You often find that people who seem to sing sad songs are actually really positive people, which is definitely true about Avery Anna. The nineteen year old from Flagstaff in Arizona has a really warm and lively aura about her, she writes songs about her experiences of graduating school via Zoom through the pandemic and highly relatable experiences which allowed her to rapidly develop a fan base and land a record deal with Warner Music Nashville.
Avery made her first trip to the UK in 2022 where she performed at Country to Country in London and she was also named as part of this year’s CMT Next Women of Country class that also includes fellow visitors to the UK over the last twelve months: Alana Springsteen, Ashley Cooke, Carter Faith, Catie Offerman, Georgia Webster, Megan Moroney and Pillbox Patti. Following her appearance at this years The Long Road Festival and whilst the UK was basking in the glorious sunshine of a September heatwave, Avery joined Breland on the road for a run of European dates including at Electric Ballroom in London where she sat down with Jamie to talk about all of her adventures and observations from being overseas.
Welcome to Camden, which is even more crazy than normal today and it is HOT! I know you’re more used to it but we’re not built for the heat over here. “You know, at the show yesterday in Bristol, everyone was sweating so much. I opened the door during Breland’s set to go outside for some air and there was like fumes of steam coming out so it was wild. I will say there is a very good attitude through the heat though.”
It must have been interesting playing on a boat (Thekla in Bristol) last night too. “It was really cool, I’ve never done anything like that before and there is something so fun about the intimate small spaces where everyone is super hyped and energised, ready to listen to some music. That’s just so awesome.”
You came over for the first time last year to play C2C to do the whole daunting thing of let’s get on a plane to a new country, where nobody knows who you are but something worked and made you want to come back. “I played my fourth EVER show at C2C in London last year where I played in the O2 arena in front of fifteen thousand people and it’s really cool to come back to play all these shows and meet people that saw me then because that was like the beginning of my whole journey. I will also say that the crowds here are very respectful, they listen to the lyrics so well and that really freaked me out when I first played over here.”
I hear that from so many people because everyone has heard about the audiences before they come over, how they are very attentive and they look at you, like really look at you. “Yep and at first you think that you are doing bad but they just respect it and are really listening, which is so cool.”
As much as people hear that from other artists before they come, it isn’t until you experience it for yourself that you understand and appreciate it. On this trip you played at The Long Road a couple of weeks back and you have already seen C2C so, how do the festivals over here, compared with big events back at home? “You know what, they are very different but the similarity is the love for music. They are very different in a listening sense, I feel like UK fans are definitely more quiet but everyone just loves music everywhere and I’m really glad that there are a lot of opportunities for artists like me to be able to come out here and share my music with the people out here.”
People here will give you their time and there is a different attitude towards new artists and female artists in-particular. You were part of this year’s CMT Next Women of Country class and a lot of your class like Alana (Springsteen), Catie Offerman and Megan (Moroney) have also been over for the first time this year, where like you, a lot of people may not know a huge deal about but the audience will give you all their time. “It is really cool, I think that people are really interested in supporting artists that are just starting out which is really special to me and I admire how they are willing to be so supportive and want the best for you over here. They are loyal fans, people come up to me and say that they loved me since C2C where I only played three songs in the O2 arena and they have been following my music since then. I can’t say that I’m making a lot of money right now, it costs a lot to come out here and travel over here but it is really worth meeting these people and starting off with a base of people that I can come back to where I have a home with fans over here.”
Right now, you’re on the road with Breland who for an Eagles fan, he is a pretty cool guy. There aren’t many flaws I can find in the bloke but I’m a big Cowboys fan and we’ve hung out a bit because I know some of his team over here really well so we have some pretty good football banter. I would guess that by where you are from that you would be a (Arizona) Cardinals fan though. “Yes, I love to play sports, I am the most competitive person ever and I will beat you at whatever we play but I don’t really watch sports that much.” To be fair, you don’t want to get excited about watching the Cardinals right now anyway but how has this run been going round Europe? I saw that you guys crossed paths with Tenille (Townes) as well. “I love Tenille Townes! I started out covering her songs in my car before I signed a record deal and when I met her I was starstruck to now being able to write songs with her and hang out with her. You can just tell that from talking to her that she is such a good person and BRELAND! Let me tell you, every night I tell people on stage that I sing a lot of sad songs but he is going to put you in such a better mood. Something that I really admire about Breland is that a big part of who he is, is being genre less and it’s a really welcoming place for me to go to because I know that the fans are going to accept me no matter what I’m singing. Nobody is like this is too pop, this is too country or too whatever so, it feels like a safe place and I love that he not only offers a safe place for not only his fans but for me too.”
