September 9, 2025 • 39 mins
The first time Abbie Callahan heard Dolly Parton perform live, something clicked. At just 14 years old, watching from the audience with her mother and grandmother, Abbie experienced what she describes as an epiphany: "I saw that and I was like, 'oh, that's what I want to do.'" That moment set her on a path from Iowa City to Nashville, where she's now carving out a distinctive space with what she calls "Kaleidoscope Country."
Abbie's debut EP "Grossly Aware" showcases her remarkable ability to blend Americana, indie pop, bluegrass, and folk into something uniquely her own. Her journey hasn't been straightforward—moving to Nashville during COVID meant isolation instead of the typical music scene immersion. Yet that solitude shaped her songwriting process, leading to deeply personal tracks like "I'll Bring Flowers," which she describes as "journaling when your therapist tells you to write in the morning."
When her playful, suggestive song "Mary Jane" went viral, it created both opportunities and pushback. Some questioned whether her music belonged in country, but Abbie turns criticism into creative fuel: "When someone says 'you can't do that,' I think, 'I have to prove everyone wrong.'" This determination has taken her from grueling nights playing Broadway bars until 3 AM (then attending 8 AM classes at Belmont) to performances at CMA Fest and Bonnaroo.
What stands out most about Abbie is her authenticity—her voice doesn't sound like anyone else's, and her lyrics reflect genuine experiences rather than manufactured emotions. As she prepares for her Americana Fest showcase and upcoming collaborations (including a reimagined "Mary Jane" with a special guest), she remains committed to the advice she'd give her younger self: "Try to be yourself more and not someone that people like, because that just doesn't work out."
Ready to experience Kaleidoscope Country for yourself? Stream "Grossly Aware" now and follow Abbie's journey as one of Nashville's most captivating new voices.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
you're listening to stories behind the songs with
chris blair.
For more information, check outchrisblaircom.
Today's guest is a risingartist who just put out her
first ep, grossly aware, thissummer, and she's already been
named as one of 2025's bestalbums by Holler Country and my
(00:26):
buddy, ward Gunther.
I have just gone out of rabbithole with her music.
It is so, so good.
She calls her soundKaleidoscope Country.
It's a mix of blendingAmericana, indie pop, bluegrass
and folk, and she's already beenkind of named as one of
Nashville's new artists to watchand one of the best voices
(00:49):
coming out of this town.
I'm so excited to dive into herstory.
Let's get to it.
Here is Abby Callahan how areyou?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I'm good, I'm waking up.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yeah, I'm good, I'm good, you've got your Diet Pepsi
ready to go.
Yeah, I am so excited to justkind of dive in into everything
that you've got going on.
But let's kind of start.
Take me back to.
You grew up in Iowa City.
How did you get into music, andthen what brought you to
(01:19):
Nashville and to Belmont?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I didn't think I was going to do music when I was
growing up.
I had, like my mom was ineducation, so I knew I was going
to go to college and I thoughtmaybe I'd do medical stuff or
maybe be a teacher if everythingwasn't working out.
But yeah, I just didn't thinkmusic was an option at all.
No one in my family is musical,so it was like a hobby and it
(01:44):
was something I really enjoyed.
But I didn't know it was goingto be my thing.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
When did you kind of start playing around with music?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I moved schools when I was in fourth grade.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And there was a talent show.
When I was checking into theoffice one day they were like
sign up for the talent show.
And it was like my third day ofschool and I was like like I
could make friends in the talentshow.
So I like wrote my name downand my mom was was so confused
on what I was gonna do and wewent to the basement and there's
a karaoke machine because welike to host growing up, and
(02:17):
she's like, try it out.
So I sang, like hit me withyour best shot and um, rolling
in the deep.
And she's like, yeah, that'sthe one, I don't know.
It just kind of stuck.
I had fun with it.
I didn't make friends, but atleast I had a new hobby yeah, so
I love that started out sostarted as a hobby and then kind
(02:38):
of what, what?
Speaker 1 (02:39):
uh, where was that flip for you?
Where you're like okay, I wantto move to go to Belmont and do
this.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
I was 14 when I went to my first concert, which was
Dolly, and that's you know, hardto top.
I went with my grandma and mymom and I remember seeing it.
I was like, oh, that's what Iwant to do.
It was just like a like aepiphany.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I just kind of I saw that and I was like, huh, that
makes sense to me.
I was.
I can't imagine sitting behinda desk all day and or like being
in the operating room.
I'm just like a little tooscatterbrained for that.
So I saw that I was like I cando that, I don't know, just kind
of worked out.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
So had you written music before you moved here then
, or did you just yeah, I hadyeah.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I when I first started started dating, but I
was 16, I felt like I needed toget those emotions out.
I was like man, this is notworking out.
I gotta say something, andthat's when I started writing
music.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
I love that, yeah, so all right.
So you moved, uh, you moved toNashville, um, you go into
Belmont, um, what was life likein those early days?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I moved here during COVID so it was pretty isolated.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
You were going out all the time partying, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
No no, it was pretty isolated.
I was in my dorm all the timeand it was all online and I just
I'm the only person in myfamily that moved at that point.
Yeah, so it was a lot.
I was calling my mom every day.
I was like are you sure Ishouldn't just come back, be
there and do this?
And she's like no, I don't wantto make that drive again.
(04:26):
Um, so it was.
It was good, though.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
I learned a lot yeah and um, yeah, I don't know, the
isolation kind of is how I writetoday still so maybe you've got
a great combination of songsthat you've written with other
people and stuff that you stillwrite by yourself which I think
is awesome.
(04:49):
So I want to get into that in alittle bit.
But yeah, what?
What do you think was like someof the biggest lessons you know
moving during COVID and beinghere and then and then what was
it like?
I know that you spent a lot oftime on Broadway too, so when
did that door open and what wasit like?
I know that you spent a lot oftime on Broadway too, so when
did that door open and what wasthat like?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Well, I needed to pay for tuition so I and like I
didn't really want to doanything else and I'd never
played in a band and just somany firsts I was like I thought
Broadway was just really coolwhen I moved here, yeah, so I
started out and learned a lot ofnew music I'd never listened to
(05:30):
like the modern country.
I listened to it a little bitgrowing up.
So I just I learned so much andthen found my way into this 90s
rock grunge band and that'swhen I had so much fun in that
band.
I'd play from 10 pm to 3 am andI'd wake up for my 8 am.
It was just like a phase ofchaos, but I enjoyed every
(05:54):
second of it.
Yeah, yeah.
I learned so much.
I learned how to front a band,what kind of music got people
going, what kind of music Ididn't want to make.
But I don't know and I learnedhow, my where to put my voice in
all these different genres andit was really cool it's a good
way to cut your teeth.
I uh.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I spent when I first moved here and was doing music.
Um, before the listening room Iplayed Tootsies five nights a
week yeah, that's where I played, uh and it was so much fun and
so brutal at the same time, butyou learn so much to how to play
off a crowd and it is brutal.
And get tight with a band.
Do you think like that thosemoments are?
(06:33):
You know just kind of whathelped you create what your
voice is.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
A hundred percent and I met, like some of my still
bandmates today playing onBroadway.
I just wouldn't trade it forthe world.
I mean, yeah, it made me alittle more rough around the
edges, I think, which is good, Idon't know.
It taught me how to stand upfor myself in a crowd.
When you're out there runningthe bucket and talking to people
(06:59):
at 2 in the morning, you knowyou learn a lot when you're 21
doing that.
So, I got a lot of good storiessome you can tell, some you
can't.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, all right, let's dive into the stories
behind the songs.
Um, you have your new ep.
