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Editor's Note

Rock & Roamer caters to good music, both mainstream and indie, finds you the most interesting places to travel, and the food to get you there.

Rock & Roamer 21 Year Playlist New 45 Bleachers Quarter-Life Crisis Taylor Tote cowboy like me 36 Taylor Swift Man on the Moon Kiera Dillon One Day Catie Turner In Your Atmosphere John Mayer

Photo by Beth Campbell I Charleston, WV

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it's easy to grow tired of repeated routines in the same surroundings. To add more variety to your life, this issue of Rock & Roamer is devoted to exploration. Get to know Paige King Johnson, Taylor Tote, and Kiera Dillon through their Rock & Roamer interviews. Paige King Johnson recently released her country single, "Just Like You," and its official music video - a fantastic follow-up to "Water Down the Whiskey." Taylor Tote discusses her two singles: "Quarter-Life Crisis" and "Never Have I Ever," two phenomenal, relatable songs to twenty-somethings living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Kiera Dillon released her debut album Perspective on New Year’s Day, and gives advice to artists wanting to release their first album. We explore Nashville, Tennessee, and give you 11 different road trip playlists to get you there. I hope this issue of Rock & Roamer surprises you, moves you, and gives you something to look forward to.

LAUREN ELIZABETH CAMPBELL Editor-in-Chief

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ivy Taylor Swift

Just Like You Paige King Johnson L.A. Neil Young Therefore I Am Billie Eilish Alive Pearl Jam Bette Davis Eyes Kim Carnes together, you and i Lo Beeston Never Have I Ever Taylor Tote Rich Man Vampire Weekend

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Table of Contents

TAYLOR TOTE Taylor Tote on her two latest singles: "Quarter-Life Crisis" & "Never Have I Ever."

TAYLOR SWIFT Read the Rock & Roamer review of Taylor Swift's evermore.

COVID-19 LIVE MUSIC How to have the live music experience during COVID-19.

TAYLOR TOTE

PAIGE KING JOHNSON Get to know the singer/songwriter behind "Just Like You."

2020 PLAYLIST The songs that defined the year.

NASHVILLE CITY GUIDE Use our editor's guide to plan the perfect trip to Music City, U.S.A.

PAIGE KING JOHNSON

11 ROAD TRIP PLAYLISTS Driving playlists to get you on the road and moving.

KIERA DILLON Meet singer/songwriter and producer, Kiera Dillon, who released her debut album, Perspective, New Year's Day.

KIERA DILLON Photo 1 by Justin Lube | Photo 2 Courtesy of Paige King Johnson | Photo 3 by Julia Cahn

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INTERVIEW

WINTER 2021

TAYLOR TOTE A POP, SOUL SINGER/SONGWRITER ON THE RISE

Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief

Known for her upbeat and soulful original songs, New Jersey native Taylor Tote talks about her music, what inspired her two latest singles: "Quarter-Life Crisis" and "Never Have I Ever," her natural draw to the spotlight, and what's next for her: How would you describe your music? I feel like this has always been a tricky question for me to answer because it's so not black and white. I used to think it was a negative thing, but probably around the end of 2019, I started realizing that it doesn't have to be. Music has always been fascinating to me, I'm inspired by so many different styles and genres that I just want to try them all. I dove into some rock music in my past, but I was always inspired by the big pop stars of the '90s and early '00s growing up. I also got into EDM, toured nationally with a large soul band, and mixed that into my own music, dove into the singer-songwriter/folk realm, and even a little country. So I guess you can say my music is a bit like me in real-life, always adapting and changing with the times and going with however I'm feeling. It's honest and deep as I wear my heart on my sleeve. But while trying to make people feel their deepest emotions, I love a song that people can just jam out and feel good to, as I'm also goofy, silly, and always seeking out a good time. I try to make my music as close to how I am as possible. Both "Quarter-Life Crisis" and "Never Have I Ever" are telling of the 20s experience, what inspires you most from your real-life when it comes to writing songs? Any song I write is purely based on my real-life experiences and things I've seen people around me go through. Both of these songs' concepts came to me quickly as well as the melody, production, and literally everything but the lyrics. I knew what I wanted to say but how to say it was tricky. During the beginning of the pandemic, I was so mad at everything. I pushed away

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Photos in this story by Justin Lube writing in general for months. How can I write anything about my experiences if I'm not experiencing anything? And especially these two songs I majorly pushed away, I think mostly because they hit so deep for me that something in me wasn't ready to channel that just yet. I finally got to a place in my life where I felt like an adult and had a clear path for my life but had to move back into my parents' house ("Quarter-Life Crisis"). I also finally felt ready to get back into the dating world and start searching for a potential serious mate when all of a sudden I was forced to be alone ("Never Have I Ever"). I knew "Never Have I Ever" was going to be an ode to my previous relationships, my past self-love journey, and finally finding comfort in living the single life. But it was hard to write about that experience when I was taken out of it against my wishes. I'm so happy that inspiration finally came around

because when it did, these songs poured out of me. Every single word or scenario I sing about in them is completely true. They are truly my story and what inspires me most to write about them is because I know I'm not alone in these feelings and hopefully my listeners will realize they aren't alone either. Who/what inspired you to pursue music? As weird as it sounds, nothing or no one really specific inspired me to do music. For as long as I can remember, I've been singing and dancing around. I don't remember ever not doing it or not wanting to do it. It felt ingrained in me, a part of my DNA, that music was it. But it was never a thought, it was truly just nature, and I didn't ever see an alternate route as a child. It wasn't a choice in my head, it was just who I was. I put on shows for my parents, family, and our friends all of the time. I was a gymnast,

