Hi Carolee, and welcome to College Radio Charts! How have you been? How was your summer?
I’ve been busy thanks! Summer flew by with some wild weather in the mix.
You have some new music coming out today, but before we dive into that, can you give us a little background on how you got started in music?
Looking back, I was always involved in music in some capacity. Growing up it was a mixture of musical theatre, folk music competitions, school chorus’s etc.
Did you come from a musical family?
Although my immediate family did not play instruments there was music always playing in the house… my ancestral family was more directly musical.
What are some of your earliest musical memories?
My earliest musical memories are when I was about 3 or 4 and I remember riding my tricycle one day and my parents were listening to ‘these boots were made for walking’ and thinking to myself when I grow up I want to fit inside one of those records so I can sing like that!
You released the single “Hard Times in the Heart” earlier this year and you recorded with musicians from Emmy Lou Harris’s band. What was it like recording in Nashville and collaborating with such legendary talent?
Recording ‘Hard Times In The Heart’ in Nashville was a great experience because we all just sat in a circle and performed the song together in one take. It was very exciting. It was incredible playing with such great musicians as Eamon McLaughlin and Chris Donohue.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from collaborating with such seasoned artists?
I think the most valuable lesson I’ve learned from these seasoned artists is that they always seem to have a great deal of focus on the task at hand. There are no distractions. Also, they were very humble which I completely admire.
Your new single “Aura” just dropped. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the track?
My first inspiration for ‘Aura’ came from when Dave (Sapphire founder) told me about his first date with his now wife. Apparently there was an electrical storm. Nothing like a sure sign from the Universe right?
What was the writing and recording process like for the new single?
The writing and recording process for ‘Aura’ was somewhat comical. I needed another original song to record and literally had about 15 hrs to do so because the studio was booked the next day. So I went to my hotel bar and had a great bourbon and went back to my room and started writing away. I woke up at 5:am with my arms around the guitar and all the lights still on. We recorded ‘Aura’ at 10:am. Can you hear the coffee in my voice?
You’ve been releasing singles almost monthly, leading up to the release of your full-length album, Grateful. How do these songs connect to each other? Is there a central theme tying them together?
I believe all the songs on the ‘Grateful’ album are connected by different kinds of love. What I mean by that is that each song represents love in a different way with a different story. Some are painful and deep ( like upcoming ‘Lady Of The Sea’ and ‘Walk Away’) and some are fun and sentimental like (Be All Mine’ and ‘Grateful).
As someone who started their career with a publishing deal, what advice would you give to emerging artists who are trying to make it in today’s music industry?
Don’t get discouraged when you figure out that songwriting is more work than you can ever imagine. It truly must be a labor of love!
Your path as a folk-rock Americana artist is deeply intertwined with your love for painting. How does your visual art influence your music, and vice versa?
My visual art of painting has greatly influenced my songwriting because I constantly step away from my songs and re-evaluate lyrics and melody like I will with my paintings with color and design. I have to practice patience all the time, that is something that doesn’t come easy.
You’re about to release a documentary with Theory Films. Can you tell us what the film is about?
My short Documentary is somewhat like an art piece with a message. My favorite takeaway message (there are a few) is to give your imagination as much freedom as possible to tap into what makes you happy because ultimately that’s what will sustain and root you during your journey here.
Any dream collaborators you’d like to work with in the future?
Dream Collaborators? Tons! Brandi Carlile, Megan Moroney, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks and many more.
What’s next for Carolee Rainey? Any live performances coming up or plans for taking your music on the road?
Yes! My next concert is on Thursday October 24th at:
1928 Cocktail Club (1018 Main Street, Branford, CT)
I will be playing some acoustic songs from the new album. Come on down! Tickets are still available through eventbrite! Other shows for the holidays are currently being booked as well.
Thank you so much for spending time with us today, Carolee! Where can people go to find out more about you and your music?
Thanks so much for the conversation! People can find me:
@caroleeraineytunes (Insta, FB, YouTube, Spotify, Pandora etc)
