A UK Voice in Americana, Folk Rock & Blues | Emilia Quinn

This is Magan O'Loughlin and I love Rugged Revival. This is the Rugged Revival podcast. This is a home of the UK's country, Americana, and roots music community. We're back in the UK again. I'm proud to have a compatriot and incredible musician with me here today, Miss Amelia Quinn. How are you, Amelia? Hi, I'm good, thank you. How are you? I'm all good, thank you. So, you're in the back of a van at the minute, you just said a moment ago. I am. I am. I'm I'm traveling a lot at the moment. I've just come off my a co-headline European tour with Sophie Rose, and I'm making my way back up to Yorkshire now for a gig in Manchester. I'm in Manchester as well, not in Yorkshire. Yeah. So, you're all over, like you say, you just got back from your European tour. So, we'll we'll talk about that cuz that that sounds really interesting. And so, yeah, I think you're probably home for like one night, weren't you? And back out again. Yeah, yeah. Got back to stayed stayed over in in the south, and then I'm making my way back to to mine up north for a head of the show on Saturday. And then I don't even know what's happening after that. More things, more gigs, probably. Well, it sounds interesting and exciting. More exciting than what I do anyway. So, but we we we normally start right at the beginning, Amelia. So, you know, we Ronnie normally covers this because he's he's the family man and he he does all that. But, we we're nosy as well, and we like to know where people are originally from, where you grew up, you know, what what what sort of childhood did you have? So, if you don't mind sharing, you know, we'll we'll start there. See, that's the where where are you from question is like a how long have you got kind of question with me? So, I was born in France. I'm dual nationality, I'm French and English. Um and then moved I lived in Barbados for 2 years and then moved to the UK when I was about five, four or five. And then grew up in Suffolk in a few different places and then moved around after that. Well, you really are a nomad. Yeah. Since Yeah, it's it's from the beginning. That sounds interesting. So, for folk that haven't come come across your music right now, you know, it's easier rather than me kind of reading off your your Spotify page, you know, describing who you are and you know, the type of music that you make. I think that would be a a good place to start. Yeah, so I If we have to genre, I have I brand myself as like Americana folk rock kind of vibes. If you think like Chris Stapleton meets Fleetwood Mac, this is probably a good hopefully a good comparison. I've been I've been compared to Janis Joplin by other people. I don't think I'm quite at that level. To me I personally love Janis Joplin. Don't you know, not necessarily quite that incredible. Um But yeah, no, it's that sort of more gritty, gruff, raw sound is is probably how I would describe it, but still still blending I mean, I grew up on Hannah Montana, so still blending that in there. Uh there you go. Yeah, see that's that's that's cool. Yeah, I I think you you kind of bang on there. I when I was looking on your socials and checking out your music and and before we jumped on you know, you you asked why why kind of we reached out to you and exactly that. I think you're a real kind of mix. You're doing something different in the UK scene. You've got a a unique sound and you know, it's always cliche to compare to to other artists like you say with Janis Joplin, but you know, you you get you know, glad you mentioned Fleetwood Mac cuz I was like ah that that looks like Stevie Nicks, you know, Linda Ronstadt kind of vibes. It's pretty pretty cool. Yeah, absolutely. And it's easy to compare to like previous artists, but you know, if I'm thinking of modern day stuff and you know, up and coming independent people. You familiar with the Texas scene? There's a lady called Shelby Stone who is if you're not familiar with she's right up your street, you know, she is kind of on that Texas rock punk, you know, that that's sort of vibe going off on so uh but but there you go. So so to get to kind of your style of music, you know, what were you kind of listening to growing up? You mentioned Hannah Montana. Um was that was that your thing back then? It was my thing. Miley Cyrus was actually my first concert I ever went to as well. For my I think my 11th birthday something like that. Um yeah, I was very solidly into Hannah Montana. I Yes, I did watch the 20th anniversary episode and yes, I did cry a lot of tears. But yeah, they kind of grew up on that but also also my parents music which was a mixed bag of things really because I had the Well, it was it was both languages. It was both in in French and in English as well. And the French artists probably leaned towards French folk and Americana. That's probably where the Americana influence came from to be honest. Um but then good amount of rock influence with things like Dire Straits, Meat Loaf, stuff like that. Um and then obviously, you know, you've got to mention Dolly Parton cuz she is she is the queen. Absolutely. But yeah. >> Yeah, that's a that's a good mix. Yeah, I'm a bit older than you so you know, I missed the whole Hannah Montana vibe and you know, maybe I missed out. I'm not sure. You did. You