A Michigan native who grew up listening to country and R&B music, Josh Gracin catapulted to fame after auditioning for the hit television series American Idol in 2003. ​His current single, "Nothin' Like Us", has already been streamed 15 million+ times on Spotify and Gracin continues to be busy this summer playing to fans throughout the country. Here, Josh answers his Essential 8 and talks inspiration, how he spends his days off, who he'd love to collaborate with, and more!

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
Country music songs have always been about the story and lyrics. Country music is the most genuine genre because the songs are almost always closely related to the songwriter’s own life. When I write, I draw from my own life experiences or the experiences of family, friends or observations of everyday life. 
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What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
Always know how to be yourself and remain humble. This business has a way of making you bitter if you start off surrounded by the wrong people/team. Looking in the mirror can solve a lot of problems. 

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Take your time when choosing those who will make up your team. Making sure your team aligns with your goals and values is crucial. 

Born and raised in the Hawaii Islands, JoLivi's love for country music started at a young age. While some may not correlate country music and the aloha state, the rural landscapes and laid-back lifestyle emulate everything we love about the genre. The 'endearing' and 'vibrant' vocalist (Taste of Country) caught the music bug as a child and quickly began singing wherever she had a chance. After graduating with a Theatre degree from Colorado State, JoLivi decided it was time to make the move to LA to pursue her music career full time. Now residing in Nashville and celebrating the release of her new single, "Vinyl”, JoLivi recently answered her Essential 8 and spoke about her musical mentors, inspiration, her "must have" albums for the road, Michael Jackson, and more!

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
My grandfather was a Hawaiian singer/musician. But as for a musical mentor, I would have to say my vocal coach, Yvonne Iverson. She taught me a lot about how to protect my voice and use it properly so I can sing forever!
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With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
Sometimes as an artist you never really know when a song is at it's most complete. But you trust that you gave it everything you have, took every critique to heart and followed through.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
Everything I've written thus far has been about a moment in my life. Whether it was about my past relationships, family members passing away or having a great time with my friends.

What are your “must have” albums for the road?
James Taylor - Best of Volume 2
Bonnie Raitt- Nick of Time
Beyonce- Lemondade
Alanis Morisette- Jagged Little Pill
Brothers Osborne- Pawn Shop
...sooooo many more!

California Country artist AMY WILCOX recently released her new single, “Bandwagon”, an upbeat tune with a carefree vibe about finding your spark and setting the world on fire...something that the singer-songwriter is set to do with her upcoming album, West.

Wilcox's journey West began as a pilgrimage to the land of her musical idols, the Laurel Canyon-bred country-rockers she listened to as a child. “Growing up listening to Jackson Browne, Poco, and the Eagles had a huge impact on my own musical style, and I decided to visit Los Angeles to reconnect with those early influences and revisit those happy feelings. I wasn’t sure what the future of my music would hold, but in my search for a new direction, this seemed like a good place to start.” Ahead of the album's release, Wilcox answered her Essential 8 where she spoke about the project, Cameo, the Ryman and Red Rocks, how she spends her days off and more.

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
I worked in a studio in Atlanta for a guy named Charlie Singleton. He was a member of the band Cameo (“Word Up”) that was huge in the 80s. Our musical styles were so starkly different, but he inspired me to be bold and different and to always go for it even when it’s scary. I’ve never been the best dancer and he got me to loosen up and have a great time on stage. I owe him big time for that one :)

With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
Bandwagon. It’s the first song off the EP because it was the first song that really solidified my confidence in this new direction and sound. I had been experimenting a lot, and when Cass Dillon and I got together to write this, I was like “YES, this is it, FINALLY”. I was super stoked to put my new album together after that song came to life.

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
My title of my album is “WEST”.  I was living in Nashville pursuing music and everything was moving full steam ahead. I had a gigantic volcano erupt in my personal life that really threw my creativity off track. It was a journey to find my way back to being myself and creating music I loved. A huge part of that was coming out West to California and getting inspired again. All of the songs on this album are a part of that journey and the title “WEST” pays homage to my new adventure in LA and the clarity it brought me along the way. 

Texas native Madelyn Victoria’s debut single release, “He Only Loves Me on the Dance Floor” reached #1 on the national country AM/FM chart, New Music Weekly, making it one of the biggest debut singles of 2016. The self-penned song won an Akademia Award for Best Country Song in April 2016, earning her numerous other award nominations and a spot on the CMT.com Top 50 Most Popular Artists chart. But, for the young Texas native, nothing can compare to walking in the footsteps of her legendary idols. Her latest video release, the original “I Can Be Your Senorita” has already received over 10,000 views and here, she answers her Essential 8+ where she talks about everything from her musical mentors and road life to her dream venue, what she's listening to, and much more.

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
First and foremost, I like to think as my family (cousins, uncles) as my musical mentors. Just seeing them play and sing has inspired me so much. They support me so much in what I do. I also consider my choir director, Ted Lyra, and mariachi director, Mark Bazaldua as my music mentors as well. Mark has sadly passed on, but I will always keep with me all the teachings, encouraging words, and support he, and Mr. Lyra, gave me.

