?
Yeah. How do we do the next thing?
So very ahead. That's nice though.
Reflecting. Back Yeah, yeah, this is.
Giving you guys kind of an opportunity to to pause for a
second. Yeah, your your EP, which came
out back in March. What was it like putting that

(49:21):
together? That must have been a whirlwind.
That was incredible. Talk about.
Top moments of life. This this day was just, I've
said it so many times, but it was unreal.
I I can't even believe that it was, it was real life.
These not this day. It was, it was, yeah, it was
like 4 days, three days. So at the DC show, that was my

(49:46):
top moment of 2024. We met the Warren Treaties Band
and the Was he the band leader at the time?
I. Think he was the yeah, I think
he has a higher role now, but yeah, Max.
Brown, He was on so many of the instruments, kind of like Jack,
just like steel guitar. He's been Mike.

(50:09):
Vintagi State 1. Whatever backup they need, he'll
figure it out, yeah. He kind of like sat us down.
He was like, so, so what's up? Like was asking us about our
career and he was like, would you guys be you guys like
obviously have some original work.
Would you guys like want to record?
And we're like video. What do you mean?
It's like, yeah, like a studio in Nashville.

(50:30):
And we're like, oh, no, he had yeah, no, yeah, we would love
to. We're definitely not fangirl man
crazy over here, but. Yeah, we're, we're definitely.
Fine, no problem. He's like, yeah, like for free
come we'll get we'll get some some songs cut and not that 7.
Songs in two days Yep 7. Songs in two days went for what,

(50:50):
like 7 hours each day? 8 hours and my amazing parents
like went with us and they went and kind of did their own thing
throughout the day and then cameand picked us up and brought us
back and we'd go to the hotel room and like debrief and it was

(51:11):
really cool. Like we really felt like once
again like the whole family vibethat the band and Michael and
Tanya give off. They, Max and Tom and Bam all
gave to us and, and just with their their generosity and they
were so caring and like we said,like did this for free of cost

(51:32):
and just dedicated their time tous, which was so precious.
And we definitely did not take for granted.
So we got all those songs cut. We got we went and hung out with
my grandmother and she likes to take pictures.
So she did our our album cover and all around this

(51:54):
unforgettable experience that like I say this all the time,
that those few days are, are days that I will absolutely
1000% and never forget or take for granted because it was
beautiful. Yeah, my favorite.
Part was definitely we're going in to record and band was on
drums, Tom was getting set up onbass and then we were kind of
just playing through the songs and I was showing Max kind of

(52:16):
everything. And I forget what I had played,
but I had played something on guitar and he was like, you know
what, you play guitar. I didn't realize you were that
good. I'll just stay here in the
sound. And I was like what?
But I that that kind of confirmation that he wanted me
to like play guitar and everything and do the leads and
solos. I was like, this is cool because
then I also had a moment, I think it was body language where

(52:36):
the solo I kept playing and he just talked.
He talked to me for like 2 minutes like after I did several
takes and he was like you can play you're just you're just
overthinking it. Like pretend I'm not here
because I was definitely like getting in my head.
Like, Oh my God, it was more. Than it was more than that
though, it was like maybe like a3 minute just like non-stop like
giving you straight advice and like being real with you and you

(52:58):
were like absorbing it like a sponge.
I was like watching it like after. 11 takes of this guitar
so I can try it. I did a completely new one and
then the first take is the one that's on the record now.
Oh wow. Perfect, I did after.
That talk, yeah, that's so cool.Body Language is actually my
every song on the EP Awesome. Thank you, I love.
The like, the grittiness to it, the soulfulness of it, it's just

(53:20):
like a really good song. Thank you really.
Appreciate that kind. Of reminds me of like a teddy
swims kind of. We love Teddy swims.
I think band called it Country Soul.
Yeah, you. Called it, yeah.
So now I I have a even more of an appreciation for it knowing
you played like 7 different takes of that.

(53:41):
Yeah, I think my favorite part was definitely because at the
acoustic shows where it's usually just the two of us, so
I'm always like doing the rhythmstuff.
So I think being able to play the leads and do the solos and
all the electric stuff was definitely a highlight for the
EP creation process for me. Days like these in body language
especially because those solos were made me feel like that was
John Osborne. Are you playing on that first

(54:03):
initial guitar riff when it first opens up?
Yeah, all the. Guitar on the EP is played by
me. I think, I think there's one bit
in oh wait, that song is not outyet lol sorry.
Yeah, we recorded, we recorded another one that's coming out
soon and I was thinking of that one.

(54:23):
Whoops, almost spilled the beans.
Breaking. News from blank page what?
What inspired the the name of the EP because of you?
Well, in a song that actually another one that Jack just
wrote, it came out as a single first.

