Amy Wilcox – Crazy Hearts: Nashville

Q) What do you think it is about “Crazy Hearts: Nashville” that has made it a quick fan favorite program?

A) There is a lot of buzz about Nashville lately and I think it shows a behind the scenes viewing of what everyone is doing and the struggle to make it. Then, it is a group of people who have known each other and been in Nashville doing what we’re doing for several years now. We’re kind of Nashville locals now.

Q) How did you originally get involved with the show?

A) They had a couple of people in their production company that contacted me and they reached out to see who in Nashville was up and coming and what was going on in the music scene. I guess they had a list of people who would be good for the show and they reached out to me. I did a short interview and then a month later they flew down from New York to meet us. It kept going from there and it ended up being the eight of us.

Q) What made you decide to be a part of the show, rather than a reality music competition like “The Voice?”

A) I know that competition shows do show backstory, but I think that it’s important getting to sing your own music instead of only doing cover songsand getting the chance to show the relationship side of things and kind of life experience that are behind the lyrics and music. I think it is really important to get people to invest in what you are doing. It’s cool to be able to say, “Ok, I went through this breakup and everybody got to see it. So, I wrote this song about it.” People really feel they are a part of it when they get to see that whole process unfold. That’s something that is really different and really drawn people in. They get to be a part of the creative process of the music.

Q) What has been the most challenging aspect of filming?

A) It’s been a challenge to share my personal life on camera and try to be myself knowing there are cameras around me. There is a lot of stress doing what we’re doing in the music business. So, it was kind of hard to focus on keeping relationships positive while continue to work 100% on my own career. It was a balancing act, but a really great experience that I thought would help my music in the end.

Q) What was your favorite moment that you got to see play out on the screen?

A) They really did focus on the music and they shared several live performances. For me, that was so cool having people all over the country seeing how hard I’ve worked and what I have been doing. A lot of people that I went to school with or are family friends know what I’ve been doing, but haven’t had the chance to see a performance or show. It was really cool to see that. Getting for them to see my music was great.

Q) They recently released the soundtrack from the show and your music is featured on it.

A) We’re all promoting that right now and it’s really great. The cover song that I did was by Pistol Annies, which is Miranda Lambert’s group and that was awesome. Also, there is an original song that I wrote, which will be featured in the season finale.

Q) What has been the feedback you’ve been getting from your online fan base?

A) It’s awesome just to have the validation from people that previously had no idea who I was and them loving it has been awesome for me. Being an independent artist, not supported by a label, is really cool to have these people starting these social media campaigns like “Put Amy’s Song On The Radio.” It’s so cool to see people really joining my fanbase and being a part of what I am doing. It gives me even more motivation to try to make it so that I can go and record the songs and have music released to the people who are waiting on it. A lot of the things I have released have been YouTube based or social media based because it is a lot cheaper than going to record a whole album. Having people on social media sites really wanting us to get in the studio and release the music we’ve shared with them is really, really cool.

Q) You will be releasing your debut album later this year. What can you tell us about it?

A) Everything is still in process. I’m in the studio this week and next week. I’m excited to be working with some new people. There will definitely be some pop influences and I’m going a little bit more mainstream with it, which has been awesome to work with not only amazing songwriters on Music Row in Nashville, but I’m working with really great people who do pop music, as well. There are definitely some of those influences and we’re still in the studio writing to get the best songs we can possibly get. Hopefully, we’ll get to push them to the radio and see what happens.

Q) How much of a hand in production of the music have you had?

A) Cowriting is really big in Nashville. So, a lot of the time the songs that I have written have been cowritten with other people and there are also some songs I’m recording that were written by some friends in Nashville. I’ve collaborated with them and there are so many people that have songs that have never been recorded by anybody. There is a little bit of my own music and taking other people’s songs and making them my own. It’s a mixture of both and I enjoy doing both sides of that.

Q) What can fans do to help promote your music?

A) Just push everything through social media. I’m going to do some fun contests and giveaways to get people excited about it. It’s really just spreading the word and staying connected through all the social media outlets. Then, they’re all the first to know when anything happens.

Q) Is there anything you would like to tease or share with your fans?

A) I think it’s been amazing to get to know some of the great fans. And I handle all my own social media. So, every time someone connects with me I am connecting directly with them and that’s been amazing. I’m going to be live tweeting the season finale. So, I hope people get involved and having fun!