With (please choose a song), what was the “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
The “a-ha” moment with He Only Loves Me on the Dance Floor was when I completed the chorus/hook. I wanted this to relate as much as to what a person could be thinking while they are actually dancing on the dance floor.

What’s the story behind your album’s title?
My EP is self-titled. I wanted it to be an introduction to who I am as a music artist. I wanted the musicality of it to define my brand as a Neo-Traditional Country music artist- which to me is defined a little old, a little new.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
I express my emotions and thoughts the best when I write. Inspiration for me comes from everywhere. I can be watching a sunset, listening to a story from one of my relatives of how life was back in the day, or I can hear a song from one of my favorite artists- I take a bit of inspiration from every aspect of life.

When/where do you do your best writing?
I do my best writing anywhere. An idea or thought can come to me while I’m doing anything and will drop everything to make sure I jot it down. If I had to pick a place though it’s definitely traveling on the road. I have so much time to think and take in all the sights.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
It’s definitely a combination of everything. I may even start off a song with my own personal experience then combine it with someone else’s. I observe a whole bunch so that’s where I will say my writing mainly comes from. The one thing that happens a lot when I’m writing is that I sort of foreshadow my own life events. I may write about something I think I am just making up, but then I will go through that situation I wrote about in the near future. It’s kind of crazy, yet cool!

With the songs on her full-length debut, And the Sky Caught Fire (out now), Austin's Nichole Wagner is calling it like it is. “This is very much a relationship record, and all of the songs on it are very honest.” The emotional intensity of the album's ten tracks - nine originals and a cover of Warren Zevon's "Reconsider Me" - are steely, vulnerable, raw and unflinchingly real. Here, Wagner answers her Essential 8 where she talks about the album, Red Rocks, healthy eating on the road, her love of thrift shops, and more!

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
The title, And the Sky Caught Fire, comes from the last line in the opening song, “Winner Take All.” The record has a bunch of real-life stories, but this song in particular felt the most honest and bare and every time I sing it I can recall the exact moment that inspired the song.

​Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
Most of the songs I write are a combination of personal experience and observations -- my truth mixed with a bit of someone else’s truth. For example, the song “Dynamite” (co-written with Terry Klein) is written from the perspective of a young man whose father worked at the DuPont Dynamite factory and the narrator is grappling with living in what had been a company town versus leaving and trying to make his own way. While obviously this isn’t exactly my story, it’s set in my hometown and I knew people like him growing up.

What’s your favorite/”go-to” food on the road?
I’m a vegetarian, so eating on the road can be a bit of a struggle.  Luckily, the options are growing by the day. I try to pack a bag of healthy snacks to avoid having to eat out every meal: usually nuts, popcorn, easy to eat fruit like bananas.
I love beets, brussel sprouts, and kale so anytime I see those on a menu I’ll try it. That said, Taco Bell is a go-to for something quick in a pinch!

Sara Latimer is an 20 year old singer-songwriter from the Washington DC area who currently attends the University of Miami where she is studying Music Business and Entertainment Industries and is a part of Bruce Hornsby's Creative American Music Program in the Frost School of Music. In June, she released her new EP, Passenger Seat, and here she answers her Essential 8 and talks about the project, her dream venue, her first concert (Corbin Bleu!), Shawn Mendes, and more!

With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
When I first wrote “Just Another Face” it was originally titled “T-Shirt,” and the chorus was completely different. I wasn’t in love with it so I went back to re-write it and finally formed the concept of, wishing that your ex could be just another face in the crowd. I knew once I got the chorus the rest of the song would just fall into place.
 
Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
Ideas usually spark from a real life experiences or just something someone says, than the light bulb moment kind of happens. I like to refer to a lot of my songs as an “exaggerated reality”. A lot of the main ideas come from real life but then the story surrounding it is molded to make a good song or more compelling story. 

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. I have always been scared to write from personal experiences and reveal too much about myself in songs. But, this piece of advice has really pushed me to be more open, both when I am performing and writing. 

After returning from his third and final deployment in 2010, Matt Williams discovered another battle waiting for him here at home.  PTSD and depression loomed near, as he had been wounded - and two of his best friends were killed - by an IED attack during his last tour in Afghanistan.  Things only seemed to intensify when Matt's father passed just three weeks after he had returned home from the Army. Matt desperately sought an outlet where he could direct his emotion, and he turned back to his roots: MUSIC. 

 Matt's love of music stretches back as far as he can remember.  His mother bought him a drum set at 18 months and he never looked back, learning piano by ear, singing in the choir at church, even becoming one of the top marching snare drummers in the country while in high school.  Matt found a solace in music that he couldn't find elsewhere, and it became the perfect emotional outlet.

