Songwriter Interview – Adrianna Freeman – I Ran Out Of Whiskey Yesterday

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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, singer and songwriter Adrianna Freeman shares the inspiration behind her latest single, I Ran Out Of Whiskey Yesterday, and what she loves about writing songs.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Adrianna Freeman about her life and career, the creative work that went into her new single, I Ran Out Of Whiskey Yesterday, and her advice to inspire other musicians.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I was born in Tallahassee, Florida. My granddaddy always wanted to be a country music singer, but it was not going to happen for him back then. My father also tried to be a country music singer, but my mama got pregnant with me, so he had to stop pursuing his dream to take care of the family. I started singing when I was 8 years old. I got my start performing in front of my grandparents’ roadside farmer’s market. When my Dad noticed that I had real talent he got me some gigs at the local country bars. Later on, we decided to go to Nashville to record my first album and started shopping it all over town to different record labels. We thought getting a record deal would be simple, we were so wrong. After several years of that we decided to release the music independently.

When did you first WANT to write music?

I started singing at a young age, but the writing bug didn’t hit me until I was in my teens. 

When did you take a step to start writing music?

I remember watching one of our church musicians sing an original song. I decided I wanted to try to write a song that I could sing in church too. I was about 13 when I wrote my first song.

What was your first piece of music released, and what inspired it?

I really wanted a record deal with a major label, so I went to Nashville to cut a record. it was an album called “Country’s Best Kept Secret”. I released it back in 2002, it was an album of me singing a bunch of cover songs. When I first went to Nashville, I thought I just needed to cut a record, showing that I could sing country music. It wasn’t until later that I learned that if I was going to get anywhere, I needed to write my own songs.

What was your latest music released, and what inspired it?

Earlier this year I released a song called “I Ran Out of Whiskey Yesterday”. The song was inspired out of sheer frustration about the current American struggle and the universal challenges faced by people across the nation. The song was co-written with my long-time bandmate Mark Hawkins.  Unlike some musicians who are afraid to take a stand for what they truly believe in, we are not afraid to say when things are not right.

Focusing on your latest piece of music. What were your biggest challenges with I Ran Out Of Whiskey Yesterday?

Well people either loved it or hated it. The songs hits on some tough topics, but it embodies the essence of country music’s true spirit-“three chords and the truth”. Some folks thought the song was a political song, but it was not, it was truly about the current American struggle and how we need to work together to make our country better for the people. 

What are you working on right now?

I just finished up my album and we are releasing a new song called Halo on 9/20/2024. I am supper excited about this single and I think it will be well received. 

Do you keep to a theme with your music, or just go where the mood strikes?

I love the more traditional style of country music. I am a huge fan of roots/bluegrass music so I like to infuse some of that into my songs. The main theme I do try to carry into each song is the truth. I also like to write songs that tell stories as well. 

What is your favourite piece of music you’ve recorded, and what do you love about it?

There is a song, I just wrapped up called Bluer Than Bluegrass which will be part of the 10-song album I am planning to release next year. I wrote song at one of the darker moments of my life but it is so beautiful to me. I believe most of us have been through a bad break-up, it was almost cathartic in a sense. It was like a weight was lifted after I finished it. Almost like I had been carrying the emotional baggage around, but the song somehow helped me release the burden. 

Do you find other people’s music inspires you? Who do you listen to most?

Yes. Some of my favorite artist are : Patty Loveless, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Gretchen Wilson, Carly Pearce, Luke Combs, Josh Turner, and of course Morgan Wallen to name a few. 

Do you record and produce your own music, or pay musicians and producers?

Yes. I work with musicians and producers in Nashville. Nashville ahs some of the best musicians in the world. I have also produced a couple songs on my own too. 

What instruments do you play?

I play the guitar; however, I do not consider myself a guitarist at all. I can play well enough to write a song. My real passion is using my voice, so I am far more comfortable behind the microphone than I have ever been behind the guitar. 

Do you like performing live, or does it scare you? Where can people watch you?

I used to have bad stage fright when I was younger, but now it just feels natural. I love performing. I am hoping I can start touring next year. I just want to continue to be able to create the music I love. I would like to partner with a major touring artist to get my music to a wider audience. I see myself releasing my next album, hoping to continue to build my brand on social media. Today it is easier to get your music out to a wider audience. I have the determination to get my songs out to the world and that’s exactly what I plan to do.

Is your music available to the public, and where can people listen to it?

Yes it is. You can find it on any major streaming platform such apple music, Spotify, amazon music, iTunes etc..

Are you able to make music full time, or do you have day job?

I wish, that would be a dream come true, but sadly no. I have a full-time job. As an independent artist I am supporting my music financially, I work fulltime to make sure I can fund my passion and continue to create music. 

Are your friends and family supportive of your music career?

Yes absolutely, my family has been behind me pushing from the beginning. My friends and family are some of my biggest fans. We recently shot a video for Halo. I got my friends and family to help me in the video. Their support means the world to me. Family is everything. 

What’s something you never expected about writing music? What have you learned that surprised you?

That I would be able to write something that was good and resonated with folks. I was surprised when a mentor I was working with told me when I play my shows I should be playing more of my own songs because they were good!

Have you had any experiences that really stand out because of your music?

I released a song called Just A Girl several years ago. The song addressed the challenges faced by children in broken homes and was adopted as the official theme song of The National Network for Youth (NN4Y) in Washington, D.C. The song was also featured on the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). It is something I am proud of. 

Do you have any important events coming up we should know about?

I am released my new single called “Halo” on 9/20/2024. 

What is the first piece of advice you would give to anyone inspired to write music?

Keep pushing and don’t give up. You may write 100 songs before you write something you are truly proud of. Tryst the process and believe in yourself. 

And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

I am happy with the things I have been able to accomplish as an independent artist thus far, but there are some things I regret as well. My father Ed Freeman wrote an audiobook about my journey through his eyes. You can listen to my full story by checking out Audible and or Amazon. I still have several goals that I would like to achieve. I see myself releasing my next album, hoping to continue to build my brand on social media. Today it is easier to get your music out to a wider audience. I have the determination to get my songs out to the world and that’s exactly what I plan to do. I love to create music, that is what keeps me going. What lies ahead are dreams revealed, behind, a road paved for the future.

Pop all your music, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

https://www.youtube.com/@adriannafreemanmusic/featured

https://adriannafreeman.com/music

http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1687865626

https://instagram.com/official.adrianna.freeman?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://www.tiktok.com/@adriannafreemanmusic?_t=8ayCRys3uuo&_r=1

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