Inside the Music Industry: Candid Conversations with Songwriters Adara Kay, Ross Fleming, and Derrick Hay

Experience the raw and real stories of Adara Kay and Ross Fleming, two seasoned songwriters who have graced the stage of the Old Baller Station Songwriter Festival. Their passion and determination will leave you captivated as they share the highs and lows of their musical journey- from their first nerve-wracking gigs to the refining fires of Middle Tennessee State University. They unravel how they thread their experiences and emotions into compelling lyrics and how their inspirations range from country legend Merle Haggard to pop star Taylor Swift and even Hannah Montana and Hellstorm. They shed light on the duality of their roles as singer-songwriters and the grit it takes to forge ahead in the ever-evolving music industry. Adara and Ross also reveal heartfelt moments that inspire them, like the sight of a young girl in the front row, belting out their songs with fervor.

Catch the second half of our episode as we engage with Derrick Hay, a multifaceted singer-songwriter and music producer. Derrick shares a sneak peek into his upcoming single that promises to be a hit. He also zooms in on the vital role of social media and streaming platforms in shaping a musician's career in this digital age. This conversation is a goldmine for anyone intrigued by the modern music scene, the intricate art of songwriting, and the unyielding determination necessary to carve out a niche in this industry. So, spark your inspiration, listen carefully and who knows? You might even find yourself humming along!

You have been listening to The 266 Express, the official podcast of Sanger, TX. IF you have comments or suggestions, please send them to dgreen@sangertexas.org

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:07

Welcome back to the 266 Express. I'm John Donnelly with Donna Green Donna who we got.

Speaker 3: 0:13

We have two of our songwriters that have performed today at the Old Baller Station Songwriter Festival. Would you like to introduce yourselves?

Speaker 2: 0:21

Hey y'all. My name's Adara Kay and I'm from Oklahoma, actually Woo-hoo.

Speaker 1: 0:26

There we go.

Speaker 4: 0:27

And I'm Ross Fleming from Alpine Texas.

Speaker 1: 0:31

All right, all right. Well, we're very glad to have you both here. Are you having a good day?

Speaker 2: 0:36

Oh yeah, it's been a blast Great.

Speaker 1: 0:38

Great, you have both already gets performed today.

Speaker 2: 0:40

Yes, I just got done.

Speaker 1: 0:43

Feel good, feel great, all right Meeting new people.

Speaker 2: 0:46

So many people, mm-hmm, great, so much heat.

Speaker 1: 0:49

Yes, so Donna does that, she was in charge of the electric bill.

Speaker 4: 0:53

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you did a good job, it's typically me.

Speaker 3: 0:58

So did you guys make it to the Ron Grimes seminar this morning?

Speaker 4: 1:01

I did.

Speaker 3: 1:02

Yes, good, did you like it? I loved it.

Speaker 4: 1:04

Yeah, yeah, it was real interesting.

Speaker 3: 1:06

He was very excited to come here. We were very blessed to have him. Oh, yeah, so why don't both of you just tell us how you got started and tell us a little bit about yourself?

Speaker 2: 1:15

Yeah, yeah, so I just turned 25 on Thursday, but I've been doing this since I was 17. I just started out singing in school and for my family and everything. And then their talent shows and I ended up getting my very first gig opening up for Sundance Head and then David Allen Coe, and then I just progressed from there. I went to music school. I graduated in 2021 from Middle Tennessee State University, so I had some amazing people Amy Macy, od Black met some amazing songwriters from Nashville area as professors and mentors and just moved back last July and been kicking it from there and going on up playing festivals and now this and it's been great, honestly.

Speaker 4: 2:01

And I'm not going to say how old I am, but I've been writing songs since I was about 15 and I've been playing for years and years and I just put out my first record, a few years ago.

Speaker 3: 2:17

Congratulations.

Speaker 1: 2:20

So yeah, I've been doing this for a long time. Well, tell us a little bit about how the craft works for you.

Speaker 4: 2:28

You know, I think it's experiential. I mean something's got to happen, and then I retrieve that information and then something comes up. But usually lyrics happen for me before I write music Usually yeah, similar.

Speaker 2: 2:53

I would say the same. It starts more as a poem, or even just a title of a song, and then the melody comes later.

Speaker 3: 2:59

So yeah, I'm about to say it. Yeah, it's interesting to hear all the people we've talked with where it starts. I mean, some start with this tune in their head and then they put words to it. So you just need to hear. So did the songwriting come before the singing for you guys, or was it you? Or were you like you grew up there, belted out and then you started singing?

Speaker 2: 3:20

I made songs up when I especially when I got in trouble at like two or three years old. I would just be like I got in trouble and sing the blues. I guess I was writing songs then, but weren't great. I didn't actually start being proud of my craft until I was 17, 18. But yeah, I'd say it's been amazing, but mostly singing first.

