Country Rocker Donica Knight Talks Jamey Johnson, Small Towns and Sweet Tea
Donica Knight is an acclaimed singer, songwriter and entertainer hailing from Montgomery, Alabama. Her unique blend of Southern rock, country, blues and old East Memphis music has led to a rigorous touring schedule in the Southeast, performing more than 350 dates, opening for both country and rock superstars, as diverse as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Styx, Hank Williams Jr., Kid Rock, Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Kenny Rogers, Scotty McCreery, Jamey Johnson, Little River Band, Skid Row, Kellie Pickler, Blackberry Smoke, Joe Nichols, REO Speedwagon, The Band Perry, Chris Young, 3 Doors Down and many others. A self-proclaimed tomboy and sports fan, Donica wrote and recorded “Great To Be,” which was regularly played at her beloved Auburn Tigers’ football games. She has also written and recorded duets with country legend, Ronnie Milsap. Donica’s music can be heard in several television and radio commercials, and on the award-winning soundtrack for the film Halloween Party. She also has two co-writes in the upcoming Tracy Lawrence film, Alabama Dirt. Donica has worked in the studio with Platinum selling and Grammy nominated producers, Mickey Jack Cones, Blake Mevis, and Rob Galbraith. Her most recent collaboration is with producer/guitarist and multi-platinum songwriter, Jim Huff (Joe Bonamassa, Holly Brook aka Skylar Grey and 2015 Grammy nominee Dave Yaden). Recorded in Los Angeles, the self-penned Can’t Buy a Southern Girl EP features the scorching lead single and video, “Love Ain’t a Prize.” The EP is scheduled for release in January, and Donica took some time out of her busy schedule to talk about recording, performing at Jamey Johnson’s annual golf event, and all things southern.
You recently performed for a Jamey Johnson Golf event. How did that come about, and tell us all about it. What were the highlights of the event?
The event was Jamey Johnsons 4th Annual celebrity golf tournament with a benefit concert afterwards for the Nikki Michell Foundation supporting early detection and prevention of Pancreatic Cancer. The event took place in Montgomery, Alabama which is my neck of the woods. Over the past few years Jamey and I have become friends and he has invited me to attend and perform for this event. I had the privilege of being around Nikki’s friends the week of her passing and hearing all their amazing stories of her and her life. She was an incredible woman and a role model to others. There were several highlights from the event but the highlight for me was performing my new single Love Ain’t A Prize for the first time in my Hometown. What a joy!
What’s the craziest thing that has happened while on the road, and where did it happen?
Hahaha oh goodness “the road”, Being the only chic in a band full of fellas has left me laughing in tears and has stretched my embarrassment boundaries. Each show/performance/road trip leaves a memory and a great story to share! The first story that pops into mind and makes me laugh every time happened several years ago when I was playing a wedding reception for a Miami based crowd. We were performing cover songs at that time, and had everyone in the crowd roaring on the dance floor! Well we had several folks hollering out requesting Fancy (much different than the usual FreeBird 😉 ! I thought, well hey, if they want Fancy lets give it to them! Being the Southern Girl that I am I was super pumped and the band was as well about the request so we started crackin out some Reba “FANCY” “I remember it all very well looking back it was the summer I turned 18”! Well I totally missed that there was a brand new tune called Fancy by Iggy hitting number 1 on the charts and that was the song they were looking for. Everyone was busting out laughing and I had tears on my face laughing so hard.
Critical praise, record sales, or industry awards…which one is most important to you and why?
All of those are nice and would be greatly appreciated but the most important to me is being able to do what I love long term. I have always dreamed of going to the Grammy’s and EARNING my spot! Life is Groovy ! J
Tell us about your first “big” single and video that you wrote for the Auburn Tigers football team?
Oh my goodness YES! The Great To Be song and video debuted at Auburn’s A Day game in 2013. Within a week it had over 140,000 youtube hits and caught fire! Before every home game at Jordan Hare Stadium the Auburn Tigers played my song. I believe it was a lucky charm because we won the National Championship that year….. On a side note I attended Auburn for two years before pursuing music. I wanted to combine both of my passions Music and Auburn Spirit which led to the song Great To Be.
You come from a small town in Alabama. What’s the best thing about being from a small town, and what’s the worst thing? How has the small town upbringing influenced your music?
The best part about being from a small town is the people and southern hospitality. Our town truly supports each other and makes you feel like kin. I have the best of both worlds though! I am from a small town located close to the city! Yeehaw! The worst/heartbreaking part is watching our small town become industrialized. A lot of the land where I built memories on like riding 4wheelers, picking out our family Christmas tree ect. is no more but fortunately you can still go for a drive through our city with no traffic and look at our beautiful countryside. My small town upbringing has heavily influenced my music. Proud to be a southern girl.
Tell me about your upcoming EP, “Can’t Buy a Southern Girl.” How did the title come about, what’s your favorite track, and what was the recording process like?
Can’t Buy a Southern Girl are lyrics from my new single Love Ain’t A Prize. I have always considered myself a “Southern Girl” and the EP title is the truth behind our southern mentality that self worth and a southern spirit is something you can’t put a price on. My favorite track changes once I start hearing or singing the next one, so my favorite song hmmm… ALL of them! Each song on this new record has something special about it. The recording process was a blast. It was my first time working in Los Angeles and with producer Jim Huff. We spent the first 3 months writing, exploring songs and what I was looking for on this record. We spent a lot of time doing pre production, fooling with final arrangements and musical parts before we hit the studio for real. We had fantastic creative players and musicians come in on the recordings who helped bring it all together and were very respectful of what I was looking for, they played for song not for themselves if you know what I mean. That is sometimes hard to find.
Up to this point, what is the highlight of your music career?
Hearing my song for the first time on the radio. My heart pounded and leaped for joy when The Highway XM picked up my tune Girls Go Out.
Tell us about the video for “Love Ain’t a Prize.” Where was it shot? Who is in it? Who directed? What is the concept, and How did the concept come about?
Sure! The video was shot in Los Angeles, California. On drums was David Cannava, guitar and banjo Jim Huff, Bass Darwin Johnson, and on background vocals was Jade Hendrix, Darwin and Jim. The video was directed and produced by Noel Maitland. What we were going for was a live performance along with a storyline. Noel nailed it and I am very proud of our video.
What is one career goal that you hope to accomplish in the next year?
Well’ my new single and video are doing really great and with the new EP coming out in 2016, I’m really excited for the world to hear what we did, ,were already talking with a few labels and publishers and I’m hoping this year bring a great summer long tour !
Outside of music, what does Donica Knight enjoy? And if I was to come to your house, what would you serve for dinner?
I love traveling, sports, outdoor activities, the lake, fires, dogs, family and friend time and of course snuggling up for a good movie with some buttery popcorn. Come on over for dinner and lets have some BBQ, salad, mac & cheese, wine and of course sweet tea.