In 2017, California-based outfit Moonsville Collective released four EPs that showcased their strong song-craft, dynamic musicianship, and heartfelt lyrics. Embraced by both fans and critics alike, the projects blurred genre lines, capturing songs that spoke to, and moved, the listener. In advance of what is sure to be another busy year, members Corey Adams and Ryan Welch (the group also includes Matthew McQueen, Dan Richardson, and Seth Richardson) took the time to answer their Essential 8 and talk struggles, success, the road, and more.

What’s your favorite food on the road? 
CA: We enjoy finding the local mom and pop market or deli for lunch. The people
are friendly and the food is fresh. There's no sense in travelling if you end up
at Denny's everyday. Though, despite some occasional push back, I opt for a
Sausage McMuffin and Egg from McDonald's for breakfast.

What do you love most about being on the road?
CA: The convenient stores. We'll spend thirty minutes looking at Native American
jewelry and pocket knives. Dan grabs a popsicle, Ryan grabs a tea. We stop
and talk and laugh at each other.

What has been your biggest struggle so far?
CA: Expectations: the expectations we have for ourselves and the band. We
wrestle with those. Where do we want to be? Are we getting there? They are
internal, but the most frustrating.

What has been your biggest success?
CA: Consistently selling out Pappy & Harriets' in Yucca Valley. We fell in love with
the place the first time we visited, maybe seven years ago. Now it's part of
what Moonsville does. People come out from San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles,
Inland Empire. Everyone stays the night, everyone gets to know each other.

Drawing on influences as varied as P!nk, Miranda Lambert, and Kasey Musgraves, 2017 CMT Discovery artist Christina Taylor is bound for a break out year. Her new EP, That Girl, contains the single of the same name, which has over 365K Spotify streams, as well as the track "Don't Look Good In Your T-Shirt Anymore“ which is in rotation on CMT. Recently, Taylor took some time to answer her Essential 8 and talks the story behind her album's title, her surprising favorite road food, and much more!

What’s the story behind your album title?
I’ve always prided myself on being a pretty headstrong and independent woman... and then I met a boy and he made me crazy. I became THAT GIRL everybody talks about who is up at all hours of the night wondering what their boyfriend is doing and who he’s with. I put so much of my happiness in one person and I wanted my independence back. “That Girl” stands for a revival, and no other title could truly convey what I wanted this album to represent.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? 
I draw inspiration from pretty much anything that inspires me. It could be a personal experience, a friends personal experience, a movie, a book... anything!! 

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
The best advice I could give to a new musician is to play music and write with everyone and anyone! You never know what great thing you will come up with and the awesome connections you can make.