The Sit Down with Karissa Ella
Belmont graduate, Ohio native and rising country artist Karissa Ella is celebrating her midwestern roots and praising the hardworking communities that keep America moving with her brand-new single “The Country” which marks her first release since her fourth Ep “Growing Wings” last year.
Having poured her heart into this next era of music, she believes "The Country" is among some of her strongest work yet. With more new music and exciting opportunities on the horizon, the release marks another milestone as she continues to build momentum and connect with fans across the country and on August 8, she'll open for Russell Dickerson at Mansfield Motor Speedway, so the new era is really getting into gear. With this first new music in twelve months being released, it gave Jamie and Karissa a great opportunity to catch up and look ahead to what is next.
Hey girl, how are you doing?
“I’m Good, how are you?”
I'm awesome, thank you, it's great to see you.
“Same, thanks again for having me.”
No worries at all, any time my friend, how are things with you?
“Things are going good. I Can't complain, releasing some new music and we’ve got more new stuff ready to go after that, so we've got a little stockpile and just was waiting for the right time where summer felt right.”
Let's start with the one that came out last Friday. “The Country” is the first one for nearly a year so why did you choose to lead with that song into this new era of music?
“I think the song is different from the other songs I've recorded. I also felt like it was the perfect song for summer and we wanted a song that was a feel good, sing-along summer song to kind of lead everything with. There's another one that could have worked and that's why it took so long to put it out because we were debating, but at the end of the day, we felt like this one was just so ear warming where if you listen to it a few times, you can't help but sing along to it, which is what we wanted everyone to, you know, fall into our little trap. We wanted everyone to sing along to it and felt like it was the perfect feel good, summer song and it's different from some of the other stuff that we'll be releasing. So, we wanted to, I don't want to say get it out of the way, but we wanted it to be first so it would have its moment. I feel like a lot of the music I'm writing has been really soulful and interesting, then I just got married so I'm in a happy stage of life and this kind of fit right in with that.”
Having poured her heart into this next era of music, she believes "The Country" is among some of her strongest work yet. With more new music and exciting opportunities on the horizon, the release marks another milestone as she continues to build momentum and connect with fans across the country and on August 8, she'll open for Russell Dickerson at Mansfield Motor Speedway, so the new era is really getting into gear. With this first new music in twelve months being released, it gave Jamie and Karissa a great opportunity to catch up and look ahead to what is next.
Hey girl, how are you doing?
“I’m Good, how are you?”
I'm awesome, thank you, it's great to see you.
“Same, thanks again for having me.”
No worries at all, any time my friend, how are things with you?
“Things are going good. I Can't complain, releasing some new music and we’ve got more new stuff ready to go after that, so we've got a little stockpile and just was waiting for the right time where summer felt right.”
Let's start with the one that came out last Friday. “The Country” is the first one for nearly a year so why did you choose to lead with that song into this new era of music?
“I think the song is different from the other songs I've recorded. I also felt like it was the perfect song for summer and we wanted a song that was a feel good, sing-along summer song to kind of lead everything with. There's another one that could have worked and that's why it took so long to put it out because we were debating, but at the end of the day, we felt like this one was just so ear warming where if you listen to it a few times, you can't help but sing along to it, which is what we wanted everyone to, you know, fall into our little trap. We wanted everyone to sing along to it and felt like it was the perfect feel good, summer song and it's different from some of the other stuff that we'll be releasing. So, we wanted to, I don't want to say get it out of the way, but we wanted it to be first so it would have its moment. I feel like a lot of the music I'm writing has been really soulful and interesting, then I just got married so I'm in a happy stage of life and this kind of fit right in with that.”
This was one you wrote with Cassidy (Best) and with Garrett (John Mireles), where when people hear the title “The Country” they are just thinking it's about the genre and music, but there's quite a lot more with it, particularly the farmers and the workers in those flyover states, I guess you guys call them. You know, the people that are working out in fields so everyone else can put the food on the table. How long have you guys had this as an idea that's been kicking around and why did you really want to highlight the people that do the real graft for the rest of you in the States?
“I feel like I have a few songs that have paid homage and said thank you to the hard-working blue collar class coming from my hometown and I believe in supporting them, I believe in honouring them and that's what this song is too. It's just a thank you to all the hardworking men and women who help make the world go around that we don't even realise is happening and that goes to the people who are working in the coal mines, the farmers, the blue collar workers, the factory workers and everyone who is in a sense risking their life to get us food on the table so that we can have these things. This is saying thank you to them, but also a reminder to everyone in the world that everything truly does kind of come from the country, so we decided it was a good reminder. I remember my friend Garrett was stuck in Nashville traffic and he was like, man, none of this would be possible without the country, all these big cities, all of these huge buildings and these skylines going up. I think Nashville has kind of lost that a little bit so we wanted to write a song for everyone to say thank you and also remember that everything does comes from the country. One of my favourite things is going to farmers markets and my dream is to have a little farm one day, so this is authentic, this is true to me and for my co-writers as well.”
