We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Blaylock recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Hannah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In this business there are few times in an artist’s life where they have both the tools and the complete freedom to create their true heart’s vision. That is exactly what this LP, “The Fall & Rise”, is for Hannah Blaylock which is being released on February 9th 2024. Pulling from over a decade span of her top favorite songs you will hear and feel storytelling of the all encompassing lows and highs of life sprinkled with woman empowerment, cultural and relational phenomenons and pride in genuine sensuality. Welcome to Hannah’s journey of creating genuine timeless classic music with heart.
Hannah , 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?
Hannah Blaylock is an award-winning Country & Americana singer/songwriter. Born in Alaska and raised in Arkansas, Blaylock started performing as a toddler with her family for her church and community. She then developed a band in the 9th grade with a group of family friends that would later become the chart-topping American Country music trio Edens Edge. The band was signed by Big Machine records in 2009 and they embarked on 4 major national tours, opening for grammy-award winning country artists such as Little Big Town, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts. The group received numerous awards including Billboard Artist to Watch, Listener’s Choice Award with NSAI and their hit single “Amen” made the country radio top 20 (written by Blaylock). After 10 years together, Hannah parted ways with Edens Edge to embark on a solo singer/songwriting career and get back to her Country/Americana music style roots.
In 2016, alongside hit-producer Martin Strayer, Blaylock released her first solo album “Bandit Queen” which features multiple songs that are co-written and played on by Grammy award winning artists, The Chicks.
She calls her most recent 2024 release, “The Fall & Rise” LP, her truest project to date. She recorded the works with long time friends and producers, Autumn McEntire and Jared Conrad. The works have already received many playlist placements such as Country Fresh Finds, New Music Country & New Music Friday (Spotify), New In Country (Apple), Break Through Country (Amazon Music) and the cover of Country’s New Crop (YouTube).
Today, she continues to perform all over the country as a solo artist, playing iconic venues such as The Opry (over 20 times), Eddie’s Attic, The Bluebird Café, The Crystal Palace and The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles.
She also plays countrywide with her trio, Three Times A Lady, who most recently landed a 6 week residency at Dollywood for the I Will Always Love You Music Festival where she will be performing as an honorary Dolly Parton in a show called “Trio Again” that gives homage to the Trio records Dolly made with the iconic Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in the late 80’s/early 90’s.
The originality of her music is often inspired by her time spent in the vast terrains and wilderness beauties of the Alaskan Tundra and Midwest Arkansas. Her style is a musical blend of folk, country, and blues and she draws upon the creativity of fellow female artists such as Patty Griffin, Linda Ronstadt, Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless.
She has written hundreds of songs to date for herself and other artists such as Reba McEntire’s title track of one of her 2019 record “Stronger Than The Truth” that was Grammy nominated for Best Country Album of the Year for 2019 and Sunny Sweeney’s #2 Americana album title track “Married Alone” released in 2022 which she duets with Vince Gill.
Blaylock is an avid supporter of the health and wellness industry where she dedicates as much time as possible spreading awareness and advocating on the behalf of women’s health.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
In the music business, everyone is guessing what will “win” but often times opinions will be told you as if it is a fact. The truth is, it is all a guess and it is all a gamble. Art is relative. So, if you believe in something and your business partners don’t, even if they have experience that is worth respecting, it doesn’t mean they are always right. They can’t ever know what your artist’s heart knows. So when your heart “zings” you gotta listen no matter what. If your working with people that don’t get your “zings” try and find people that do.
A champion, no matter how powerful or connected, is the most valuable part of your team.
Don’t go into student loan debt to study art. It is not a financially stable business and the debt can be a stronghold on your creative freedom.
Don’t forget to build your life while your building your art.
Follow what is inspiring always.
Collaborate as much as possible!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I have really loved reading “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin as I’ve been releasing this record. It’s given me permission to create the art thats most genuine to me and be at peace with what I can’t control (AKA the release).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahblaylock.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahblaylock/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahblaylockmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/hannahblaylock
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/1hannahblaylock
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hannahblaylockofficial?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ut8dBk3OWNJfktav1k3D1?si=ksq0bj9jToKHjxHCIBdGDw&nd=1&dlsi=c102e345410b4b01
Image Credits
Catherine Powell (album cover), Trio Photo (Danielle Shields)