Uh, grossly aware that uh cameout uh this summer and uh, my
dear, dear friend Ward Gunthersaid it's the best album of 2025
(07:31):
.
Big words.
And he kind of knows music.
I trust him, so let's talkabout that.
This is an awesome EP.
I've had it on repeat the lastweek getting ready for this and
it's just like so.
So good, appreciate it.
Yeah, let's dive into.
uh, mary Jane okay take me into,uh, into the room, uh, tell me
(07:53):
how that song came about so ifyou've listened to it you know
that it has multiple differentmeanings.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
And I had written a song similar to it the week
before and when I was it waswith my friend, and when I was
in that right I was thinking ofjust all these other different
ideas that weren't going to fitinto that song but could be a
different song, and I didn'tknow how many songs about that
topic I wanted to necessarilywrite.
(08:21):
But I just wrote down in mynotes love letter to Mary Jane
and I.
Then the next week I was writinglike every single day and I had
doubles twice that week so thiswas like my last right, I think
, of the week and I went in andit was with a co-writer I really
liked and somebody knew and Isat down and I told Cole miracle
(08:43):
.
I was like I have two ideasleft that I'm excited about, and
I'm really only excited aboutthis one.
And he's like, okay, I guessthat's what we're writing today.
And I was like, yeah, I justwant to write a love letter to
Mary Jane and have it be kind ofsuggestive about personifying
her.
And then it just flowed fromthere because both of them were
(09:05):
fans of Mary Jane as well.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, so yeah, you wrote that with Cole and Forrest
Finn, so it was your first timewriting with Forrest that day.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Yeah, it was, and he was just game for it and that
was really cool.
Just have someone take youridea and be like, yeah, let all
the way, let's push it to everylittle limit.
And we wrote probably I thinkwe wrote two extra verses and we
were just trying to figure outwhat told the story the best
(09:37):
yeah and it was really fun.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It worked out really well that song is a little like
sonically different than therest of the ep was that?
Was that intentional?
Speaker 2 (09:47):
I really didn't think I would cut it, I just really I
just enjoyed the song I meanit's.
It is such a playful and funsong and it's like in a voice
that feels like me, obviously,because I wrote it, but I just I
didn't know, I don't think Iposted it the next day on TikTok
and that's when it blew up andI don't know if, if it hadn't
(10:09):
blown up, if I would have cut itor not.
I'm really happy that I did umand that it worked out.
But yeah, I just remember goingto the office the next day I
was like we wrote a really funsong and I like called people on
the way home I was like, howwas your, was your day?
I wrote a really fun song and Ijust always enjoyed it.
But yeah, it's definitelydifferent.
(10:29):
It's super fast, it's superbluegrass, like traditional
bluegrass, which is cool.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Yeah, I don't know.
You want to play a little bitof it.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, we can play it, let's do it.
Cut this part.
I'm just joking.
Cut this part, jane.
(11:01):
She's so hot she burns myfingertips and takes away the
pain.
No way smells her.
All my clothes every time Isneak in late.
Oh, what I give to Mary Jane.
Mary Jane, mary Jane.
She went to my head and sinceI've never been the same, mary
(11:25):
Jane, jane, wish that I couldmarry Jane.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
So so good.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
It's just so silly, that song.
I don't know.
It is so fun, was that one didit come out quick, yeah it was
like it was super fast and thenin between writing it, I don't
know like what explicitly I canand can't say, but just in
between writing a verse or two,everyone would tell their
(11:59):
stories of when they had liketoo much, or like I don't know.
It was just really, really fun.
It was an evening, right, andso started at like three or four
, went until eight and everyonewas just chit-chatting and I
really built friendships fromthat yeah, it's fun, so fun yeah
love it.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Uh, let's talk about just the EP overall.
Um, why did you choose GrosslyAware as the title for the
project?
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Kind of came about in a roundabout way for sure.
We were in the studio, we hadall the shoot for the cover art,
for everything done, and it wasgoing to be called the Garden
and Sierra Farrell, who's kindof in a similar sonic space as
me, had just put out a singlecalled the Garden and I was like
(12:47):
everyone on the team was likeoh, oh man, I don't know if we
want to stick with that or lookfor other things.
And so I just went through thesongs and wrote down titles that
it could be and words that kindof stuck out to me and I wrote
down grossly aware, which is inthe last song, I'll bring
flowers.
And I was like there's no waythat's going to work because
(13:11):
it's just a little odd.
And I said it and my publisherTravis was like, yeah, that's
cool.
Okay, I guess we got it.
It was kind of it just workedout.
We were in the last day in thestudio recording.
It Just felt right.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I guess I love it.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I can't imagine it being anything else now.
I can't imagine it being calledthe Garden, because it feels
much different than that.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
So I'm really happy with how it worked out.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, you know there's so much that goes in, uh
, behind the scenes and creatinga project like this, um, you
know, and the fans, uh,typically are not aware at all
of how many songs that you write, how many songs you listen to,
that you didn't write.
Um, you know all the studiotime, the planning, the
(14:03):
marketing, marketing, all ofthat.
Do you have a favorite point ingoing through the whole process
of creating the ep that youwere just like, wow, like this,
is this, is it?
Speaker 2 (14:14):
I had never gone through it to this level yeah,
it's my first time, kind ofexperiencing everything, and I
thought that I would really hatethe photo shoot aspect of it
all because that's just not mystrong suit.
I'm not the most comfortable infront of cameras and I don't
(14:35):
know I need some help when itcomes to, yeah, wear this or
don't do that with your bodylike I thought that it would.
I would really dread that day,but I got home from the whole
thing of having my makeup done,of having just a whole day
revolving around you is.
It's an interesting place to bein and.
I got home and I was like Iwish I could relive that.
(14:57):
I really enjoyed it.
It was just, I feel like I hada good team and I think,
throughout the whole project itwas just the right people
working on every little thingyeah it came together so well.
I feel like.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
I had a good team and I think, throughout the whole
project it was just the rightpeople working on every little
thing.
It came together so well.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Well, abby, get used to it, because I have a feeling
you're going to be doing a lotmore of it.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
We'll see, hopefully.
Do you have a favorite song offthe EP?
Speaker 2 (15:21):
It changes.
When I had it just to myselfand I would listen to in my car
and it wasn't out in the world,I think my favorite was Cold I
listened to that a lot.
It just is so true to me.
I wrote all the little detailsof the words down before we
wrote the song and I went inwith Oscar Charles, who produced
(15:42):
the project, and I wrote thatsong with him.
We went in that day.
We were supposed to talk aboutwhat the EP could look like, but
him and I were just too awkward.
So he was just like, do youwant to write a song?
I was like, yeah, let's write asong.
And so we wrote Cold.
And it was just all right there,all the details of who I am and
(16:03):
where I come from.
It was all there and he justhelped make it make sense in a
song which was really helpful.
But that was my favorite beforeit came out and I still love it
, and now it changes every day,just depending on the day.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
That's a great answer.
You talked about what was kindof your favorite memory of
making the EP, what was probablythe biggest challenge.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
I haven't thought about that, maybe.
Yeah, it was probably recordingStrawberry California.
That was kind of tough.
We couldn't figure out how toplay that as a band live until
we recorded it.
I mean, there's time changesbetween the verse and the chorus
and it goes back and forth andI wrote that by myself and it's
(16:56):
just something that felt rightin the moment.
But we could just neverrecreate that the way it should
have sounded.
So getting that recorded wasprobably the toughest part, but
Charlie Worsham did all theguitar.
So saying it's a challenge islike not really.
You know, I played it for himand he was like oh, this is
(17:17):
intricate.
And like two seconds later heplayed it perfectly, you know.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
So that's Charlie.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
That's the hardest part I guess, but then he just
nailed it thanks for, uh, beingvulnerable and sharing that.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, um, I think that's a perfect transition.
