So MusicRow.com just posted this amazing, short interview with Hillary Lindsey. She’s the gal responsible for cowriting “Girl Crush,” (Little Big Town) “Fearless,” (Taylor Swift) “A Little Bit Stronger,” (Sara Evans) “American Honey,” (Lady Antebellum) and pretty much every Carrie Underwood hit of the last 5 years. But while we’re at it:
- Jesus Take the Wheel
- Wasted
- Just a Dream
- See You Again
- Two Black Cadillacs
- So Small
- AND Smoke Break.
She’s 1/3 of the infamous Love Junkies (with Liz Rose and Lori McKenna), a trifecta of dynamite lady songwriters who are challenging the state of commercial music with real, honest songs.
No big deal, just Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, and Lori McKenna accepting their Song of the Year awards for “Girl Crush.” #careergoals. Photo from NSAI.
“I hadn’t recorded anything, and didn’t even step into the studio. It was a pretty low time. Then I stopped feeling sorry for myself and began writing with…”
Quote taken from “The Writing Room: Hillary Lindsey” on MusicRow.com
…with an endless stream of now-famous-hit writers, including a one, Liz Rose. Oh, and not to mention Taylor Swift:
“She came in like a fireball. She was young, but she knew exactly what she wanted.”
Quote taken from “The Writing Room: Hillary Lindsey” on MusicRow.com
So what does a typical writing session look like for The Love Junkies? More like a badass girls weekend:
“We will write three or four songs in a day. You can almost not turn off the writing juices. We will write all day, then it’s wine time and then you write more and eventually make it into your pajamas.”
Quote taken from “The Writing Room: Hillary Lindsey” on MusicRow.com
Um, can we all hang out right now please? I’ll bring the pinot. Just kidding I know nothing about wine. But I’ll bring something that’ll get us drunk and trust me, we’ll have a great time. Ok, enough with the creepy internet pleading.
It’s also refreshing to know that even one of the most hard working, inspired writers out there still hits a wall from time to time:
I get so frustrated, and want to throw my guitar against the wall or move away, it’s so dramatic.
Quote taken from “The Writing Room: Hillary Lindsey” on MusicRow.com
Boy do I feel that, sister. Makes me feel less bad about crying out of frustration when all my music sounds like shit.
Being one of the top hit songwriters out there who happens to be female, Hil has an interesting perspective on lady musicians in music:
“A year or so ago, I would have been more sad about it, but I really feel like that tide is turning… I feel like there is a real change about to come.”
Quote taken from “The Writing Room: Hillary Lindsey” on MusicRow.com
Hell yeah, sister! Get ready world, here we come! I’m also personally hoping that a wave of female artists will bring about a new era of thoughtful songwriting. Songs about the stuff that matters.
Because we’re not only sick of being on the radio less than our male counterparts, we’re sick of the vapid, shallow party songs that seem to dominate the airwaves. There’s nothing wrong with a good party song every now and then, but can we please get back to what really matters? Thanks.
Alright, enough of that tangent. Go read the article for yourself (it’s a lot shorter than this one) and bask in the amazingness that is Hillary Lindsey:
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