Modern day country music is a tough scene to break. There are the obvious barriers of the multi-billion dollar industy such as getting past the wall of producers and songwriters working on music row pumping out songs as if they were on the assembly line. But, there are also country music fans and listeners whose demands and requirements for “real country” are very specific. To garner respect as a new country act, you must stick to the roots without knocking off any country elders. You must be “authentic” but not cliche. You must push the envelope, but not too far.
Margo Price might know this more than anyone. She has spent the last decade in Nashville working odd jobs and playing as many gigs as she needed to get noticed. With the support of her husband and guitar player, Jeremy Ivey, they bet the farm (almost literally) by pawning off her wedding ring, selling some music gear and even liquidating the family car to make the record that was going to “make her.”
After several personal setbacks and the proverbial, “thanks for your interest, but…” letters, a career in music seemed to be very much in question. The dark times were often met with alcohol and uncertainty, but Margo Price refused to give up. Her determination and will eventually led to the ears of Jack White and his label, Third Man Records, who rave about her but prefer to let the music speak for itself.
Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, has been met with immediate acclaim and has drawn comparisions to Loretta Lynn and Elliott Smith, while still feeling like a modern record. Where her country colleague Kacey Musgraves laments she doesn’t want to be a part of the “good ‘ole boys club,” Margo Price seems more comfortable at a bar with the boys and that is perfectly ok.
Country music, and more importantly, country music FANS are in good hands. With Sturgill, Isbell, Stapleton, Musgraves and now Price, the club is growing.
Originally posted on Old Rookie