You said you've got a little stockpile and you've been working on things for a little while, so I'm guessing this is the first of quite a few new ones that we're going to hear through the rest of this year.
“I hope so. We have another one ready to come out afterwards or come out in the next couple months too, then it gets towards Christmas time and it gets funky, so we'll see. We always dream big and say we'll do a cover or we'll finally do a Christmas song but time runs out, it's so crazy that If you don't do Christmas in July where you have that stuff ready and recorded, you don't, you know with shows and promoting your other music, you lose track of time as you're just having fun, I guess. But we have quite a few songs ready to roll and it's just about putting them out and figuring out which ones have their own moment and then do we do a project? I don't know. Like, that's where I'm at and you think, do the people want an album? Do they want another project? We're still writing for it and hoping to always beat out certain songs but I'm really loving a lot of the songs that I've been writing. I've written a lot with Cassidy and Garrett, this is the first one from three or four that I've recorded and loved from them. This is our little team, so I'm excited for everyone to hear them and hear what they think. I feel like it's different from my past music but in a good way. It's shows maturity and it shows growth, but also I feel like it still ties into the old stuff as well.”
“I feel like I have a few songs that have paid homage and said thank you to the hard-working blue collar class coming from my hometown and I believe in supporting them, I believe in honouring them and that's what this song is too. It's just a thank you to all the hardworking men and women who help make the world go around that we don't even realise is happening and that goes to the people who are working in the coal mines, the farmers, the blue collar workers, the factory workers and everyone who is in a sense risking their life to get us food on the table so that we can have these things. This is saying thank you to them, but also a reminder to everyone in the world that everything truly does kind of come from the country, so we decided it was a good reminder. I remember my friend Garrett was stuck in Nashville traffic and he was like, man, none of this would be possible without the country, all these big cities, all of these huge buildings and these skylines going up. I think Nashville has kind of lost that a little bit so we wanted to write a song for everyone to say thank you and also remember that everything does comes from the country. One of my favourite things is going to farmers markets and my dream is to have a little farm one day, so this is authentic, this is true to me and for my co-writers as well.”
You said you've got a little stockpile and you've been working on things for a little while, so I'm guessing this is the first of quite a few new ones that we're going to hear through the rest of this year.
“I hope so. We have another one ready to come out afterwards or come out in the next couple months too, then it gets towards Christmas time and it gets funky, so we'll see. We always dream big and say we'll do a cover or we'll finally do a Christmas song but time runs out, it's so crazy that If you don't do Christmas in July where you have that stuff ready and recorded, you don't, you know with shows and promoting your other music, you lose track of time as you're just having fun, I guess. But we have quite a few songs ready to roll and it's just about putting them out and figuring out which ones have their own moment and then do we do a project? I don't know. Like, that's where I'm at and you think, do the people want an album? Do they want another project? We're still writing for it and hoping to always beat out certain songs but I'm really loving a lot of the songs that I've been writing. I've written a lot with Cassidy and Garrett, this is the first one from three or four that I've recorded and loved from them. This is our little team, so I'm excited for everyone to hear them and hear what they think. I feel like it's different from my past music but in a good way. It's shows maturity and it shows growth, but also I feel like it still ties into the old stuff as well.”
You talked about this new era and how it’s more soulful. Since we last spoke a year ago, you've had a big change in life with getting married. Those are the sort of things that shape music, shape what you're thinking about and what you're writing about as life events change your perspective and your perception on the world. Do you think that's something that we're going to really see through the rest of this music that's coming at the start of this new era?
“Yes, absolutely. I mean, I will have some breakup songs, but right now I don't have any. I've tried to write them because I know I'm not going through that right now, but people are and they need music and everybody loves a good breakup song, right? Or a song that we can just cry to or be angry with but I am just not in that phase of life right now. I've tried writing them and I'm just too in love and too happy, so I'm writing about the amazing man I got to marry, our relationship, our life and hope people who are in those same scenarios feel the same and they can relate to those or look forward to that or to find a love like that. So, it's a little bit of everything, but definitely I'm writing about where I'm at in life right now, it's very authentic to me and of course, if we do a project, it'll have a little bit of everything on there, but for the most part, I'm just having fun and writing what I know.”
Over the next couple of weeks, you're going to get a chance to try some of those out. Firstly, this weekend is going to be really fun because Russell D is one of the most fun entertainers I’ve seen. It's just a feel good party and that's a home state show for you as well.
“Yeah, for me, it's a home state show and I feel like I've got to open for a lot of great artists that I look up to. Russell definitely was on the bucket list, I have seen him live and I'm such a huge fan of his, he went to Belmont like I did and he puts on such a great show. He's so much fun and I know, I bring some energy, but he brings twenty times the energy, so I'm really gonna have to step it up and work hard just to be on that stage with him so I'm looking forward to the challenge. I just think he's a great person, he's someone who shows you who he is too, especially on social media as I truly think who he is on social media, this goofy guy that's also so fun, talented and sweet is that person that you get to see live on stage. I cannot wait and being in my home state, it's about like an hour down the road from where I grew up and nothing is better than an Ohio crowd! We love country music and we love live music, so I know it's going to be a great show.”
