Wild Fire are an exciting Texan Country-Pop duo consisting of sisters Kayla and Kelli. This Friday (April 19th) the teens will share their much anticipated new EP ‘Been There’ which has been produced by a dream line-up of producers who have worked with the likes Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, and Rachel Platten.
Here we chat exclusively to Wild Fire to discuss everything ‘Been There’ ahead of its release tomorrow:
Growing up what/who inspired your love of Country music?
Growing up we were always huge Taylor Swift fans. I can actually remember us choreographing dances to her songs and acting out skits where one of us would sing and the other would dance to the song. Later on we discovered Kacey Musgraves who we absolutely loved and still do to this day. There are many more artists that inspired us, but these are two of our main influences.
Which Country acts are you currently listening to?
We are currently listening to Maren Morris, Tenille Arts, Maddie and Tae, Kacey Musgraves, and many more.
Your new EP is all about equality, what do you feel needs to be changed within US radio in order to support female talent?
We feel inequality in mainstream country music is a huge issue that has been around for quite some time. However, it is finally getting some traction as evidenced during the Grammys this year. We are thankful for female artists such as Maren Morris, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and others. They are unapologetic in their defence of women artists and their lack of airplay and equality. We feel that more male artists need to speak up about this issue in order to effect change. As independent artists, we are doing our part. We were recently selected as ambassadors for Women in Country Music by the Global Country Music Association for 2019. In our new roles, we will do everything within our power to get the word out and make a difference.
For the record you’ve worked with a range of producers, what was it like working with such renowned names?
It was a fascinating experience working with producer Nash Overstreet of Hot Chelle Rae and songwriter/vocal producer, Shane Stevens. We had so much fun in the studio and were so fortunate to be included in the entire artistic process. It was an experience that helped us grow tremendously as artists. We learned many things from their years of experience that we would not have learned otherwise.
How would you describe the overall vibe of the EP?
The overall vibe we would say is fun and relatable. It is danceable and has many feel-good tracks. There is something for everyone. It appeals to many situations teens and young adults encounter in relationships. It also has a very sentimental song called “Hold On To That” that is a reflective song, looking back on treasured moments. We were intentional in our writing of “Hold On To That”. We wanted a song that people of all ages could relate to.
Is there one song in EP particular that you’re most excited about sharing?
One song we are thrilled to share is “My Over You Song”. It is a breakup song with a positive twist. This song is basically an anthem to those going through a breakup. It seeks to empower the individual to take the hurt and turn it into healing, with hope towards a brighter future. We feel it will help others to cope with this tough situation and come out of it better than they were before.
What are you hoping fans take away from the record?
We hope our supporters feel inspired and empowered. We want them to feel like they can accomplish incredible things if they simply believe in themselves. We want them to hear our message of equality and treating everyone with kindness. We also hope that they will hear a fresh new sound, unlike anything that is out there and will share the music with everyone they know so that the world can discover us.
What was the overall writing process for the EP like?
Over a year in the making, we wrote a tremendous number of songs and chose only six to be included on this EP. The writing process was incredible. We wrote with some high caliber songwriters and learned a great deal from them throughout the writing process. One thing we learned from Shane Stevens is that you don’t have to sit in a room with a guitar or a piano to write. You can actually find deeper inspiration by going out into nature and recording ideas and melodies into your phone as they come about.
Can we expect a tour from you soon?
We do not have current plans for a tour. However it is definitely on our list of things to do. We have a great booking agent now that is looking far beyond Houston for performance opportunities, so we may end up in your city soon.
Make sure you follow Wild Fire on Twitter @wildfiresingers to keep up to date with all their latest music and tour news!
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