Reviews by Chris Riley
The band, TRAILER CHOIR, who is featured in this segment of "Music City" is in a category/ genre all of their own. I first heard the band via myspace about roughly a year & a half ago, and instantly became a fan.
A mixture of rock, pop, country, hip hop and even some make you smile comedy all thrown together to form their unique style best fitted as "Trailer Choir". The band truly is a new breed all of their own. For sure not your typical cookie cutting Nashville country music sounding band. Yet once you hear them, you will understand why they stood out from the wild pack of talent in Nashville, to become one of the nations newest rising stars holding the spot light.
I have actuallywitnessed the rise of this band from being locals to being all over CMT and the radio and touring the U.S playing on some of the nations biggest stages, growing them into national stars. Being local favorites, Trailer Choir was witnessing their crowd of fan following at their live performances grow larger and larger. Not only catching the attention of music lovers in the city, Trailer Choir caught the attention of the big daddy of today's country music, Toby Keith. After witnessing Trailer Choir himself, Toby too became an instant fan, bringing him to offer the band a deal with his label, ShowDog Records. From that point on it was all she wrote. Now having a hit single, "Off The Hillbilly Hook" blowing up radio stations and TV screens across the country with the rocking fun filled video that has been blowing up the charts on CMT.
Not only with the video single, Trailer Choir has been seen on several of CMT artist based shows. The most recent appearance is that of being on Toby's new hit movie, "Beer For My Horses". Along with all of the radio, video, t.v. play and even big hit movies the band has also kept their incredibly fun entertaining live shows going by joining the Big Dog Daddy Tours with Toby Keith but still they keep their roots with live shows in Nashville all the time. Over all, it has been a fast and steady rise filled with tons of "Off The Hillbilly Hook" moments for the Music City trio but it is yet still just the beginning. I can only imagine the height that this band will reach and I can't wait to see what is in store from them in the future.
INTERVIEW WITH TRAILER CHOIR
Chris/ DGT: Many fans including myself have witnessed the quick rise, since the date The Trailer Choir inked a deal w/ Show Dog Records, give us your insight towards how you feel with all that has been happening for the T.C. since that moment of signing?
Trailer Choir: we feel that we are very blessed to be where we are we think success is when hard work meets opportunity and we thank everyone for all the opportunities we have been granted.
Chris/ DGT: Give us an over view of working with Toby Keith and how you feel signing w/ Show Dog was the right label choice for The Trailer Choir?
Trailer Choir: to work with Toby is like being a rookie quarterback that gets to work with a hall of fame quarter back you learn so much just by watching what he does and the way he carries him self we love showdog they have the artist best interest in mind because it was created by an artist.
Chris/ DGT: What thoughts do you have every time you turn on CMT and see your video for "Off The Hillbilly Hook" climbing the charts? I mean that has to feel good, right?
Trailer Choir: well ever since i was a kid i have watched and loved cmt so it is an amazing feeling to be up there with all of our heroes and peers
Chris/ DGT: What's it like as a new artist to have your first single on the CMT movie, "Beer For My Horses"?
Trailer Choir: its awesome that just two years ago we were sitting in a room in Nashville writing this song not knowing where it would end up and now its our first single and the theme song for a great movie.
Chris/ DGT: I personally thought it was cool the first time when I was walking through Wal-Mart and seen the soundtrack for "Beer For My Horses" listed with the hit single from Trailer Choir "Off The Hillbilly Hook". With that I'm sure all of the fans, are curious when can we expect to see the full Trailer Choir album on the shelves?
Trailer Choir: well we have been in the studio working on that we have to do a few more songs and it will be ready we are not putting any filler songs on our album every song will be a song we believe will be a hit.
Chris/ DGT: Any insight as to what the fans can expect to see from the T..C. in the upcoming months of 2009? Give us some details on your future tours with Toby as well as to expect seeing you headlining your own tours?
Trailer Choir: we will be back out with Toby this year and are excited also we have been headlining a bunch of dates on our own we will release a new single and video soon.
Chris/ DGT: Throw some shout outs & Holla to the people who have helped you out along your rise from Nashville locals to National stars.........