One of the big things that my friends have picked up on whilst you have been here is what you’re wearing on your feet. Is this something that you have done before and where did the idea of #fanvans come from? As we are twinning in Vans today, I think it is really cool and really sweet plus up close it looks even better than it does on Insta. “Thank you. I don’t even remember when but I had these white fans for shows and I drew on them but wasn’t really planning on having fans signing them but people would always ask me to sign their boot or their Vans so every time someone asked me, I said well, if I sign your shoes, you have to sign mine. I had a bunch of signatures on these shoes in the US and they are someone down in the blackhole that is my closet right now so, I bought these new ones for the Europe tour and these are all European fans from the last two and a half weeks. It’s so cute, I love it and I love when the fans are signing that I get to talk to them where it gives a moment that kind of breaks the ice so, I can get to know them a little bit which is really cute.”
So, are you going to carry that on and get a new pair when you get home? You’re about to head out with Cole (Swindell) and I see that Nate Smith, who is one of the coolest guys in the world, is on some of those dates too. “Nate is really sweet, then I’m really excited about being with Cole and Jordan Davis as well plus I have some headlining stuff too so, I might have to get a few pairs of shoes. I love the “Fan Vans” but I kind of want to do some like fan boots or fan Converse so, there is more room but “Fan Vans” is just a vibe.”
Are you someone that would rock the whole white cowgirl boots look? I am prejudging here but I don’t picture that as your vibe really. “The funny thing about me is that I grew up very country, I grew up barrel racing, riding horses and all of these things so part of my wardrobe on the day to day is boots but when I moved to Nashville I’m like why do I need to wear boots? We live on concrete so, I do love wearing sneakers because they are comfortable and I also like wearing sneakers on stage so, I can dance and move around. I do wear boots but I am not the type of girl to wear a minidress and cowgirl boots, it’s not really my vibe because I just want to be comfortable.” In terms of putting out music, the EP came out last year and we had a new song out LAST month, which sort of makes you realise how long you have been over here for but what’s on the cards through the back end of this year and going into 2024? “I have music coming out soon but I can’t say when. It’s going to surprise you guys, it’s going to be on an ironic day and it may or may not be with someone else. After that, I’m hoping to give the fans what they have been waiting for, which is quite a few songs. The next one coming isn’t one of those teases, it’s kind of a surprise but after that we are working towards an album hopefully sooner rather than later.”
As well as that and most importantly, I hope you’re going to keep trying to come and see us, now that you have got the bug for it. “YES!!!!! I love it here. It’s going to be like that thing where I’m constantly itching to come back.”
Is there anything you have found or noticed that we do better here than you do back at home? Everyone talks about the audiences but apart from the fans, what sort of life stuff have you picked up on? “Ok, I have a few things. Firstly, your Coca-Cola is better as there is less sugar, everything has less sugar and that’s great. Number two is that I have got more steps in here than I ever do in America, three is how everyone here dresses nice, like you get dressed every day and everyone that I have seen is put together. I don’t know, I feel like people here or the people that I have seen are very confident in who they are and enjoy getting ready every day, which is really cool and I feel like I see more independence here than I do in the US maybe. Also, you guys definitely cuss a lot better than us.”
I think we are just more used to it so to an extent it becomes quite normal and sometimes it ends up being used in an endearing way. “You are more used to it, I was talking to a Scottish artist called Jordan Harvey the other day and when we were in the van during Long Road, he goes Avery, I’m really impressed with you, you never cuss! I said do I look like the sort of person that would drop an F Bomb in the middle of my sentence? He said that around here, it’s just part of our language and American’s are just really sensitive.”
Well, if you did want to learn some new words, I’m sure that him and his Australian buddies over there in Nashville are more than capable of teaching you some things that could corrupt your innocent vocabulary but Jordan is a great guy with a lot of talent and is really cool to be around. This has been a lot of fun hanging out in the heat and look forward to having you back here again.
The latest single “Worst In Me” from Avery Anna is out now and available HERE whilst you can keep up to date with Avery and all that she up to by checking out her INSTAGRAMTIKTOKFACEBOOK & TWITTER. The Long Road Festival will return in 2024 to Stanford Hall in Leicestershire over the weekend of 23rd to 25th August where the initial release of limited early bird tickets have already SOLD OUT. Further tickets will be available in the future on their WEBSITE which you can be the first to know when by checking out their socials on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.