While sitting in the studio in Nashville, which she now calls home, Rainey Qualley is finishing up the background vocals for her debut EP, to be released sometime in early June. Rainey called in to New England Country Music, and we had the pleasure of speaking with her about being the flagship artist for the new label Cingle Records, her new EP coming soon and the first single from that EP, her views on woman in country music today and her love for animals.
Rainey Qualley grew up in Asheville, N.C. at the base of the Appalachian Mountains, with an older brother, Justin, and a younger sister, Margaret, who Qualley is very close to, and is “her very best friend in the world.” Rainey was performing at a very young age; as a child, she was involved in the performing arts and started dancing when she was just two. As she got older, she performed in school plays and sang in the choir. She always knew that she wanted to be a singer and could not imagine doing anything else.
After she learned to play guitar, she was soon beginning to write her own music. Influenced from living in North Carolina and hearing the country sound, Qualley has always loved country music. She strays to the older country sound and there is no wonder that her musical influences are artists such Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. But she didn’t only listen to country, she also listened to such artists as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Temptations and Etta James. To Qualley, “every music is good music, whether it has steel guitar in it or not.” In fact, her musical tastes were so broad, her mom took her to her very first concert when she was just eight years old to see the group, Hanson, an American pop band from Tulsa, Oklahoma that was formed by three brothers.
Rainey had initially gone to Nashville for writing trips. The first week she was there she wrote ‘Turn Me On Like The Radio’ and ‘Kiss Me In The Morning,’ two of the songs that will be on her new EP. Knowing that she really wanted to entertain and seeing how talented she is, it is not surprising that Qualley was signed as the flagship artist to the new Cingle Records Label.
Recently being on a radio tour with John Ramey and Jeffrey East, two of the singer/songwriters she predominantly writes with, has been an experience. Although she does write with other artists, Ramey, East and Qualley, really clicked. Rainey has written or she has co-written all of the songs on her EP and is very excited to share them with all of us. The first single, ‘Turn Me On Like the Radio,’ was just released to radio last month and is a good reflection of her unique sound. Rainey describes the sound of the songs on the EP saying, “They have a throwback vibe to them. Some of them are bluesy-grassy sounding, some of them have a little bit more of a folky pop influence but obviously it’s all country.” Not wasting any time, Qualley also just recently released the video for ‘Turn Me on.’ It is a smoky, sexy, fun video that is reflective of Qualley’s personality.
You can purchase ‘Turn Me On Like the Radio’ here.
Qualley has played in front of some bigger, crowds but they were outdoor more casual concerts. Last weekend, Rainey was asked to open up for Willie Nelson at the Ryman Auditorium. Having such a supportive and close family, everyone is coming out to see the show. The show was already sold out when she got asked to open for him so there is no wonder that she is a bit apprehensive about it. “I’m really nervous. There is this added pressure about being in this amazing theater where there is so much history, especially in country music. And opening for Willie Nelson! When I think about it I start to panic a little bit.” Opening for Willie Nelson is the first artist Qualley will open for but he certainly won’t be her last. She will be opening for Lady Antebellum at Myrtle Beach this summer which she is “super psyched for.”
Being a new female country artist today can have its challenges in this era of bro-country, but Qualley is ready to accept the challenge. She believes it is time for women in country to come back and play a more important role in country music today. Ten years ago Shania Twain, Faith Hill and other women were so dominant in country music, and Qualley feels that what girls have to say is just as important as what guys have to say. She thinks it is great that there a lot of country ladies coming up in the industry and is feeling pretty confident as a musician and a singer that her music “is going to be different than what somebody else is making.”
Between her radio tour and preparing for the release of her EP, Rainey has little down time. But when she does, she likes to volunteer at animal shelters. At some point she would like to be involved in animal adoption and the conservation of wild life. It is evident of Qualley’s love of animals from her social media posts of her cats, Myrtle and Wizard. She rescued several litters of kittens and helped to find homes for them, but she became attached to the brother and sister and took them home and made them part of her family. Qualley says, “They are so cute they groom each other all the time.”
What are Rainey’s goals for the future? “I want to be the most popular country musician in the world,” she says with a laugh. “You have to want it. If you don’t want it it’s not going to happen.” For now Rainey Qualley will start touring and opening for other acts, but with her talent, positive attitude and determination, she will soon be the headliner of her own shows. Who knows? Maybe she will be the most popular musician in the world. She certainly has the power to be whatever she puts her mind to.
New England Country Music would like to thank Rainey Qualley for the opportunity to talk about her new label, her new EP, her thoughts on woman in country today and her love of animals.
You can follow Rainey on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on her official website.
Interview conducted by Lorraine Frigoletto, contributing writer for New England Country Music. You can follow me on Twitter.