Have you ever wondered how it would feel
to sell your musical soul for thirty pieces of silver? Don't bother
asking that question to Heather Myles - she wouldn't know the answer.
Myles has continued to stay true to her traditional country roots during
a time when the musical gap between traditional and pop-star country
artists has continued to widen. In an age when country divas are trying
to achieve a look somehere between Jennifer Lopez and Daisy Duke, you
will find Myles on a stage somewhere looking - and sounding - more like
a Patsy Cline of fifty years ago.
And that ain't a bad thing.
XMFan: Your father and
grandfather were both musicians and helped shape the performer you are
today. What are a few family memories you have as a young girl and
musician? Heather: My Dad playing ukulele
for us kids at the ranch where I grew up and singing little songs,
especially on rainy nights.
XMFan: Do you remember the first
time you performed for an audience? Heather: Yes, I remember it well.
I was auditioning for the first time at a little honky tonk called
Canucks in So Cal. I got the job
as their lead singer but can't remember the name of the band!
XMFan: Do you feel you have
evolved musically since releasing your first album,
Just like Old Times, in 1992?
Heather: I think in retrospect my
music has advanced as I have gained in life experience.
XMFan: All five of your albums,
including your live effort, have gathered five-star ratings from most
critics. Are you personally happy with the albums, or would you go back
and do anything differently? Heather: No - I wouldn't do
anything different as each album was well thought out, which is why
there have only been 5 albums in 12 years!
XMFan: CountryReview.com has
given your latest album, Sweet Talk and
Good Lies, yet another five-star rating. Eleven of the songs are
originals that you wrote, while the other two are covers (By
the Time I Get to Phoenix and
Cry Me a River). Do you have a formula for writing songs, or do
you get your inspiration while just living everyday life? Heather: My inspiration for my
songs comes from living everyday life.
XMFan: The
Sweet Talk album contains a
song, Nashville's Gone Hollywood,
which laments the state of popular country music today. You wrote in the
lyrics, "Move on over Ernest Tubb, Nashville's gone to Hollywood." Do
you feel popular country will continue in this direction, or is there a
light at the end of the tunnel? Heather: It may be changing a
little - but not fast enough for me! But thank God for XM Radio channels
that play roots country, where people are given a choice in the music
they want to hear. XMFan: Of the many songs you have
written, do you have any favorites? Heather: Of Course!
For Sale and
True Love on my
Highways and Honky Tonks album
and Other Side of Town on my
first album Just Like Old Times.
A more recent favorite is Nashville's
Gone Hollywood on Sweet Talk &
Good Lies.
XMFan: If you could sit down and
talk with one musician, past or present, whom would you choose? Heather: Merle Haggard - no one's
done it better than him. He is a great songwriter, singer, and player
who has seen a lot of changes in country music and endured through it
all.
XMFan: Do you enjoy life on the
road? Heather: No - It's a difficult
life but you get used to traveling and living in hotel rooms. It's hard
on relationships and family, but rewarding when you have a great band
and friends on the road who become your extended family.
XMFan: It looks like the next few
months are going to be exciting and busy... You'll be doing shows in
Sweden, Denmark, Spain, England, Scotland, and Wales! Heather: Yeah - the last few
years in Europe have been great for roots country artists, so that's why
I spend a lot of time over there. I own a home in London as my home away
from home.
XMFan: Tell us about your Harley.
Heather: I am in between rides
right now and looking for a new bike. XMFan: I believe you also love
classic automobiles. Heather: I have always liked
classic cars; I am restoring a classic 1973 MGB now. I have owned
various classic cars over the years and really love big American cars
like Lincolns and Cads, which were my inspiration for the song and video
of Big Cars off the
Sweet Talk & Good Lies album.
XMFan: Do you have a website
where people can learn more about Heather Myles? Heather: Yes. Go to
www.heathermyles.com, where you can find a bio and tour info, lots
of photos and merchandise, and a really cool cowgirl vibe!
XMFan: Last question. If a music
fan has a chance to see you live, what should they expect? Heather: The REAL DEAL!
Heather Myles can be heard on XM
channels America, Hank's Place, X-Country, and Open Road.