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INTERVIEW

WINTER 2021 cheerleader, actress, and dancer as well. Being on some sort of stage or in some sort of spotlight was natural for me, but singing and writing have always been the constants. Of course as I got older, there were artists I loved and listened to which was definitely the reason I kept going. And I seriously got so lucky with the family I have because they've been so supportive since day one. I'm sure without their support I wouldn't be nearly as far as I am now so they certainly inspired me to keep going forward with it. Who would you most like to collaborate with? I would love to collaborate with Lady Gaga one of these days! I feel like the way she presents her music is similar to mine - as in she's not really tied to one specific genre. I love her voice, her writing, her stage presence, everything about her. I'd love to write for her or work with her in any way. I feel like I would learn so much from her. What’s next for you? I am so excited for what's next! I always have crazy ideas that I just have to go with all of the time. I'm currently in the process

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of recording a ton of new songs in which some will be released as a collection early 2021. It's a new style people totally will not expect from me as it's relatively new, so I'm nervous and excited and everything in between! I'm also in the process of developing something that I can't speak too much on as it's in the early stages right now, but I can't wait to hopefully share more later

this year. I will say that it isn't music but something I think can really help creatives in the music industry. I'm really wishing for the best to come in 2021! Keep up with Taylor Tote on Instagram @taytote, Facebook @taylortotemusic, and stream her singles "Quarter-Life Crisis" and "Never Have I Ever" wherever music is available.

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INTERVIEW

WINTER 2021

TAYLOR SWIFT EVERMORE ALBUM REVIEW

By Sebastian Potter Staff Writer

Following July’s surprise release of folklore, Taylor Swift stunned fans for a second time in 2020, releasing what Swift refers to as folklore’s "sister album," evermore, in December, her ninth studio album. Throughout her career, every album has signified a new era for Swift, complete with a different esthetic and style of music than the albums that have come before it. evermore is Swift’s first album that continues the story from the era before it. "To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs. To try to put it more poetically, it feels like we were standing on the edge of the folkloric woods and had a choice: to turn and go back or to travel further into the forest of this music," Swift wrote on Instagram, announcing the album’s release. evermore begins with its lead single, "willow." The song chronicles her current relationship and her infatuation with her boyfriend. "I'm begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that's my man," Swift sings. Like most Swift records, evermore at is a relationship record. However, evermore explores the more mature details of an adult relationship than its predecessor, folklore. "champagne problems," evermore's second most streamed track on Spotify, details the story of a couple dealing with a failed proposal. "You had a speech, you're speechless, love slipped beyond your reaches, and I couldn't give a reason, champagne problems," Swift sings. These more adult themes are a drastic change from folklore, where Swift detailed relationships of high school lovers. "Betty, I won't make assumptions about why you switched your homeroom, but I think it's 'cause of me," Swift sings off folklore's "Betty." In addition to the more adult relationship

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Photos in this story by Beth Garrabrant | Universal Music Group themes, Swift accounts darker themes in this album in a way she hasn’t before. "no body, no crime," featuring HAIM, details a story of a woman seeking revenge to honor her late friend whose husband got away with murder after cheating on and killing his wife. Swift also goes back to her country roots in this song, to which she held tightly on her first four albums. In what is perhaps the most emotional Swift song ever, in "marjorie," Swift sings to and about her late grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, an opera diva who had her own television program in Puerto Rico. Finlay encouraged her to pursue music, and Swift reveals in the song she is living her grandmother's dreams. "All your closets of backlogged dreams, and how you left them all to me," Swift sings. The song also features previous recordings of Finlay’s operatic voice after Swift sings,

"And if I didn't know better, I’d think you were singing to me now." evermore is a work of art, and I can't wait to see what is next for Swift.

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MUSIC

WINTER 2021

THE LIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCE DURING COVID-19 By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief

With the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines currently being distributed across the country, the end of COVID-19 feels near. However, until it is safe to once again gather in crowded bars, arenas, and stadiums to enjoy music live, live albums are the only way for music fans to enjoy the sonic experience of live music. For the full live concert experience, prepare to listen to your live album the way you would get ready to attend an actual concert. You must not listen to your concert at home. But because of COVID-19, and social distancing, you must not listen to it in a crowded location either. The perfect live concert listening destination is a desert or open field, away from others, where music can be played loudly without disrupting others. If that is not possible without traveling a great distance, Manhattan for example, head to a spacious park. After you choose your location, pick a day and time to attend your show. Sure you

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could listen to your concert anytime you want, but picking a time for your concert turns it into an event. It gives you something to look forward to. Be sure to check the weather and other events on your calendar, as this may be the only situation where you alone can control a concert date. After picking a day and time, choose which live concert you plan to listen to, or which recorded concert if you have video capabilities, such as a wireless projector and screen. You could choose your favorite artist, or someone you’ve never heard of before. You could also choose a show that you’ve been to, to relive that experience, or a concert you didn’t have the chance to attend. Whether you plan to hold your concert alone or with your quarantine people, be sure to treat it the way you would a “normal” show. Dress up, buy yourself a fancy preshow dinner, do any technique you normally would to enhance your experience, and take pictures to hype yourself up on social media.

If it is possible to play your music aloud, bring your charged portable speaker, I recommend the UE Boom, and turn the volume all the way up, the way it would be at a show. If you cannot play it aloud without disturbing others, bring a good pair of headphones, I recommend the Sony WH1000XM4. If you are using headphones with multiple people and do not have a Bluetooth splitter, start the concert on multiple devices simultaneously. Once you start the concert, do not stop or skip songs, the same way you couldn't at an actual show. By not skipping, you may discover a song that becomes your favorite. You could even wait in line to use the restroom, spill your drink all over yourself, pretend you're standing behind a tall person, lie on your back like you're crowd surfing, and have to sit in your car for an hour after the show before you start heading home. One day, live concerts will be back for us to enjoy, but until then, we have live albums.

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PLAYLIST

WINTER 2021

ROCK & ROAMER READERS' FAVORITE LIVE ALBUMS Garrett, 30 Denver, CO The Best of The Grateful Dead Live "Grateful Dead music should, arguably, only be consumed by live performances, but because nearly every performance has a live album to go along with it, I listen to this."

Lilly, 17 Huntington, NY Shadows and Light "I'm such a fan of fusion, and no one does it like Joni Mitchell. I like to play this album when I'm writing or studying for a big test."

