MINGUS FESTIVAL
Country singer talks about releasing album on her own label
Nogales honors a native son and a giant of jazz Saturday with its annual Charles Mingus Hometown Music Festival in the city’s Mingus Memorial Park.
Sara Evans was flying high as a major-label star for RCA Records at the turn of the century. These days, she’s on an indie label but finds that her emotional connection with fans is stronger than ever. The “Born to Fly” singer, who will perform at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, talks about her life and music.
Country singer-songwriter Sara Evans was all over radio in the first part of the century, thanks to bright, bold tunes like “Born to Fly,” “Suds in the Bucket” and “I Keep Looking.”
Things then quieted down — blame what she calls the rise of “party songs” and the decline of female artists at country radio. But Evans has carried on, with an album, “Words,” released last year on her own label.
Evans, who will perform in the Valley on Wednesday, April 25, recently talked about life on the road with family; her gratitude to fans; and the ever-changing entertainment industry.
Question: You grew up in the country in Missouri. Do you still have family living the farm life there?
Answer:
Yes, my parents still live on the farm that I grew up on. It’s great; when we go home it’s like really, really, really going home to my childhood bedroom and the whole deal. So it’s really sweet.
Q: Your siblings have been a part of your band for several years.
A:
There are seven kids in my family. We grew up singing and playing music together. It was mostly my two older brothers and me. And then my next sister is four years younger than I am and she’s an incredible singer. My next sister is a year-and-a-half younger than she is and they have both toured with me a ton. And my older brother, Matt, has always been my bass player and musical director. It’s really awesome. Currently, I have my brother; one sister; and sister-in-law; and my son all on tour with me.
We have been having a blast. I wasn’t sure how that would be like. My kids have always been on the road with me and learned to walk and talk and pottytrain and everything on the bus, but this is the first time one of them has actually been in my band and performed with me. It is incredible.
Q: “Words,” your eight studio album, was released in July. What’s it like to put out this album on your own label, Born to Fly Records?
A:
It was really exciting and also terrifying because my entire career has been with RCA Records. You just feel like you have this huge company and the stability of it behind you. When you actually do it on your own it’s like “oh my gosh!” I used to call the label and ask, “Will you guys send three boxes of CDs to my mom? And two to my dad. And…” Now I’m like, “Mom, you’re getting one CD and that’s it. Don’t lose it.” (laughs) Because everything is on me and my costs and all that.
I think that was the biggest change. But as far as the process of making the record and finding the songs, it was essentially the exact same way that I’ve always done it. I’d get songs sent to me every day and start writing a ton and just pick the ones that I love. I’d go in a record them and put my own thing to it.
Q: It sounds like you left RCA on good terms. Was it just time to move on?
A:
It just became clear that country radio had just changed so much – not playing enough women and playing party songs. At some point you and the label have to ask, “Is this working anymore?” And not only is it working, but is it worth it to try and make it work?
And that’s not to say that I won’t ever go back to a bigger label, or team up with my label and a bigger label. That’s what I love about the entertainment industry; you absolutely never know what’s going Sara Evans When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 25.
Where: Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Gila River Reservation. Admission: $30-$79. Details: 800-946-4452, wingilariver.com. to happen. Things can change on a dime positively or negatively, so you just have to be open. Right now I just feel that even if I would go out and try to take something to radio, they’re not going to play it; they’re not going to play women. And the work – I mean it is really, really, really hard work – excruciating – to go out and do the radio tours and the free shows and all of that with no guarantee.
Right now we’re just really seeing this music that I – like I said, I’ve loved every album that I’ve ever made, but this one definitely had more of a feeling of freedom with it, that we didn’t even concern ourselves with wondering if it was commercial enough or what the radio guys would think of it. We just completely made the record for the fans.
Q: Are you pleased with it? A:
I am really proud of it and we really lucked out also because no one is recording anything but the bro-country stuff. There were so many great songs available. In the past when they were playing tons of women, I would be competing with other acts – both men and women – for some of these songs. You would find a song that you fell madly in love with and find that it’s on hold for somebody already. So we really did have so many great songs and I was able to co-write with some of the best writers. I’m just so proud.
Q: How has the touring experience been so far this year?
A:
The crowds have been awesome. It’s been weird this time around, seeing the fans and how they’re reacting to me. I do think it’s because the music is great; it sounds weird to say that. I do think people are having this crazy connection with ‘Words’ and the songs on it. I think it’s caused them to go deeper back into some of my older stuff. But I’m seeing some really, really mega-fans at these shows. They’re singing all the words and waiting for the big parts on the songs and they’re like high-fiving each other. It’s very special and I’m so grateful to God. It just feels like I felt that kind of energy on this tour more than ever. I’m not really sure what it is.
Q: Aside from making records and touring, you have filmed a web series “Simply Sara,” authored books, and built a lifestyle blog. You’re a natural in front of the camera. Is hosting a television show something that you would consider?
A:
I consider everything if I think it’s something that would be fun and something that, obviously, would be worth my time. I try to choose everything that I do by starting out with this question: Is it authentic to who you are? And are your fans going to buy it? Meaning, are they going to believe it or ask themselves, “Why is she doing that?” And that’s not to say that I haven’t made mistakes, because I have. And I’ve done things that I felt, “Ugh, I wish I hadn’t have done that – that was really cheesy.” But, yes, I would consider anything that came my way if I thought it just lined up with who I am and my personality. I could probably easily go into the studio and record a super-commercial country record and talk about the things that they’re talking about . ... But I just have a really hard time not being authentic. The Arizona Republic staff contributed to this article.