didn't. Well, that's cool. So, in terms of the music that you're releasing now, so I always kind of go back to people's Spotify. I try and listen to as much as I can and go right back to the beginning cuz I find it interesting to see how your your sound starts out, how it evolves and kind of where you get to now. So, rather than me kind of giving a really bad explanation of that, it's your music, you know, tell us about, you know, where you kind of started out, you know, that vision right at the beginning and and kind of that I say journeys. Journey sounds cringe, but you know, It is a journey. It's all a journey. I'm all about the journey. Um yeah, I mean my first comparing my first EP wrote off, it's called. I released it in I recorded it in 2018, released it in 2019. Um and then if I compare that to my latest album which came out last year in September, they are they are quite night and day, but I think you can still see the thread of kind of similarities in terms of the blending and bending of genres. Wrote off is a really acoustic, nice EP. It's kind of before I found Well, see I I say this and it's actually a lie. I say it was before I found my grip, but it's absolutely not. I already had my grip cuz I'd been in a blues rock band up until that point. I just kind of moved away from it for a little while there. Um but I kind of was sussing out my I'd been in bands and then I went out solo and was kind of sussing out my own my own sound and what I, you know, wanted to do solo. And so it's I did music production in uni and I have done it for ages and I really loved it. So, it was literally recording it was just a summer of me and the studio engineer, my really good friend Arjan, um just messing about and layering stuff in the studio and making this really pretty light folky country acoustic-y EP that I'm super proud of and I still I love it to this day and when I go back to it I'm like, "Yep, there's the stacked harmonies cuz that's something I will never get away from. I love a stacked harmony." Um but then my late jump like moving through that kind of went down a more kind of I guess um for the lack of a better word outlaw country-esque or trying to be outlaw country um this sort of southern rock and then beyond the back to sort of bit more mainstream country and then came back round to um my first album was described as 70s rock and roll with rock and roll riffola. So, I'll take that's pretty cool. Um and just kind of leaning a bit more into into these sort of alternative country and then going more to Americana and and that's why I now brand myself more Americana folk rock because I wouldn't say I'm sort of I sit in country very well. Um I definitely blend it and I had a lot of time in the country music scene in the UK and that I cherish very much. Um but I would say I'm probably more I always go back to the alternative stuff and the more rocky stuff and the greasy stuff. So, it's yeah you'll probably find a good blend of Fleetwood Mac to Miranda Lambert to Chris Stapleton to the stuff on on my latest album. I'm a snake. Yeah, it's cool. I really like the latest album. I was giving that another listen today. So, it was Dented Halos released last year which you mentioned. There's a couple of good songs on there Dirty July and I'm sorry I said a couple you know, let me rephrase. So, this is the problem when you do podcasts you always put your foot in it. So, every song is incredible. Listen to it. Thank you very much. Sound bite. >> say my my favorites, you know. Okay. I was interested to hear the favorites. Yeah, I think I think mainly because I I was brought up on Fleetwood Mac and and Southern rock particularly Lynyrd Skynyrd and and that sort of thing. And I think again that's why I gravitated to your music and I don't hear a lot of people in UK doing that, you know, everyone seems to be following the country pop trend primarily in UK I would say, you know, in some scenes. >> Yeah, I think there's there's a lot of it all. I think potentially the alternative stuff again it's alternative so it takes a little bit of digging to find but it's definitely is there but there is a huge surge into the country pop as well which is awesome. Yeah, definitely, you know, there's there's stuff that we haven't found yet and this is why we're still digging we're still kind of looking for for all the different scenes, you know, we found that country scene because I think that's more prominent but this is why we're reaching out to to artists like yourself to you know, we we at the end of the day we're fans we're not experts and we always say that because it's a get out clause as well so I could say what I want and I could say look I'm I'm just a fan. I don't know what I'm talking about. Yeah, exactly. So so yeah, you'll have to kind of point us in the directions of where to find more music or more of the stuff that you're doing but suppose that leads me on to to some of the people that you play with. So we've had Susanna Clegg on the podcast before like you. >> Susanna. She's very cool. She's got that old school kind of blue grass country kind of vibe and She's crazy. >> one of the guitar players and singer. Yeah, and less known to me probably is Sophie Rose, isn't it that you also play a lot with? So so how does that come about? Is it is that are those two people that you