The fact that there are country music fans all over the world gives credence to the format as people from different backgrounds can find a common connection in the genre known for storytelling and complex simplicity. And among those worldwide fans are worldwide artists. Australia gave us Keith Urban and Morgan Evans. Lucie Silvas hails from England, while Shania Twain, Lindsay Ell, Terri Clark and High Valley are just a few of Canada’s best.
New Zealand’s Americana singer/songwriter Jamie McDell has been in the music industry since she was 16, and found global success in 2015 when her pop single “Moon Shines Red” was featured in the hit TV show Pretty Little Liars. Now 26, Jamie is ready to deliver her independently-released country album Extraordinary Girl, available tomorrow May 10th.
We caught up with Jamie to talk about her musical journey starting as a teenage songwriting prodigy, the production of her latest release, and more.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
JM: I guess the first thing I like to make people aware of is that I spent a large part of my childhood growing up on boats, that’s where the sailing references come from and my inability to feel completely comfortable inland. My parents are both musical and surrounded my sister and I with music growing up (mainly John Denver and Jimmy Buffett) so the act of singing came pretty naturally. I got inspired to write my first song at 7 about a dolphin, although looking back the lyrics were mine but the melody I ripped off the Flipper movie theme song. I’ve been writing songs as my main form of processing life experiences ever since and along the way I’ve been signed, unsigned, had some commercial success in the NZ music industry but have always felt most at home singing un-plugged, John Denver songs with my family and I guess that’s what lead me to Nashville and country music.
CN: Which musicians, country or not, have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
JM: John Denver and Jimmy Buffett were often the only cassette tapes we had onboard the boat so I can’t help it, they always give me the warmest music listening experience. I’ve always found Jimmy Buffett’s way of humorous storytelling really clever, and have always hoped I might one day achieve the level of pure, crisp vocal performance John Denver delivers in those one take recordings. Growing up watching Kiwi legends Anika Moa and Bic Runga perform with guitars was inspiring to me also, I’m grateful to have had women like that to look up to, who write their truths and control their instruments. If I’m honest, the only songs of mine I’m really proud of are the ones that can stand alone without relying on production, where the story is strong and the vocal is honest and I think those are important things these artists have taught me, elements I’ll always strive to prioritize.
CN: What is the country scene like in New Zealand? How does it compare to Nashville?
JM: In terms of platforms, we haven’t got country radio or big country festivals, in fact, I’ve even been advised by some industry professionals not to label a record country because people might misunderstand the genre. It is definitely growing and that’s mainly thanks to the artists that are simply just making great music, Marlon Williams, Tami Neilson, Kaylee Bell, Holly Arrowsmith to name a few, they’re creating awareness around the diverse sub-genres that surround country music and certainly making it more accessible to Kiwis. Our country music scene isn’t quite where we, as artists, would like it to be but overall New Zealand is a wonderful place to make music. We have a really tight community and the positive thing about being so far away from the rest of the world is that you’re often left to your own devices which makes for a bunch of very hands-on and innovative musicians. For example, I was signed to a major at 16 but I’d never actually even heard of the concept of co-writing till I was about 18. In my mind, everybody just wrote their own songs and that was that. The possibility of having a job as a songwriter from 9-5 was totally alien, and really something I was only exposed to when I first traveled to Nashville two years ago.
CN: A teenage prodigy, you were 16 years old when you signed with EMI. At what age did you discover songwriting?
JM: Matt Headland (head of EMI at the time) can correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the reason I was signed was my prolific songwriting at that age. I’d discovered songwriting many years before signing the deal. I actually remember before I had met with EMI I had another meeting with a local manager who suggested I do a cover of this song that was really popular in Sweden to kick things off, I’m glad my instinct kicked in, I knew I only wanted to be part of the industry if I could write the songs myself. Even once I was signed, credit to Matt, I was only ever encouraged to work on my own craft, none of the ‘hitmaker’ writing trips that happen these days. It was what a development deal should be, I’m really grateful for that. The production on my first record was a little more commercially conscious sure, but the songs were 100% written by me and I’m actually really proud of that and forever grateful that that was my first experience of creating an album.
CN: Can you take us through your song writing process? Do you draw mostly from personal experiences, or from those around you?
JM: It’s honestly anything and everything and more often than not I only realize what the song is really about once I’ve written it and am listening back to it. I usually prefer writing a full song start to finish reasonably quickly and then going back to it later and seeing if I can make improvements or make anything clearer. If I’m writing alone, I don’t really have the patience to go over every single word – though this is something I’m working on. I think my best form of inspiration is usually disagreeing with a comment someone makes in a conversation I’m having, maybe I’m a coward but I prefer to develop a response in song form rather than at the time.
CN: Do you remember the first song you wrote?
JM: It was the one I wrote at 7 years old to the Flipper theme song with my own lyrics. We were living on a boat at the time in the Mediterranean and we’d see dolphins almost every day, I felt a special connection to them and believed they followed this song that I would sing… I watched The Little Mermaid quite a lot back then.
