Page 11 - ION Indie Magazine MayJune 2020 Issue

DLR: Well, Dolly Parton is my all-time hero and patron saint. I’m
a mountain kid who looks weird and writes songs, so OF
COURSE she is! We’ve been collaborating for decades. The
fact that she doesn’t know that really is irrelevant. Other than
Saint Dolly, some songwriters who currently inspire me are
Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers, and Amethyst Kiah.

LAS: What would you be doing right now if it wasn’t for your
music career?

DLR: Listen, I will make music even if I live in a hole alone with
nobody to hear it; even if I work 10 side jobs to fulfill my
financial obligations in life. I don’t make music as a career. I
make it because the Muse won’t leave me the hell alone and
making these sounds is how I stay connected to the universe.
If these sounds can somehow translate into a paycheck for
my family…awesome. If not, I’ll do everything I can to work a
job that still leaves me time and mental space to make the
sounds. I do have a Master’s Degree in Teaching, which gives
me some awesome options. I’m not an ‘options’ kind of
person though…LOL!

LAS: What are your favorite venues at which to perform?

DLR: Ones where people listen. Sometimes this means really
fancy equipment and staff who create a beautiful listening
environment, and sometimes this means a house concert host
who carefully chooses who she invites to her event and works
to facilitate a meaningful experience.

LAS: How do you feel the internet has impacted the music
business?

DLR: The internet opens up opportunity to so many more
people. It of course increases the amount of ‘competition,’
but it also gives artists more autonomy to build their own
following. I think there’s still this illusion people have that
they’re going to be ‘discovered’ which is probably as likely
with the internet as it ever used to be. But now I think there’s
an opportunity for an artist with some business savvy to create
a brand and build a following on their own terms.