EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Danielle Bradbery Talks Backstage At CMA Fest

CMA Fest is always a whirlwind of incredible performances and small snatches of time with incredible artists and backstage in the media room here at Music and Tour News we were lucky to grab a few minutes with country artist Danielle Bradbery to discuss her new music, mental health journey and more.

So, how has your CMA Fest experience been like for you this year?

It’s been good. It’s been really good, it’s been busy but it’s been fun. I did the Spotify House and Riverfront which I managed to get in before the called the outdoor stages off [due to adverse weather].

And you have the new single ‘Runaways’ out too, which you’re currently promoting?

Yes, Runaways has been so fun to perform and to finally get it out to everybody. It’s a really fun one and so I have been super pumped to perform it for everyone. It’s been fun, they rock out to it and it’s such a good beat live and we rock out so it seems like everybody is having fun.

You recently released Monster too, which is probably the most personal song you’ve shared yet. What’s that experience been like?

Yes, I released Monster which was all about anxiety or the monster in your life whatever that may be. We really circled it around mental health awareness month and it’s been really cool to just talk about it and see the fan reaction, hear all the stories and just know that they’re not alone and we all deal with it.

Was it a difficult decision for you to be that open?

It wasn’t actually. I am pretty honest when it comes to my music but that was the first time I had really nailed on anxiety myself and I was pretty pumped about it and I was really excited to just get it out there and not have to hide it on social media and everything. It was like “Okay, this is what I deal with. This is part of me and now you know”.

How do you manage your mental health when you’re on tour?

There have definitely been days and nights and a lot of moments definitely haven’t been good. There were times I would deal with it and it’d be fine and there were times when it would get a little further away from me but I’ve thought about things like going for a walk, taking a bath, just things that are really calming and relaxing and just kind of free your mind.

Are you finding that time away inspired your music too?

Yes, it does, constantly on the go and in so many different places all the time there’s definitely a lot of inspiration.

And on the back of CMA Fest, you’ll be going on tour with Jordan Davies later in the year?

I am yes, September can’t come fast enough. I am so excited about that I love Jordan, I love his whole camp. I’m just a huge fan of him anyway and we have our song Midnight Crisis so it’s going to be such a fun time. I’ve toured with him once before and I guess we all had so much fun that we wanted to do it again.

On top of that, do you plan on releasing a new album, or is it singles for now?

For sure. That is definitely our aim and goal. We have just been so excited about the new stuff. We’ve been popping them out there but I’m sitting on a bunch of new songs that we’re hopefully by the end of the year say that we have an album.

Amazing! Who have you been working with on that project?

I have been writing with some of my main writers, like Emily Weisband who I co-wrote basically my whole last record with. She is amazing and I’ve been working with her a lot. Working with some new people as well so that’s been really fun.

How about British artists? Any co-writes in the pipeline?

Not that I know of but that would be awesome.

Are you planning on heading back to the UK soon?

Yes, we’ve actually been having that conversation recently so we’re definitely trying on our end to get back there. [C2C] is being talked about so fingers crossed. I love it. We were talking about it and I was like “Hey, if I can get back there, then I’m good”.

We’ve heard a lot of US acts say the UK crowds are different, do you feel that too?

They definitely are. They’re way more intent, just focused on you and I love that. They listen to every word you have to say and every word you have to sing and are just so respectful. I love it.

Talking of touring, do you have a favourite song to play out live at the moment?

I will always love singing Worth It. I mean obviously, the new song Runaways because it’s so fun and Break My Heart Again will probably always be one of my favourites.

Do you have a personal highlight from this past year so far?

Oh, man! There have been a lot of fun moments. I mean recently I got to go back on The Voice to kind of say the farewell to Blake [Shelton] leaving the show. It was a big surprise, he didn’t know any of us were there, we performed live and it was just a really emotional, amazing moment. Just to see everybody again; the whole thing. So that’s been kind of a highlight recently.

And your most challenging moment?

Definitely the mental health. I’ve run into times when it’s been very, very hard but we pushed through. It’s definitely a rollercoaster but it gets better. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We just get better at dealing with it.

One last question for you, what would be your message to your UK fans?

I love y’all. I am so excited to get back there. we are working on it right now and I can’t wait to get back.

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