The other show that I see you've got coming up in your calendar is you're doing Whiskey Jam in a couple of weeks’ time too. That’s been a Nashville institution for a long time now with all that Ward has done with that and it’s downtown now too which is really cool to have people playing originals on Broadway. You've obviously played there before and shows like that must be really good opportunity to road test these new songs in front of one of the most authentic audiences in Nashville.
“Yeah, absolutely, It's iconic and it's been in town for a long time. I played it with Ward years and years ago, I’ve played it a lot of times actually. This is my first time actually playing it downtown though and I don't know why, but it's great when you're releasing new music where it's a chance that people in town and hopefully some industry people can come out to hear the song live, but also test out new songs, like you said, because this is the crowd that's going to tell you how it is. There'll be some tourists, but for the most part there's a lot of other songwriters, industry and artists that will give you their true feedback and I think it's the best way to test out some songs. Ward does a great job of hosting the show and making the whole thing really fun, so I'm just excited to be back because it's been a minute.”
“Yes, absolutely. I mean, I will have some breakup songs, but right now I don't have any. I've tried to write them because I know I'm not going through that right now, but people are and they need music and everybody loves a good breakup song, right? Or a song that we can just cry to or be angry with but I am just not in that phase of life right now. I've tried writing them and I'm just too in love and too happy, so I'm writing about the amazing man I got to marry, our relationship, our life and hope people who are in those same scenarios feel the same and they can relate to those or look forward to that or to find a love like that. So, it's a little bit of everything, but definitely I'm writing about where I'm at in life right now, it's very authentic to me and of course, if we do a project, it'll have a little bit of everything on there, but for the most part, I'm just having fun and writing what I know.”
Over the next couple of weeks, you're going to get a chance to try some of those out. Firstly, this weekend is going to be really fun because Russell D is one of the most fun entertainers I’ve seen. It's just a feel good party and that's a home state show for you as well.
“Yeah, for me, it's a home state show and I feel like I've got to open for a lot of great artists that I look up to. Russell definitely was on the bucket list, I have seen him live and I'm such a huge fan of his, he went to Belmont like I did and he puts on such a great show. He's so much fun and I know, I bring some energy, but he brings twenty times the energy, so I'm really gonna have to step it up and work hard just to be on that stage with him so I'm looking forward to the challenge. I just think he's a great person, he's someone who shows you who he is too, especially on social media as I truly think who he is on social media, this goofy guy that's also so fun, talented and sweet is that person that you get to see live on stage. I cannot wait and being in my home state, it's about like an hour down the road from where I grew up and nothing is better than an Ohio crowd! We love country music and we love live music, so I know it's going to be a great show.”
The other show that I see you've got coming up in your calendar is you're doing Whiskey Jam in a couple of weeks’ time too. That’s been a Nashville institution for a long time now with all that Ward has done with that and it’s downtown now too which is really cool to have people playing originals on Broadway. You've obviously played there before and shows like that must be really good opportunity to road test these new songs in front of one of the most authentic audiences in Nashville.
“Yeah, absolutely, It's iconic and it's been in town for a long time. I played it with Ward years and years ago, I’ve played it a lot of times actually. This is my first time actually playing it downtown though and I don't know why, but it's great when you're releasing new music where it's a chance that people in town and hopefully some industry people can come out to hear the song live, but also test out new songs, like you said, because this is the crowd that's going to tell you how it is. There'll be some tourists, but for the most part there's a lot of other songwriters, industry and artists that will give you their true feedback and I think it's the best way to test out some songs. Ward does a great job of hosting the show and making the whole thing really fun, so I'm just excited to be back because it's been a minute.”
Lastly, we spoke about this before I know it's not as straightforward as just yes, I would like to do it, I would love to come as there’s a lot more that comes into it, but Are we looking to try and get over here at some point and do some shows for us?
“I love London, I love the UK, I love travelling, I've been itching to do it and yes, I would love to do shows over there. Hopefully, I've been talking with someone and even if it's just acoustic, like that's all I care about, you know, anything, I just want to get over there to play some shows, just meet people and have fun. Hopefully in 2027, we'll get to do that, it’s really big on my bucket list for next year and if so, we'll have to catch up and meet.”
The new track “The Country” from Karissa Ella is out now and is available HERE. You can find more of Karissa’s music and upcoming tour plans on her WEBSITE whilst you can stay in touch with her socially on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK X & FACEBOOK.
“I love London, I love the UK, I love travelling, I've been itching to do it and yes, I would love to do shows over there. Hopefully, I've been talking with someone and even if it's just acoustic, like that's all I care about, you know, anything, I just want to get over there to play some shows, just meet people and have fun. Hopefully in 2027, we'll get to do that, it’s really big on my bucket list for next year and if so, we'll have to catch up and meet.”
The new track “The Country” from Karissa Ella is out now and is available HERE. You can find more of Karissa’s music and upcoming tour plans on her WEBSITE whilst you can stay in touch with her socially on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK X & FACEBOOK.