Music Interview: Emily Hackett

Emily Hackett may sound familiar to you and that’s probably because we chatted with her back in August 2017. We are catching up with her again because she recently released a new single called “Good Intentions”. We spoke to her about that new single as well as what it was like collaborating with YouTuber Megan Davies and more.

TYF: What originally drew you to country music?
Emily Hackett: The storytelling and the honesty.

TYF: What inspired you to learn the acoustic guitar?
Hackett: My dad. He was always playing it around the house and with friends.

TYF: I read that you grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Did the Atlanta music scene inspire your music at all?
Hackett: The first concert I remember going to was the Indigo Girls, who got their start in Atlanta and Athens, as well as Sister Hazel, who I saw countless times in the summer growing up there. So, yeah, I would definitely say those were influencers and drivers made me want to perform and write well.

TYF: What was the first song you ever wrote and what was it about?
Hackett: It was called “Dreams Come True.” I wrote it with my friend in the 6th grade for the middle school talent show. It definitely lives on a cassette tape somewhere in my parents’ basement.

TYF: What would you say sets your music apart from the music by other country artists?
Hackett: I didn’t grow up on country music, and you can tell. I think that’s what stands out in the songwriting. It may lean country, or be influenced by country, but I grew up on good folk lyrics and rock and roll. I think that becomes more clear the more of my songs you hear.

TYF: In 2013, you got to do an acoustic cover of “Royals” by Lorde with YouTube, Megan Davies. What was that experience like?
Hackett: Honestly, that whole thing was crazy unexpected. I heard the song on our local radio station in Nashville, Lightning 100, which is a beloved station here, and went, “Wait, this is something really unique.” I just had a really good feeling that it was about to blow up. So we were strategic, and we covered it right away in its baby phases. Then as it blew up, so did the cover.

TYF: Have any future collaborations with Megan or any other YouTuber lined up?
Hackett: Nothing lined up! But it’s been too long since Megan and I did something! Maybe soon.

TYF: If you could pick three songs to do a cover of, which would you pick and why?
Hackett: That’s too hard! I hear songs all the time that I want to cover because it’s something I wish I wrote or that I connect with deeply…or I just think I would sound cool singing it. I love the idea of females covering male songs. Lately, I’ve been doing a throwback medley in the middle of my single “Nostalgia” when we play it live; “Black Balloon” by Goo Goo Dolls, “All You Wanted,” by Michelle Branch and “Everything You Want,” by Vertical Horizon. I love that people get to sing along for a minute during a song of mine that’s meant to take you there.

TYF: Now let’s switch gears and talk about your new song. Can you tell us about your new single, “Good Intentions”?
Hackett: It’s a bit of poking fun. We all plan on going to the gym and might just end up wearing yoga pants around all day and never getting there. That’s life. This song allows people to sing along and laugh at that.

TYF: What was it like performing “Good Intentions” on the CMA Fest Radio Disney country stage?
Hackett: That stage was amazing! The sound was incredible, the giant video screen that my face was all over was incredible, meeting tons of fans was incredible, the whole experience was wonderful.

TYF: What made you choose “Good Intentions” to be the song you sing on the CMA Fest Radio Disney country stage?
Hackett: I had just released the single two days earlier, on my birthday! It was a fun, little gift to myself.

TYF: You also performed “Good Intentions” at AJ’s Good Time bar. How did your performance at AJ’s Good Time bar differ than the one on the CMA Fest Radio Disney country stage?
Hackett: AJ’s was a unique CMA Fest experience because it was an acoustic songwriter round and not a lot of writer rounds tend to happen (especially in the AC!) during that festival. It was nice to bring a little bit of the classic Nashville feel to tourists who might not have experienced it otherwise.

TYF: Did you prefer one venue over the other?
Hackett: Any venue during CMA Fest is gonna be a good time!

TYF: What do you like to do to get ready before a big show?
Hackett: I always do my warm-ups really loud in front of my mirror as I’m doing my makeup or in the car on the way there. I always feel really bad for anyone who decides to accompany me as passengers.

TYF: Lastly, what plans do you have this summer? Have any future shows scheduled?
Hackett: I’m playing Summerfest soon in Milwaukee, WI on 4th of July! The Emerging Artists Stage. Come to see me if you’ll be there!

Visit Emily Hackett’s website to check out more of her music.