The Sit Down with RaeLynn
Since she first graced the stage on The Voice back in 2012, the East Texas charm and RaeLynn has been infectious for all to see. The platinum selling and ACM Award nominated Queen of Baytown who headed over to the UK for two trips in 2019 has been slowly teasing her next chapter through this year and she has returned home to her original label at Big Machine to do it. Following on from three tracks shared earlier this year, she is closing out with her five-track festive offering ‘Jingle Jangle Rock’ which is out now via The Valory Music Co. Jamie spent some time catching up with her over Zoom to look ahead to the holiday season and talk about her new era of music.
Hey girl, how are you doing?
“I'm doing good. How have you been?”
I've been really, really good thanks. Were you out of the awards last night?
“I didn't go to the awards, but I went to the Big Machine after party and it was great.”
Well, good on you for getting up after a party night to talk to all of us.
“I know, we did it. I didn’t get home until 1:30, but you know what? I'll take a nap when I die, so that's what I think.”
It’s exciting times for you, because we've kind of gone full circle and you’re back where things started at Valory. What was it about coming back to Big Machine that you always felt was the right place and the best home for you?
“Well, you know, I started in Nashville at seventeen, then I was on The Voice, moved back here at eighteen and signed here at Big Machine. These walls, this label and these hallways, this is where I feel like my college experience was, all the people that work here were my family. They treated me like family and were there for me through so much of figuring out the music industry. You know, we ended up parting ways for a little bit and that's okay, that's growth. One thing I love about Scott is that if his artists aren't happy, he's like, okay, that's fine, you know, so he let me go my own way for a little bit and I was able to grow in so many ways and learn about the industry. I was an independent artist, I loved being independent and I was going to release my new record independently, then I was having kind of a resurgence with ‘Boyfriend’ which is a song that's on my catalogue with Big Machine. Me and Scott were just talking about it, and he said, so what are you working on? I was like well, I'm about to put out this new record. Where he's like, Who are you doing it with? Then I said Oh, I'm just doing it independently and he said I' love to hear it. I was so nervous, but also, I really love it and I was thinking in my head too that I really want this record to get it’s shot at radio and the big exposure that I believe it needs and can have. I met with Scott, we played it for him and it was kind of instant, so it's really cool to see how life works ten years later. It's really cool, I mean, I've had so many full circle moments this year, especially, like, in January when one of the first concerts I ever went to was Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus on their Best of Both worlds Tour where I ran after their bus screaming Nick Jonas, I have type one diabetes too! Then now, the Jonas Brothers’ dad is my manager so you know, I still have to play it cool when I hang out with them because they are so cool. There's been so many full circle moments and that's always just a wink for me from God, that I'm doing the right thing, which is cool.”
Hey girl, how are you doing?
“I'm doing good. How have you been?”
I've been really, really good thanks. Were you out of the awards last night?
“I didn't go to the awards, but I went to the Big Machine after party and it was great.”
Well, good on you for getting up after a party night to talk to all of us.
“I know, we did it. I didn’t get home until 1:30, but you know what? I'll take a nap when I die, so that's what I think.”
It’s exciting times for you, because we've kind of gone full circle and you’re back where things started at Valory. What was it about coming back to Big Machine that you always felt was the right place and the best home for you?
“Well, you know, I started in Nashville at seventeen, then I was on The Voice, moved back here at eighteen and signed here at Big Machine. These walls, this label and these hallways, this is where I feel like my college experience was, all the people that work here were my family. They treated me like family and were there for me through so much of figuring out the music industry. You know, we ended up parting ways for a little bit and that's okay, that's growth. One thing I love about Scott is that if his artists aren't happy, he's like, okay, that's fine, you know, so he let me go my own way for a little bit and I was able to grow in so many ways and learn about the industry. I was an independent artist, I loved being independent and I was going to release my new record independently, then I was having kind of a resurgence with ‘Boyfriend’ which is a song that's on my catalogue with Big Machine. Me and Scott were just talking about it, and he said, so what are you working on? I was like well, I'm about to put out this new record. Where he's like, Who are you doing it with? Then I said Oh, I'm just doing it independently and he said I' love to hear it. I was so nervous, but also, I really love it and I was thinking in my head too that I really want this record to get it’s shot at radio and the big exposure that I believe it needs and can have. I met with Scott, we played it for him and it was kind of instant, so it's really cool to see how life works ten years later. It's really cool, I mean, I've had so many full circle moments this year, especially, like, in January when one of the first concerts I ever went to was Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus on their Best of Both worlds Tour where I ran after their bus screaming Nick Jonas, I have type one diabetes too! Then now, the Jonas Brothers’ dad is my manager so you know, I still have to play it cool when I hang out with them because they are so cool. There's been so many full circle moments and that's always just a wink for me from God, that I'm doing the right thing, which is cool.”
