EXCLUSIVE: Nicole Sumerlyn Talks New Single ‘Over A Drink’

Multi-talented Canadian country-influenced singer/songwriter Nicole Sumerlyn is making waves with her latest single ‘Over A Drink’ which sees her bringing an impressive rock stylistic into her natural roots soundscape making for a stellar backdrop that is overlayed with her standout vocal.

Here we chat exclusively with Nicole Sumerlyn to discuss her latest release in more detail:

Congratulations on the release of your latest single, how have you found the response so far?

Thank you! It’s been great. Seeing the support from not just my family and friends, but industry peers has been very rewarding. It’s awesome seeing new names and faces reaching out and listening to the new single. Watching people join in on my musical journey has been really fun.

How have you found the process of sharing new music during this strange time?

Of course, I would love a world where I could be touring and visiting radio friends in person right now in support of the single. However, I’m just thankful that I had the opportunity to share “Over A Drink” in the first place. We just have to adapt, and keep moving. Due to the pandemic, the release plan of this song got pushed back longer than I would have liked. So at this point, I’m happy to have people finally be able to listen to it!

Can you give us a little insight into the writing and recording experience for this track?

I wrote this song in 2019 with Jimmy Thow on one of my Nashville trips. Jimmy is a beast of a writer and I was so excited to be in the room with him. The song came so naturally to both of us. It was done in about an hour and a half. I was just telling him a bit about what was happening in my life at the time. Me being an open book and telling everyone about my love life, we got to talking about this guy who I was seeing. The conversation quickly just turned into lyrics and out came ‘Over A Drink’. The recording process was super fun. My producer Taylor Allum is also my drummer/bandleader. We have toured for a few years together, so he knows me very well. Lots of studio snacks – haha. He really knew what I wanted this song to represent, and allowed me to have a big say on how the single would sound. He did such a fantastic job at pulling out the best in my vocals as well as bringing in the best sounds to match what we were going for. I’m so glad he was the one to bring this song to life.

Where did you look to for inspiration when penning this song?

Prior to writing and recording the song, I had conversations with both Jimmy and Taylor on what artists I was into at the time, and what kind of sound I wanted to embrace. Gretchen Wilson has always been an inspiration of mine, as well as Cadillac Three. Both artists share a gritty side of country. We wanted to show that my sound is edgy but still has a feminine side. We listened to a lot of Cadillac Three’s earlier records when producing this song. So going into the process, we really wanted to show that love for rock-n-roll, but also representing a sweet spot for keeping the country music twang alive.

What are you hoping your fans take away from the lyrical story?

I’m in the exhausting world that is dating. I moved to the city in my early 20s and went out on quite a few dates. I learned a lot about myself during that time of life. I also learned that dating can be tiresome and boring. “Over A Drink” represents literally being ‘over’ those first-date drinks. I was so done with the repetitive conversations. I would go on dates with guys who didn’t know how to make conversation or pull a move. I wanted some fire, some fun, and for it to potentially go somewhere. Even though not all dates work out in terms of ending in relationships, I just wanted to have more experiences where I didn’t feel like I was at a job interview. It’s okay to let loose and have fun!

Can we expect this single to act as a launch pad for a full length project?

Absolutely. I started out in music by touring, writing, and recording music at the age of fourteen. This is the first single that I’ve released in my adult years that acts as a start-up for my musical journey. I’ve spent the last 10 years behind the scenes, growing and learning as an artist. So now, in 2021, I will get to share what I’ve spent this time working on. This single is just the start of the fire that will lead to my projects to come.

Do you have any plans to release a visual for this track too?

Yes! I’m so excited. There will be a music video coming out the first week of March for “Over A Drink”. I got to work with my good friend and master of videography Meaghan Gipps. I had all my close friends on set playing the actors in the video. So it was a blast. I don’t know how Meaghan will be able to edit out all the laughter and silly moments.

Looking ahead, what else can we expect from you this year?

“Over A Drink” is an introduction project. So I really want people to get to know me as a person and artist. I’ve got lots of fun little videos and interactive ways that will allow me to connect with all of you. And of course, more country music! I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve that I’m so excited to share. After years of playing these songs live, people will finally be able to listen to them at their own pleasure. This is a very exciting time, and I’m so grateful to be able to share these parts of my life with people. Buckle up, 2021 is going to be a fun one!

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