(54:44):
It's called Flower. He wrote it for me and I think
it was on our one year anniversary.
Yeah, I wrote it for our. One year.
Anniversary one year. Anniversary he had sat me down
and sang it for me and I'd always love a song and he
actually couldn't play it for mefor a while because I just would
start crying. It was just so beautiful.
And yeah, we were just thinking about names for the EP and kind

(55:06):
of going back and forth in our notes app and we were like,
wait, I like this one, Keep thisone.
Oh, you can cross this one off because this one's better.
And you know, just kind of like the process of elimination type
thing. I don't think there's any big
like, aha moment for because of you.
But it also connects back to thelyric and flower, which if I
grew up leaves, it would be because of you.

(55:29):
Yeah, I think it kind. Of connects with all that.
The six songs were kind of sequenced in like a storytelling
order. Like they're all love songs, but
it starts just kind of good heart feelings as the
flirtatious learn something about you is like, OK, we're
kind of getting into US body language, get more personal
flowers. Like, OK, this is real, real
love. Going on days like these is
like, let's commit to it, do it forever.
And then there's peace. Which is.

(55:51):
Leave it. That's how we end all of our
shows is playing peace. Yeah.
Leaving everyone with the positive vibes.
I like that. That's that's a cool last song.
Thank you. It's it's cool to see that you
guys have such a deep connectionto that title because a lot of
the times artists will put like a title track, like one of the
songs just ends up being the title to the EP.

(56:14):
But it sounds like you guys havereally thought it out for this.
Yeah, that's one of the. Things, I think Keith Urban is
the artist I picked up on that from.
If you notice, none of Keith Urban's albums have the same
name as one of the songs. Yeah, it was, it was in an
interview or something he did that stuck with me and he was
like, the album is its own pieceof work.
It's not just one of the songs. You have to give it its own name
and really think that through. So I think learning that from

(56:35):
them definitely may just put some thought into that that's.
Cool. I like that.
It makes it a little more interesting than just like you
said, just picking a song and yeah, I feel like.
When you're the artist, you haveto be really intentional about
everything you're doing. If it's not on a huge scale, you
still want to have your brand and make sure everything's
thought through. So what are your your goals

(56:58):
going forward? Obviously you got a school to
get ready for and, and the big move and and all that jazz.
What what's like next on the bucket list for you for the
remainder of the year? Like what's your goals with all
of this stuff? Oh if.
CMA can nominate us for a duo ofthe year that would be.
I'll start sending some emails for you.

(57:18):
Wow. Really jumping the guns here.
Yeah. Definitely, like you said, the
move, the last big show is definitely one that is going to
be super important to us. It's August 8th at the venue we
were talking about earlier. That one's definitely really big

(57:39):
for me at least, and settling into Tennessee, settling into
Murfreesboro, making friends at college and keeping on with with
the expanding, getting involved in all the.
I think they've reached out to like, 20 different writers
rounds. Yeah.
And they're like, it's a little early.

(58:00):
Let us know when you're actuallyhere.
I'm like OK. But definitely ready.
To get involved and then that sounds.
Like a lot of fun, I love writers rounds.
Yeah. And I think like long term
bucket list goals, Grand Ole Opry.
Grand Ole. Opry, let's.
Go get on a. Little tour with Michael and

(58:23):
Tanya or anyone who's willing. What brothers?
Osborne, I'm telling. You if we are.
We could be Garth Brooks level stardom if Brothers Osborne
asked us to open film on tour. I'm going to say yes.
Yeah. We've seen them so many times.
They just put on such a great show.
They are one of. My absolute favorites, Our
absolute favorites, They're and they're from.
Maryland, they're from. Maryland, Hello.
That's so. Cool, I didn't realize that.

(58:45):
Yeah, they're from Maryland. Jackson Dean's from Maryland.
We're starting to have, it's starting to get a name to
itself. I saw you, Jack.
I saw you wearing the Brothers Osborne shirt in one of your
pictures and I was like, wow, I got to really step up my concert
shirt game, My country game, if you.
Look into my shirt drawer. 50% of it is Brothers Osborne shirts
like it's a problem. It's the amount of times I see

(59:07):
them and I can't leave without ashirt.
I have all their tour shirts. I have that.
I'm not for everyone's shirt. That's a big hit.
Oh yeah. Everyone gives him compliments
me when he goes out with that one on.
They're like, yes, I love your shirt.
Know the song? They just love.
I'm not for everyone, yeah. You do have the matching Ashley
McBride shirt though. Oh yeah.