Mikael, 29 Miami, FL Selena Live! "It's so amazing to be able to hear a live performace from Selena in 2021. I'm so glad this ablum exists with some of her greatest hits."

Andre, 22 Savannah, GA Aretha Live at Fillmore West "My grandma used to play this album on vinyl when I'd visit her house. I still play it on Spotify, but wish I still had her copy."

Emily, 24 Madison, WI At Folsom Prison "You can't go wrong with Johnny Cash, and this album is just so iconic. Only Johnny and June could make a concert in a prison legendary."

Olivia, 25 Syracuse, NY Speak Now World Tour Live "I'll get behind anything Taylor does. Speak Now is amazing and the live version is even better. Her version of 'Bette Davis Eyes' gives me the chills."

Jada, 22 Nashville, TN K Bye for Now (SWT Live) "Ariana Grande is such a fantastic vocalist, I could listen to her all day long. This album also features other great artists like Childish Gambino."

James, 26 Philadelphia, PA Miles and Coltrane "I've been playing this album a lot since COVID-19 started. I like to pretend I'm in a jazz club in 1950's New York and not home alone."

Danny, 32 Los Angeles, CA Where the Light Is "I got to know John Mayer as a guitarist on this album. Where the Light Is' version of 'Neon' is sick!"

Morgan, 29 Charleston, WV It's Alive "It's Alive is fantastic! I blast it and start dancing around my house all of the time. No one quite does it like the Ramones."

Ben, 27 Lexington, KY Live on Two Legs "I'm obsessed with Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam and wish I wasn't five when this album came out so I could have been at one of these shows!"

David, 25 Atlanta, GA Time Fades Away "I like it when songs on a live album only live on the live album and not on a studio recording, like in Time Fades Away. It's music in its purest form."

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INTERVIEW

WINTER 2021

PAIGE KING JOHNSON IN HER OWN WORDS

Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief

Singer-songwriter Paige King Johnson moved to Nashville from her small town of Angier, North Carolina in 2015 to study music at Belmont University. Music City provided her freedom to meet other writers and try out material on stages, such as the legendary Bluebird Cafe. Now a recent college graduate, Johnson is making a name for herself within country music. Get to know the country artist: Where did your love of music come from? Music has been part of my life since I can remember. I grew up singing in my church and was taking piano lessons at the age of 6. My dad actually was a drummer in a few different bands during his teenage years, but he never pursued it as a career like I have done. My mom was in her high school choir and part of her church choir, but nothing outside of that. I truly do think that with both my parents just being fans of music and always having it playing when I was younger had a huge influence on me and my passion for music. How would you describe your music? My music is country through and through. I grew up listening to classic artists such as Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and Waylon Jennings and fell in love with the ways in which they told stories in their songs. I love the simple instrumentation and production in those older songs, and I strive to recreate those sounds in a modern way in my own music. I would say my music, without a doubt, leans toward the more honky-tonk, classic side of the country spectrum, with a lot of steel guitar, barroom piano and other cool sounds that are so evident in the country music of the past. My songwriting is very similar to the storytelling side of country music as well. You've been singing on stages since the age of 12, is there a particular performance that stands out amongst the rest? That's a hard one! Probably the most

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Photos in this story courtesy of Paige King Johnson recent notable one was a music festival I just finished producing in my hometown of Angier, North Carolina. I had been dreaming of starting a music festival there for a few years and had all plans of having it this past May. Once COVID hit, we had to postpone and I spent months not playing any stage at all. Once we were finally able to reschedule the festival for August, it had been over 6 months since I had played with my band. Being able to get back on stage with all the guys and play a full show for a live audience that was able to socially distance and enjoy themselves was one of the sweetest and rewarding feelings I've had in a while! Describe your songwriting process. My writing process varies day to day. I generally do my best thinking and get most of my ideas either when I'm out on walks or in conversation with other people. Because of that, I always have my phone or something

with me to be able to jot things down as they come to me. But, during quarantine I've been taking a lot of time to go on daily walks to help spark that creativity, which I've found has been a really productive way of getting new ideas. Whether it's lyrics that will come to me, or a melody idea that I can work through while walking - it's really become one of my favorite ways of gathering thoughts. And then when I actually go about the writing of a song, I love co-writing with friends of mine. I have a circle of people that I love writing with and that we each just get each other on a music level. We usually will throw out different ideas we've had over the course of a few months and talk through what we think they could be within the walls of a song, and usually go with whatever idea we both feel like we can relate to the most at the time. I, personally, really love the melody side

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INTERVIEW

WINTER 2021 of writing and so I usually try to have at least a general idea of a melody in my head so I know what kind of mood to write lyrics to. Songwriting is such a creative and freeflowing thing that you can't rush or force, so it's a process and sometimes a song doesn't get finished in one write but it's always worth the extra time to make it right. Who would you most like to collaborate with? There are so many artists and songwriters that I look up to and dream of collaborating with, but my top two would probably be Loretta Lynn and Lori McKenna. Loretta has been, and always will be, my country music idol. To get to work with her on a project or to play a show with her would be an absolute dream! Lori is my songwriting idol in every way possible - the way she can craft a story that is so relatable to a person in every aspect is such a special thing that I admire about her. I've wanted, for many years, to be able to collaborate with her through songwriting and production, and I'm determined to make it happen one day!

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What are you most proud of so far in your career? I'm most proud of how far I've come and how much road I still have ahead of me as an artist and a songwriter. I started playing guitar and really singing for people almost 13 years ago, and to think back on that little girl and how naive she was is such a funny thing to me. I would have never thought back then that I would be able to grow up and write and play music as my job every day. Over the past few years, I've been able to travel all over the United States and outside of the country to play shows and meet new people that I probably would have never been able to do if it weren't for my career. And I get to make my own path each day and create music that I want other to hear and sing along to, which is something I deeply value. Where do you see yourself in five years? Five years from now, I know I will still be just as engulfed in music as I am now hopefully even more. I see myself out on the road more with my band, going to new cities

each night and playing shows to fans that are singing my songs back to me from the seats they're in. I hope to still be able to give back to my hometown community with live music opportunities for young artists who are on the same path I was once on. I see myself not only excelling in my career, but also in my personal life with my friends and family and someone to share my life with, and my spiritual life staying true to myself and the values I hold dear. Keep up with Paige King Johnson on Instagram @paigekingjohnson and stream her single "Just Like You," wherever music is available.

