The Interviews

Susan Haynes

Interview by Chris Macon

“Long Way To Memphis” talks about chasing dreams and taking chances. Tell us a little about your own road to here.

It's been a long one. I have sung since I was little, always with the dream, but never the intention, of pursuing music. I grew up in a household where no one had followed a creative path. It was very foreign to me, so I didn't even consider it until I was well out of school.

I interned for a record company while in college and got a job in a recording studio when I graduated. I had the very glamorous title of Studio Manager, which really meant “coffee-making, phone-answering, cleaning lady.” However, I met some amazing talent from writers to musicians to artists, and learned a tremendous amount. It was there that I met then guitar player Dann Huff. He became a good friend and mentor as I tried to find my place in the business. At one point he mentioned he wanted to start producing and would I be interested in working with him. Of course, I was flattered and thrilled, but by the time I was ready, he had sky-rocketed and become one of the top producers in town. What followed was a long period of waiting to get in the studio with him. I was signed to a production deal at Sony, followed by more waiting. When John Grady took over Sony, we began making the record… followed by more waiting! So if anything, I am well seasoned in the art of waiting. But, I'm a firm believer that everything happens the way it's supposed to. Plus, I've always been a late bloomer anyway.

Just how excited are you to have your debut album hitting the shelves? Do you have anything special planned for the day it’s first available?

I am so proud of this record, that I'm just thrilled that it's going to get the opportunity to be heard. I have no special plans at this point for the release. Hopefully, I'll be too busy counting the records flying off the shelves to have time for anything else!

Crooked Little Heart will actually be available for purchase on-line long before it’s available in stores. What’s the story behind that?

I am excited about the availability of the record on-line. It enables the listener to purchase the music earlier than they would normally be able to. Plus, it targets a new kind of consumer… one that will go on-line, maybe do some research, and download new music. I'm an iPod person myself, so I love the fact that I can buy a record on spur of the moment without ever having to leave the house.

Talk a little about the album as a whole and what fans can expect to hear.

Fans can expect to hear the greatest music in the whole world! I'm kidding. What I hope is that after listening to this record, people will get a sense of who I am and maybe feel a little like they know me. And, of course, I hope they find something on the album that's meaningful to them in some way.

Your current single, “Drinkin’ In My Sunday Dress,” is just a ball of fun. Why’d you pick it and where’d you find it?

I'm a Maria McKee fan. She was the lead singer of a band called Lone Justice. Her first solo record was one that my roommates and I always kept in the CD player in college. A couple of years after I graduated, I was talking with a friend and co-writer about her music. He suggested I play “Drinkin’ In My Sunday Dress” in my set. I did and it got such a great response, I've been playing it ever since. I was pleasantly surprised when the label latched on to it the way they did. And, although I don't think my mother originally approved of it, even she has become a fan of it, too!

Now, it was after working in a recording studio and watching other singers do their thing that you decided you’d try your own hand in the music industry. Was there a specific moment where it just clicked for you?

I had the privilege of witnessing some amazing talent in the studio; most of which intimidated me more than anything for a long time. One moment that stands out though was when Faith Hill was recording. I was at my desk next to the bathroom (again, lots of glamour) when she came in and said, “I hear that you can sing.” I admitted to her that I loved to sing although I was petrified of it. She said, “Well, girl, you need to get out from behind that desk and go do it!” And, for some reason it finally hit me - no one was going to come knock on the door and offer me a deal. I had to get over my fear and get out there and make it happen myself. I doubt she would ever remember that, but it was a kick in the pants for me.

“The Road Behind Me” is one of the songs on your record that you had a hand in writing. It is also one of the most personal. How difficult is it laying that much of yourself out there for the world to hear? And, how important do you think it is for an artist to write his/her own music?

I don't intentionally lay myself out there emotionally when I write. But I do try not to edit myself. “The Road Behind Me” is one of the most personal songs I've ever written. With a song like that, I think you just do your best to keep your head from interfering with your heart. You just say what you need to say at that moment without worrying about what people will think. I don't think an artist has to write their own music necessarily, but I do think it's important to have something to say, to have a perspective that is unique.

Brad Paisley paid you a great compliment, comparing you to Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, after watching you perform one evening. If it was up to you, whose career would you most like to emulate and why?

Well, first of all, we paid Brad an enormous amount of money to say those things! I'm kidding. He was extremely generous though, and I truly appreciate it. I don't know if there is one person's career in particular I'd want to emulate. I think I really want to construct my own. However, to be able to make meaningful music for decades like Emmylou [Harris], Dolly [Parton], and Patty Loveless is a dream for me. I'd also like a career that enables me to make an impact and contribute not just to the music community but on a larger scale. Fame doesn't appeal to me as much as doing what I love - which is singing and connecting with people. Whatever scale that happens on, I'll take it!

In “But You Are,” you sing that you’re a “product of some real good hurt / and some real bad love.” How true does that ring for you? What would people be surprised to know about you?

I'd say I've definitely had my share of unhealthy relationships, but I chose to be in them at the time for whatever reason. I was good at getting in bad relationships, just bad at getting out - so they'd go on forever! That's what the song on my record, “Being Gone,” is about. I was as codependent as they come. It's always a bummer to find out you are a walking cliché. But I'm happy to say, I have come a very long way and life is better than it's ever been.

Let’s talk about the future. What’s on the horizon? Can fans expect to see you on the road anytime soon?

I hope fans can see me playing out there soon. I'm still on a radio tour but will do shows here and there. For now, I take it one day at a time and just try to enjoy this whole process. It took me a long time to get here… I don't want to miss any of it!

Something Extra

What’s your favorite song on country radio today?

Mine, of course! And, I love the new Brad Paisley duet with Dolly [Parton] - and I'm not just saying that because he said nice things about me.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

Right where I am. Except maybe I'd have somebody rubbing my feet.

You’re a Fleetwood Mac fan – what’s your favorite song of theirs?

There are too many to choose from… but if you're holding my feet to the fire… I'll have to say “Songbird” and “Landslide,” of course.

Special thanks and all our best to Susan and Sony Music Nashville!