Um, you know, just kind of likewriting songs by yourself and
kind of finding your voice andcreating something.
You've described your sound askaleidoscope country and I want
to dive into.
Okay, what does that mean toyou?
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Well, okay, we found it by chat.
Gpt, we were talking about it.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
My best friend, I hate.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
AI.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
I hate it.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I'm very anti, but it works out.
You know what Sometimes it givesyou things you wouldn't.
I would never have thoughtabout calling it that, but I
like we had my group chat ofeveryone working on the project
and someone sent that and I waslike, oh, I love that.
I think it's so cool.
I've never heard someonedescribe music that way, so I
(18:22):
just liked how it sounded atfirst, of it being kind of
trippy and psychedelic and alsocountry and a little bit 90s
when you think of a kaleidoscopeand when that was yeah popular,
but then the more I've sat withit, I think it works so well
because a kaleidoscope is alwayschanging and it gives me room
(18:43):
to change and have my music besomething different.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
It's so cool.
Yeah, um, there's a lot of uhcross genre acts right now, um,
and blending of two genrestogether.
Um, do you think your audience,uh is more open to that kind of
thing?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Hopefully, hopefully, Cause I anticipate it changing
more and more and more.
But I guess we'll see.
I don't know.
I think country's in a coolspace right now.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
It is yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Everyone's doing their own unique thing.
So I think people are ready forsomething different, especially
with like I was talking about,with like AI and everything
being kind of made up in that.
In that way, having it be humanand having music be someone's
(19:38):
unique experience, it makes it.
I don't know what people needright now, I guess, so we'll see
.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
I think you know one of the one of the coolest things
um, we're almost to 20 yearshere at the listening room which
is just insane, um, but youknow, going back to the very
beginning, and so many closefriends that I've watched walk
across the stage and kind of.
You know, now they're all on thesea maze, um, but you know, one
(20:12):
of the coolest things to me isis when I would get stopped
walking through the room by avoice that was just so different
and so unique and I think, um,right or wrong, there's so many
people that move to Nashvilleand they, you know, have their
quote unquote voice, but itsounds just like you name it.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Right.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Um, and that was one of the biggest things that I
loved about you when I firstheard your music is like wow,
this is.
This is so different, it's sogood.
The way that you run your lines, um is is you.
It doesn't sound like anybodyelse, and I love that.
The question is sometimes, whenthat new voice comes out, there
(20:58):
can also be pushback.
Have you gotten any pushback,and does that make you question
anything, or does that justmotivate you to to drive even
deeper?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Well, there's the comparison off the bat.
You know, I've had some viralmoments over the last year which
was completely new to me, sothat was in itself something to
process, but there were a lot oflike Sierra Farrell or Casey
Musgraves or people that are ina similar lane.
People are like oh, this is justlike that.
Oh, this is just like that.
Oh, this is just like that.
(21:33):
And it's like cool to be in thesame box, but I don't ever want
to have to stay there, if thatmakes sense.
And then, with Mary Jane being,you know, a little suggestive
and just open to interpretation,people had lots to say about
that.
They were like it's normalizingcheating, it's talking about
(21:54):
such bad habits and country.
This can't be country music andall that which I mean gets to
anybody.
But maybe I'm just immature.
But to me, when someone's like,maybe I'm just immature, but to
me, when someone's like youcan't do that, I don't like this
, I'm like Hmm, I have to proveeveryone wrong.
(22:17):
I like maybe that's something Ineed to work on, but it's
inspired other songs.
It's inspired a song that we'reworking on putting out right
now.
So I don't know, I don't thinkit's a bad thing.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I don't either, no, I mean it's weird to deal with at
first, but and I mean I thinkyou know, just just from my take
, I mean you know, yeah, youmight fall in those same camps,
but it is truly unique anddifferent, like you don't sound
like Casey.
You don't say you know likeit's.
It, is it when, when you hearyour songs, I can, I can listen
(22:54):
to it and go immediately likethat's Abby, yeah, so you know I
think the way that you'reapproaching that is is great and
just keep doing what you'redoing Cause it's working.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
And, yeah, can't wait to hear what else you come up
with Me too.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
We'll see.
All right, let's dive intoanother one.
Let's talk about I'll BringFlowers.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Yeah, well, this is a solo write as well.
Three of the seven are and whydid you?
we'll talk about the idea, butthen also why you chose to write
it alone.
I feel like I didn't choose towrite it alone.
I'll get these like sparks ofinspiration and of ideas, and
(23:36):
sometimes it's like I'm justsitting down and I'm like, oh, I
just wrote a verse in a chorus.
Why would I bring that tosomebody else if I just wrote a
good chunk of the song?
So it's not like I'm like thisis just for me.
I don't know.
It just kind of happens to bethat way.
(23:56):
And with All Bring Flowers Iwas talking to somebody from my
past again and him and I we goback and forth like that, but it
never ends up sticking around.
It just makes both of us sadand then I don't know why we
keep doing it.
But that's why I wrote the song.
I saw a quote something likethat was in the first verse and
(24:22):
it just sparked it.
And then I just wrote it fromhow I was feeling in the moment
of knowing that it wasn't goingto last.
But we both have a love foreach other.
It's been interpreted in so manydifferent ways.
Like my grandma.
Oh, my gosh, this is so crazy.
My grandma, she's like Abby.
I love this song the day itcame out.
(24:44):
I love this song.
I think about it from likesomeday when your grandpa dies,
I'll bring flowers to his grave.
I'm like, why would you tell methat?
So it's like I don't know.
I guess can be whatever youwant it to be, but that one was
crazy.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Love her though, but yeah, it's like I don't want to
think about that.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Why are you thinking about that?
Speaker 1 (25:05):
I don't know it feels like a very intimate song.
Would you say that it's themost personal song on the EP.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
A hundred percent, like when I wrote it.
I sent it to my publisher and Iwas like hey, I know this is a
bit out there.
I know it's very blunt in whatI'm saying and I don't know if
I'll do anything with it, butwhat do you think?
And he was like this is cool.
And I wasn't.
(25:35):
It wasn't my intention to writesomething to put on a project.
It wasn't like I needed to filla spot, I just needed to write
that song.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
And I think that's why it touches people and why
that's some people's favorites,especially live, live.
We always play that last forsome reason.
I don't know where else to putit in the set because it's so
sad, um, but that's always theone that people are like.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
That gave me goosebumps, or that was my
favorite one, and that one Irelated to, and yeah so I don't
know, I just needed to be toldand it's, it's like journaling
when you're writing a song likethat yeah, so let's, let's dive
a little bit deeper into thewriting process of that one, uh,
and then I'd love to hear alittle bit of that one too, okay
(26:24):
, but especially as a solo right.
Um, you know, you said thatsometimes you just get these
inspirations and you just youknow, you just, you just go for
it, which I think is awesome.
Um, tell me, tell me more aboutjust the idea, where you came up
(26:44):
with that idea, how that kindof grew into the point that you
were just like, okay, I've gotto get this out right now.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I forget the exact quote I saw, but it was
something like, something somorbid, like, just like the
first lines of that song areI'll bring flowers to our grave
when I think about you every day.
And I just wanted to talk aboutI think in breakups a lot of
times people are like oh, Idon't like that person, uh, blah
(27:13):
, blah, like they're not a good,like like whatever.
They're saying all thesenegative things.
And when it came to this person, I just don't have anything
negative to say other than itjust didn't work out and that's
sad.
And I think that's relatable.
In friendship, in a worksituation, in relationships, in
(27:33):
any capacity, you can just lovesomebody and there can still be
love there and I don't know.