you work with quite a lot? Yeah, it's kind of sort of fallen into it. Sophie and I duo quite a lot. We kind of discovered that our voices work extremely well together and it's it's really really fun singing together so we we both work in quite a similar way as well. So, it makes working together and collaborating um very easy and very fun. And the same thing with Suzanna. I think actually the the reason So, Suzanna, Sophie, and I actually did a a few shows together on Sophie's tour in March. Um she did her debut UK headline tour. It started with a writer's round with um Hannah Grace Presents up in Manchester. Um which is actually where I'm going on Thursday. Um and that was myself, Sophie Rose, and Suzanna Clark. And then um I was joining Sophie on on some of her tour just to to jump on a couple of songs and and be a a helping hand. Um and then Suzanna actually ended up coming in um because the original support was stuck in Australia. Uh William Jack, he's awesome. He's an awesome challenge, but he was stuck in Australia. So, Suzanna jumped on last minute on another couple of the shows as well. So, we just ended up hanging out a bunch and we get we all get on really well. Um and it's just it's really nice to find one to find like-minded people in the scene that you know that you connect with. And I I have There's there's a bunch of those, you know, people like Savannah Gardner as well and and stuff like that. Um but also to find voices that are as big and loud as each other. Uh we we Suzanna said it Oh, she was like, "We are three loud women." And I'm like, "Aha! We we have got We The three of us power combined is quite something." And I was concerned about the decibels, to be honest. But no, it was it was such good fun. So, yeah, hanging out with with um I think Sophie calls them kindred spirits. She's bang on with that. And and it's great to find those people and you just want to work with them all the time then cuz it's just play at that point. Yeah. Is there Is there Is there sort of a plan for for that trio, you know, going forwards or is it just kind of playing gigs at the minute? >> Entertain us with a good time. Uh we we I think we definitely would like to do more stuff together, and and very likely will, to be honest. Um but we'll we'll have to wait and see. Yeah. Well, we'll we'll keep our our our eyes on that. But uh yeah, Suzanne is great, like you say. She's she's got an amazing voice. Plays lots of different instruments as well. So, really talented. So, I I would definitely have to give Sophie a listen to. Um less familiar with Sophie, but yeah, that's uh that's another one for me to go down a rabbit hole with. But >> Absolutely. Down a rabbit hole. I will, don't you worry. Um so, yeah, you you mentioned the European tour that you've just come back off. You know, sounds really interesting. So, I suppose it's Where did you go uh to start with? So, we went to Switzerland and Germany. So, we did um a couple of dates in Switzerland, and then a run of four dates in Germany. Um and it's my It was my second time playing in Germany, and Sophie's first time. Um but it was with the Cowhide I want to give them a shoutout, cuz they are so awesome. Dietmar, who runs Cowhide House Concerts. That's the reason that I went for. I met him at Black Deer, approached me and said, "Hey, if you're ever in Europe, you want to come play a house concert, let me know." Uh and a couple of years took 2 years to get there, but couple of years later, I was able to do that, and that was last year. Um and then he actually out of the love of it arranges um little runs and sort of liaises with other house concert people and event organizers, and helps out independent artists get a few tour dates in Germany. So, he did that for us this time. Um and it was absolutely gorgeous. He did three Well, two and a half hours, so technically three house concerts. And um and it was an a an a Americano in Knap'scherla. I've probably butchered the pronunciation of that. But the audience is there awesome. They're super attentive, super generous, and really into their Americana, which is great. Yeah, it's it's interesting. I speak to a lot of people doing the podcast and online. And so many more people going to Europe, you know, it's to places that I never would think of going, you know, personally. >> Yeah, like Switzerland as well. Yes, Switzerland, yes. >> is I can see the scene being built by From Port Entertainment, which is who we played with. They're We were there last year as well in November. And they are I mean they they they are partnering. They've partnered with Buckle & Boots and they're sort of facilitating and helping book Buckle & Boots there in Ireland. And they are I'm pretty sure I mean I might be speaking out of turn saying this, but from my perspective, they are like building the country music scene in Switzerland, which is awesome. Nadia and Andy, they are also great people and doing it because they love it. And that's that's the best you can ask for. Yeah. No, that's that's really cool to see it kind of right at the beginning and people people wanting to kind of do it and put it out there. And you know, there's so sometimes it feels like there's so few people kind of setting things up and just doing it because it can be difficult, you know, when I I I always big up these