(59:27):
That is my girl Josh. Let me tell you about Ashford
Bride I. Love that.
Woman, I love her so much. I actually have like a like a
unreal moment at one of her concerts that I actually, I
don't I don't know if I have told many people about this
story. I really should be like blasting
it because it was crazy. So we got to Ram said live,

(59:51):
which is like what? It's actually not, Ram said live
anymore. But it was once Rams Head Live,
which was like a popular venue down it was on Baltimore.
Jingle y'all, it's where we did.The Jingle y'all, Yes, before we
did the Jingle y'all. Yeah, but beforehand it's like I
said, no longer Rams Head, but we entered the building, we got
in line, We're like one of like like 2 hours.

(01:00:11):
Early we got in line 2. Hours early, got in line.
And. We're with these really nice
like 15 other people and we're all like making paper stars
before we go. And I brought like these strips
of paper and I at the time was very into making paper stars.
Don't know why, super weird, butI had a great time and I had a
purse full, had a purse full of paper stars by the end of the

(01:00:32):
Conquer. And these people are so kind.
They open the doors, We all go in together as a as a pack and
we're standing there and we wereready to wait for another hour
for the opener to come on. Not even Ashley.
Yeah. And I'd say like 15 minutes in,
we're still, we're just standingthere waiting and one of the

(01:00:55):
nice ladies in front of me, she turns around and she's holding
Avip Ashley McBride pass. And I'm like, oh, that's
awesome. Like, yes, I'm so happy for you.
I'm so happy for you. That is amazing.
And she's like, no, like I have one and my friend here does
wants to give this pass to you. And I was like, what?

(01:01:15):
And actually, actually, no, whatshe said was, do you want to go
meet Ashley McBride? And I was like, can your, can
your friend answer you? Because like that's kind of
rude. Like she's asking if you want to
go see Ashley McBride. She's like, no, I'm asking you,
do you want to go see Ashley McBride?
I was like, do I want to go see Ashley McBride?
Yes. What kind of question is that?

(01:01:35):
So I sort of like dying. I'm like, this is crazy.
No way this is happening. So I go with this lady that I
met like three hours ago and we go and we walk to the, the VIP
line and I got to meet Ashley and I honestly forget what I
said because I was just like hyperventilating before I, it
was my turn to go and give her ahug.
The lady that was like managing our bags and stuff.
So we just gave her coats and bags and stuff.

(01:01:57):
She was like, take a deep breath, this is real life.
You know. Live in it.
And I'm like, you're so right. Let me just settle myself down.
I went over. I was not settled down
completely, but I was still likeshaking and I'm like, you're so
beautiful. I love you.
She's like, oh, I love you too. And she just like kept hugging
me. And then we took a picture where

(01:02:18):
I like look like I'm about to start bawling.
So that was, that was unreal. I love Ashley McBride.
I remember a detail. You don't.
Then I remember you telling me right after that that when you
were having your whole moment with her, she actually said to
you that don't worry, she gets the same way when she met Dolly
Parton and she met all of her heroes.
Yes, I. Totally forgot about.

(01:02:38):
See, I'm telling you I that's why.
Jack's here, He's remembering all the right.
Parts. For you right like I.
Said total blackout. I did not.
I forgot about that good memory.Yes, those blackout.
Moments are the worst when you're meeting the people.
I was so excited because I feel like together we had our kind of
like big moment, like starstruckwith Warren Treaty.

(01:02:59):
But I feel like there was when Iwas like 11 or 12, I kind of had
a moment by myself similar to the Ash McBride one.
I went to a Chris Jansen concertand when I was like, you need to
get a T-shirt or they have thesemeet and greet passes for the
same price. I'm like, talk AT shirt.
Let's go meet Christian SO. We're backstage.
In line and I didn't have anything to sign so I'm just

(01:03:20):
like, what do I do? What do I do?
I had a guitar pick in my pocketbecause you always have to have
a pick in your pocket. And so I asked him to sign it
and he asked if I played guitar.I was like, yeah, I just started
playing guitar like I want to dothis one day and he's like,
that's awesome. I love the cross on your neck.
Keep the faith going. Keep playing.
We do the picture and he's like stay right here.
Let me go through these people and I've got something for you.
Like, OK, I'm like, I have no idea what's going on.

(01:03:41):
Just saying he's taking all these pictures.
I'm waiting here. His teams like going around
hustling, like what is happening?
He comes back. He walks back into the room with
his guitar. He's like, I want you to have
this. This is yours.
I'm like what? I just start bawling.
I'm just in tears. I'm like, what has happened?
Because that was my dream guitar.
That's guitar I've always wanted.
And he like, just keep playing. This guitar is yours.
I want you to have he just gave you.