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PLAYLIST

WINTER 2021

2020 PLAYLIST

SONGS THAT DEFINED THE YEAR: The Box Roddy Ricch

I Want You to Love Me Fiona Apple

Willow Taylor Swift

See Me Emily King

Savage Megan Thee Stallion

SICKO MODE Travis Scott

Wishing Well Juice WRLD

Blinding Lights The Weeknd

If You're Too Shy The 1975

the last great american dynasty

Dynamite BTS

The Steps HAIM

Adore You Harry Styles

Circles Post Malone

Toosie Slide Drake

Pretty Boys Paul McCartney

Murder Most Foul Bob Dylan

POP Lil Uzi Vert

Fire Waxahatchee

Garden Song Phoebe Bridgers

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Taylor Swift

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TRAVEL

WINTER 2021

CITY GUIDE TO By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief

Settled between Memphis, on Tennessee’s western edge, and the Great Smoky Mountains on its eastern border, lies Nashville, officially named "Music City, U.S.A." by WSM announcer David Cobb in 1950, and has been living up to that title ever since. Nashville is the cultural hub for musicians and music-fans alike to gather and celebrate country music in its hometown. Even if you have never been, Nashville feels like coming home. This guide will help you find the best places to eat, stay, consume music, and experience the culture in this great town.

Eats Nashville is home to some of the world’s most iconic food experiences. Known for its southern comfort cuisine, hot chicken, and eccentric offerings, there is no shortage of options to electrify your taste buds. While the list of great places to dine in Nashville could go on for miles, here are a few you can’t leave town without trying: Adele’s Located in The Gulch, Adele’s offers a creative and healthy menu in their farm-tofork style restaurant on sharable plates. Their menu changes daily due to their chef’s creative inspiration and ingredient availability, but always offer the same New American dining experience.

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Every Nashvillian has their favorite place for hot chicken, but Hattie B’s is considered a local icon. Their heat levels range from "southern" to "shut the cluck up!!!," which is

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Photo by Anna Campbell | Broadway, Nashville, TN dunked on chicken and served either on plates or in sandwich form. Along with your meal, you must try their kosher pickles, banana pudding, and "dirty bird fries," which are seasoned crinkle-cut fries topped with pimento mac and cheese, and dark meat tender bites. The Pharmacy The Pharmacy, dubbed Nashville’s "wurstburger" joint, is a specialty burger, sausage, and bier garden, built on German roots. Their menu features a wide variety of creative burger and wurstchen options, including 100% vegan options. Their bier garden is comprised of beers from all around the world, including several local brews. The Grilled Cheeserie Served over-the-counter, The Grilled

Cheeserie offers six different specialty grilled cheese melts, and options to make your own. A favorite among locals is the "Pimento Mac & Chee," house made pimento cheese, cheddar, macaroni, tomato slice, and bacon bits on country white bread. The Grilled Cheeserie also offers a wide variety of salads, soups, and sides, including chicken pot pie soup and spicy tater tots.

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TRAVEL

WINTER 2021 The Loveless Cafe To experience true southern comfort cooking, you must try The Loveless Cafe. They’ve been serving people for over 65 years, offering all day breakfast options, including the local favorite "Music City Platter," consisting of two eggs, a choice of bacon or French toast, and a choice of bacon, sausage, or country ham. The locals always choose the country ham. For lunch and dinner, they offer a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, platters, and fried chicken options. You can’t leave without trying the fried green tomatoes.

Amendment passed, giving women the right to vote, a celebration was held at The Hermitage, and again 75 years later on the anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment, in March 1995. The Hermitage Hotel remains one of Nashville’s most upscale hotels to date and is still frequented by many politicians, as it sits across the street from Nashville’s Legislative Plaza.

Stays Nashville is a spacious driving town, and there is just as much to see and do in the surrounding towns of Franklin and Hendersonville, as there is to do downtown. So no matter where you choose to stay, you are guaranteed a good time, but here are some of Rock & Roamer's top picks:

Gaylord Opryland Resort This resort, operated by Marriott and located directly beside the Grand Ole Opry House, is like a town within a hotel. Tropical vegetation covers more than nine acres inside Gaylord Opryland, which can be explored aboard a riverboat that takes passengers around the quarter-mile-long indoor Delta River, containing water from more than 1,700 rivers around the globe. The resort hosts 17 different restaurants and several speciality shops. It also has an indoor/outdoor waterpark. Even if you don’t stay at this resort, it is worth a visit after a trip to the Opry. The Hermitage Hotel Built in 1910, The Hermitage Hotel was Nashville’s first million-dollar hotel. It became popular amongst politicians traveling to Nashville, and in 1920 was the national headquarters for both pro- and antiwomen’s suffrage causes. When the 19th

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Union Station Hotel Formerly a 19th century train station, the Union Station Hotel pays homage to its past and unique architectural setting, while using modern features and amenities to make it a one-of-a-kind stay. Union Station Hotel is said to be haunted. During World War II, thousands of troops departed Union Station to be deployed overseas. A 20-year-old Abigail said goodbye to her soldier before he left for France and promised him she would be waiting on the train platform when he returned. After the war, Abigail returned to the platform to find he had been killed in Europe. Heartbroken, she threw herself in front of a moving train. She is said to occupy room 711.