"I began writing the story of my life in the form of songs that I hope other people can relate to in many different ways. I want to tell the world about my life to show that I’m not ashamed of who I am and that no one is perfect. Music, along with God, really can save the soul, and it can influence and impact people in ways that they cannot do for themselves. Music saved my life in more ways than one and I believe that it can help others as well."
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Here, Matt answers his Essential 8 and talks writing, success and struggle, Eric Church, and more.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
I draw my inspiration through life.  I don't just want to write fun songs, I want to write songs that the people will love and relate to on a personal level.

What has been your biggest success?
My biggest success is hearing the stories from my fans about how my music got them through hard times and that I am someone they look up to.  Changing someone's life for the better is something money can't buy.

Is drinking at gigs a positive or a negative?
For me, a negative.  I personally feel that if you have people paying money to come see you as an entertainer then you are obligated to give them the best show of your life every single time.  Drinking definetly doesn't allow you to do that, but after the show, yeah have a nice cold one and talk to your fans!

Hailing from East Tennessee, Handsome and the Humbles are prepping the release of their new album, We’re All the Same, on September 9th. The project, a collection of stories - poignant observations of humanity - embrace the idea that hope can bridge the gap forged by discord and divide while uniting listeners via connect on an emotional level. Here, Josh Smith answers his Essential 8 and talks about the album, songwriting, The Shed, Waffle House, and more.

​Is there a story behind your album’s title?
The title actually comes from one of the songs on the album, "We're All the Same." I wrote it one night when I got home from a friend's show at a craft brewery in Knoxville. I had one of those moments where I walked into the place and just felt like I was a lot less cool than the people that were there. I was looking around and admiring their mustaches and how comfortable they all looked drinking their strangely flavored beers, and I thought, "My mustache is not as cool, and I want to like this beer more than I do!" Then, I assumed that they could sense how uncomfortable I was and that they were judging me. Then I started judging them for judging me. Of course, this whole thing was in my head--these people were just having a good time, and I was the one making judgements. Basically, the song is about feeling uncomfortable, different, or not good enough and then realizing that we all feel these things at some point. When we realize that and actually start to talk to each other, we can understand that maybe we’re not as different as we thought we were.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
My writing is a combination of all the above. When I am not playing music, I work in Physical Therapy and mostly with geriatric patients. I spend most of my day talking to these people, listening to their stories and learning about what they’ve been through. A lot of my songs have been inspired by my conversations with them. Other times, I’ve just made up stories based on whatever I’m feeling at the moment. There are a couple of songs on this album which were written from direct experience. “Down To the Wire” is about growing up and growing apart, and I wrote it about my high school/early college best friend. Another song on the album, “Tried So Hard,” is about growing up in a small, Bible Belt town, feeling the pull and weight of religion, and trying to make sense of everything. Ultimately, that one is sort of about my personal break up with religion, so it’s autobiographical. I’m a tender little guy, so pretty much anything can inspire me to write.

What’s your favorite/”go-to” food on the road?
On the road, we have a steady diet of things you can buy at a gas station and things that are open after you finish your gig. For the gas station food, there always seems to be some kind of jerky in the van. Lauryl, our old drummer, used to always eat these pickles that come packaged in a bag. She’d eat the pickle and then drink the leftover juice. After gigs, we usually end up at an iHop or Waffle House, although if I’m choosing, we end up at the latter.

Singer-songwriter Stevenson Everett recently released his new single, "Bury Me In Louisiana" a heartfelt ballad that tips its hat to the Pelican state. Here he answers his Essential 8 where he talks bucket list items, attentive crowds, drinking at gigs, and more.

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
My latest album is called “Ballads and Blues.” I chose this title because those are my two favorite things to sing. They are also the two things Nashville told me I sang too much of, too many ballads and too many blues songs. I lost my most recent record deal 2 years ago and was at a professional crossroads. I had been in the music game for 16 years at that point, and decided that if I was going to make another album, then I was going to sing whatever songs I wanted to sing regardless of genre, style, and tempo. Not every song on the new cd falls in to either category, ballads or blues, but to me, the album is ballads and blues and everything in between.

When/where do you do your best writing?
Typically, late at night, alone, after the wife and kids have gone to bed. It’s quiet and there are no distractions and I just play. I’m not always looking to write something, but I’m always looking to discover something, whether it be a melody, a chord progression, or something musically that inspires a feeling that then inspires lyrics, that then may hopefully turn into a song. It’s a slow process for me, but one that I love.

What has been your biggest struggle so far?
My biggest struggle to this date has just been getting the music out to the world. You can create something beautiful, but if no one ever hears it, is it a waste of time and talent? I don’t know. The world has gotten louder and you’re competing with so much noise and content, not to mention the smartphone. I struggle with getting people to slow down long enough to listen. It’s not their fault, it’s just that the world has changed a lot from the days of the old troubadours and balladeers of the 60’s and 70’s. I do often wonder if I was born in the wrong era. But in the end, I still hold true that honesty will never go out of style, so I’ll continue to stay honest to myself and to the music.