A Conversation with Scotty McCreery – HuffPost 10.2.13

Mike Ragogna: Scotty!

Scotty McCreery: Hey, how are you doing, Michael?

MR: Pretty good, how are you?

SM: Doing good, thanks for calling.

MR: Wow, just from the tone of your voice, I can tell a lot’s happened since we spoke last.

SM: [laughs] I guess, yeah, we’ve been staying busy.

MR: Scotty, what’s been going on between the Christmas album and now?

SM: Well, we thumped out a new album in all that time and we’ve been on the road as well. Started with the Weekend Roadtrip Tour, and I guess we just extended those dates. We’ll be doing that through the end of the year. But the main focus was on this album for sure.

MR: Looks like you already have a hit from the new album, the title track, “See You Tonight.”

SM: Yeah, it’s still ploughing it’s way up the charts, but we’re excited about it. “See You Tonight,” it’s been the best response we’ve gotten out of a single yet, so yeah, it’s been a good thing going.

MR: Okay, what was the difference between making the last studio album and this album?

SM: I got to be an artist with this album. I had time with this record that I didn’t really have with the other one. We took the better part of a year, if not more than a year, to work on this one whereas with the first one, we were pumping it out in a couple of months just so we could get it out there for the fans to hear. It was really fun making this record; I think it’s a lot more “me.”

MR: It also rocks harder than the debut, especially the first track.

SM: It does, it rocks harder. Even the songs that aren’t rock, I think they have a deeper meaning or make you think a little bit more than the first record did. This album makes you think, which is a good thing. It’s what you want your music to do.

MR: Yeah, the level of songwriting on this album is also pretty strong with “Carolina Moon” being a perfect example. It’s one of the more gentle songs, too.

SM: Oh, I love that song. It’s one of my favorites if not the favorite. So yeah, it’s been cool. Speaking of songwriting, that’s another thing that’s different with this record, the fact that I got to write songs myself and co-write and get some of my own songs on it. I think I ended up with five total that were mine. That’s really cool for me as a young songwriter to have five cuts on the record.

MR: Yeah, and your experience of co-writing is growing. How’s it going for you with that concept, co-writing?

SM: Oh, I love it. I love the experience of getting to know the best of the best of Nashville and putting our heads together and trying to come up with a cool song. Sometimes we come up with really good stuff, sometimes we come up with crap, it’s just one of those things where you’ve got to go through it all and see which ones work. Luckily, we had some pretty cool stuff we wrote, which I’m pretty proud of.

MR: What are your favorite co-writes on the album? Come on, cough up a story or two.

SM: [laughs] Well, the day we wrote “See You Tonight,” we also wrote “Can You Feel It,” and that’s a rare occurrence, to write two songs that are actually pretty good in one day. I sat down with Ahsley Gorley and Zach Crowell for that one and it was just one of those days where things were flowing. That was really cool. “I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend” I wrote with Frank [Rogers] and David Fanning. That’s one of the ones we sat there and debated for a long time before we actually started writing it. We were like, “Is that title going to turn off too many people before they hear it? We’ll mix it on the record so it’ll flow right into it.” It kind of took us for a twist, it sounded like a mean song, but it turned out to be pretty cool. That was pretty funny.

MR: Do you end up being the alpha dog at the writing sessions or do you sit back and take it all in?

SM: It kind of depends on what’s going on. When I was initially getting started, I was the guy that was just trying to sit back and take it all in, but as I got more and more sessions under my belt, I was throwing out more ideas and was kind of towards the forefront as well. I think that’s just me getting comfortable with it more than anything. But it was kind of a bit of both.

MR: Scotty, I have to say–and I mean this as a compliment–you sound more confident to me right now than in our other interviews. In your opinion, what do you think has been the biggest change for you?

SM: You know, I’d say it’s my writing sessions. I’m just getting more comfortable with it and finding my spot as an artist and as a person. I was pretty young when I started this gig, so I guess for anybody that age, whether it’s school or whether it’s a music career, you’re going to be kind of nervous about it all. For two and a half years now, I’ve just been finding myself, finding out who I am as a person and as an artist. It’s been going good for me and I’m excited about the way things are going. It’s just one of those things, I guess. You just build confidence with time.

MR: Do you get surprised by what’s happening to you and your career or is it sort of what your dream was anyway?

SM: I still kind of sit back sometimes in surprise at what’s been happening. It’s pretty surreal when you look back at it. Obviously, this is something I dreamed of and wanted to have, but there’s a difference between a dream and what you think reality is going to be. I never thought this would be reality. It definitely was one of my dreams, so it’s exciting to see this kind of come through for me.

MR: When you were in the studio listening back to these mixes, did you think to yourself, “Wow, this is a big leap from Clear As Day?”

SM: Oh, yeah. I’ve been so excited. I’m glad that y’all are finally getting into my music. I can tell you what a big step this music is from the first record, but you’ve got to hear it first before you believe it. So yeah, sitting down and listening to it, especially songs like “Carolina Moon,” when I first got the master, I was walking around campus and I had my headphones in listening to it and I was smiling the whole day on and all these kids were smiling back and waving. They all thought I was smiling at them. It’s been really cool hearing these songs back.

