Maggie Rose is one determined artist. As the opening act at the Opry this past weekend she was not going to miss her time in the circle. Traffic was at an all time stand still on Saturday night as the Opryland Hotel was hosting a turkey convention. Rose took an Uber to the Opry. When she got within viewing distance, she saw the traffic back up and thought she might be late, so she took matter into her own hands. Taking off her shoes, jumping over medians and running through traffic, Rose made it to the Opry just in time. We sat down with her after that epic adventure to talk the Opry, engagement and what it’s like to be a Vogue “it girl.”
You are playing the Opry for the 33rd time this weekend, how does it feel to be back?
Playing the Opry is something that will never get old to me. I could be playing for the 1,000th time and I would still get crazy butterflies before taking the stage. I think what makes playing the Opry sacred to me is the wealth of artists that have taken the stage and the history behind what the Opry is all about. It is a community that reflects the values of what makes. Country music great to me. Besides, any show that can fill the seats for over 4,500 consecutive Saturdays is doing something very right and it’s exciting to be a small part of that history.
Can you tell us the story behind your single ‘Broken”?
I wrote “Broken” when I was dealing with a bit of disillusionment from the industry. I was feeling displaced and finding my voice proved difficult in the format I was in. My co-writers, Corey Crowder and Patrick Davis helped me write a song that embraces the brokenness we all deal with at some point in our lives and shows how these events, while painful, may redirect us to where we are meant to go. There was a sense of peace that writing that song provided me. There is a sense of melancholy with “Broken,” but also of patience and faith.
What can we expect from your EP The Variety Show to be released in two parts, one in April and the other in May? And why the release with two dates?
These two EP’s are stepping stones that lead from where I have been to where I am headed. I call them The Variety Show in two volumes because each EP hits a different note that showcases the spectrum of music I have been working on. On each there are songs that strongly lean Pop, Country, Rock, R&B and even Americana. I wrote for the two projects in L.A. and Nashville, but utilized newfound resources here in the ever-evolving Nashville to show that we can make all kinds of music; kinds that might not yet be indicative of Music City. Being involved in the production allowed me to fully realize the songs beyond just the writing aspect and take them to unexpected places. I am reintroducing myself in a way, and spacing out the projects allows me to do that in a more controlled manner. If I were Beyonce (I wish) I would release it all at once, but I want people to spend some time with the first five songs before I drop another batch on them.
Who has been your biggest influences for this project?
My biggest influence comes from where I grew up and how my parents celebrated music with me as a kid. I always joke that my native home of Maryland has a bit of an identity crisis. We’re not North, not South, no regional music to speak of…we listen to it all. I listened to The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Linda Ronstadt, The Stones, The Boss, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Sinatra…it goes on. When I was reassessing my musical direction about two years ago, my friend and publisher, Dallas Davidson saw my knack for coloring outside the lines in my writing and production. Instead of being scared of it, he encouraged me to do whatever I wanted. He let me just bounce everywhere for a year and the wilder the song was, the more excited he got. That was a new feeling for me and I felt totally liberated.
What have been your biggest challenges in your career so far?
There are so many moving parts when it comes to breaking an artist and while I want to change the conversation, I can’t ignore the fact that I was dealing with an inhospitable climate when it came to Country radio. Women were scarce and independent female artists were pretty much DOA. Having such an extended period of my career be dictated by the radio format stifled my musical development. I was trying to make the right choice for my team, which was like my family. We started to choose songs based on their marketability at radio instead of choosing them for their merit or because they represented me best. I don’t know how I expected my best work to emerge under those standards.
Named by Vogue as one of country’s “it girls”,what is it that sets you apart when it comes to style?
There are so many cool women in Country with a strong sense of individuality and style, so it’s an honor to be considered an “It Girl” by the legendary publication. I try to not rely on the rulebook when it comes to style. I use it as an extension of my artistry and honestly, I have fun with it. My goal is not to be “pretty” or “hot” when I get dressed. There are tons of gorgeous girls out there, I just want to look like myself.
Congrats on your recent engagement, can you tell us more about your wedding plans? How do you have time to plan a wedding with your busy schedule?
Thank you! We’re getting married in my hometown of Potomac, MD on June 4th. The short answer is I don’t! Luckily, my mom must have been a seasoned wedding planner in another life because she has gotten it down to a science where I simply say “yes” or “no” and she does the rest. I’ve done a lot of pinteresting to help with direction, but Austin and I are pretty low key. The one thing I have been more hands on about is the music at wedding, of course, and the dress I am designing with my friend Olia Zavozina.
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Great piece! Would expect nothing less than Maggie running to her Opry performance. This artist is a true force and wonderful singer/songwriter. Sounds awful patronizing but their is not a song she has been involved with that is not solidly good. Thanks for the interview!