Music Music is what drives people to Nashville and is the reason they stay. There is no other town in the world that appreciates music as much as Nashville, Tennessee. While home to country music, Nashville’s music scene is as diverse as the songwriters and musicians that comprise the community. Whatever you are in the mood to hear - pop, rock, R&B, hip hop, or blues Nashville has it. Here are three of the most iconic music venues in Nashville: Ryman Auditorium Nashville wouldn’t be Nashville without the Ryman Auditorium. In 1943, the Grand Ole Opry radio show began at the Ryman, and as the Opry began to popularize, the Ryman came to be known as the “Carnegie of the South.” Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Minnie Pearl, Patsy Cline, Charlie Chaplin, and President Theodore Roosevelt have graced the stage at the Ryman Auditorium. It is where Johnny Cash met June Carter. After the Opry changed venues in 1974, a circle of the Ryman’s wooden stage was cut and placed on the Grand Ole Opry House stage so the Opry will always have a piece of the Ryman. The Ryman offers tours Thursday through Tuesday, and live concerts on a regular basis.

Grand Ole Opry House The Grand Ole Opry House opened its doors in 1974 and is the only venue built to specifically host the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry is the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history. Every Friday and Saturday night, the Opry welcomes a mix of country, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and gospel music artists, as well as comedians. The shows are broadcast to radio and television via WSM and Circle TV. Tickets to the live shows often sell out. Backstage tours of the Opry House are held daily and allow music fans to see the Opry the way their favorite Opry members do.

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TRAVEL

WINTER 2021

Bluebird Cafe Located between a barber shop and hair salon in a strip mall outside of downtown Nashville, a 90 seat diner with a small stage remains one of Nashville’s greatest treasures. On any given night, LeAnn Rimes, Maren Morris, or Phil Vassar may make a surprise appearance. It is where Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks were discovered. The Bluebird is a place for songwriters to try new material and to mingle and learn from some of the biggest names in country music. The Bluebird hosts two shows a night, seven nights a week, including open mic nights on Mondays at 6 p.m..

Music Row Music Row is home to record label offices, radio stations, and recording studios that serve as the headquarters of the country music industry. Drive down the streets of Music Row and see the offices and recording studio buildings of BMI, CMA, Capitol Records, ASCAP, Sony Music Publishing, and other recognizable music companies. Many of these businesses offer tours, such as the iconic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton have recorded hits. Several of the surrounding streets are named for industry heroes, such as Roy Acuff Place, and don't forget to stop at Owen Bradley Park, named for the famous producer that features a statue of the park’s namesake playing a grand piano.

Culture Nashvillians are some of the most friendly people you will ever meet. Exploring Nashville, you will quickly find the large, energetic city feels like a small town. The city has something for everyone and makes visitors feel at home. Here are some of Nashville's most famed institutions you can't leave town without experiencing:

Broadway Known for its honky tonks, neon lights, and live music, Broadway is probably what you picture when you think of Nashville. Broadway remains active from lunch time to the wee hours of the morning. While on Broadway be sure to stop at the world-famous honky tonk, Tootsies Orchard Lounge, known for its purple exterior and for launching Willie Nelson’s career, and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. This record shop, established in 1947, carries some of the best and rarest records. Near Broadway, be sure to visit the Johnny Cash Museum, which celebrates "The Man in Black," and the Goo Goo Shop, which carries a variety of vintage candies.

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Both tours include admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Centennial Park "Green was the color of the grass where I used to read at Centennial Park," Taylor Swift sings off Folklore's "invisible string." You never know whom you might run into walking around Centennial Park, two miles west of downtown Nashville across from Vanderbilt University's campus. The centerpiece of the park is a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It was constructed as a temporary building for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition. After its erection, the city of Nashville loved it so much, in 1920 they decided to build a permanent Parthenon on the foundation of the temporary one for $1 million. Boot Country Cowboy boots are a fashion staple in Nashville, and it's only fitting to don a pair while visiting. Boot Country has a large selection and a helpful staff to help you find the perfect pair. They also carry cowboy hats to pair with them. The price of boots can range from $100 to $1,000, and every boot fits slightly differently, so you cannot assume your normal size will be your best fit. Boots should also be bought snug as they will loosen over time.

Hatch Show Print Hatch Show Print is a letterpress print shop that’s been a Nashville institution since 1879. They specialize in limited-run posters to commemorate concerts all over the world. If attending a show at the Grand Ole Opry House or the Ryman Auditorium, you can purchase a poster of theirs to take home and remember your show. They are located inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and offer two different tours on a daily basis. The "Hatch Experience Tour" allows music fans to get an inside look at letterpress printing and how their posters are made. The "Hatch Show Print Tour" gives fans the opportunity to print their own poster. eeeee

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WINTER 2021

PLAYLIST

11 PERFECT ROAD TRIPPING PLAYLISTS By Beth Campbell Staff Writer

Few actions are more holy than playing songs while driving. Though music has been evolving for thousands of years, bouncy traveling songs are a relatively new construct. Music innovation follows human movement innovation, as humans travel ever faster. Classical and romantic music had some moderato tempos, similar to skiing, ice skating, and sailing. But it wasn’t until after the Great War, the Spanish Flu, and the manufacturing assembly line did music mimic the speed and sound of combustion engines. The roaring 1920s' prosperity fostered a renaissance of machines. Cars were suddenly affordable and faster than horses, trains, and paddle wheels. Then radios were added to cars. You must rock while you roam. You’re dying to get out. Just drive anywhere. Just one concert. Prithee please. You want to support independent venues, speakeasies, crashable bedrooms. What if they go out of business before you get there? They must not. Last year you settled for memories of exhilarating performances and sublime locations, maybe a few live streams, but you yearn to expand your world. You will travel again. When you're ready, here are the tunes. Chances are many of these songs will be new to you, yet they are the absolute best traveling songs in the English language across diverse genres and eras. They’re not just good songs about movement, they are rockets igniting your soul. Cherish them. You can’t go back in time and ask Johnny Cash for one more train song. Johnny Cash and his band mastered the percussive sound of a moving engine, the secret being the tempo at about 100 syncopated beats per minute. The best driving songs spin at this speed. These songs are your new best friends to keep you going, feed your energy, and keep you awake while driving. Learn them so you can sing along, and reserve them for traveling so you save their spark. Don’t play

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PLAYLIST

WINTER 2021 them outside the car. You need them to work their magic when you’re en route. Would you get a root canal to Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On? No. This playlist gives you different groups to get in the mood for those kinds of concerts. How far are you driving? There’s 90 minutes of music in each group. For Manifest Destiny (not a band), traveling songs before Johnny Cash. For a Sock Hop, you have mid 20th century. For the Dead & Company, hippie songs. For Willie Nelson, twang and fiddle. For Don Henley, baby booms. For Dierks Bentley, country AND western. For Khalid, African-American influenced. For Katy Perry, pop and grunge. And for Passenger, the last decade. The happy songs are for returning satisfied.