venue owners and these people that are putting on the events because you always see, you know, I think it was Black Deer I saw today or one of the events I don't know which one my brain is going blank. >> It might have been that one. Yeah, that that one. >> Yeah, they're they're really struggling. So, you know, kudos to for these people keep doing it and and putting out this music and you know, just hoping we can support them. It is absolutely. So, so when you were out there, who who were you playing with? What what sort of other artists or whatever bands or what was going on? So, in Switzerland we did a writers round. So, Sophie and I were sort of co-headlining and and collaborating on these shows. Uh but in Switzerland, we did a writers' round with a Canadian artist living in Switzerland called Jalie um Kaylee Joker. And she's again, she is brilliant. She's been recording in Nashville, um putting started putting out music. She's got music out now, you know. And um her songwriting's great. I had some of her songs The thing is with probably with other artists and stuff as well, especially writers' rounds, and you kind of join in, you end up with the earworms stuck in your head for days. And I had I had a couple of her songs like really lodged in there for a few days after that show. Um but that was and it was it's just great. It's it's really nice to be able to share the stage with other songwriters. In songwriters' rounds, they're kind of one of my favorite formats to do. Um so, we did that and then the rest of them was was just Sophie and I going around these house concerts. Superb. So, so is that you know when you've you potentially know a a good song is if it's stuck in your head, you're humming it for days? Is that Is that a good little indicator? Yeah. It is. And if you start annoying people with it, then they're kind of messaging you if you've listened to it. They're like, "Oh, I've got this I've got your song in my head." I love that. I'm like, "Yes, I have done a good job." That's the aim. That's fantastic. And it's um we went to a few writers um kind of sessions out in Texas last year. And as an outsider, it was cool to see it, you know. We We didn't want to We wanted to kind of just observe from the sidelines, take some photos, and just be generally nosey. Uh cuz that's who we are, the Rugged Revival, nosey. Um you know, that's our tagline. But it's it's just cool to see, you know, how how things start, where the ideas come from, and you know, different styles of writers getting together and and creating something really cool. And you know, it's it'd be nice to see it when it actually comes out and you can say, you know, I I saw that right at the beginning. And you know, how that pans out. But, um, but it's great. So, you know, the Rugged Rival started out and and we are, you know, um, independent musician and artist kind of, uh, platformers and, you know, we we love speaking to people from that scene, try and platform people as much as we can and and kind of support, uh, the scene in general. Um, but as an independent independent artist yourself, um, you know, what what do you like doing, um, as part of that role? Because you don't have teams of people behind you to do the socials and to do all the crap you probably don't like doing. Um, so there's going to be parts that you do like doing and the rest of it is is pretty pretty you know, should we say? So, if you could pick one thing you really like doing, what is that out of everything? >> Oh. I mean, I think my my kind of thing would be an independent artist. I mean, I I do like the business side. I did some I did music business at Uni as well and I do really enjoy it and, um, and I love organizing events and stuff. I think probably like the live event side of things is is my favorite of out of everything. But, my main my main kind of thing I'd say my goal is I just want to play gigs and make records. That's all I want to do. Um, but I do like the other stuff as well. But, yeah, playing live is probably the the the ultimate, I think. Yeah. Yeah, I think a lot of people say that, too. But, um, I'm always interested finding out what what is the kind of is part of of what you do and to see if there's a trend here. Oh. I mean, I feel like this is probably been said a lot, social media. Yeah. Yeah. Social media's Social media is a tricky one with social media because it is a place and like your corner of the internet to do with what you will. You know, you can share whatever you like, you can create, you can connect. And for all those reasons, it's great. The There are obviously a lot of drawbacks to it as well, You know, some not just in terms of like the access or people trolling or you know, having to create content all the time or fight you know, fighting with the algorithm which I I've let go of doing you know, in the last year I've just kind of got I'll just kind of Um >> you've got it. Yeah. Yeah, but I think part of it as well is is the risk of being chronically online as well. Like as as an artist you know, who has to make content and needs and and needs to use is better off in a way using these free marketing tools to reach these people. It does it can also really lead us to just being online way too much as well and just feed into that kind of social media addiction. That's something