CN: You recently released your new single “Extraordinary Girl” on April 19th, which is very emotional and personal about a very close friend of yours. Please share with us the story behind this song.
JM: I wrote it for a dear friend who would often describe to me hideous acts of abuse her partner had inflicted upon her, but always with a tone of voice that made it seem normal or acceptable. My tact was to always try and help her understand just how extraordinary she was and how much better she deserved, that’s where the lyric flowed on from. It was one of the easiest tracks to record; live, about three takes, with a session band in Nashville, House Of Blues Studio D.
CN: How do you hope the song will help raise awareness regarding abusive relationships and how we can support a friend that’s caught in one?
JM: I can’t actually speak for someone who’s in an abusive relationship, I’m lucky to have never had those experiences first hand. As you can see/hear I’ve had close friends and family members live through these harsh times and looking at the ones who have come out the other side, I think it comes down to self-esteem, having a solid support system, and finding the strength to believe that you deserve much better. So sharing the sentiment of ‘Extraordinary Girl’, it’s important to let that friend know that you’re there to help if they need you, that you believe in their intelligence and beauty even if they can’t quite see it for themselves. I would also like to say, even though this particular situation involved a male to female, physical and/or emotional abuse can be a reality for anybody and at the end of the day it’s about harnessing that love for your self, that allows you to stand up to anyone who would ever try to belittle that or take it away.
CN: “Extraordinary Girl” is also the title track of your upcoming album out May 10th. The 12-track album showcases your warm vocals while bringing yourself back to your country roots. What made you decide to come back “home”?
JM: It wasn’t really a matter of waking up one morning and deciding to make a country record, my writing style had always lent this way but I think taking that first trip to Nashville gave me the confidence to celebrate these elements of my songwriting rather than shy away from them. It was simply just sitting in open mic nights and watching the audience loving response to good storytelling and songwriting craft and it kind of hit me in the face that these values still mattered to people. I felt safe in Nashville and like I had the freedom I needed to just do what I love to do. Thankfully, Nashville also lead me to Nash Chambers who produced the record and shares these same values. He’s incredibly down to earth and never looked at me like an ex-child-pop-star, he doesn’t care about any of that stuff, he puts the music first.
CN: What can fans expect to hear on the album?
JM: Honesty. It’s a word that’s thrown around a bit nowadays but that’s really what this record revolves around, honest lyrics and an honest vocal. It was recorded live in two days so of course there are imperfections (mainly on my part) here and there, but it amplifies the subject matter. You’ll hopefully learn a little more about me and the many ways I tend to process things, whether it be missing the sea, calling out a bad attitude, or apologizing for a first love, it’s all truth.
CN: You had the opportunity to work with Kasey Chambers, Bill Chambers and Tami Neilson on the album. What was that experience like?
JM: All artists I am extremely inspired by and truly humbled that they would consider lending their vocals. I actually met Bill a few years prior and we’d written a song together about a boy I’d met on a sailing trip. He kept up with me ever since, often asking if anything had ever come of the boy – just shows how invested he is in his stories! Kasey, obviously someone I’ve grown up listening to and covering in my school rock bands and of course, when I started working with Nash I knew the connection but never really considered Kasey singing on one of the songs to be possible!! Once we’d recorded Tori I think we both knew she’d be a perfect feature so we put it out there, and the humble, lovely person she is, she said yes! Tami, again, is another strong woman I really admire for her self-driven career and incomparable talent. When I wrote “No Womans Land” I knew straight away it was going to need a power-house vocal, Tami was the only person I could think of. She’s become a very supportive, dear friend.
CN: It’s been almost a decade since you signed that EMI deal, and you have received NZ Music Award nominations, took home the award for Best Pop Album of 2013, and gained worldwide exposure with your song “Moon Shines Red” featured on the TV show “Pretty Little Liars.” How would you summarize your life experience over those years, and is there anything you would tell your 16 year old self that you might not have known then?
JM: I feel extremely privileged to have started off my career with such a robust support team. I’ve had my ups and downs with label relationships but I’ve certainly learned a lot from an artist and business perspective. I got to experience some commercial success and also some lows and in doing so figure out what really excites me about being a musician. There’s nothing I would change, I’m at a good and honest place in my musical journey and I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without those valuable lessons learned at a young age, I’m excited to make a few more mistakes and keep growing.
CN: Do you have a dream collaboration in mind?
JM: I just think me and Jimmy Buffett would get on really well.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
JM: I actually can’t do this, it’s too hard!
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
JM: I was super young, there was this girl band back home called True Bliss. Sort of like our version of the Spice Girls.
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you? Will there be a tour in support of the album?
JM: I’ve just moved to Toronto so I’m actually just settling in here and getting some writing done. I’ll be taking a few trips to Nashville and around the states this year so hopefully, I can incorporate a few shows into those!
For more information on Jamie McDell, visit her website at www.jamiemcdell.co.nz and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.