I just I needed to write it andI was sitting at my kitchen
table in my first like soloapartment in Nashville and like
in the morning I was like man, Iam just sad and I want to say
(27:55):
that I'm sad and I don't want tomake it pretty, I just want to
make it like raw and then itended up with the melody being
pretty as well.
But I don't know, I just neededto say it and for me
songwriting is it's likejournaling.
When your therapist is likejournal in the morning, that is
me journaling in the morning, Idon't know.
(28:18):
It just kind of fell out in away.
I wrote the first verse inpre-chorus and chorus, that in
that probably 30 minutes, and Iwent on a walk and I was like
it's cool, I like what I justdid.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
And came back to it maybe a week later, finished it.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Yeah, love it, can you hear?
Speaker 3 (28:41):
a little bit of it.
Yeah, I know it's early.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
I really am going to try my best, but my voice might
crack Just putting that outthere.
Go listen to it, the recordingit's better.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
I swear I'll bring flowers to our grave when I
(29:18):
think about you every day.
Maybe you just check in tocheck if you've got your grip,
but I like seeing you again,don't care about the
(29:40):
circumstance.
False hope it lingers, hopingyou'd stay a little longer.
Maybe you could move in andclutter up all my counters, but
the outcome never matters, Ijust like when you keep me
(30:21):
company.
Ooh, ooh Abby.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
That's what I wrote that morning.
I was like that's cool.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
That is so cool.
I just kind of sat on it.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
But I guess my point in writing that alone was when
you write something like that,it's like a minute in something
which you know.
If a song's three minutes,you're like kind of just wrote
the song.
I mean, why would I need tobring that into a room?
I guess that's my perspectiveon it.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Yeah, before we move on, I do just need to make a
comment that that's you sayingthat your voice isn't warmed up.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
It's early in the morning and I hate you for that,
my bad.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
You're so good.
If I tried to sing a song likethat this early in the morning,
it would not sound anyone's.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
If it makes you feel better.
I was in the traffic.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
I was like me, me, me , me, me, me, me me.
You know what I?
Speaker 2 (31:38):
mean so good.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Um, let's talk about, uh, everything you've had.
You've had a lot of stuffhappen, um and uh, some really
big moments here recently.
Uh, you just made your.
Cma Fest and Bonnaroo debut Umhuge's uh, let's talk about that
.
What did those moments mean foryou?
Speaker 2 (32:02):
well, this year is fun in particular because it's
CMA, bonnaroo, and then we haveAmericana fest, so it's like all
genres that my music kind offalls into, which is just fun,
and it's exciting to see peopleat each different event, you
know yeah so with CMA it was, Iplayed it last year and I played
(32:24):
it this year and I don't knowit.
This year I was like lessnervous for it.
Last year I was like oh my godit has to go.
Well, what if this is my onlyopportunity?
And this year I was like, allright, I know what to expect,
and so it was more just fun.
Um Bonnaroo, we got to soundcheck, then we got rained out,
(32:48):
but I was on the stage and I didplay, and I want to say that
yes, and.
I'm grateful for that and, um, Iguess what I got to see from
that is posting about it andseeing the people in the
comments like I was going to bethere.
I was so excited to see you,like, come back next year.
You know what I mean, and so,even if I didn't get to do my
(33:10):
whole set, I still got to seepeople be as excited as I was.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Which is all you can ask for, you know.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Yeah, talk about Americana Fest a little bit.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
Yeah, that's coming up yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
It's like next week the week after and you have your
own showcase.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
I do.
I get 45 minutes.
They gave that to me, which ispretty cool.
I'm excited.
I wanted to play Americana Festfor probably the last two years
since I heard about it.
And I wanted to play AmericanaFest for probably the last two
years since I heard about it.
And yeah, I don't know, we'repracticing the set.
I'm getting it all figured out.
I'm very excited.
Yeah, I don't know what else tosay about it.
(33:47):
I'm very grateful to be able toplay it.
Yeah, yeah, With everything thatyou've had going on even just
over the last year is there anymoment that you just feel like
it was a turning point for you?
(34:10):
I think what started the pushwas when Mary Jane went viral.
I think that kind of startedthe process of making a record,
which is weird to think aboutand not the most fun to be like
I have to post on social mediaand I have to go viral, you know
.
But when it works out it'sreally nice and that's built a
bit of a fan base and gottenpeople excited.
(34:31):
And I would say that was thefirst turning point in making
this project.
And then, probably also when itwas being recorded, the three
days we had in the studio to doit probably I don't know that
solidified the sound and helpedme go into rights for the rest
(34:52):
of the year, being like no, thisis what I'm going for.
Like I swear it's gonna workout.
Guys, you know that those wereprobably the two in the last
year that I was like huh, thisis working out yeah what a fun
feeling and uh, what aboutwhat's coming up next?
next we've got um, we have acouple features.
(35:15):
So for Mary Jane, this Octoberwe're putting out a feature with
Jane herself.
Some could say we worked onthat last night so it's still
fresh, but it sounds very goodand I'm really excited.
We rewrote the second and thirdverse and chorus.
So brand new and it's got a newfeel to it.
(35:36):
It's very exciting.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
This is what you were talking about right before we
started.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Right, yeah, we were in the studio till like 1130
last night and, yeah, I'm veryexcited for it.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
I can't wait to hear that.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
It's gonna be cool.
It's got a little more edge toit.
I think it's going to beexplicit.
Now I'm like mom and grandmajust don't listen to that.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
No, which is like I'm like mom and grandma, just
don't listen to that.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
No, it didn't come out.
I swear.
Yeah, that's gonna be exciting.
And then, on the anniversary ofMary Jane, we've got a surprise
got a feature in the new yearas well.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
It's gonna be good all right, yeah, I can't wait
it's like hopefully just arocket, yeah well, I, uh, I
really appreciate you coming inand sharing a little bit of your
story.
I can't wait to just continueto see what happens.
I know that there's some bigthings coming.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
I love being on this stage.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
You're welcome here anytime.
This is home for you.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
I'll just knock on the door.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
That's right.
I mean, I'm just joking this ishome for you.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
I'll just knock on the door, that's right.
Yeah, one of the one of thecoolest things is, uh, you know
I was talking earlier about, youknow, some, the so many friends
that have come across and noware huge names and, yeah, music.
And when I get those textmessages like hey, I'm off the
road for three weeks, can I comeplay a show, and it's like, oh
my gosh, like that's fun, itjust feels so good.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
So well, yeah, 20 years, you're making a legacy,
you know, yeah, thank you veryexciting so you, you have to do
the same thing.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
You have to come back and keep playing, no problem.
I always end on this question.
So if you can go back toeight-year-old Abby, Okay.
Iowa City.
What advice would you giveyourself today?
Speaker 2 (37:24):
Well, I wouldn't want to change anything because I'm
really happy with who I am andwhere I'm at.
So it's not like I'd want to goand avoid any struggles that I
went through.
But maybe I would just tellmyself to the second that I
started fully just being myselfand like being comfortable and
(37:45):
people not liking me.
I felt.
I felt like that's when mymusic and my personality really
meshed.
So I wasn't making music when Iwas eight, but I would just
tell myself to just try to beyourself a little bit more and
not someone that people like,because that just doesn't work
(38:07):
out.
No one's ever going to alwayslike you.
Not everybody's going to likewhat you do and like your
personality and understand yoursense of humor, I don't know.
So that's probably what I wouldtell my eight year old self,
cause she was just trying to dothe talent show and get people
to like her.
I don't know.
That's, I think, my advice isgreat advice.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
Yeah, I love it Well, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Thanks for having me.
This is so fun.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Yeah, and thanks everybody out there listening.