I've kind of become a bit more aware of recently and and kind of got oh god, that's actually you know, it by way of utilizing these platforms, it's also then kind of damaging my mental health just from being online too much myself cuz you'll go on check your notifications and then start doom scrolling and you know, the dopamine hit of that is is there. So um so yeah, I think that's probably a a decent challenge that that majority of us probably deal with. Yeah, it's it's so hard like you say. I think uh particularly when you know, you don't a lot of these people don't have a huge platform. So you're fighting the algorithm, you're fighting for attention. The the market's so saturated and it's so easy for people to just go on Spotify and just scroll, you know, and it feels a bit more disposable these days where back in the day you might buy a CD and because you bought it, you're going to listen to every song. >> Yeah. You know, it it's not like that anymore. So yeah, I I I've seen so many people recently struggle with mental health and you know, and taken active you know, decision to just get away from social media for a week or two and I I I think I need to as well. You end up doom scrolling. So addictive. It's it's made to be addictive though. that's the problem. And like if you're utilizing trying to create those boundaries, something that I'm trying to sort of work on and I I know a lot of my peers are trying to work on as well. It's sort of creating those boundaries with social media and like how much we use it and trying to sort of step away from it a bit. I you know, there's artists like Anna Vorse who does she started a a mailing list called snail mail where she actually sends physical letters out to people, you know, rather than it being online. you know, and things like that and like book club and and stuff like that and I know there's people that are leaning into, you know, Sophie leans into local promotion. She'll take flyers and posters around when she puts on events in in her local venues. And I think leaning towards those, I think there's a bit of a movement of some people that just fed up with the internet. And it's not all about social media and and it is so noisy on there and and so easy to just fall into the the whole of the real Instagram reels are my kryptonizing when it comes to socials. I think people are starting to to find other ways around it now. Yeah, that's interesting to hear what other people are doing. It's fighting back against the machine almost. Yeah. Yeah. It's I mean like you mentioned a minute ago about you know, messing with the algorithm and trying to crack it and I I've got OCD so it's like I must win, you know, I hate losing and you know, you might have one good reel that hits with the podcast or or something that we're trying to help people promote. That goes well and then the next one it gets like 10 views, you're like that really pisses you off. So like you say, I think you just need remembering it's none of it's real. It's all fake. None of it's real. The internet is not real. It's a veneer, absolutely. Yeah, I think that's the the right attitude to have. But there you go. Um right, let's do a very quick quick fire round. So Ronnie's not here this week. I mentioned off I know. Well, I thought because he's not here, I'm going to do me own thing cuz it pisses him off if I don't stick to like our usual format. So, I go rogue and I do what I want. So, sorry Ronnie. We're going to do it. So, yeah, there's minimal thinking involved and you know, you don't have to explain yourself. Whatever you say is correct, you know, so that that's the beauty of doing this. So, five very quick questions. So, are you ready? Yeah. Right, number one. Favorite musician or song from your childhood. Milo. One independent artist that more people should know about. Kacey's too. You can. Okay, so if you're listening to Susanna Clark. I know, three. Nicole Allen. >> Well played. I like that. Best album or song from the past five years. Ooh. Oh, that's really hard. I'm going to preemptively say it cuz it's not out yet. I'm going to preemptively say Ashley McBryde's new album. Ooh. That's interesting. >> absolutely epic. Fantastic. Well, like I say, you can't be wrong. It's your your I can't wait till this podcast be like in the comments. That was great. He's making it up. Um I can't even read me writing down. That's how bad my handwriting is. There we go. So, one song that always puts you in a good mood. I don't know what it is called, but anytime that I'm in a happy mood, my brain goes, "Ain't nothing going to break my stride. Ain't nothing going That will put me in a good mood. Oh, no. I'm not going to start singing. Everybody knows it. See, I rules. That's an awesome song. I think that's what it is, isn't it? My kids were singing that not too long ago. There you go. And here you go. Pleased to know this is the last one. So, one song that defines who you are as a person and musician right now. That's horrible. Yeah, I know. That's why I ask these questions. Oh my god. Um Dreams, Fleetwood Mac. Cool. We'll take that. >> Pure vibes. Well done. You got through it. I'm I'm pleased to to say that's the last question. So, Okay, okay. And screw you, Ronnie. I'll do what I want when you're not here. Um that's That's the vibe we go with. Anyway, So, onto