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The Manifest Destiny list (because music growing more diverse is both righteous and inevitable) is like time travel for you. Listen, and feel like you’re walking, skating, or riding horses, trains, dirigibles, and early cars. Trot them out on a night when you can drive removed from anything modern, preferably in an antique car. You can hear how those singers were reaching for more, not knowing the power of invention awaiting them. But this is true for every successive playlist: the faster people travel, the bolder they get with music. Now. Many trips will be longer than an hour. If you listen to all the playlists, that’s fourteen hours of music. Even if you want to skip songs outside your type, in the interest of travel and discovery, give songs more than

one listen before you personalize this list. These songs will enrich your trip even if you listen while jogging, biking, or tunneling a high-speed rail. *Warning: Do not listen to the sad return songs in one sitting, especially while driving. Don’t! First, they are slow, they will not propel you home. Second, THEY ARE SAD. Depressing. Painful, even in their perfection. However, if you find yourself dreading returning home, or unprepared to relinquish the concert experience, these sad songs call out those emotions. You may want to spend some time in that space. Dedicated to the memory of Charley Pride, Joe Diffie, and John Prine.

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PLAYLIST

WINTER 2021

to Manifest Destiny: Come, Take A Trip In My Air-Ship, Billy Murray In My Merry Oldsmobile, Billy Murray Come Take A Swim In My Ocean, Billy Murray The Ballad of Casey Jones, Billy Murray The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond, Elizabeth Wheeler and the Victor Orchestra California Here I Come, Al Jolson The Lone Star Trail, Ken Maynard When The Saints Go Marching In, Louis Armstrong I’m Happy When I’m Hiking, Albert Whelan Haunted Road Blues, Clarence “Tom” Ashley Westward Ho!, Sons of the Pioneers Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson Sweet Home Chicago, Robert Johnson Wabash Cannonball, Roy Acuff Rock Island Line, Lead Belly One More Ride, Sons of the Pioneers Git Along, Little Dogies, Roy Rogers Chattanooga Choo Choo, Glenn Miller Orchestra Take The “A” Train, Betty Roche with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Straighten Up And Fly Right, Nat King Cole Trio Don't Fence Me In, Gene Autry Night Train To Memphis, Roy Acuff & His Smokey Mountain Boys Down The Road Apiece, Amos Milburn Freight Train Boogie, The Delmore Brothers (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, Nat King Cole Highway 61 Blues, Gatemouth Moore Tryin’ To Get Home Climbing High Mountains, Blind Willie McTell and Curley Weaver Go West, Young Man!, Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters Drivin' This Highway, Howlin' Wolf Rocket 88, Jackie Brenston & His Delta Crew Route 90, Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow I Wanna Go Skating With Willie, Patti Page Come Fly With Me, Frank Sinatra Gotta Travel On, Billy Grammer Sentimental Journey, Margie Rayburn Travelin' Man, Rick Nelson Open Highway, Teri Thornton Hard Travelin’, Woody Guthrie Up, Up and Away, The 5th Dimension

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Dead & Company: a Sock Hop: Wide Open Road, Johnny Cash Down The Line, Buddy & Bob You Can’t Catch Me, Chuck Berry Race With The Devil, Gene Vincent End Of The Road, Jerry Lee Lewis I Walk The Line, Johnny Cash Come Go With Me, The Del-Vikings Big Iron, Marty Robbins Kansas City, Wilbert Harrison Route 66, Chuck Berry Hit The Road Jack, Ray Charles Blue Train, Johnny Cash Train of Love, Johnny Cash Hitch Hike, Marvin Gaye Shut Down, The Beach Boys I Get Around, The Beach Boys Fun, Fun, Fun, The Beach Boys No Particular Place To Go, Chuck Berry (It's a) Long Lonely Highway, Elvis Presley The Race Is On, George Jones Have Love Will Travel, The Sonics Drive My Car, The Beatles Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash King of the Road, Roger Miller The Atlantic Coastal Line, Charley Pride Diesel On My Tail, Jim & Jesse Hard Road To Travel, Jimmy Cliff Roll Big Wheels Roll, Vernon Oxford Going Up the Country, Canned Heat Looking At The World Through A Windshield, Del Reeves Hitchin’ A Ride, Vanity Fare I’ve Got A Thing About Trains, Johnny Cash Long Dark Road, The Hollies Call Me The Breeze, J. J. Cale Keep On Truckin’, Dave Dudley Movin’ On, Merle Haggard Roll On Big Mama, Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley Convoy, C. W. McCall Eastbound Train, Dire Straits East Bound And Down, Jerry Reed

We Gotta Get Out of This Place, The Animals Day Tripper, The Beatles Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan Journey to the Center of the Mind, The Amboy Dukes Born To Be Wild, Steppenwolf Magic Carpet Ride, Steppenwolf Magic Bus, The Who Marrakesh Express, Crosby, Stills & Nash Midnight Rider, The Allman Brothers Band Get Back, The Beatles Ride Captain Ride, Blues Image Truckin’, Grateful Dead Vehicle, Ides of March Proud Mary, Ike & Tina Turner & The Ikettes Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin Going Mobile, The Who Horse With No Name, America Ventura Highway, America The City Of New Orleans, Arlo Guthrie Space Truckin’, Deep Purple Rockin’ Down The Highway, The Doobie Brothers Take It Easy, Eagles Love Train, The O’Jays Roundabout, Yes Ramblin' Man, The Allman Brothers Band Long Train Runnin’, The Doobie Brothers Road Fever, Foghat Radar Love, Golden Earring Shambala, Three Dog Night Born To Run, Bruce Springsteen Slow Ride, Foghat Low Rider, War

