Hi! What inspired you to write “Would You Know Love,” and what message do you hope it conveys?
A: I just really loved how this song sounded like it was from somewhere in between, where old meets new, and country meets blues, kind of like me. I also really love the message that if we are not careful, and we take love for granted, we could end up alone. It’s so easy these days for that to happen, with the whole hook up culture, people get burned till they just get weary and then they just give up too easily when a relationship gets a little tough. It’s hard to recognize when it’s worth fighting for, we forget that’s what love is, it endures.
How did your husband and collaborator, Dewayne Strobel, influence the production of this heartfelt ballad?
A: My husband Dewayne Strobel is my producer, and my guitar player, and so he influences it in a big way. We’ve been married and working together for 21 years, so he knows exactly what I like in regards to sounds. We’ve been on this journey together where we had an amazing career in country music, and we’ve been blessed with a wonderful career in blues music as well, and we have slowly been fusing those sounds and influences together, because country music was absolutely influenced by the blues, whether that genre wants to admit that or not. It’s silly when people feel there needs to be so much separation between them, so we are fighting against that. Music does not fit in a box, it’s free and fluid and influenced by the life around it. Just like my husband and I, we mix our ideas in the songs and in the studio, and sometimes we butt heads till we find what’s best for the song.
Your raspy vocals shine in this song—how do you balance blues and country in your music?
A: When I was singing country music people always told me I sounded really bluesy. Then when I switched to blues I had people telling me I sound too country. I used to worry about that and was very conscious about my delivery, I felt like I needed to make a choice. But I have slowly come to realize I’m a product of both of these genres, I grew up listening to both, so why should I box myself in when I don’t have to? So now I just follow my instincts, and it just works, because the style of country music I love was influenced by the blues. So it’s quite natural.
You mention getting emotional while singing—what personal experiences shaped this song’s meaning for you?
A: I think about the people who wouldn’t be in my life if I had let myself get too jaded. When I met my husband I had just gotten out of a toxic relationship, so I was guarded, and honestly I almost blew it. I wouldn’t have my daughter today if I had. Also right before I was about to record my vocals I found out my long time manager/agent Rob Pattee passed away, I was heart broken and my Husband said we could do the vocals another day. After I had a good cry I said let’s do it, and I thought about the 14 years we worked with Rob, the friendship and laughter we shared, so much love and respect, so rare in the music business. I almost missed all that because I was scared to work with anyone again, after having a horrific experience with a couple former managers. There are all kind of love in the world, family is who you make it, so this song is all about not missing the boat on that.
What do you think makes love endure, and how does that theme resonate in this single?
A: I think what makes love endure is communication, about what you both want out of life, and to be honest, rather than saying what they want to hear. We have to be true to ourselves, before we can be true to others. And finally forgiveness, no one is perfect, we all have our baggage that makes us who we are. Share your traumas, so you can understand each other. Of course there are limits, if someone continually disregards your heart and your feelings, it is important to love yourself enough to walk away from a toxic situation, and I think that’s reflected in the music video.
How does “Would You Know Love” reflect your growth as an artist in both blues and country?
A: I think my new single reflects my growth in both blues and country, by embracing the fact that I embody both of these sounds fluidly. No more shrinking one for the other, and no more apologies.
As a trailblazing Indigenous artist, how does your heritage influence the storytelling in your music?
A: As an Indigenous artist, storytelling is very much a part of who I am. So I feel things in a big way. The lyrics I sing, I don’t just sing them, I live in that space in that moment. So a lot of emotion comes through, and people tell me all the time they can feel it. Also, with production, we find ways to get creative with this, sometimes we will put a hand drum, or a powwow drum within the track, and people don’t even realize. In the past, we have also recorded the sound that the jingles make on a jingle dress, and we have also embedded that into different tracks, particularly on songs about situations when people need healing, since the jingle dress brings healing. In my live show I have incorporated subtle hints, for example at the end of the show I spin and dance in a way that is similar to the fancy shawl dance I used to do as a little girl. Of course it’s not exact and it’s modified, but these elements are there, and they are always there in everything I do. I don’t sell my culture, I live and breathe it.
What was the most rewarding or challenging part of creating this deeply emotional song?
A: The most rewarding part about creating this track was knowing I have made the right choices in my life, to build the little family I have today. I know what love is, I didn’t let it slip by, and now I get to live with it everyday.
Your music blends raw emotion with modern sounds—how do you achieve that perfect balance?
A: Blending raw emotion with modern sounds is something that took us a while to achieve. I couldn’t have done it without my producer, it’s taken years and albums to perfect the sound we wanted. We both still very much love the amazing music we grew up on, so we tried to honor how they influenced us, along with what we’ve learned from years of working with some of the best producers in the business, here in Nashville! This new music is the result!
What do you hope listeners take away from “Would You Know Love” when they hear it?
A: I hope they feel inspired to find true love, and then to honour it with respect and care. Then I hope they go look up more of my music and add me to their personal playlist on Spotify haha!
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