more serious things and you know, so >> Serious >> Yeah, so whenever I get anyone on for the UK scene, I always want to dig more into it to learn more, just to just to find out because you know, we I say we probably spent out in the US with with those scenes and you know, it's only right that we kind of dig into what what everyone is doing here. So, what what are your thoughts on kind of honest thoughts about the UK scene, especially for kind of grassroots artists? I think it has uh grown massively in in the last couple of years or last few years. It's kind of exploded and this kind of the pop I think the popularity the rise in the popularity of country music in the UK has had a lot to do with it. It's been very validating for a lot of people, which is amazing cuz you know, without that the art and and music that is being made now might not have had a chance to be created and I think any opportunity for new art to be made is is a good opportunity. It's a good thing. Um I think it has probably lent more towards the mainstream sound, which is not in itself a bad thing. That's That is what is popular. That is what is growing. So, people gravitated towards that. Totally makes sense. Um but I do think there is the alternative and there and has been the alternative to that, you know, forever as well. I would still I'd still say I'm relatively new to to sort of the the deeper depths of the scene. Um particularly the alternative and the more Americana scene. Um I am still new to that and and I I want I want to dive into it more as well. Um but I think it's widened and I think yeah, the just the the validation of country being popular and more younger artists sort of seeing that as a route and feeling that they can actually do that and that's okay and and accepted and and wanted is a really positive thing. Yeah, it it's great. Like there's so many opportunities and there's so many kind of new new artists and and, you know, taking advantage of that, which is great. Um I suppose from your perspective as well, is there anything that the UK scene can do better um in what it's doing now? >> Yeah, I think supporting artists um and the organizations that sort of want to put in that infrastructure to support artists. They're they're there and the intentions are great. I think just building on that and listening to the artists and really sort of looking at what they then this has been a discussion with peers and like looking at what they need and catering to them and also just, you know, just generally communicating and being quite transparent. I think transparency, particularly in today's music industry, is really key. Um I know there was a bit that there was some sort of funny business well, not funny business, but like there was some uncertainty around the Americana Music Week and the Americana Music Association Awards that they just kind of didn't happen and no one really sort of spoke about it and that was a real shame because that's event, you know, and the amount of people that were disappointed just proves that it's an event that a lot of people look forward to every year. Um and so you just kind of yeah, conversation around that and and making ensuring that artists are being treated fairly and like they are you know, empowered. I think it's the is the key thing. But yeah, and just and collaboration and just making sure that we we all are on the same page and that we're not competing with each other. And we are all in the same boat. And if we collaborate and lift each other up, then that is the way forwards. I'm part of a project set up with Sophie Rose and Nicole Allan called the Country Women Project, Country Women UK. And that is is basically to highlight one the the female talent in country music in the UK and the you know, the way that country music is kind of rooted in the UK as well. It It originate um in part from the UK. Uh and also how, you know, collaboration is key and and we, you know, we we have more power when we collaborate and work together. And working, you know, the the project is to work against the sort of essence of pitting women against each other, particularly women in the music industry. Um get pitted against each other a lot, compared a lot, and that's that's not fair. That's that's a, you know, breeding ground for toxicity that just is completely unnecessary. Um so yeah, things like that are are really key, I think, and those kind of projects are really key. Um and and are really It's awesome to be part of it. Yeah, so what where can people find more information about that particular They can go on Instagram. The Instagram handle is Country Women UK. Um and it's basically a touring project throughout the year, throughout 2026 um and potentially beyond. Um where we at the moment is Nicole Allen, myself, and Sophie Rose. Um, and then in the each show we have a guest. Um, so our next one is on the 30th of May at the Honky Tonk Collective in Poole. That would be great. And then we're also at Country on the Isle as well and doing a a festival feature collaboration. Because collaboration is key with the Song Suffragettes. Awesome. That sounds great. Yeah, definitely go and check that out then. Um, go and follow, go and check it out. Um, I mean on the Rugged Revival we've we've probably had an even split of female artists and male artists. And