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PLAYLIST

WINTER 2021

Willie Nelson:

Dierks Bentley:

Automobile, John Prine Movin’ Right Along, Kermit & Fozzie Drivin’ My Life Away, Eddie Rabbit On The Road Again, Willie Nelson Amarillo by Morning, George Strait Let Somebody Else Drive, John Anderson Fadeaway, BoDeans Rhythm of the Road, George Strait Wheels, Restless Heart Guitar Town, Steve Earle Memphis In The Meantime, John Hiatt If I Had A Boat, Lyle Lovett Big Wheels In The Moonlight, Dan Seals Tennessee Plates, John Hiatt Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses, Kathy Mattea Some Old Side Road, Keith Whitley Copperhead Road, Steve Earle Time For Me To Fly, Dolly Parton The Road Goes On Forever, Robert Earl Keen Runnin' Down A Dream, Tom Petty End Of The Line, The Traveling Wilburys Life Is A Highway, Tom Cochrane Get Out The Map, Indigo Girls Take It Easy, Eagles Truckin’, Grateful Dead Come A Long Way, Michelle Shocked I Drove All Night, Roy Orbison Reckless, Alabama New Light, John Mayer A Thousand Miles From Nowhere, Dwight Yoakam On The Road, Lee Roy Parnell Drive, Steve Wariner Pickup Man, Joe Diffie I've Been Everywhere, Johnny Cash

Windfall, Son Volt Heads Carolina, Tails California, Jo Dee Messina Semi Crazy, Junior Brown Highway Junkie, Randy Travis A Good Day To Run, Darryl Worley Speedway At Nazareth, Mark Knopfler and Gillian Welch Down The Road I Go, Travis Tritt Go West, Brooks & Dunn Highway 80, Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer Drive (For Daddy Gene), Alan Jackson Mud On The Tires, Brad Paisley Kentucky Borderline, Rhonda Vincent If It’s The Last Thing I Do, Montgomery Gentry Every Mile A Memory, Dierks Bentley Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go), Dierks Bentley Travelin' Thru, Dolly Parton Further On Up The Road, Johnny Cash Blue Highway, Eilen Jewell Ride, Martina McBride Take A Back Road, Rodney Atkins Privateering, Mark Knopfler Wagon Wheel, Darius Rucker Call Me The Breeze, John Mayer My House, Kacey Musgraves Traveller, Chris Stapleton Trans Am, Thompson Square Traveling’ Light, Dierks Bentley and Brandi Carlile By And By, Caamp Gone West, Gone West

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Don Henley: Couldn’t Get It Right, Climax Blues Band Cruisin’, Jefferson Starship Take The Money And Run, Steve Miller Band Life In The Fast Lane, Eagles The Passenger, Iggy Pop Running On Empty, Jackson Browne Come Sail Away, Styx Two Tickets To Paradise, Eddie Money Highway to Hell, AC/DC Cars, Gary Numan Drivin’, Pearl Harbor & The Explosions Ride Like The Wind, Christopher Cross and Michael McDonald Police Truck, Dead Kennedys The Metro, Berlin Don't Stop Believin’, Journey Driving In My Car, Madness Little Red Corvette, Prince Blue Highway, Billy Idol Holiday Road, Lindsey Buckingham Downbound Train, Bruce Springsteen Drive, The Cars Boys of Summer, Don Henley I Can't Drive 55, Sammy Hagar Walk Of Life, Dire Straits Kiss Me On The Bus, The Replacements Road To Nowhere, Talking Heads Driving Away From Home (Jim’s Tune), It’s Immaterial Danger Zone, Kenny Loggins Graceland, Paul Simon Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean I Know You’re Out There Somewhere, The Moody Blues Roam, The B-52's

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PLAYLIST

WINTER 2021

Khalid:

Passenger:

Katy Perry:

Hold On, I’m Comin’, Sam & Dave Mustang Sally, Wilson Pickett Hard Road To Travel, Jimmy Cliff Proud Mary, Ike & Tina Turner & The Ikettes Climbing Higher Mountains, Aretha Franklin Love Train, The O'Jays Keep On Truckin’, Eddie Kendricks Ease On Down The Road, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson Cruisin’, Smokey Robinson Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll, Vaughan Mason & Crew Double Dutch Bus, Frankie Smith Little Red Corvette, Prince Freeway of Love, Aretha Franklin Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean Going Back To Cali, LL Cool J Send Me On My Way, Rusted Root Fly Away, Lenny Kravitz Come With Me Now, KONGOS Paris, Tokyo, Lupe Fiasco The Traveling Song, Will.i.am Ocean Drive, Duke Dumont Location, Khalid Tints, Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar Ride With Me, Pink Sweat$

The Suburbs, Arcade Fire The Open Road, John Hiatt Travelling Song, Passenger Windows Are Rolled Down, Amos Lee Lost In My Mind, The Head And The Heart From Finner, Of Monsters and Men Splitter, Calexico You Will Ride With Me Tonight, Dar Williams Fantastic Shine, Love Of Lesbian Open Road, Roo Panes Ex's and Oh’s, Elle King My Silver Lining, First Aid Kit Shake It Off, Taylor Swift Ocean Drive, Duke Dumont Travel Day Blues, The Kennedys What We Live For, American Authors I’m Born To Run, American Authors Go Big Or Go Home, American Authors Running In The Night, FM-84 and Ollie Wride Around the World, Kings of Leon Anywhere, Passenger The Long Road, Passenger Traveling Solves Everything, Violent Femmes Location, Khalid Navigator, MOONZz and Restless Modern Tints, Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar La Montaña, Byland When We Drive, Death Cab for Cutie Shut Up And Let Me Drive, 4 Alarm Tucson Train, Bruce Springsteen Tour Guide, Sputnik the Band Ride With Me, Pink Sweat$ drivers license, Olivia Rodrigo