Trailer Choir: wow there are so many well billy block has been huge in our success our families and all of our friends the lady who helped us the most is a woman named jen helli she gave us publishing deals which made it possible for us to tour and not work a regular job the number one person to thank is God he gave us talents and a great gift to make people smile.
Chris/ DGT: It's never fair but hey, you know I got to ask the question.... what's the name of your favorite on-line indie web magazine?
Trailer Choir: we love em all
Chris/ DGT: NICE..Good answer!
I want to say Thanks for being a part of DGT and taking the time to throw the fans some words. We appreciate it and look forward to hearing more from Trailer Choir in the future. Keep Rocking Trailer Choir Style!!! Be sure to check out The Trailer Choir on myspace and at the official Trailer Choir website Don't forget to call your local radio station and request the first Trailer Choir single "Off The Hillbilly Hook" As well as, check out their video on CMT...vote for it on CMT Power Picks
VISIT TRAILER CHOIR AT MYSPACE:
by CHRIS RILEY
"Ambyr Effect”, when the semi-precious stone, ambyr, is rubbed the right way, it becomes charged with electricity. That is the "effect" Ambyr has on her fans each time she takes the stage. Rock infused country, pushing the boundaries of the genre, Ambyr, is on the cutting edge of country music. “There is amazing talent in Nashville, but too often, what we hear on the airwaves all sounds the same. The trick is to remain true to myself as an artist and still create music that’s relevant”. With a style all her own, she is quickly becoming Nashville’s premier vocalist. She’s been featured on Show Time at the Apollo and opened for many of today’s top country superstars including Big and Rich, Phil Vasser, and Ronnie Milsap to name a few. In the spring of 2008, along with her husband Glenn and the artist Chance, she co-founded the Collective, a group of aspiring artists, songwriters, musicians and friends brought together by their love of music in passionate pursuit of their dreams. With a pure, sweet tone and endless range, her unique sound and style is winning fans of every age.
Ambyr: Ah! Thanks Chris!! I’ve been singing my entire life with my first public performance at the age of 5. I always participated in either a school chorus or church choir throughout my high school years but I’ve never had any formal voice lessons.
DGT/Chris: Have you always known that you were going to be a singer or was there a certain point and time in your life when you made the decision that you wanted to be a professional singer/ musician?
Ambyr: While I have always loved singing, I also enjoyed drawing. Early on I thought about pursuing a career in art, but after I auditioned for a musical in school and won the lead role, I was hooked and knew that performing was what I was meant to do. By age 15, I was already performing 1-2 nights a week at various clubs around town. Eventually I formed my own band and started co-writing songs for our first album.
DGT/Chris: Were you born and raised in Nashville and if so, do you think that being raised in music city played a big part in your career choice of being an artist?
Ambyr: No, I was born and raised in Jacksonville , Florida . My husband and I decided to move to Nashville in 2004. Though I was not born here, Nashville definitely influenced my sound and love of music and performing. Nashville is such an amazing place and we can’t imagine living anywhere else. We truly feel like we are home.
DGT/Chris: When did the band Amber Effect come into action?
Ambyr: We decided to form the band about 15 months ago in order to truly realize our vision and sound. We didn’t want to sound like everyone else who uses the same charted backing bands around town and that’s what seemed to start happening during our first few shows. We knew we needed to be true to ourselves, so we regrouped and really took the time to develop our sound and image with some amazing musicians who understood our vision and goals.
DGT/Chris: Now I've realized that you have changed the name from Amber Effect to Ambyr, Is this because you want to be considered more as a solo artist then as a group?
Ambyr: I still have my amazing band with me always. People would automatically refer to us as just Ambyr no matter what the name of the band was, since I had performed for about a year in Nashville as a solo artist. We knew we already had strong brand recognition with the name, so it just seemed like a natural progression.
DGT/Chris: The Ambyr style is an original blend of rock and country, is there any particular group or artist that you personally would compare yourself to or say that they have influenced your sound/ style to be what it is?
