NCD Writers Room

Jim Casey talks with Ray Scott about his small-town upbringing, early childhood memories of his father singing country music, the country and rock music that influenced him in his teens, his family’s sense of humor, learning how to sing with his baritone voice, how much he enjoys humorous songs, his fans in Europe, performing on the Grand Ole Opry, his new album, Guitars For Sale, and more. Show Participants • Ray Scott • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/06/07/ray-scott-talks-mixing-humor-and-music-unleashing-his-baritone-voice-and-creating-new-album-guitar-for-sale

Jim Casey talks with A Thousand Horses frontman Michael Hobby about moving to Nashville in 2005, the breakout success of their debut single, “Smoke,” being on big tours with Darius Rucker and Jason Aldean, the band’s new album, Bridges, and more. Show Participants • Michael Hobby of A Thousand Horses • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/06/02/a-thousand-horses-frontman-michael-hobby-talks-moving-to-nashville-breakout-success-big-tours-new-album-bridges

Jim Casey talks with Devin Dawson about getting nervous for his first time performing—and talking with Ricky Skaggs and Whisperin’ Bill Anderson backstage—at the Grand Ole Opry, growing up in California, his “biggest music fan I know” mother, playing heavy metal in a band with his twin brother as a teenager, his lifelong love of songwriting, his debut single, “All On Me,” working on his upcoming debut album, touring with Maren Morris, looking forward to opening for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on their Soul2Soul tour this summer and more. Show Participants • Devin Dawson • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/06/01/devin-dawson-talks-opry-debut-jitters-touring-with-and-being-inspired-by-maren-morris-and-debut-single-all-on-me

Jim Casey talks with Ryan Hurd about his first-time Kentucky Derby experience with girlfriend Maren Morris, how he started songwriting after getting a sociology degree at Belmont University in Nashville, his first big break when Jake Owen recorded his song “Surefire Feeling,” being grateful for getting songs that he wrote recorded by other well-known artists like Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum, working on his own EPs and upcoming full-length album, his new single, “Love In a Bar,” and more. Show Participants • Ryan Hurd • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/05/26/ryan-hurd-talks-writing-hits-for-fgl-dierks-bentley-blake-shelton-lady-antebellum-more-his-upcoming-debut-album-and-new-single-love-in-a-bar

Lisa Konicki talks with Tyler Farr about how he has become a better singer following vocal surgery in January 2016, recognizing his own faults and trying to improve himself, how much he’s enjoying co-producing his upcoming new album and his new single, “I Should Go To Church.”

Jim Casey talks with Pat Green about breaking his collarbone, his favorite albums from his vast catalog, selling out stadiums, losing and finding his pug puppy, his new single, “Drinkin’ Days," and more. Show Participants • Pat Green • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/05/23/proud-son-of-texas-pat-green-talks-breaking-bones-finding-ugg-the-pug-favorite-albums-new-single-drinkin-days-more

Jim Casey talks with Chris Janson about getting recharged by spending some time on the beach with his family, giving people a break from the real world for three minutes with his feel-good songs, his love of the “mixology” culture despite no longer drinking alcohol, his new single, “Fix a Drink,” working on his next album, the “reverence and respect” he has for the Grand Ole Opry and more. Show Participants • Chris Janson • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/05/18/chris-janson-talks-recharging-with-the-family-on-the-beach-singing-feel-good-songs-that-mean-something-and-new-single-fix-a-drink

Jim Casey talks with Maggie Rose about her early affinity for singing as a child, the high bar for being a musical artist in Nashville, sharing a van with trio Post Monroe while on CMT’s Next Women of Country Tour, appreciating her peer Lauren Alaina’s voice and perseverance, her new EP, More Dreams Than Dollars, and she performs an acoustic rendition of her new single, “Body On Fire.” Show Participants • Maggie Rose • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/05/15/maggie-rose-talks-cmts-next-women-of-country-tour-new-ep-more-dreams-than-dollars-and-performs-new-single-body-on-fire

Jim Casey talks with Luke Combs about buying his first guitar at the age of 21, getting his start playing in the same Boone, North Carolina clubs that Eric Church played, his new album and the success of his debut single, “Hurricane,” and more. Show Participants • Luke Combs • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/05/11/luke-combs-talks-learning-to-play-guitar-at-21-super-nice-dude-eric-church-new-album-and-success-of-debut-single-hurricane

Lisa Konicki talks with Hayley Orrantia about her role as Erica Goldberg on ABC’s hit comedy series, “The Goldbergs,” how her pursuit of a record deal got her into acting, working to establish a country music career in Nashville, her new single, “Give Me Back Sunday,” and more. Show Participants • Hayley Orrantia • Lisa Konicki, NCD editor in chief Listen to “Give Me Back Sunday” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hx7Hpyfdbg Read “Hayley Orrantia Carves Her Own Path in Music City” http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/04/25/hayley-orrantia-carves-her-own-path-in-music-city/

Lisa Konicki talks with Kaylee Rutland about how she got started in music in a children’s choir at her local church in Texas, meeting singer/songwriter Jamie O’Neal, who would later go on to become her co-writer and producer, studying music business at Belmont University in Nashville, her debut single, “Pick Me Up,” and more. Show Participants • Kaylee Rutland • Lisa Konicki, NCD editor in chief Kaylee Rutland’s website: http://kayleerutland.com/ Read “Who’s New: Kaylee Rutland” http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/04/24/whos-new-kaylee-rutland/

Jim Casey talks with Kelleigh Bannen about her Irish name, her podcast series, This Nashville Life, what it means to be a member of CMT’s Next Women of Country class, her new single, “Church Clothes,” working on new music and more. Show Participants • Kelleigh Bannen • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/05/04/kelleigh-bannen-talks-about-her-fine-irish-name-hosting-podcast-new-song-video-church-clothes-more

Jim Casey talks with good ol' boy Colt Ford about how there is more luck in music than there is in golf, his sixth studio album, Love Hope Faith, collaborating with “anybody that’s not afraid to doing something cool,” never having a song in the Top 20, losing weight, and more. Show Participants • Colt Ford • Jim Casey, NCD managing editor Show Notes & Links: http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/05/05/colt-ford-talks-golf-collaborating-with-other-country-stars-losing-weight-and-new-album-love-hope-faith

Jim Casey talks with Kelsea Ballerini about how busy she has been lately, the magic of her single, “Peter Pan,” the 2-year anniversary of the release of her debut album, The First Time, being the first solo female artist in the history of the world who’s first three songs all reached No. 1, her upcoming sophomore album and more. Show Participants • Kelsea Ballerini • Jim Casey, NCD managing editor Show Notes & Links Kelsea Ballerini’s website https://www.kelseaballerini.com/ “Yeah Boy” music video https://youtu.be/z30z8ZnM73U

Lisa talks with Bailey Bryan about growing up in Sequim, Washington, her love of songwriting, how country music became the kind of music she wanted to make, her cross-genre musical influences, making the jump to Nashville with her family, recovering from surgery to correct for scoliosis, the songs on her debut EP, “So Far,” and more. Show Participants • Bailey Bryan • Lisa Konicki, NCD editor in chief Bailey Bryan’s website: http://www.baileybryan.com/