Hope Partlow – Who We Are

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) It’s pop country, but we decided to go straight pop. On the album, there are a few songs that have a country feel. I am from the country so obviously you can’t get all of the country out of me. I would say a cross between Sheryl Crow meets Alanis Morissette.

Q) Where do you get the inspiration for your lyrics?

A) Well, that’s a funny story. When we were doing the song writing process, in the beginning we were doing what everyone else does, we went out looking for songwriters who have written songs. We would listen to their songs and do that for a while. I would like their songs maybe for a minute and then I couldn’t relate to them anymore. I didn’t want to sing those songs over and over again since I couldn’t relate. I got fed up with it so I was like, here is my diary. Here is what I have been through and what I can relate to. I handed it over to Kevin Kadish and Andy Aparo. I didn’t know what they were going to get out of it, handing my diary over to two men because obviously I was really young. They did really well and they wrote “Who We Are” and pretty much all of my songs came from the diary.

Q) Who are your musical influences?

A) My musical influences are Sheryl Crow and I love Alanis Morissette. I started off country so I love Patsy Klein and I listen to a lot of people.

Q) What is the message your music is trying to convey?

A) For the most part, it’s very real. The first single, “Who We Are,” is obviously about being yourself, but not in a corny way. I know you hear it all the time, especially when you are in school (maybe from your parents or whomever to just be yourself because it doesn’t really matter), but no one really pays attention to that. So, I figured I’d write a song about it so they would listen to it. For the most part, it is real stuff that teenagers and even older people are going through.

Q) You are the only artist ever signed by Virgin Chairman & CEO Matt Serletic who committed to producing your album entirely. How did you that make you feel?

A) I was really psyched about that. He’s an awesome person and when it comes to music I believe he is a genius. I was really excited about it and my album is so great. I am so excited about it! He’s more than I could ask for and he knows what he is doing. I am so happy that he did it!

Q) Why is your CD called “Who We Are?”

A) That was the first single and that’s pretty much my favorite song on the album. It feels so fresh with me. This is my senior year so it’s still touches me in the way that I know how I felt when I was in public school. It’s still really fresh with me.

Q) You were recently on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” What was your experience like?

A) I was really nervous! It was a lot of fun, though. I met with him before the show. He came into the dressing room and talked to all of us. He’s a really nice guy! The minute before the curtain rose I was really nervous and had to pee really badly!

Q) Rolling Stone gave you a three star review. Did you celebrate and how?

A) We pretty much celebrate every day, but that was definitely great. I can’t believe that. That is pretty awesome! We didn’t celebrate with anything really special. For the most part of it, we talked about it. We didn’t get a cake or anything like that, but I did get a lot of praise for that and that was nice.

Q) Do you have any traditions that you perform before going on stage?

A) We, as the band, get together and pray.

Q) Do you bring anything from home with you on the road to make things more comfortable?

A) I take my sheets and my pillow. I also take my shoes.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) I would have to say that I really hope that you enjoy the album. We worked really hard on it and I am sure that anyone and everyone will have a favorite on that album. Go out and buy it!