you know, I I I think if I'm looking at the last 5 years in terms of music, and particularly the last uh 12 months, I think some of my favorite songs, definitely my favorite album, uh from female artists. So, yeah, I I think you guys are smashing it. It's uh be interesting to see what you what you get up to with that. And and you know, ways that people can support it. So, uh yeah, we're definitely all all for that. Um, you know, it's interesting, you know, in terms of what we do because we we're out in different scenes in America. We we're obviously over here in the UK. So, we get to kind of see what's going on in the grassroots independent scenes, you know, transnational. Is that a word? I don't know. I made that one up. Um, you know what I mean. Yeah. I got you. And I always have conversations with people here and there. And you know, and and try and see what's different. And one of the big things that I noticed here, and particularly when it's the big festivals, is that the headliner is typically all tribute acts. Um, and I think my kind of American friends find it very strange that we we promote that as much as we do. I I kind of get it to a degree, you know, I I I don't disrespect the artists and entertainers that kind of do that. But it's kind of on its head for me where I think the headliner should be the original music artists. And perhaps if you want to do tribute stuff underneath. I don't know. What's your thoughts? It's it's definitely this year the lineups that been coming out I've seen way more Well, I I feel I've seen way more tribute acts in those kind of slots and just in the slots in general, which it's it's two-sided, isn't it? Because there there is, you know, with the tribute and doing a really good tribute is really hard. Like hats off to anybody that does it because they absolutely nail it and they put so much work and effort into it. I'm friends with them the drummer in in one of the Taylor Swift um tribute acts and Katie Katie Ellis who who is Taylor um puts an insane amount and her crew put an insane amount of work into making the show what it is and it's brilliant. But when it's sort of feeling like there are slots that have historically been for originals artist that are then getting replaced with the tribute artist when we have such an abundance and the growth in the country music scene in the UK, um it feels a little bit odd and it feels while I can understand who it's appealing to it does feel a little bit like Well, to put it really bluntly, it's a little bit like a slap in the face for for the scene cuz it's kind of like, oh well, your genre is popular in this country now, so we're going to put the tributes to the American artists on over you, you know, whereas they could be promoting the the UK artists that are out there every day, you know, working for that and they obviously see the tributes there as well. Um but it is it's you know, it's known to be trickier to sort of land those originals gigs and especially the you know, decent pay for them as well and and decent, you know, crowds and put on these decent platforms for it is it is easier and and pays better to do covers gigs and tributes are able to charge what they charge because they do what they do and they do it so well. It is justified, but in those slots it does feel a little bit like it's it's kind of pushing the the original artists and independent artists out a little bit. Yeah. Yeah, I I completely agree. It's it's a tricky one and I think it maybe it's down to the the the people going, you know, the people buying the tickets because that's, you know, how do you change that? I don't know. Um you know, we we we had to dig deep to find the music and the artists that we've had on the podcast, you know, we randomly came across the Ranch Radio a few years back in Texas. Just online radio stations cuz I just had enough of like the mainstream pop, you know, country stuff on on where you get in your car and places and I know that's just not not for me. Um Yeah. >> there's got to be stuff out there. I'm glad I did cuz once you find one, you know, you you get linked to another and and it and it snowballs and I think you've you've got to put the effort in to do that and perhaps people people either don't want to and I get that or just, you know, haven't haven't got around to it. So we're trying anyway. We're trying to, you know, with with this platform to educate or spoon-feed. They might tell us to piss off but we're trying. But anyway, no, thank you for sharing your your kind of views on the UK scene. I always find it interesting and sometimes it's difficult to talk to especially when you're in the mix of it um to to kind of share certain things so um yeah, thanks for that. Um okay, so we did quick fire a minute ago. This is much easier, trust me. Um >> Okay. So in the US they have Mount Rushmore. I think there's four presidents on there. In the UK and if you're a football fan, you might not be but, you know, Man United, my team, had the holy trinity. So we got George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton outside the stadium, you know, the three people. >> Right. So I want to know, and this is easy, I'm not going to ask you football questions cuz that'd be weird. So who is your holy trinity of musicians? Who you love, who inspire you and, you know, perhaps