Uh, this has been anotherepisode of stories behind the
songs.
Make sure you go check out theEP grossly aware and get Abby's
music.
We will put links to all of hersocials and music and
everything in this episode.
So check that out, go followher and we'll see you next time.
This has been an episode ofstories Behind the Songs with
(38:59):
Chris Blair.
For more information after theshow, head over to chrisblaircom
.
That's where you can findinformation on these episodes
trailer notes, video links allkinds of great stuff.
Also, make sure to leave us agreat rating on iTunes.
Like and follow us on Spotify,YouTube, wherever you listen to
podcasts, Leave us a comment.
(39:20):
Let us know what you think.
I really hope that you thinkthis show is awesome and we
really appreciate the love andsupport.
I promise to keep gatheringgreat content and continuing to
sit down with more amazingsongwriters and artists as we
grow.
Thanks so much for listening.
Thanks for the support.
We'll see you next time.
you're listening to stories behind the songs with
chris blair.
For more information, check outchrisblaircom.
Today's guest is a risingartist who just put out her
first ep, grossly aware, thissummer, and she's already been
named as one of 2025's bestalbums by Holler Country and my
(00:26):
buddy, ward Gunther.
I have just gone out of rabbithole with her music.
It is so, so good.
She calls her soundKaleidoscope Country.
It's a mix of blendingAmericana, indie pop, bluegrass
and folk, and she's already beenkind of named as one of
Nashville's new artists to watchand one of the best voices
(00:49):
coming out of this town.
I'm so excited to dive into herstory.
Let's get to it.
Here is Abby Callahan how areyou?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I'm good, I'm waking up.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yeah, I'm good, I'm good, you've got your Diet Pepsi
ready to go.
Yeah, I am so excited to justkind of dive in into everything
that you've got going on.
But let's kind of start.
Take me back to.
You grew up in Iowa City.
How did you get into music, andthen what brought you to
(01:19):
Nashville and to Belmont?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I didn't think I was going to do music when I was
growing up.
I had, like my mom was ineducation, so I knew I was going
to go to college and I thoughtmaybe I'd do medical stuff or
maybe be a teacher if everythingwasn't working out.
But yeah, I just didn't thinkmusic was an option at all.
No one in my family is musical,so it was like a hobby and it
(01:44):
was something I really enjoyed.
But I didn't know it was goingto be my thing.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
When did you kind of start playing around with music?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I moved schools when I was in fourth grade.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And there was a talent show.
When I was checking into theoffice one day they were like
sign up for the talent show.
And it was like my third day ofschool and I was like like I
could make friends in the talentshow.
So I like wrote my name downand my mom was was so confused
on what I was gonna do and wewent to the basement and there's
a karaoke machine because welike to host growing up, and
(02:17):
she's like, try it out.
So I sang, like hit me withyour best shot and um, rolling
in the deep.
And she's like, yeah, that'sthe one, I don't know.
It just kind of stuck.
I had fun with it.
I didn't make friends, but atleast I had a new hobby yeah, so
I love that started out sostarted as a hobby and then kind
(02:38):
of what, what?
Speaker 1 (02:39):
uh, where was that flip for you?
Where you're like okay, I wantto move to go to Belmont and do
this.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
I was 14 when I went to my first concert, which was
Dolly, and that's you know, hardto top.
I went with my grandma and mymom and I remember seeing it.
I was like, oh, that's what Iwant to do.
It was just like a like aepiphany.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I just kind of I saw that and I was like, huh, that
makes sense to me.
I was.
I can't imagine sitting behinda desk all day and or like being
in the operating room.
I'm just like a little tooscatterbrained for that.
So I saw that I was like I cando that, I don't know, just kind
of worked out.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
So had you written music before you moved here then
, or did you just yeah, I hadyeah.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I when I first started started dating, but I
was 16, I felt like I needed toget those emotions out.
I was like man, this is notworking out.
I gotta say something, andthat's when I started writing
music.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
I love that, yeah, so all right.
So you moved, uh, you moved toNashville, um, you go into
Belmont, um, what was life likein those early days?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
I moved here during COVID so it was pretty isolated.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
You were going out all the time partying, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
No no, it was pretty isolated.
I was in my dorm all the timeand it was all online and I just
I'm the only person in myfamily that moved at that point.
Yeah, so it was a lot.
I was calling my mom every day.
I was like are you sure Ishouldn't just come back, be
there and do this?
And she's like no, I don't wantto make that drive again.
(04:26):
Um, so it was.
It was good, though.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
I learned a lot yeah and um, yeah, I don't know, the
isolation kind of is how I writetoday still so maybe you've got
a great combination of songsthat you've written with other
people and stuff that you stillwrite by yourself which I think
is awesome.
(04:49):
So I want to get into that in alittle bit.
But yeah, what?
What do you think was like someof the biggest lessons you know
moving during COVID and beinghere and then and then what was
it like?
I know that you spent a lot oftime on Broadway too, so when
did that door open and what wasit like?
I know that you spent a lot oftime on Broadway too, so when
did that door open and what wasthat like?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Well, I needed to pay for tuition so I and like I
didn't really want to doanything else and I'd never
played in a band and just somany firsts I was like I thought
Broadway was just really coolwhen I moved here, yeah, so I
started out and learned a lot ofnew music I'd never listened to
(05:30):
like the modern country.
I listened to it a little bitgrowing up.
So I just I learned so much andthen found my way into this 90s
rock grunge band and that'swhen I had so much fun in that
band.
I'd play from 10 pm to 3 am andI'd wake up for my 8 am.
It was just like a phase ofchaos, but I enjoyed every
(05:54):
second of it.
Yeah, yeah.
I learned so much.
I learned how to front a band,what kind of music got people
going, what kind of music Ididn't want to make.
But I don't know and I learnedhow, my where to put my voice in
all these different genres andit was really cool it's a good
way to cut your teeth.
I uh.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I spent when I first moved here and was doing music.
Um, before the listening room Iplayed Tootsies five nights a
week yeah, that's where I played, uh and it was so much fun and
so brutal at the same time, butyou learn so much to how to play
off a crowd and it is brutal.
And get tight with a band.
Do you think like that thosemoments are?
(06:33):
You know just kind of whathelped you create what your
voice is.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
A hundred percent and I met, like some of my still
bandmates today playing onBroadway.
I just wouldn't trade it forthe world.
I mean, yeah, it made me alittle more rough around the
edges, I think, which is good, Idon't know.
It taught me how to stand upfor myself in a crowd.
When you're out there runningthe bucket and talking to people
(06:59):
at 2 in the morning, you knowyou learn a lot when you're 21
doing that.
So, I got a lot of good storiessome you can tell, some you
can't.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, all right, let's dive into the stories
behind the songs.
Um, you have your new ep.
Uh, grossly aware that uh cameout uh this summer and uh, my
dear, dear friend Ward Gunthersaid it's the best album of 2025
(07:31):
.
Big words.
And he kind of knows music.
I trust him, so let's talkabout that.
This is an awesome EP.
I've had it on repeat the lastweek getting ready for this and
it's just like so.
So good, appreciate it.
Yeah, let's dive into.
uh, mary Jane okay take me into,uh, into the room, uh, tell me
(07:53):
how that song came about so ifyou've listened to it you know
that it has multiple differentmeanings.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
And I had written a song similar to it the week
before and when I was it waswith my friend, and when I was
in that right I was thinking ofjust all these other different
ideas that weren't going to fitinto that song but could be a
different song, and I didn'tknow how many songs about that
topic I wanted to necessarilywrite.
(08:21):
But I just wrote down in mynotes love letter to Mary Jane
and I.