You've mentioned that there's possibly a new record on the way and we've had three songs that have come out this year as part of this new chapter, so I'm guessing they are all going to be part of this bigger collection. Are all of the songs that are going to be on this album written as part of this era of you and your music, or have any of them been kicking around for a little bit longer?
“No, they're all part of this new era. This era is very rock, very country and very vulnerable, that's why I released ‘Fall Together’ which no pun intended but it had to happen in the fall and one of my biggest songs is ‘Love Triangle’ and those heart songs mean a lot to me. I'm really proud of this sound and I know it's kind of a departure from what I've done in the past, but I really do believe that it's authentically me and I can't wait for people to hear the rest of it. It's going to be super special.”
Do you think one of the ways that it's going to come across as being so authentic is in having more input as you co-produced those three tracks you put out. Has that been something you've always wanted to go into and is it something you have really been able to dive in to and have been enjoying?
“Yeah, I've always wanted to. In all of my records, I've always had a say, but I've worked with really big producers so I wanted to respect them and I do respect them. I felt like with ‘Long Live Country Music’ which is this record, I was in the driver's seat with Aaron (Gillespie) and I might not know that notes to play, but I'd be like, can you make that happen? Then we would effect it out and listen to it and I think this record is so special because it's all real instruments, like, there's no real tracks, it's real drums, real guitars and real authentic band moments. I wanted to feel that on this project and you really do. I just admire Aaron so much because I feel like the biggest thing that I've heard over the last ten years of travelling is you sound great on records, but your voice live sounds so raspy and almost better, I’m not trying to talk about myself here but how it does on the record. I take every criticism, so I'm thinking, okay, how can we fix that? You know? So, it's all about finding the right person that knows your voice and can capture that. I felt like Aaron has done just like an incredible job of capturing that rasp but also polishing it just enough for it to work.”
“No, they're all part of this new era. This era is very rock, very country and very vulnerable, that's why I released ‘Fall Together’ which no pun intended but it had to happen in the fall and one of my biggest songs is ‘Love Triangle’ and those heart songs mean a lot to me. I'm really proud of this sound and I know it's kind of a departure from what I've done in the past, but I really do believe that it's authentically me and I can't wait for people to hear the rest of it. It's going to be super special.”
Do you think one of the ways that it's going to come across as being so authentic is in having more input as you co-produced those three tracks you put out. Has that been something you've always wanted to go into and is it something you have really been able to dive in to and have been enjoying?
“Yeah, I've always wanted to. In all of my records, I've always had a say, but I've worked with really big producers so I wanted to respect them and I do respect them. I felt like with ‘Long Live Country Music’ which is this record, I was in the driver's seat with Aaron (Gillespie) and I might not know that notes to play, but I'd be like, can you make that happen? Then we would effect it out and listen to it and I think this record is so special because it's all real instruments, like, there's no real tracks, it's real drums, real guitars and real authentic band moments. I wanted to feel that on this project and you really do. I just admire Aaron so much because I feel like the biggest thing that I've heard over the last ten years of travelling is you sound great on records, but your voice live sounds so raspy and almost better, I’m not trying to talk about myself here but how it does on the record. I take every criticism, so I'm thinking, okay, how can we fix that? You know? So, it's all about finding the right person that knows your voice and can capture that. I felt like Aaron has done just like an incredible job of capturing that rasp but also polishing it just enough for it to work.”
Before we come on to talk about all the festive-based stuff with the EP and the other song that's coming out, it's been a little while since you've been over here. You had an excuse for a couple of years in 2020 and 2021, then I know you were in Norway playing a show over there in the summer. It was 2019 when you were last here and played one of the most incredible venues on the whole planet with Maren at The Royal Albert Hall, but are you hoping to get back and see us?
“I would love to come back. That Maren Morris tour was one of my favourite tours, we did thirteen shows in like sixteen or seventeen days, we only had four days off the whole time there. I mean, I would love to, my favourite thing about fans over in the UK is just that you guys truly listened, I mean I'm all about partying, but I'm also about listening too. It freaked me out at first, I was like, did they not like me? Then I was like wait, they’re just listening and then when you get done, everybody's loud and quiet. Y’all are so respectful and I really appreciate that, so yeah, I hope to come over very soon.