Artist Confidential Green Room Episode 43: Faith Hill 31 July 2008, 1:36 pm Faith Hill performs and talks about her future in this remarkable career-spanning edition of "Artist Confidential." The full one-hour Artist Confidential with Faith Hill can be heard all day on Monday, 8/4 on XMX Channel 2, and you can listen to it for free by signing up for a free trial of XM at xmradio.com/podcast
Artist Confidential Green Room Episode 42: Trisha Yearwood 31 July 2008, 1:33 pm Trisha Yearwood and a small band of musicians rock Studio A at XM's Jazz at Lincoln Center studio. Trisha answers audience questions and weaves together with a beautiful mix of songs, old and new. The full one-hour Artist Confidential with Trisha Yearwood can be heard all day on Monday, 8/4 on XMX Channel 2, and you can listen to it for free by signing up for a free trial of XM at xmradio.com/podcast
Artist Confidential Green Room Episode 41: LeAnn Rimes 23 July 2008, 2:29 pm Nearly everyone remembers when LeAnn Rimes broke onto the music scene and what song she did it with. "Blue" was a runaway hit when LeAnn was 13 years old. It made her the youngest artist to ever win a Grammy award and the first Country artist to win the Grammy for Best New Artist. Now at the ripe old age of 25, she's sold over 30 million albums, is fully established as one of Country music's leading ladies, and has no plans to slow down. She's been kind enough to visit XM several times over the years, and XM is happy to have her in a brand new Artist Confidential! She talks about her move to an album of all-original songs (the 2007 album, Family), where she wants her career to go, and singing on Kenny Chesney's tour this summer. And of course, she'll sing some of her hits exclusively for the XM Nation! The full one-hour Artist Confidential with LeAnn Rimes can be heard all day on Monday, 7/28 on XMX Channel 2, and you can listen to it for free by signing up for a free trial of XM at xmradio.com/podcast
Artist Confidential Green Room Episode 40: Randy Travis 17 July 2008, 3:18 pm Born in Marshville, North Carolina, Randy Travis has been one of the most distinctive Country artists for nearly 25 years. The 1980's established Randy as a return to traditionalism in Country music with hits like "Forever and Ever, Amen." In the late 1990's, Randy shaped his musical focus to include Gospel music as well. In 2003, Country and Gospel blended in his CMA Song of the Year, "Three Wooden Crosses." In addition to music, Randy Travis has over 40 TV and Film credits; but music is always first in his heart. Randy Travis joins XM for a special Artist Confidential - he plays requests from the SuperFans in the audience, discusses his life in music, and tells all about his latest project, Around the Bend, which was just released in stores and via download. Randy Travis - a modern country legend, on Artist Confidential! The full one-hour Artist Confidential with Randy Travis can be heard all day on Monday, 7/21 on XMX Channel 2, and you can listen to it for free by signing up for a free trial of XM at xmradio.com/podcast
Artist Confidential Green Room Episode 39: Night Ranger 9 July 2008, 2:49 pm Night Ranger formed in the early 1980s with five guys from the San Francisco Bay area. Their uncommon blend of pop melody with a hard rock edge earned them a large fan base quickly - and in 1984, the song "Sister Christian" alone gave real meaning to the term "Power Ballad." This year marks the 25th anniversary of Night Ranger, and they're set to release their first studio album in 10 years, called Hole in the Sun on July 15th. Join XM's George Taylor Morris for an Artist Confidential with Night Ranger, as they talk about getting back to the studio, what it takes to keep a band going for decades, and why they keep up such an intense tour schedule (proving you can always "Rock in America"). You'll also hear exclusive performances of some of their new material before you can buy it, along with some of their hits you know and love. The full one-hour Artist Confidential with Night Ranger can be heard all day on Monday, 7/14 on XMX Channel 2, and you can listen to it for free by signing up for a free trial of XM at xmradio.com/podcast
Artist Confidential Green Room Episode 38: Foreigner 2 July 2008, 4:49 pm When they formed in 1976, the band consisted of 3 British musicians and 3 Americans that inspired the name: Foreigner. The band charted major hits starting with the debut album in 1977 and continued for 10 years. The list of hits reads like a who's-who of dashboard anthems: Cold As Ice, Feels Like the First Time, Head Games, Jukebox Hero, Urgent, I Want to Know What Love Is, and many more. Foreigner is still rocking millions of fans on tour more than 30 years later, and they talk about their journey through Rock & Roll history with George Taylor Morris on a brand new Artist Confidential. They'll play some of their hits, a brand new song they've included in a Greatest Hits anthology that's coming out on July 15th, and tell some exclusive stories about a band that's sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. The full one-hour Artist Confidential with Foreigner can be heard all day on Monday, 7/7 on XMX Channel 2, and you can listen to it for free by signing up for a free trial of XM at xmradio.com/podcast
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