Then the next week I was writinglike every single day and I had
doubles twice that week so thiswas like my last right, I think
, of the week and I went in andit was with a co-writer I really
liked and somebody knew and Isat down and I told Cole miracle
(08:43):
.
I was like I have two ideasleft that I'm excited about, and
I'm really only excited aboutthis one.
And he's like, okay, I guessthat's what we're writing today.
And I was like, yeah, I justwant to write a love letter to
Mary Jane and have it be kind ofsuggestive about personifying
her.
And then it just flowed fromthere because both of them were
(09:05):
fans of Mary Jane as well.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, so yeah, you wrote that with Cole and Forrest
Finn, so it was your first timewriting with Forrest that day.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Yeah, it was, and he was just game for it and that
was really cool.
Just have someone take youridea and be like, yeah, let all
the way, let's push it to everylittle limit.
And we wrote probably I thinkwe wrote two extra verses and we
were just trying to figure outwhat told the story the best
(09:37):
yeah and it was really fun.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It worked out really well that song is a little like
sonically different than therest of the ep was that?
Was that intentional?
Speaker 2 (09:47):
I really didn't think I would cut it, I just really I
just enjoyed the song I meanit's.
It is such a playful and funsong and it's like in a voice
that feels like me, obviously,because I wrote it, but I just I
didn't know, I don't think Iposted it the next day on TikTok
and that's when it blew up andI don't know if, if it hadn't
(10:09):
blown up, if I would have cut itor not.
I'm really happy that I did umand that it worked out.
But yeah, I just remember goingto the office the next day I
was like we wrote a really funsong and I like called people on
the way home I was like, howwas your, was your day?
I wrote a really fun song and Ijust always enjoyed it.
But yeah, it's definitelydifferent.
(10:29):
It's super fast, it's superbluegrass, like traditional
bluegrass, which is cool.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Yeah, I don't know.
You want to play a little bitof it.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, we can play it, let's do it.
Cut this part.
I'm just joking.
Cut this part, jane.
(11:01):
She's so hot she burns myfingertips and takes away the
pain.
No way smells her.
All my clothes every time Isneak in late.
Oh, what I give to Mary Jane.
Mary Jane, mary Jane.
She went to my head and sinceI've never been the same, mary
(11:25):
Jane, jane, wish that I couldmarry Jane.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
So so good.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
It's just so silly, that song.
I don't know.
It is so fun, was that one didit come out quick, yeah it was
like it was super fast and thenin between writing it, I don't
know like what explicitly I canand can't say, but just in
between writing a verse or two,everyone would tell their
(11:59):
stories of when they had liketoo much, or like I don't know.
It was just really, really fun.
It was an evening, right, andso started at like three or four
, went until eight and everyonewas just chit-chatting and I
really built friendships fromthat yeah, it's fun, so fun yeah
love it.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Uh, let's talk about just the EP overall.
Um, why did you choose GrosslyAware as the title for the
project?
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Kind of came about in a roundabout way for sure.
We were in the studio, we hadall the shoot for the cover art,
for everything done, and it wasgoing to be called the Garden
and Sierra Farrell, who's kindof in a similar sonic space as
me, had just put out a singlecalled the Garden and I was like
(12:47):
everyone on the team was likeoh, oh man, I don't know if we
want to stick with that or lookfor other things.
And so I just went through thesongs and wrote down titles that
it could be and words that kindof stuck out to me and I wrote
down grossly aware, which is inthe last song, I'll bring
flowers.
And I was like there's no waythat's going to work because
(13:11):
it's just a little odd.
And I said it and my publisherTravis was like, yeah, that's
cool.
Okay, I guess we got it.
It was kind of it just workedout.
We were in the last day in thestudio recording.
It Just felt right.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I guess I love it.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I can't imagine it being anything else now.
I can't imagine it being calledthe Garden, because it feels
much different than that.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
So I'm really happy with how it worked out.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, you know there's so much that goes in, uh
, behind the scenes and creatinga project like this, um, you
know, and the fans, uh,typically are not aware at all
of how many songs that you write, how many songs you listen to,
that you didn't write.
Um, you know all the studiotime, the planning, the
(14:03):
marketing, marketing, all ofthat.
Do you have a favorite point ingoing through the whole process
of creating the ep that youwere just like, wow, like this,
is this, is it?
Speaker 2 (14:14):
I had never gone through it to this level yeah,
it's my first time, kind ofexperiencing everything, and I
thought that I would really hatethe photo shoot aspect of it
all because that's just not mystrong suit.
I'm not the most comfortable infront of cameras and I don't
(14:35):
know I need some help when itcomes to, yeah, wear this or
don't do that with your bodylike I thought that it would.
I would really dread that day,but I got home from the whole
thing of having my makeup done,of having just a whole day
revolving around you is.
It's an interesting place to bein and.
I got home and I was like Iwish I could relive that.
(14:57):
I really enjoyed it.
It was just, I feel like I hada good team and I think,
throughout the whole project itwas just the right people
working on every little thingyeah it came together so well.
I feel like.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
I had a good team and I think, throughout the whole
project it was just the rightpeople working on every little
thing.
It came together so well.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Well, abby, get used to it, because I have a feeling
you're going to be doing a lotmore of it.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
We'll see, hopefully.
Do you have a favorite song offthe EP?
Speaker 2 (15:21):
It changes.
When I had it just to myselfand I would listen to in my car
and it wasn't out in the world,I think my favorite was Cold I
listened to that a lot.
It just is so true to me.
I wrote all the little detailsof the words down before we
wrote the song and I went inwith Oscar Charles, who produced
(15:42):
the project, and I wrote thatsong with him.
We went in that day.
We were supposed to talk aboutwhat the EP could look like, but
him and I were just too awkward.
So he was just like, do youwant to write a song?
I was like, yeah, let's write asong.
And so we wrote Cold.
And it was just all right there,all the details of who I am and
(16:03):
where I come from.
It was all there and he justhelped make it make sense in a
song which was really helpful.
But that was my favorite beforeit came out and I still love it
, and now it changes every day,just depending on the day.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
That's a great answer.
You talked about what was kindof your favorite memory of
making the EP, what was probablythe biggest challenge.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
I haven't thought about that, maybe.
Yeah, it was probably recordingStrawberry California.
That was kind of tough.
We couldn't figure out how toplay that as a band live until
we recorded it.
I mean, there's time changesbetween the verse and the chorus
and it goes back and forth andI wrote that by myself and it's
(16:56):
just something that felt rightin the moment.
But we could just neverrecreate that the way it should
have sounded.
So getting that recorded wasprobably the toughest part, but
Charlie Worsham did all theguitar.
So saying it's a challenge islike not really.
You know, I played it for himand he was like oh, this is
(17:17):
intricate.
And like two seconds later heplayed it perfectly, you know.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
So that's Charlie.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
That's the hardest part I guess, but then he just
nailed it thanks for, uh, beingvulnerable and sharing that.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, um, I think that's a perfect transition.
Um, you know, just kind of likewriting songs by yourself and
kind of finding your voice andcreating something.
You've described your sound askaleidoscope country and I want
to dive into.
Okay, what does that mean toyou?
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Well, okay, we found it by chat.
Gpt, we were talking about it.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
My best friend, I hate.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
AI.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
I hate it.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I'm very anti, but it works out.
You know what Sometimes it givesyou things you wouldn't.
I would never have thoughtabout calling it that, but I
like we had my group chat ofeveryone working on the project
and someone sent that and I waslike, oh, I love that.
I think it's so cool.
I've never heard someonedescribe music that way, so I
(18:22):
just liked how it sounded atfirst, of it being kind of
trippy and psychedelic and alsocountry and a little bit 90s
when you think of a kaleidoscopeand when that was yeah popular,
but then the more I've sat withit, I think it works so well
because a kaleidoscope is alwayschanging and it gives me room
(18:43):
to change and have my music besomething different.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
It's so cool.