It is so alien because as much as anyone will tell you that before you come, you don't quite realise it until you're on stage.
“Yeah, it's very different and you have to experience it.”
You’re just standing there and it's like they're not reacting at all and there is part of you thinking do they think I'm shit?
“Ha-ha, it’s like I came all of this way to be booed, no I’m kidding, you guys don’t boo but it’s a different experience and it’s awesome.”
Maren was back over here last week and we saw her on Monday night, which was really cool with her new stuff and new sound, which was really fun. The main thing we’re talking about at the minute is the little EP which you have just put out and I’m guessing you’re a really big Christmas girl.
“Oh, if there was a picture of somebody under Christmas in the dictionary, it'd be my face with a Santa hat. Okay? Honestly, I should have worn my Christmas sweater, I love Christmas and I love it because I think it's just an important holiday. I think about my memories as a kid, I love the gifts, I love the family, the food, the spirit of it and I just love having a daughter at Christmas too. Being able to create traditions for her is so cool and special. I'm very grateful for all my experiences this far, but I've always wanted to do a Christmas project and I was just kind of waiting for the right time, then when me and Aaron were on a roll, when it came to my record, we had some time and I was like, listen, let's just start creating this sound for Christmas stuff. We wrote a song called ‘Jingle Jangle Rock’ then that was the start and we just kind of started building it from there.”
You sort of said it was something that kind of you and Aaron just started writing, is it a very strange mindset to be writing and thinking about Christmas during the summer?
“No, it's fun. Aaron would say, no because I decorated his house, well not his house, but his studio like Christmas. It looked like, you know, Cracker Barrel had thrown up in there, but I thought it was fun.”
It's always the thing when you see you guys in America doing Christmas card photos in April because it's just so much cheaper but if you're kind of fully into it, I guess, you know, start as early as possible.
“That's how I feel, we started early this year for sure.”
See, I'm a Sagittarius and I have a birthday in two weeks’ time so in my head it's like, no, you have Thanksgiving and you watch the Cowboys, hopefully win, then it's all about me for my birthday and then you can start playing Mariah constantly on a radio after that.
“I always feel bad for anyone that has a birthday in the holiday months, y'all get done and I'm sorry.”
“I would love to come back. That Maren Morris tour was one of my favourite tours, we did thirteen shows in like sixteen or seventeen days, we only had four days off the whole time there. I mean, I would love to, my favourite thing about fans over in the UK is just that you guys truly listened, I mean I'm all about partying, but I'm also about listening too. It freaked me out at first, I was like, did they not like me? Then I was like wait, they’re just listening and then when you get done, everybody's loud and quiet. Y’all are so respectful and I really appreciate that, so yeah, I hope to come over very soon.
It is so alien because as much as anyone will tell you that before you come, you don't quite realise it until you're on stage.
“Yeah, it's very different and you have to experience it.”
You’re just standing there and it's like they're not reacting at all and there is part of you thinking do they think I'm shit?
“Ha-ha, it’s like I came all of this way to be booed, no I’m kidding, you guys don’t boo but it’s a different experience and it’s awesome.”
Maren was back over here last week and we saw her on Monday night, which was really cool with her new stuff and new sound, which was really fun. The main thing we’re talking about at the minute is the little EP which you have just put out and I’m guessing you’re a really big Christmas girl.
“Oh, if there was a picture of somebody under Christmas in the dictionary, it'd be my face with a Santa hat. Okay? Honestly, I should have worn my Christmas sweater, I love Christmas and I love it because I think it's just an important holiday. I think about my memories as a kid, I love the gifts, I love the family, the food, the spirit of it and I just love having a daughter at Christmas too. Being able to create traditions for her is so cool and special. I'm very grateful for all my experiences this far, but I've always wanted to do a Christmas project and I was just kind of waiting for the right time, then when me and Aaron were on a roll, when it came to my record, we had some time and I was like, listen, let's just start creating this sound for Christmas stuff. We wrote a song called ‘Jingle Jangle Rock’ then that was the start and we just kind of started building it from there.”
You sort of said it was something that kind of you and Aaron just started writing, is it a very strange mindset to be writing and thinking about Christmas during the summer?
“No, it's fun. Aaron would say, no because I decorated his house, well not his house, but his studio like Christmas. It looked like, you know, Cracker Barrel had thrown up in there, but I thought it was fun.”
