Hello Mary how are you?
I am great, thank you!
Congratulations on the release of The Poison I Choose how does it feel?
It has been surreal, I have been working towards this release for some time now. Having the album out everywhere has been a dream of mine and I am excited for what’s next.
It’s a 12 track album what’s your favourite track?
I always have a hard time picking a favorite song, it’s like picking a favorite child, you may like one more than the other on certain days. If I have to choose I would say “Dog Days” because it is the very first song I demoed for the album and it is a very vulnerable one. It is an ode to my mom, siblings, and anyone who stayed with me through the toughest period of my life.
It’s quite a project as you used it to process grief and healing, what was the easiest and most challenging part of the process?
The hardest part for me is choosing which songs would make it to the album. I write a lot and being vulnerable through songwriting isn’t an issue for me, I tend to dissociate from what I write. The easiest part surprisingly enough was tracking the vocals. I knew what I wanted and Matt is always super supportive of the process.
You recorded it with Matt Qualls what was the biggest lesson you learned from him?
Matt taught me that it’s ok to be a professionalist and to be in control of my own art. Matt is a huge supporter of women in music and he gave me a safe space to produce my album. I am forever thankful for what Matt has done for me and look forward to continuing working with him.
What’s your favourite memory of the sessions?
Hanging out with everyone in the studio during the initial tracking days. It was a real team bonding moment and I built a lot of relationships with some great musicians.
You’re an artist from Memphis, how did it all begin for you?
I started writing my own music during the 2020 quarantine time. After that I started attending open mic shows around town and that is when it all started to unfold. I always knew I wanted to be a singer-songwriter/performer so I knew the next step would be recording my own material and releasing it. I started recording demos and sending them around until I got the team I work with now.
What did you listen to growing up?
My mom was always listening to John Denver, Tracy Chapman, and Fleetwood Mac. The singer songwriter influence with rock bands such as Fleetwood Mac and Lynyrd Skynyrd inspired the music I write today.
Memphis is a city known for its rich history of music, what are your three favourite things about it?
The community, the soul, and the food are all things that keep me here. Memphis is a great city with a bad reputation. It is my home and it will have a place in my heart forever.
If you could go back to your younger self at the beginning of this journey, what would advice would you give yourself?
I would tell myself to not be afraid of taking charge and setting boundaries. I look up to artists like Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, and Alanis Morissette because they’re all strong independent women who have made names for themselves in this industry. I am in charge of my career and always aim to keep a certain level of professionalism.
What are you listening to at the moment?
I am listening to the Buckingham Nicks album that was just released (Great album! Del) and a lot of Chris Stapleton, Amy Winehouse, and Marcus King.
What are you looking forward to doing next?
I am looking forward to getting back into the studio for my second album that I am recording soon and playing my music live. It is always a great time working with Matt Qualls and I can’t wait to see what we produce this time.
