Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I’ve been involved in music my whole life, but I took a pretty unusual path. I started
on piano when I was really young, but then joined my junior high school band and
picked up the bassoon. I was a band geek all the way through high school, and
ended up getting two degrees in classical music – a Bachelor of Music from the
University of Toronto and a Masters of Music from the University of Southern
California, both in Orchestral Bassoon Performance. I made my living as a freelance
orchestral musician for almost a decade, and during that time also got interested in
playing pop. Brandi and I played in an indie pop band together for several years
before Nice Horse was born. Drums are actually my most recent instrument (and one
of the ones I’m least formally trained on), but they’re a lot of fun to play, and my
musical background means I’m pretty good at picking up new things quickly.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Nice Horse”?
A: We took a long break from releasing music in 2022, and it feels really good to be
getting new songs out into the world again. Although Nice Horse is in the country
genre, we really tend to stretch ourselves beyond genre boundaries. We didn’t all
grow up on country music, and as a result the music we make together tends to
appeal to a wide range of people. One of our most-heard comments from new fans
is, “I don’t often like country music, but I like you!” Our music is for everyone – not
just country fans.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I’m very inspired by Brandi Carlile right now – I just got the chance to see her live for
the first time, and she’s not only an incredible musician, but also isn’t afraid to speak
up on important social justice issues. I definitely find inspiration from artists like her,
but I’m also inspired by my bandmates – they’re all amazing musicians and I feel
really lucky to get to play and create with them regularly.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Things I Wish I Didn’t Know.”?
A: “Things I Wish I Didn’t Know” is a super relatable song – I think almost everyone has
had an experience where they’ve gotten through a tough breakup, but keep hearing
things they wish they wouldn’t about their ex. That’s the feeling this song captures.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Genre-bending! Or is that two words?
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Things I Wish I Didn’t Know”?
A: We’re a self-contained band and it’s really important to us to play on our own
records. That’s not always common in country music, but we know the music sounds
more authentically us when we’re playing it ourselves. We sometimes have to push
really hard to make this happen, but you can hear each one of us playing on this
record. We’re proud of that.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: Our music is for everyone, and we want to be as inclusive as possible – right down to
the pronouns we use in our songs. “Things I Wish I Didn’t Know” actually uses non-
gendered pronouns, and this was really important to us because we want our songs
to speak to everyone. As an all-female band with two members who are part of the
queer community, we’ve had our share of struggles within the country music genre.
We want to build a community that makes it clear that this genre is for everyone, and
we make music that reflects these values.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: In the country world, it would be either Brandi Carlile, Dolly Parton, or the Chicks –
please don’t make me pick just one.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Working on your craft is important, but make sure you understand the business part
of the industry too! Don’t be afraid to ask for help, advice, and mentorship.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: 20-year-old me thought she was too old to pick up a new instrument – and then I
started playing the drums at age 30. I guess I would tell my younger self that she’s
never too old to do anything she wants to do!