Yeah, um, there's a lot of uhcross genre acts right now, um,
and blending of two genrestogether.
Um, do you think your audience,uh is more open to that kind of
thing?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Hopefully, hopefully, Cause I anticipate it changing
more and more and more.
But I guess we'll see.
I don't know.
I think country's in a coolspace right now.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
It is yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Everyone's doing their own unique thing.
So I think people are ready forsomething different, especially
with like I was talking about,with like AI and everything
being kind of made up in that.
In that way, having it be humanand having music be someone's
(19:38):
unique experience, it makes it.
I don't know what people needright now, I guess, so we'll see
.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
I think you know one of the one of the coolest things
um, we're almost to 20 yearshere at the listening room which
is just insane, um, but youknow, going back to the very
beginning, and so many closefriends that I've watched walk
across the stage and kind of.
You know, now they're all on thesea maze, um, but you know, one
(20:12):
of the coolest things to me isis when I would get stopped
walking through the room by avoice that was just so different
and so unique and I think, um,right or wrong, there's so many
people that move to Nashvilleand they, you know, have their
quote unquote voice, but itsounds just like you name it.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Right.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Um, and that was one of the biggest things that I
loved about you when I firstheard your music is like wow,
this is.
This is so different, it's sogood.
The way that you run your lines, um is is you.
It doesn't sound like anybodyelse, and I love that.
The question is sometimes, whenthat new voice comes out, there
(20:58):
can also be pushback.
Have you gotten any pushback,and does that make you question
anything, or does that justmotivate you to to drive even
deeper?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Well, there's the comparison off the bat.
You know, I've had some viralmoments over the last year which
was completely new to me, sothat was in itself something to
process, but there were a lot oflike Sierra Farrell or Casey
Musgraves or people that are ina similar lane.
People are like oh, this is justlike that.
Oh, this is just like that.
Oh, this is just like that.
(21:33):
And it's like cool to be in thesame box, but I don't ever want
to have to stay there, if thatmakes sense.
And then, with Mary Jane being,you know, a little suggestive
and just open to interpretation,people had lots to say about
that.
They were like it's normalizingcheating, it's talking about
(21:54):
such bad habits and country.
This can't be country music andall that which I mean gets to
anybody.
But maybe I'm just immature.
But to me, when someone's like,maybe I'm just immature, but to
me, when someone's like youcan't do that, I don't like this
, I'm like Hmm, I have to proveeveryone wrong.
(22:17):
I like maybe that's something Ineed to work on, but it's
inspired other songs.
It's inspired a song that we'reworking on putting out right
now.
So I don't know, I don't thinkit's a bad thing.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I don't either, no, I mean it's weird to deal with at
first, but and I mean I thinkyou know, just just from my take
, I mean you know, yeah, youmight fall in those same camps,
but it is truly unique anddifferent, like you don't sound
like Casey.
You don't say you know likeit's.
It, is it when, when you hearyour songs, I can, I can listen
(22:54):
to it and go immediately likethat's Abby, yeah, so you know I
think the way that you'reapproaching that is is great and
just keep doing what you'redoing Cause it's working.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
And, yeah, can't wait to hear what else you come up
with Me too.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
We'll see.
All right, let's dive intoanother one.
Let's talk about I'll BringFlowers.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Yeah, well, this is a solo write as well.
Three of the seven are and whydid you?
we'll talk about the idea, butthen also why you chose to write
it alone.
I feel like I didn't choose towrite it alone.
I'll get these like sparks ofinspiration and of ideas, and
(23:36):
sometimes it's like I'm justsitting down and I'm like, oh, I
just wrote a verse in a chorus.
Why would I bring that tosomebody else if I just wrote a
good chunk of the song?
So it's not like I'm like thisis just for me.
I don't know.
It just kind of happens to bethat way.
(23:56):
And with All Bring Flowers Iwas talking to somebody from my
past again and him and I we goback and forth like that, but it
never ends up sticking around.
It just makes both of us sadand then I don't know why we
keep doing it.
But that's why I wrote the song.
I saw a quote something likethat was in the first verse and
(24:22):
it just sparked it.
And then I just wrote it fromhow I was feeling in the moment
of knowing that it wasn't goingto last.
But we both have a love foreach other.
It's been interpreted in so manydifferent ways.
Like my grandma.
Oh, my gosh, this is so crazy.
My grandma, she's like Abby.
I love this song the day itcame out.
(24:44):
I love this song.
I think about it from likesomeday when your grandpa dies,
I'll bring flowers to his grave.
I'm like, why would you tell methat?
So it's like I don't know.
I guess can be whatever youwant it to be, but that one was
crazy.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Love her though, but yeah, it's like I don't want to
think about that.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Why are you thinking about that?
Speaker 1 (25:05):
I don't know it feels like a very intimate song.
Would you say that it's themost personal song on the EP.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
A hundred percent, like when I wrote it.
I sent it to my publisher and Iwas like hey, I know this is a
bit out there.
I know it's very blunt in whatI'm saying and I don't know if
I'll do anything with it, butwhat do you think?
And he was like this is cool.
And I wasn't.
(25:35):
It wasn't my intention to writesomething to put on a project.
It wasn't like I needed to filla spot, I just needed to write
that song.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
And I think that's why it touches people and why
that's some people's favorites,especially live, live.
We always play that last forsome reason.
I don't know where else to putit in the set because it's so
sad, um, but that's always theone that people are like.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
That gave me goosebumps, or that was my
favorite one, and that one Irelated to, and yeah so I don't
know, I just needed to be toldand it's, it's like journaling
when you're writing a song likethat yeah, so let's, let's dive
a little bit deeper into thewriting process of that one, uh,
and then I'd love to hear alittle bit of that one too, okay
(26:24):
, but especially as a solo right.
Um, you know, you said thatsometimes you just get these
inspirations and you just youknow, you just, you just go for
it, which I think is awesome.
Um, tell me, tell me more aboutjust the idea, where you came up
(26:44):
with that idea, how that kindof grew into the point that you
were just like, okay, I've gotto get this out right now.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I forget the exact quote I saw, but it was
something like, something somorbid, like, just like the
first lines of that song areI'll bring flowers to our grave
when I think about you every day.
And I just wanted to talk aboutI think in breakups a lot of
times people are like oh, Idon't like that person, uh, blah
(27:13):
, blah, like they're not a good,like like whatever.
They're saying all thesenegative things.
And when it came to this person, I just don't have anything
negative to say other than itjust didn't work out and that's
sad.
And I think that's relatable.
In friendship, in a worksituation, in relationships, in
(27:33):
any capacity, you can just lovesomebody and there can still be
love there and I don't know.
I just I needed to write it andI was sitting at my kitchen
table in my first like soloapartment in Nashville and like
in the morning I was like man, Iam just sad and I want to say
(27:55):
that I'm sad and I don't want tomake it pretty, I just want to
make it like raw and then itended up with the melody being
pretty as well.
But I don't know, I just neededto say it and for me
songwriting is it's likejournaling.
When your therapist is likejournal in the morning, that is
me journaling in the morning, Idon't know.
(28:18):
It just kind of fell out in away.
I wrote the first verse inpre-chorus and chorus, that in
that probably 30 minutes, and Iwent on a walk and I was like
it's cool, I like what I justdid.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
And came back to it maybe a week later, finished it.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Yeah, love it, can you hear?
Speaker 3 (28:41):
a little bit of it.
Yeah, I know it's early.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
I really am going to try my best, but my voice might
crack Just putting that outthere.