Ambyr: It’s amazing, and often an honor, to hear some of the comparisons that others have made about our sound. I really don’t personally think I sound like anyone in particular but I have a ton of influences. Nashville Icon, Billy Block referred to our music as “Gothic Country” and at first we weren’t sure what to think about it, but the more our music evolved, we now feel it truly describes us – a little dark & neo-classical, a little rock & country but with deep, meaningful storylines. Most people have described my voice as a cross between Martina McBride & Amy Lee of Evanescence, which I will take as a compliment any day.
DGT/Chris: You have been in the studio a lot here lately, Can your fans expect to be seeing an Ambyr album coming out here soon?
Ambyr: Well, we are extremely excited because we finally finished our very first album in June and we expect it to be released within the next 2 months. The album was produced by myself, husband Glenn Mcswain and Chance and I co-wrote many of the songs along with Glenn and others, including Big Vinny of Trailer Choir and Kristen McNamara. We started posting the new songs on our site www.myspace.com/ambyreffect and www.reverbnation.com/ambereffect for download until the album is pressed. We’ve had wonderful feedback already and can’t wait for everyone to hear it. The album is called One Heart and we decided to do something with it that not too many people seem to do anymore in a world of digital downloads – a concept album. The songs on this album tell a story by chronicling the journey of one heart - from young and flirty romance, to adult relationships as well as heartbreak and angst. There are songs that everyone can relate to, whether they have gone through it before or know someone who has. We hope that these songs touch people and evoke intense emotion.
DGT/Chris: What does the Ambyr tour roster look like for the summer? Do you have any special shows scheduled that you are really excited about it?
Ambyr: Well, you never know what shows or opportunities may come up during the next few months. We have several cool events in the works and everyone can check them out on our myspace page as we announce them. But for now we are performing every Wednesday night at Dan McGuinness in Nashville with Chance along with special guest artists and bands appearing every week. Big John from VH1’s Rock of Love hosts the show when he’s in town and it is always so much fun and you never know who will show up!
DGT/Chris: Give a quick overview to your fans as well as to the people just being introduced to you, What we can expect from Ambyr in the upcoming months of 2008?
Ambyr: Our fans have been great and so supportive. I think we are living in a very exciting time in music. Being an artist with such a unique blend of genres seemed like it would be difficult for people to know how to take us, but people are so diverse with their musical tastes now that we have acquired fans from everywhere. We have consistently charted on the MySpace charts - not only on the country chart, but also on the Gothic and Rock charts. We have as many Hip-Hop, Gothic and Rock fans as we do Country fans and we think that it’s pretty cool to have that much cross-over potential. Obviously, our album will be coming out, but we are already working on new music for our shows and album number two so fans will continue to hear new tunes coming out over the next several months. This year has been amazing and we can only continue to look forward to what’s in store!
DGT/Chris: Anyone you would like to thank or give a shout out to, that has helped you along the way of your career?
Ambyr: Of course!! First of all I have to thank our fans and everyone who has supported us with our shows. I have to thank my husband Glenn for his love and support. He’s not only been there through everything but none of this would have ever happened without him. He’s been my manager, songwriting partner, producer, photographer, stylist, chauffeur and best friend! I also have to thank Chance who has been as equally important to helping us get our album and show together. He has put in countless hours co-producing, engineering and mixing my vocals and has been a great friend to us both. He is so talented and has an amazing album coming out as well. Of course I have to thank Derrick McCullough, our drummer. He did an amazing job not only playing the drums, all percussion, and acoustic guitar; he also engineered and mixed all of the tracks. Teresa Jeffers played the most beautiful keys and piano on all of the songs. Ben Dmitruk did an awesome job playing lead guitar and Ben Enos rocked it on Bass. We felt it was important to have our own band on the tracks instead of the typical studio musicians and almost all of the tracks are one take which we are very proud of. Many thanks go out to the incredible studios we were honored to record in – Dark Horse, Fireside and TMR. Also, I have to thank all of our families who support us from a distance. I’m sure there are many, many more to thank, but that would take up way too much time!
DGT/Chris: I know this question is never fair but I'm going to throw it at you any ways.... So, What is the name of your favorite Online Indie Web Magazine?
Ambyr: Hmm…let me think….oh yea, it would have to be DGT!!
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