Hi! Can you take us through the creative process behind “American Aisle”? What inspired the song and how did it come together musically and lyrically?
A: As with all our songs, Abbie (Lead Singer) writes the song and then does a basic demo for the band. The song was inspired by Abbie’s breakup with an ex who is American, and it is about avoiding everything that reminded her of the situation, but some things aren’t easy to forget. From the initial demo, the band then works on it, looking first at the structure and arrangement. As a three-piece, we are always conscious of dynamics and make sure the song evolves, pushes, and pulls where it needs to. “American Aisle” is one of our songs that took a lot of work. It took a lot of variations and versions, and at first, it was quite pop-leaning and much lighter in arrangement. But we knew it needed more of a punch, so we rewrote it until we landed on a folkier/americana style that really brought the lyrics to life. It quickly became our favourite to play live, which naturally led us to the choice of bringing it to the studio.
“American Aisle” is described as a track that solidifies your breakout status. How do you feel this song represents your growth as a band since your debut single “We Ended In Nashville”?
A: We think that this song represents how much we have a grown as unit of composer/songwriters. We love both songs but by the time we took American Aisle to the studio we were much more confident in our style and therefore could contribute and better produce the song to how we wanted as a band.
Your music has been noted for its fusion of alt-country and modern Americana styles. How do you navigate blending these genres, and what challenges do you face in creating a unique sound?
A: The biggest challenge for us was accepting that we would sound different from your typical country pop act and learning to embrace and love that about our music. As eclectic musicians, we are naturally inspired and influenced by a range of genres, and we have learned how to incorporate that into the classic country formula in a way that creates our unique vibe. We know when we need to bring a song more into the country/americana space, but also when to allow the hook, instrument structure, or melody of a song to develop even if it goes out of that space. Again, it has required a lot of effort, but we absolutely love our music and how it is evolving as we continue to work together as a band.
The country music genre is known for its storytelling. Can you share the story or message behind “American Aisle” and how it connects with your listeners?
A: Everyone who has been through a breakup has experienced the feeling of being suffocated by constant reminders of their ex. It could be the music you shared together and loved, the bars you used to go to on date nights, or even the smell of their shampoo. Whatever it is, you want to avoid it. You want to hide from everything that reminds you of them. But as we all know, that is much easier said than done. “American Aisle” is about that. It’s about being stuck in that period of constantly being reminded, wanting to move on but having a hard time forgetting.
With “American Aisle” being part of your rise in the country music scene, how do you plan to maintain and build upon this momentum in 2024?
A: For 2024, we have many plans, but the main goal is to find and create opportunities to more involved with the UK country music scene as much as possible. We hope to secure some country festival slots, perform more country shows, and establish a rapport with people who love the genre and will also love our music.
Formed in 2022, Abbie Bell & The High Ryes have quickly made a name for yourselves. What has been the key to your rapid success and growth in the country music industry?
A: Thank you for saying that, but all we can really say is that we are so dedicated to the process. We know and understand that we still have a long way to go and appreciate all the support and love that have gotten us to this stage. We see that we are growing and plan to keep building on that growth. We work hard at every aspect of the band – our branding, our live show, our songs, our merch, our business, and even our style of social media.
Reflecting on your musical journey so far, how has your style evolved from “We Ended In Nashville” to “American Aisle”?
A: It is hard to say as both songs were written and brought to the band as demos at the same time. They have both been a part of our live show since the beginning, so we can only really say the biggest difference has been the time we have taken the songs into the studio to be released, and that is what has evolved our studio and producing skills. Most bands know that the first time you’re in the studio together versus the third time can show a great deal of difference. We are so proud of how we continue to grow together and produce music as a collective.
As a British country music band, how do you navigate the traditionally American-centric genre of country music and make it resonate with both British and international audiences?
A: We think one of the key factors that helps to bridge this gap is that Abbie is Scottish and grew up around a lot of traditional folk and Celtic music that has many similarities with country and Americana. We also believe that lyrically there is something everyone can relate to, making them neutral. But in general, audiences simply enjoy good music, something to sing along to, and music that evokes emotions. If they find something in our songs that makes them love it, that’s great. Music is universal.
Looking ahead, can you give us any insights into future projects or directions for Abbie Bell & The High Ryes? Are there any collaborations or new sounds you’re exploring?
A: Currently, we are working on a MASSIVE two-night live country show with our friend and fellow Scottish country artist, Erin Ponsonby. We have named this event City II City. Two nights of jam-packed country goodness. We will be performing in Glasgow on March 13th and in Edinburgh on March 16th. Two nights of live country music hotter than Texas in July. Tickets are available on Skiddle! In regard to our sound, we only plan to get bigger and better, and we have another single ready and waiting that we know is going to be our country anthem!
Finally, what message do you hope fans take away from “American Aisle” and your music in general? How do you want your songs to impact the country music landscape?
A: We hope fans appreciate our diversity and dedication to making music. We like to be authentically ourselves. We don’t do the usual social media posts, and we don’t follow all the trending algorithms. We just make what we want to make, and first and foremost, we want to make good music and perform great live shows. We say we like to perform and write country songs for the outsiders, outlanders, and outlaws of the world. So, if you like our vibe, follow us on this journey. There is no stopping any time soon!