Shelly Fairchild – Faithful to Freedom

By starrymag | September 19, 2024

By: Mariah Thomas

 

 

 

Q) In the country space, what does it feel like to be representation for the LGBTQIA+ community?

 

A) Well, first of all, I am honored to represent such a beautiful community of humans in any and all spaces. I am grateful that I get to make music that I love and music that is authentic to me and I am SO happy that somehow my music finds itself an audience.

 

Q) “Faithful to Freedom” seems to be a song that pokes fun at oneself for caving in. In the context of the song, what does freedom mean to you?

 

A) Ha! Yes… funny story. I went through a divorce and as a result I SWORE that I was absolutely done with relationships and being in love and blah blah. I had a writing appointment scheduled with my friend Maia Sharp and as we were chatting about this very thing and I was going on and on about how happy I was to be “going it alone…” Well, this text came through. It happened to be from someone that I had been friends with for quite some time but had just started to feel all fluttery around. AND I WAS SMITTEN. SUNK. In that very moment, I told Maia what was happening and she said, “Sounds like there ain’t no way you’re staying faithful to freedom.” DONE.

 

Q) You mention how the title and concept of the song came to be in a conversation. After that, did the rest of the song naturally flow in the songwriting process?

 

A) Oh yes. Certainly did. Everything we had JUST talked about was thrown out the window with one little text. Well, it was a handful of back-and-forth texts but who’s counting…?

 

Q) In the writing process for this song, did you build off of the instrumentation or use the lyrics to build that?

 

A) We just wrote on acoustic guitars for this one and when we went into the studio, we just picked the coolest musicians to build the track. Ross McReynolds on drums and percussion (at one point he brought in a wheelbarrow from the garden to hit on), Chase McGillis on bass (just amazing), Joshua Grange on guitars and engineering and mixing (he’s a magical musician) and the GREAT Maia Sharp on Acoustic Guitar, Wurlitzer piano, Organ and bgvs (she is one of my very favorite humans, writers and musicians EVER).

 

Q) You have many songs featured on various shows. What is one of your favorite shows you could see ‘Faithful to Freedom” being a part of?

 

A) Hmmmmm….I’m dying to have a song in Yellowstone! I could hear this one in that show. I could also hear it in “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Riverdale” and so many others. Anything with a bar scene or a flirty scene of some sort. It’s always fun to be watching a show and for a song of mine to pop on. It’s one of the most rewarding things I’m a part of creating!

 

Q) I personally am a very visual person with music. For this track, I picture a western Kill Bill video vibe. What would be your dream music video concept for “Faithful to Freedom?”

 

A) Oooooh. I love this idea! Yes. A Western vibe sounds super cool… “passing through like a midnight train” … I can just see a tough gal kicking ass and acting all untouchable and stuff and then all of a sudden being swept up off her feet by someone in one of the town’s she’s passing through. LOVE this. I love videos and making them, so thanks for taking me down this lil road!

 

Q) What lyric resonates the most to you from this song?

 

A) I think I love the bridge the most…. “Freedom ain’t never gonna feel as good as you.” AHHHHHHH

 

Q) Do you think this song will be a new favorite to sing live?

 

A) I do love singing this tune. I love how it feels when the drums kick off on this. It feels so great to just groove on the intro to this tune for as long as possible.

 

Q) With “Faithful to Freedom” out now, will there be a full album or EP in the works?

 

A) Yes! It has been in the works for a while. I’ve been writing over the last almost two years for this new record that I’m making on Kill Rock Stars. I’m so very excited to hear it when it’s all done and ready to go!

 

Q) Who would you love to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I’ve been so lucky to write with some of my VERY favorite songwriters and artists on this new record – Ashley McBryde, Maia Sharp, Mindy Smith, John Paul White and Mary Gauthier. I am dying to write with Lori McKenna, Lisa Carver, Brandy Clark and Travis Meadows. I would love to collaborate with Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings. I LOVE THAT COMBO!

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and the music that you make?

 

A) I would love to be able to personally look into the eyes of every single person that has ever supported me and my music and say, “Thank You from the bottom of my heart!” It fills my heart that I get to make a living making music. It is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do and to continue to be able to do it is something I will forever be grateful for.