(01:04:02):
A guitar. He gave me his.
Guitar that's nuts. That's not so that that.
Was also like, OK, this is what I've got to do so for her to be
able to have that same moment with one of her favorite people
was like, OK, now we both know for sure country music, this is
it. This is happening.
Yeah, that's. Crazy.
That's that's really generous ofhim.
I can't believe he did that. Yeah, so one.
Day when we can reconnect with him, that'll be that'll be

(01:04:24):
another full circle. That's actually the guitar I
played on Simple Love Song. That would be that.
'D be amazing you could like return the favor did so wow
that's that's speechless that's crazy I can't believe he did
that that's awesome yeah that was.
That was that's an incredible moment.

(01:04:44):
That's the. Exact opposite of what they say.
You never want to meet your youridols because there are a lot of
the times they're jerks, but that's like the opposite of
that. Sounds like you guys.
Have come across some really great people.
Definitely, yeah. That's also why.
That's also why I've always loved country music for the
music, but also like all the award shows and the scene it

(01:05:07):
it's just family. Like everyone is so kind to each
other. Everyone's rooting for each
other and that's it's just such a supportive place that
everyone's family, it always feels like home and it's always
great to meet these people and they're always just the kindest.
Absolutely. Yeah, I've only spent a very
minimal time in Nashville, but Idid instantly get that that vibe
and and that feeling that everybody's kind of just a big

(01:05:28):
giant family. Definitely.
You, you mentioned a song that'sin the works that you might put
out soon. Do you have like a timetable on
that? Like when's your next possible
song release? So.
I think September, October is what we're looking at, yes.
That'll be announced. Pretty soon.

(01:05:48):
Spooky. Season wink wink.
Nice. I'm excited for Halloween.
I'm excited for it to finally cool off.
It's been nasty here in Connecticut.
Oh yes. Yes, it's.
Been pretty brutal here in Maryland as well.
Yeah, I think the humidity. Is the worst part.
I can't do humidity I can do with hot.
There's a nice breeze going but when it gets 90s and humid, no,
no thank you. Nope.

(01:06:10):
Yeah, the other. Day it was like 91% humidity in
Connecticut. Starting to feel like Texas,
right you? Think being so up north you
wouldn't have that problem. No, you you would think, yeah,
it's just, it's been an unusual heat wave here.
Have you guys been out this far at all or?

(01:06:30):
And so I have a lot of family inMaine, Massachusetts, all over
New England. So I've traveled there, but
we've never actually done a showup north, which we're kind of
thinking sometime next year we might want to do a little run of
shows and maybe Connecticut willbe on that list.
That'd be cool. Yeah.
If you have a like a run of shows that you're doing, maybe
it'll coincide with like a writers round.

(01:06:51):
Yeah, that would be. Awesome.
Definitely I can get you guys. Out to to sing some originals.
That'd be awesome. That'd be fun time.
Well, Avery Jack, I, I really appreciate your your time and I,
I, I enjoyed being able to hear your story and learn about your
music and kind of listen along as you guys kind of take a pause
and look back on on some fun memories.

(01:07:12):
Yeah, thank you so much. This has.
Been great, really appreciate you having us.
That's going to. Do it for this week's episode.
Thank you so much to Avery and Jack from Blank Page for making
some time for us and sharing their story.
I really, really enjoyed that conversation, kind of almost
being a family on the wall at certain moments, listening along

(01:07:33):
and hearing them reminisce aboutthe the past and giving them an
opportunity to kind of hit like we were talking about hit pause
on on things and reflect on on their journey, this crazy
journey they're on. If you'd like to learn more
about Blank Page, if you'd like to learn more about Avery and
Jack, head to their Instagram account at Blank Page Duo Music

(01:07:56):
and you'll find everything that you need to know about this
rising duo in the country music world.
We are back at it again next week, next Thursday, another
rising country star on the show.So make sure you hit that follow
button wherever you're listeningright now so you don't miss it.
I'm Josh Maddie and this is Country on Deck.

(01:08:18):
Thanks so much for listening. Kick off your boots and settle
in country on this About to begin.
Josh Maddie's here. Stars on the rise.

(01:08:43):
Voices of hope, dreams in their eyes.
Singer songwriters stories on phone.
Hearts of wonder, hearts out a bone.
Does he roam? She writes.
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(01:09:07):
Country on this we're tuning in well the new star stories are
coming in and the small town dreams they're gonna take you
away country on day with just mad a.

(01:09:29):
Thank you so much. For listening to the Country on
Deck with Josh Maddie. Josh is back at his desk every
Thursday talking with a new country artist, so make sure you
hit that follow button whenever you're listening so you don't
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