have helped shaped who you are as an artist today. Okay. Well, Chris Stapleton, Ashley McBryde, and Fleetwood Mac. You were quick with that. Yeah. You were very consistent with what you said for her. >> music. Stephen X. Yeah, she's fantastic. Yeah, Chris Stapleton has has popped up a few times from what you said. So, so he's been a big inspiration in the last what, 15 years? Yeah, since he's come out. He He's Yeah, he's he's a bit of an outlier in the Kentucky scene. You know, it's kind of soul R&B. Not so much I mean, his old stuff was the >> I think that's that's probably what and and the same with Ashley McBryde as well is is that versatility of like how what how wide the range of what they could pull off is and it's not boxing into one thing. It's not sort of It's still it's got the flavor and it's got the vibe, but it's can still blend, you know, through a few different genres and like the different projects that they do and stuff like that. Like, you know, Chris Stapleton has been God knows how many bands and then Ashley McBryde did her her Lindeville project. Um and it's yeah, it's that that playing with it and just allowing for that creative freedom. I think that's probably what influences me the most and then obviously Fleetwood Mac who went through like about a thousand iterations of the band. So. Yeah, yeah. I've I've seen Lindsey Buckingham on his socials lately. I haven't seen him in like years. Still got the same crazy hair. Love love his look. He's a proper dude. But he's doing like some guitar lessons or just showing you how he plays somebody else's song. It's a love looking at stuff like that. So, good on him. He's still going at it, which is cool. Okay. So, you know, kind of moving towards, you know, what where you are now and kind of the future. You know, what does that look like in your head? Do you have any set goals, three, five years, whatever it might be. Oh, good lord. Well, I think I'm like at the moment I'm kind of working on Well, I'm not kind of working on. I've announced it. I've got a acoustic version of my album tour uh this September. So, I'll be going out on the road. I toured it when it came out last September and then I thought I actually would like to to make some special arrangements and do an acoustic version this year. And I'm taking two two uh the two uh that featured on the album out with me. So, it's Tinola and Sophie Rose. They both sang and lent me their talents uh for the album itself. So, they are because they are artists, solo artists in their own right, they are my special guests on the tour as well. Um and myself and my band will be putting together some sort of stripped-back arrangements of the songs, diving into the archives of older songs probably and and potentially even bringing some new songs to the road as well. Um I'm just actually Saturday's show in Manchester is um is a show that's literally based around all new music that hasn't been played live before. So, I can start testing it out on people, live audiences. Um cuz that's the best way to sort of gauge the songs and develop the songs as well. They'll develop with time, you know, through performing them. Uh so, beyond that, probably looking towards the next album, really. Fantastic. And in terms of travel, is it is it mainly UK? You mentioned obviously going to Europe. Have you got any plans to kind of go further, whether it's US, Australia, or anything like that? Um all the all sort of dreamy at the moment for all that kind of stuff, but yeah, hoping hoping to get back out to Europe some more, you know, as soon as I can, really. I miss it already. Got the post-tour blues. Um but I'm hoping to get back out to Europe. I'd love to go to like um Denmark and Liechtenstein and like potentially I've got friends in Sweden. I'd love to go go gig with them or do some exchanges, but it's all so UK-based right now, everything that's kind of confirmed and there's there's plenty of it. I have plenty of UK gigs coming up I'm very excited about. Fantastic. And so where where can people kind of find out what you're up to? Do you have a website? Obviously you've got your socials and Instagram under the same name, etc. Where where's kind of best to get hold of you? Best to get a hold of me is either signing up to my mailing list on my website emilyaquinnmusic.com or or follow me on Instagram and I've got a Facebook group called the Quinn's Witches and an Instagram channel called the Quinn's Witches as well. It's a little you can join the coven and get updates there as well and fun little extra bits and stuff, but socials all under emilyaquinnmusic. Very cool. Look, I I really appreciate your time tonight. I know you've been doing it from the van. I'm surprised your internet's, you know, held up so well. >> I'm nervous. >> tell me who your provider is. You know, it's uh Get it on there, too. Get those priority tickets while you're at it. >> That's old school that is, yeah. Happy days. So um yeah, again thank you so much. Always sign off. I mean Ronnie normally does the the end, but I'll do it. You probably haven't got a drink. I've got a a beer, why not? It's that's all tonight. But don't worry. So we raise a toast to the great the grind and the revival. Appreciate everyone listening. Thank you so much.

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