MR: See You Tonight, to me, has a Summer feel to it. You even have a song called “Feel Good Summer Song,” which I think encompasses the mood of this album more than anything else

SM: I’d definitely say it has that feel to it, with songs like “Feelin’ It” and “Now,” even the heartbreak song, “Feel Good Summer Song,” definitely has that overall mood to it, so you could say that. But then you’ve got the songs like “The Dash” or “Carolina Moon” that kind of make you sit back and think a little more. “Carolina Moon” is kind of a Fall song for me. I guess when I picture it, the leaves change and everything, but that overall mood like you said, it’s there.

MR: I think it’s also because you’re having so much fun on this record it does come off as more energetic. Maybe that would be the more appropriate way to say that.

SM: Yeah, definitely. Once again, that’s just getting comfortable with things in the studio and recording. When you first get in there, especially since I was seventeen years old, it can be pretty intimidating, getting in there with a multi-platinum producer and all of these guys that have been doing it for years and you’re trying to show them your chops and all that. I guess this go-around was a little more easy-going for me.

MR: On the other hand, maybe you were a little more assertive with your ideas this time around?

SM: For sure, yeah, I speak up when I need to. That’s something that I probably didn’t do so much back in the day. That’s not to say that I was always right; lord knows I’d throw out an idea and Frank would be like “Are you sure about that?” and I’d come around about the second time I heard him, I’d be like, “Yeah, you’re right.” But just the fact that we could throw around ideas and come up with the best instead of just going with one and hoping, you know what I mean?

MR: Absolutley. During both times we spoke, we talked about your family and the effect that your grandfather had on you. What’s happening in your personal life these days? I’m not looking for anything salacious, but is there anything on the personal level that’s been affecting your songwriting or growth as a human?

SM: I think every day, my family’s growing and we’re learning from all this. Yeah, I’m the guy that’s on stage and in the spotlight, but it’s kind of been a family matter for all of us. Nothing too major is going on with the family or anything personal lately, we’re just kind of all going at this together. We’ve really just been staying true to us. Me and my sister are both in college now, so I guess there’s that. We’re sharing those experiences and everything. The family’s traveled with me a lot, they’re still on the road with me, and they’re still helping out and learning the ropes. It’s a good thing for me to make sure I still have them with me.

MR: How does it feel to be juggling a career in music and a career in college?

SM: It’s weird but it’s fun. It is challenging. I did this with high school as well and went back and finished up school and still toured with [Brad] Paisley. But College is a different ballgame. It’s all about time management. That’s the main thing. I’m not the best at that, but I’m getting around. It’s a good time. For three days, I get to go home and study and learn, but also be around the guys I’ve been around since I was three years old and having those experiences that would’ve happened anyways. But then Thursday through Sunday, we’re hitting the road, whether we’re recording in Nashville or going to Iowa to go do a show. We’re out there and having a good time with it.

MR: The contrast must be pretty large for you, though, as far as having to really hunker down and focus on your classes but then also realize that you have a hit single and an amazing recording career you have to be responsible for.

SM: Yeah, it definitely is one of those things where I legitimately have to give two hundred percent–one hundred percent to college and one hundred to music. It is a balance and it’s one of those things that I’ve got to still keep working on, but it’s a good thing for me, I think.

MR: Knowing what you know now, what would you tell Scotty McCreery after he wonAmerican Idol?

SM: I would’ve told him to sit back and don’t stress so much. What’s going to happen is meant to happen and it’s going to happen as long as you put forth the work, but you can’t sit there and be a worrybody about stuff hoping this is going to happen or that’s going to happen and watching the charts and doing all that. This is just one of those things where you’ve got to put forth the work and it’ll happen if you put forth all of yourself. I’d have told me to not stress so much and just work hard.

MR: And hey, our traditional question, I’ve asked you twice before but let’s do it again. What’s your advice for new artists?

SM: I would tell them to do what they want to do, especially in country music today. Everything’s changing and everything’s kind of gone more mainstream. If you want to do that, do that, if you want to be a traditional guy go be traditional. Kacey Musgraves is a good example, she’s staying her way and nothing’s changing her. You’ve got to respect that. So I’d tell new artists to do what they want to do and people will listen.

MR: Nice, man. And Scotty McCreery in a year, what happens to you?

SM: What do I hope happens? I believe we’ve got a hit record on our hands so I hope we’ve got a few big singles; it’d be nice to go platinum again. That’s the dream, that’s what we’re working for right now. The radio thing’s the biggest thing for me. I hope we can get a few big singles out of this and the tour and everything else will take care of itself. Radio’s the number one thing on my list right now–hopefully a couple number ones!

MR: Yeah, my prediction is you’re going to do fine with this one. At least I wish that for you, buddy.

SM: Well thank you, I’m glad to hear.

MR: So now that I’ve interviewed you a couple of times, I just want to say that it’s been fun to watch you grow. I absolutely see the growth in each of these interviews. All right, I’ve got to let you go, so all the best, Scotty.

SM: I appreciate it, Mike. I’ll talk to you again soon.

Transcribed by Galen Hawthorne