We had the chance to chat with American Idol alum and singer-songwriter Casey McQuillen about her new single “In & Out” featuring Jon McLaughlin.
Check out what Casey McQuillen had to say about her music.
How would you describe the sound of your music?
CM: I like to think of my music as a ‘more pop Adele’. We’ve got the big vocals and story-teller songwriting, but also a lot of that pop upbeat production. But, I am most frequently compared to Taylor Swift, which is the nicest thing anyone could ever say to me.
Can you talk a little bit about what we can expect with your new single “In & Out” and the forthcoming album?
CM: “In & Out” is a duet featuring the wonderfully talented Jon McLaughlin, co-written by me and my friend Hadley Kennery. We kept the arrangement pretty simple so that the two vocals could take up space and shine. While I would characterize my forthcoming album, “Can A Heart Go Bad?,” as mainly pop because of the songwriting and vocals, the production dips into many different genres: country, EDM, rock, singer/songwriter, you name it. My producer, Charles Humenry, and I had a lot of fun with it; it’s definitely the most experimental we’ve been with the creation process.
What was it like being on American Idol?
CM: Being on American Idol was an amazing learning experience for me; I really learned how to stay calm under immense pressure, which is a skill that has been very valuable to me throughout the rest of my career. Most importantly, American Idol taught me the value of taking risks. Idol has opened so many doors for me, and I wouldn’t have had those opportunities if I hadn’t been willing to go on TV and take such a big risk.
Who would you say are some of your musical influences and why?
CM: Overall, I’d say Taylor Swift is my biggest musical influence. The way she constructs characters and storylines in her lyrics is awe-inspiring, and I’ve been an avid fan of hers for my whole career. Recently, though, I feel I’ve learned so much from the artists I’ve had the privilege of opening for while touring nationally and abroad. I saw how Stephen Kellogg engages his fans directly from stage, how calm and collected Eric Hutchinson was before our Troubadour show, and how kind Kate Voegele and Tyler Hilton were to their life-long One Tree Hill fans. This hands-on experience and insight have been so valuable to me as I get comfortable touring on my own.
Did you always know that music was something you wanted to pursue?
CM: I did! I wrote songs and sang throughout my childhood, and when YouTube first became popular, I started uploading videos from my childhood bedroom of my original music. I was lucky enough to develop a following and had fans asking for an album when I was 16. The whole beginning of my career was fully DIY, which helped me establish my own style at a young age. Then, I went to Berklee College of Music to major in Songwriting and Music Business Management, which really helped me hone those skills.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
CM: Be willing to fail. If you spend your whole career avoiding failure, as opposed to chasing success, you’ll never get to where you want to go. Going on American Idol helped me realize that no one is as hard on you as you are, and everyone will be so happy for you when things work out and hug you tight when they don’t.
What is your favorite song to perform live?
CM: I love singing my new song “In & Out”. The vocal part is challenging, and it’s always fun to get up there and give it all I’ve got.
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Check out listentocasey.com for more on Casey McQuillen and her music.
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