It's always the thing when you see you guys in America doing Christmas card photos in April because it's just so much cheaper but if you're kind of fully into it, I guess, you know, start as early as possible.
“That's how I feel, we started early this year for sure.”
See, I'm a Sagittarius and I have a birthday in two weeks’ time so in my head it's like, no, you have Thanksgiving and you watch the Cowboys, hopefully win, then it's all about me for my birthday and then you can start playing Mariah constantly on a radio after that.
“I always feel bad for anyone that has a birthday in the holiday months, y'all get done and I'm sorry.”
The other thing around the holidays is that Hallmark movies are always really big. They all have a very similar plot where it's pick a random small town and pick a random business in that town.
“They’re all the same, they’re going back home for Christmas, they're sad, they're divorced, they're upset, they hate their lives and then they find love.”
You’ve got another new song coming out tomorrow, which is going to be on a film that’s got Janel Parrish from Pretty Little Liars in it.
“Yeah, it's called ‘Let The Holiday Come On In’ and I forgot that we did a sync camp for Hallmark earlier this year, where I was like, well, hopefully something comes on. It's so fun, it’s very Hallmark. It's very different to my other stuff. I did a holiday movie with Hallmark it came out with Winona Judd and that came out in 2020 I think, with Wynonna Judd and Kix Brooks which was called A Nashville Christmas Carol, so that was fun.”
We’re at the sort of time where things are winding down for the year in Nashville but what’s 2026 looking like so far for you?
“Yeah, we're just working on booking some tours and some headlining stuff, then focussing on the project and going to country radio here in America so I'm really excited about that and figuring out what we're gonna lead with. That's kind of the plan as of now, along with being a mom which is a full-time job.”
Yes, of course. That must be a nice thing about Christmas as a mother as well, because if you love Christmas, you can kind of get to do it all over again where all the stuff that was cool when you were little becomes cool once again.
“It is and I just feel so grateful. I think my favourite thing about having a kid during Christmas is having that childlike spirit at Christmas again so it's really fun.”
Well, hopefully you and your daughter are both on Santa Claus's nice list.
“I know, I'm praying we are. I know I'm on Santa’s nice list, I hope she it too.”
Let’s hope so. Thank you so much Rae, it's really cool to chat.
“Thank you so much Jamie, I'll see you soon.”
The new EP ‘Jingle Jangle Rock’ from RaeLynn is out now via The Valory Music Co and is available HERE. You can learn more about RaeLynn and find details of any upcoming tour dates on her WEBSITE whilst you can follow her socially to keep up to date with all that she is up to on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK X & FACEBOOK.
“They’re all the same, they’re going back home for Christmas, they're sad, they're divorced, they're upset, they hate their lives and then they find love.”
You’ve got another new song coming out tomorrow, which is going to be on a film that’s got Janel Parrish from Pretty Little Liars in it.
“Yeah, it's called ‘Let The Holiday Come On In’ and I forgot that we did a sync camp for Hallmark earlier this year, where I was like, well, hopefully something comes on. It's so fun, it’s very Hallmark. It's very different to my other stuff. I did a holiday movie with Hallmark it came out with Winona Judd and that came out in 2020 I think, with Wynonna Judd and Kix Brooks which was called A Nashville Christmas Carol, so that was fun.”
We’re at the sort of time where things are winding down for the year in Nashville but what’s 2026 looking like so far for you?
“Yeah, we're just working on booking some tours and some headlining stuff, then focussing on the project and going to country radio here in America so I'm really excited about that and figuring out what we're gonna lead with. That's kind of the plan as of now, along with being a mom which is a full-time job.”
Yes, of course. That must be a nice thing about Christmas as a mother as well, because if you love Christmas, you can kind of get to do it all over again where all the stuff that was cool when you were little becomes cool once again.
“It is and I just feel so grateful. I think my favourite thing about having a kid during Christmas is having that childlike spirit at Christmas again so it's really fun.”
Well, hopefully you and your daughter are both on Santa Claus's nice list.
“I know, I'm praying we are. I know I'm on Santa’s nice list, I hope she it too.”
Let’s hope so. Thank you so much Rae, it's really cool to chat.
“Thank you so much Jamie, I'll see you soon.”
The new EP ‘Jingle Jangle Rock’ from RaeLynn is out now via The Valory Music Co and is available HERE. You can learn more about RaeLynn and find details of any upcoming tour dates on her WEBSITE whilst you can follow her socially to keep up to date with all that she is up to on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK X & FACEBOOK.