Walking In Memphis, Marc Cohn The Globe, Big Audio Dynamite The Distance, Cake Counting Blue Cars, Dishwalla One Headlight, The Wallflowers Itinerant Child, Ian Dury And The Blockheads You Will Go To The Moon, Moxy Früvous The Way, Fastball Fly Away, Lenny Kravitz Road Trippin’, Red Hot Chili Peppers Drive, Incubus Hey Pretty, Poe Running Away, Hoobastank Float On, Modest Mouse Another Travelin' Song, Bright Eyes See The World, Gomez The Sweet Escape, Gwen Stefani Stop This Train, John Mayer Come With Me Now, KONGOS She Moves in Her Own Way, The Kooks Paris, Tokyo, Lupe Fiasco Tonight The Streets Are Ours, Richard Hawley At Full Speed, Jack’s Mannequin The Traveling Song, Will.i.am The Road, Frank Turner

Returning Happy: Sweet Home Chicago, Robert Johnson You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, Helen Merrill Lonesome Traveller, Lonnie Donegan Six Days On The Road, Dave Dudley Two Of Us, The Beatles Take Me Home Country Roads, John Denver Coming Home, Alice Cooper Celebrate Me Home, Kenny Loggins Solsbury Hill, Peter Gabriel City To City, Gerry Rafferty Take The Long Way Home, Supertramp Take Me Home, Phil Collins Hurry Back, Cactus World News More Than One Way Home, Keb’ Mo' Home, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Running Back To You, The Lodger Coming Home Part II, Skylar Grey Drive It On Home, Toby Keith Hard Way Home, Brandi Carlile On The Way Home, John Mayer Back Home, Owl City Home, Madison Mars and Maggie Szabo We're Going Home, Vance Joy Swim Home, Cautious Clay Celebrate Me Home, Josh Groban

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*Sad to Return: Sentimental Journey, Doris Day Sloop John B, The Beach Boys Green, Green Grass Of Home, Tom Jones Rockin' Chair, The Band Can't Find My Way Home, Blind Faith The Long And Winding Road, The Beatles Moonlight Mile, The Rolling Stones Homeward Bound, Simon & Garfunkel Comin' Home, Lynyrd Skynyrd Mama, I'm Coming Home, Ozzy Osbourne Home, Duncan Sheik Coming Home, John Legend Long Walk Home, Bruce Springsteen Home, Foo Fighters This Traveling Around, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band Home Is a Fire, Death Cab for Cutie Alabama Pines, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Home, Mumford & Sons Traveling On, KONGOS Home (When Shadows Fall), Paul McCartney Running Home To You, Bee Caves Comin' Home, Trey Songz Runnin’ Home To You, Grant Gustin I'm Coming Home, Aloe Blacc & AG First Train Home, Imogen Heap

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INTERVIEW

WINTER 2021

KIERA DILLON RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM

Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief

Twenty-two-year-old Kiera Dillon, from the suburbs of Philadelphia, has been performing since the age of three. On New Year’s Day, the singer, songwriter, and producer released her debut album Perspective. She explains her work, creative process, inspirations, and gives advice to artists wanting to release their first record: How would you describe Perspective? I think of Perspective as a personal time capsule and representation of growth. The tracks were largely born out of nostalgia and self reflection. I was really aiming to show the universal acceptance and accessibility in emotion no matter how it is experienced or perceived. Even though its a relatively short album, theres little bit of something for everyone, whether you want to stare at the ceiling and cry, or scream at the top of your lungs with your friends. Who are your musical inspirations? Where to begin? My main songwriting inspirations will forever be Taylor Swift, Sara Bareilles, and Billy Joel. He has always been a huge one for me. I’ve listened to his music for as long as I can remember. I love how each of his albums exist in such a defined era. Taylor Swift is like that too. In terms of production, I’m consistently inspired by Finneas, Jeremy Zucker, Lennon Stella, and JP Saxe, but, the list goes on and on. What is the best musical advice you’ve ever been given? I was lucky enough to sit in on a virtual Masterclass with JP Saxe a while back, and he said “Vulnerability is just honesty. And honesty is power”. Theres been a ton of advice that has stuck with me over the years, or course, but that definitely influenced how I thought about this album and the creative process. I think thats really important for creatives to remember, because sharing your art can be a very scary thing at times. What did you learn while making this album? Producing the album during a pandemic made for a very unique experience. I think one of my largest takeaways, was just

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learning to be patient with myself and my art. I tend to get far ahead of myself. I’m consistently searching for ways to grow and improve, and a lot of the time that means I have trouble being proud of what I make, but quarantine forced me to take a step back and view things in a different light. I think its extremely cool that I can document my progress as a musician, producer, and person in an album like this. What is your creative process like? To be honest, it happens differently every time, but I almost always start with the basics and write acoustically first. Once the song is mostly written, I’ll arrange it in a DAW and then mess around with production choices for a while until I find something I like. I always try to let the emotion of the song dictate the production choices. I’ll rarely use a sound or effect that doesn’t have some

thematic meaning. I also usually have a reference track or two to draw inspiration from. What songs are you currently listening to? Lennon Stella’s album Three. Two. One. has been on loop since it came out. Of course, folklore and evermore by Queen Taylor are at the top of my list too. What is your advice to someone about to start in the process of making their first album? Don’t underestimate the importance of feedback, especially if you’re self-producing. Having other sets of ears on a project before its finished is so important and very helpful. Also, make sure it stays fun. Its easy to get caught up in technicalities and get overwhelmed, but you just have to keep reminding yourself of your passions and have fun with it!

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Winter 2021 Issue 2

TA Y LOR TOTE

Read on Page 4