Go listen to it, the recordingit's better.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
I swear I'll bring flowers to our grave when I
(29:18):
think about you every day.
Maybe you just check in tocheck if you've got your grip,
but I like seeing you again,don't care about the
(29:40):
circumstance.
False hope it lingers, hopingyou'd stay a little longer.
Maybe you could move in andclutter up all my counters, but
the outcome never matters, Ijust like when you keep me
(30:21):
company.
Ooh, ooh Abby.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
That's what I wrote that morning.
I was like that's cool.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
That is so cool.
I just kind of sat on it.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
But I guess my point in writing that alone was when
you write something like that,it's like a minute in something
which you know.
If a song's three minutes,you're like kind of just wrote
the song.
I mean, why would I need tobring that into a room?
I guess that's my perspectiveon it.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Yeah, before we move on, I do just need to make a
comment that that's you sayingthat your voice isn't warmed up.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
It's early in the morning and I hate you for that,
my bad.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
You're so good.
If I tried to sing a song likethat this early in the morning,
it would not sound anyone's.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
If it makes you feel better.
I was in the traffic.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
I was like me, me, me , me, me, me, me me.
You know what I?
Speaker 2 (31:38):
mean so good.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Um, let's talk about, uh, everything you've had.
You've had a lot of stuffhappen, um and uh, some really
big moments here recently.
Uh, you just made your.
Cma Fest and Bonnaroo debut Umhuge's uh, let's talk about that
.
What did those moments mean foryou?
Speaker 2 (32:02):
well, this year is fun in particular because it's
CMA, bonnaroo, and then we haveAmericana fest, so it's like all
genres that my music kind offalls into, which is just fun,
and it's exciting to see peopleat each different event, you
know yeah so with CMA it was, Iplayed it last year and I played
(32:24):
it this year and I don't knowit.
This year I was like lessnervous for it.
Last year I was like oh my godit has to go.
Well, what if this is my onlyopportunity?
And this year I was like, allright, I know what to expect,
and so it was more just fun.
Um Bonnaroo, we got to soundcheck, then we got rained out,
(32:48):
but I was on the stage and I didplay, and I want to say that
yes, and.
I'm grateful for that and, um, Iguess what I got to see from
that is posting about it andseeing the people in the
comments like I was going to bethere.
I was so excited to see you,like, come back next year.
You know what I mean, and so,even if I didn't get to do my
(33:10):
whole set, I still got to seepeople be as excited as I was.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Which is all you can ask for, you know.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Yeah, talk about Americana Fest a little bit.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
Yeah, that's coming up yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
It's like next week the week after and you have your
own showcase.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
I do.
I get 45 minutes.
They gave that to me, which ispretty cool.
I'm excited.
I wanted to play Americana Festfor probably the last two years
since I heard about it.
And I wanted to play AmericanaFest for probably the last two
years since I heard about it.
And yeah, I don't know, we'repracticing the set.
I'm getting it all figured out.
I'm very excited.
Yeah, I don't know what else tosay about it.
(33:47):
I'm very grateful to be able toplay it.
Yeah, yeah, With everything thatyou've had going on even just
over the last year is there anymoment that you just feel like
it was a turning point for you?
(34:10):
I think what started the pushwas when Mary Jane went viral.
I think that kind of startedthe process of making a record,
which is weird to think aboutand not the most fun to be like
I have to post on social mediaand I have to go viral, you know
.
But when it works out it'sreally nice and that's built a
bit of a fan base and gottenpeople excited.
(34:31):
And I would say that was thefirst turning point in making
this project.
And then, probably also when itwas being recorded, the three
days we had in the studio to doit probably I don't know that
solidified the sound and helpedme go into rights for the rest
(34:52):
of the year, being like no, thisis what I'm going for.
Like I swear it's gonna workout.
Guys, you know that those wereprobably the two in the last
year that I was like huh, thisis working out yeah what a fun
feeling and uh, what aboutwhat's coming up next?
next we've got um, we have acouple features.
(35:15):
So for Mary Jane, this Octoberwe're putting out a feature with
Jane herself.
Some could say we worked onthat last night so it's still
fresh, but it sounds very goodand I'm really excited.
We rewrote the second and thirdverse and chorus.
So brand new and it's got a newfeel to it.
(35:36):
It's very exciting.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
This is what you were talking about right before we
started.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Right, yeah, we were in the studio till like 1130
last night and, yeah, I'm veryexcited for it.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
I can't wait to hear that.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
It's gonna be cool.
It's got a little more edge toit.
I think it's going to beexplicit.
Now I'm like mom and grandmajust don't listen to that.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
No, which is like I'm like mom and grandma, just
don't listen to that.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
No, it didn't come out.
I swear.
Yeah, that's gonna be exciting.
And then, on the anniversary ofMary Jane, we've got a surprise
got a feature in the new yearas well.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
It's gonna be good all right, yeah, I can't wait
it's like hopefully just arocket, yeah well, I, uh, I
really appreciate you coming inand sharing a little bit of your
story.
I can't wait to just continueto see what happens.
I know that there's some bigthings coming.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
I love being on this stage.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
You're welcome here anytime.
This is home for you.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
I'll just knock on the door.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
That's right.
I mean, I'm just joking this ishome for you.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
I'll just knock on the door, that's right.
Yeah, one of the one of thecoolest things is, uh, you know
I was talking earlier about, youknow, some, the so many friends
that have come across and noware huge names and, yeah, music.
And when I get those textmessages like hey, I'm off the
road for three weeks, can I comeplay a show, and it's like, oh
my gosh, like that's fun, itjust feels so good.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
So well, yeah, 20 years, you're making a legacy,
you know, yeah, thank you veryexciting so you, you have to do
the same thing.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
You have to come back and keep playing, no problem.
I always end on this question.
So if you can go back toeight-year-old Abby, Okay.
Iowa City.
What advice would you giveyourself today?
Speaker 2 (37:24):
Well, I wouldn't want to change anything because I'm
really happy with who I am andwhere I'm at.
So it's not like I'd want to goand avoid any struggles that I
went through.
But maybe I would just tellmyself to the second that I
started fully just being myselfand like being comfortable and
(37:45):
people not liking me.
I felt.
I felt like that's when mymusic and my personality really
meshed.
So I wasn't making music when Iwas eight, but I would just
tell myself to just try to beyourself a little bit more and
not someone that people like,because that just doesn't work
(38:07):
out.
No one's ever going to alwayslike you.
Not everybody's going to likewhat you do and like your
personality and understand yoursense of humor, I don't know.
So that's probably what I wouldtell my eight year old self,
cause she was just trying to dothe talent show and get people
to like her.
I don't know.
That's, I think, my advice isgreat advice.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
Yeah, I love it Well, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Thanks for having me.
This is so fun.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Yeah, and thanks everybody out there listening.
Uh, this has been anotherepisode of stories behind the
songs.
Make sure you go check out theEP grossly aware and get Abby's
music.
We will put links to all of hersocials and music and
everything in this episode.
So check that out, go followher and we'll see you next time.
This has been an episode ofstories Behind the Songs with
(38:59):
Chris Blair.
For more information after theshow, head over to chrisblaircom
.
That's where you can findinformation on these episodes
trailer notes, video links allkinds of great stuff.
Also, make sure to leave us agreat rating on iTunes.
Like and follow us on Spotify,YouTube, wherever you listen to
podcasts, Leave us a comment.
(39:20):
Let us know what you think.
I really hope that you thinkthis show is awesome and we
really appreciate the love andsupport.
I promise to keep gatheringgreat content and continuing to
sit down with more amazingsongwriters and artists as we
grow.
Thanks so much for listening.
Thanks for the support.
We'll see you next time.
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