We were lucky to catch up with Afton Prater recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Afton thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Two things have always been true: I have always loved to sing and I have always loved country music. Country music has been a part of my family for generations. Whenever I went to my grandparent’s, they would play Johnny Cash or Elvis on their record player, and I always looked forward to jamming, singing, and dancing to Cotton Fields and Country Roads in their living room. Riding around the backroads in my dad’s Toyota listening to Ol’ Red on repeat, as well as having family jam sessions fireside are some of my other cherished memories. My love for country music grew at a young age and by the time I was 12, I was performing country music and dreaming of singing in the circle at the Grand Ole Opry!
My mom taught me to play guitar at age 11 and I wrote my first song when I was 12. I ventured to Nashville when I was 14 to record my first EP and this introduction to the production world was enlightening to me, which is why I began to travel to Nashville annually to write and record music. Since I didn’t live in Nashville, I made it a mission to make headway with my music in my hometown of Seabeck, WA. Back home, I had the amazing opportunities to open for Kelsea Ballerini, Drake White, and Josh Thompson, as well as be the spokesperson for Sunset Trucks in a number of their commercials when they licensed my song ‘I Want a Truck.’ From there, I performed outside of the stadium before two Kenny Chesney concerts for top country radio stations, and I also had the opportunity to sing the national anthem at the Richard Sherman Celebrity Softball Game in front of 30,000 people!
I continued to write and perform while pursuing my bachelor’s degree at Central Washington University, and once I graduated, I set off to Nashville to plant some permanent roots and dive into the Nashville music scene. Two years later, I find myself making headway in growing my fan base, writing with other amazing artists, performing, and just enjoying everything Tennessee has to offer!
Afton, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Afton Prater and I’m a 24-year-old country singer/songwriter. I grew up in the small, remote community of Seabeck, WA. For as long as I can remember I wanted to move to Nashville and sing my music and I finally did so in September 2020. I believe my music is unique as it captures the hearts of all ages. I have songs about searching for your perfect cowboy (Till You Find One), having fun (Every Bar), the fun of owning a truck (I Want a Truck), being hard to love (Tough), being strong and independent (Barbed Wire), and more.
In recent years, I started to write more about hunting and fishing, and on TikTok, I’ve been writing about rodeo, athletics, and pretty much anything my followers request. This has become a daily challenge and well worth it since receiving their positive feedback is uplifting and keeps me going!
So, how did I end up loving country music so much? I was deeply inspired by artists Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Bruce Springsteen, Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Carrie Underwood, and I watched Hannah Montana probably too much! My biggest inspirations, however, were my parents. When I was 11, my mom taught me how to play guitar, and at the age of 12, I started writing original music, which is when I began performing for family and friends in our backyard. The artist was unleashed!
My family and I enjoy spending time outdoors in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, hunting, fishing, and exploring. There’s always a speaker nearby playing our favorite country tunes! Those moments and memories are where I draw a lot of my inspiration for my music.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
The journey of an artist, I believe, is different for everyone. I’ve had to learn to believe in the journey and trust the process. When you’re surrounded by people who have the same goals as you, it can be easy to lose sight of your own path and think that achieving your dream is impossible. My journey has already been filled with twists and turns, and that’s the nature of this business. If it was an easy path, I would not learn as much, and getting to my destination would feel much less like an accomplishment.
As an artist, I constantly strive to be creative and original. I realize that I’m a small fish in a large pond, and therefore I must keep swimming and growing to survive. I will thrive on the challenge!
What do you find most rewarding about being creative?
The most wonderful part of being creative is having someone say that my music has touched them and has left a lasting impact. My work is often an expression of how I feel, and when I release it to the world, I hope others will feel something too! Watching people have fun while listening to my music really makes it all worthwhile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.
aftonprater.com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/afton.prater/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/Aftonpratermusic - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/user/aftonmarie11 - Other: TikTok: https://www.
tiktok.com/@aftonmusic