Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: When I was younger, my parents played country music on our family road trips. I even listened to Garth Brooks’ live album… probably more than I wanted at the time. Like many teenagers, I went through a rebellious phase, diving into punk and pop-punk-emo bands like My Chemical Romance, Green Day, Simple Plan, and Bring Me the Horizon. As I got older, I studied music and eventually became a huge John Mayer fan. After college, I wanted to write songs that blended all those influences, something up-tempo, with catchy melodies, easy to sing, but still rich in sound and full of guitars. That’s exactly what we’re doing now. In doing so, it felt natural to come full circle and reconnect with the music I grew up loving: country.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Blue Ridge Band in three words?
A: Festive, catchy and guitars.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: We see our band as a big family, and when people come to see us, they become part of that family. We try to be as honest and authentic as possible — a good friend, a confidante, not some superstar who’s hard to approach. Our fans are the reason we can do what we do, so it’s important to take care of them. They’re not clients; they’re people who connect with our music and share our perspective. We try to stay connected through social media, but we value meeting them face to face even more. The real magic happens when someone experiences our music and meets us in person.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘High on You’. Is there a story behind it?
A: There isn’t a single story behind this album like there was with our first, Down to Business, but there is a bold theme. We wanted to capture the art of taking a break, enjoying life, and soaking up the good vibes. High On You is about celebrating what we’ve accomplished by looking back on how far we’ve come, remembering both the highs and the lows, and focusing on what truly matters. It’s a summer-feeling album meant to bring warmth, energy, and positive vibes whenever you press play.
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: My favorite song changes all the time, but lately it’s been Afire. I wrote it while stuck at home on my sofa after breaking my knee during a performance. For two months, I couldn’t see anyone and had to focus on rebuilding my body and mind. I was overwhelmed with negative thoughts over a silly accident, but putting them into a song gave me the words to get through that difficult time. I also love the element of nature in the track, which reminds us that we’re only human, but our willpower is what keeps us moving forward.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album “High On You”
A: Afire was the first song I wrote for the album, about a year and a half ago. Right after that, we realized we wanted the lyrics to feel lighter and the music to be more up-tempo. Martin and I spent a day in the studio and ended up with High On You, which helped define the theme and vibe for the rest of the album. It was different from what we had done on the first record and fit my voice perfectly. From that point on, we worked on around 20 songs by ourselves and another five with other artists, but out of those 25, only 10 made the final cut.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Blue Ridge Band so far?
A: So many amazing things have happened to us, but I feel like being finalists at the Emerging Artist Showcase at Boots and Hearts was a true milestone for Blue Ridge Band. Our team is like a family, and this was one of the first times we celebrated a big win together — a moment when our career felt less like a childhood dream and more like something real and achievable. We played in front of people who didn’t know us at all and were even laughing a little at us, since half the band aren’t fluent English speakers. We hadn’t slept, coming off a show the night before and a 14-hour overnight drive to get there. Yet, we did what we do best: we played music, and in just three songs, we earned the respect of everyone in the room.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: I think Chasing Sunsets was really the beginning of everything we’ve experienced with Blue Ridge Band. It’s meaningful to me because I started writing it while on vacation with my girlfriend in New Zealand. Our only goal was to find the perfect spot to watch the sunset each evening — nothing more, nothing less. The song took on a second life when someone created a line dance for it, and soon people all across the province were dancing to it. It hit the Top 10 on radio and racked up a good number of streams on digital platforms, so yeah, I think it will always be the song we’re most proud of.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Blue Ridge Band’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: We record everything at Martin’s home studio. Most of the time, we write together. Sometimes he’ll come up with an idea or a vibe and send it to me, then I’ll build on it and take the song a little further. Other times, it works the other way around. Once we’ve got the foundation of a song, we’ll occasionally bring in another writer to make sure the lyrics are as strong as possible, but often it’s just the two of us.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for Blue Ridge Band, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: We’re big dreamers, so we aim for the stars. We’ve always wanted to play around the world, and I still believe that’s possible. In the short term, our goal is to perform on the biggest stages across the country, with a personal dream being the main stage at Festival d’été de Québec. More than just chasing milestones, we want our songs to be part of people’s lives, whether during their toughest challenges or their happiest moments. The connections we build through music are what inspire us to keep pushing forward. If our music can give people the same spark it gives us, then we’ve done our job.