Speaker 4: 3:43

I don't, I don't know. I don't know the answer to that. It just happens. It just happens and you go with it. That's what I do. It's like the difference between what, like Guy Clark, he wrote every day and then Towns Van Zandt. It just happened and I think I lay in the more.

Speaker 1: 4:06

Towns Van Zandt way of doing it.

Speaker 3: 4:09

Got it.

Speaker 1: 4:10

Well, you mentioned some artists. You know the so influences like. I'm an Oklahoma guy, so you know we listened to a lot of Red Dirt. Oh yeah, so what are some of your influences?

Speaker 2: 4:22

I mean honestly, growing up I listened to everything, and I mean everything, like from Merle to like Journey, but then, growing up, I also listened to, of course, Hannah Montana, of course, just well, just, name my age already, because I already did. Taylor Swift for sure influenced my writing styles, but then it started growing more into Marina Lambert, Gretchen Wilson and then recently it's been starting doing more of like Hellstorm and really all those amazing talented women artists, along with the guys Coetzal, Dylan Wheeler, some of the Red Dirt grunge Western people as well.

Speaker 4: 4:58

Well. I mentioned Guy Cart and Townsend's Ant, but also like James McMurtry, Paul Westerberg from the Replacements. So that's kind of like the punk side of my stuff, rock and roll kind of stuff, Dylan, you know the big guys.

Speaker 1: 5:19

Yeah, yeah, we probably. I won't tell how old I am, but yeah, we're probably there. You know probably a lot of the same artists, so that's fantastic. So tell us a little bit about this journey, because I mean, there now we obviously we have two people you know, of different ages, but we know that this the singer-songwriter, this is. You got to have some persistence there, you know. It's not an easy thing. What keeps you guys moving forward? Yeah, Well.

Speaker 4: 5:54

I like to perform and I like for people to hear my songs and I like telling stories, so and I get to do that all the time.

Speaker 2: 6:06

That's awesome.

Speaker 4: 6:07

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 6:07

That's awesome, yeah, Now, I mean, I love to perform as well and definitely sing my own songs and other people's songs that have influenced me on this journey. But also having that little girl in front row looking up at me singing my songs or like I was you. I was you once and then you're just you keep pushing me, and so I definitely think that's the inspiration for myself is just seeing myself as another little girl watching up at me. I love that. I love that.

Speaker 3: 6:39

I mean, that's kind of the way it happens, I guess, for everybody. Forever your music kind of starts when you're a little girl, wherever it's at, and whatever your influences are, which are usually started out by whatever influences your parents, right, right. But we've noticed a lot of people your age who?

Speaker 3: 6:56

are influenced by people that are more in our age. So and that comes from your parents typically, when you see it Absolutely yeah, grandparents, parents, yeah, yeah, because our music was the only good music. That's what we always thought, that's what we always tell each other, right? So 80s, yeah.

Speaker 2: 7:12

I mean you can still they're relevant.

Speaker 3: 7:14

Yeah, the 80s will always be awesome, the 80s, and I'm like wait a minute. So what about you? Were you influenced by your parents?

Speaker 4: 7:23

Not at all. No, okay, you were a rebellion, huh Everything against them.

Speaker 4: 7:28

Maybe it wasn't even that my parents didn't listen to music. Oh, I mean, I remember, like a Chris Christofferson record, maybe when I was a kid, but it was a group of friends and we all exchanged music and, like I was 14 or whatever, I couldn't wait to go to the record store for Tuesdays when they used to release records and the guy at the store always had something he goes here's this, you're going to like this. I had no idea it was Right. So I'd get it and listen to it.

Speaker 1: 8:07

Well, how'd you hear about the Songwriters Festival? My mom.

Speaker 2: 8:12

she found it, I think, on Facebook, and she was like you should try this. And I was like okay, so I just submitted and here we are. There you are.

Speaker 4: 8:18

We made it. I think same story here. Yeah, your mom.

Speaker 3: 8:21

My mom, my mom Wow Small world.

Speaker 2: 8:24

Very small yeah.

Speaker 3: 8:29

Well, we thank you guys so much for being here. We really appreciate the time that you took to come here and help make this festival as very big success. Thank, you. We hope to see you again in the future, we hope to continue to do this and we hope it's going to get bigger and bigger.

Speaker 2: 8:42

Oh yeah, I had a blast. I don't know about you.

Speaker 4: 8:44

I'm having a blast.

Speaker 3: 8:45

Yeah, awesome, awesome. Well, we hope you stick around and meet some more people and hear some more music. So thank you guys, so much Thank you Now?

Speaker 1: 8:53

if anybody is looking for you, where would they find you?

Speaker 2: 8:57

You can find me on all socials Instagram, facebook, twitter, x I guess is what it is now and I'm also going to be on a blog, especially at Derrick Hay Music, on all stream platforms as well. A new single coming out Friday Awesome.

Speaker 4: 9:13

Yeah, Spotify, Apple, all of that stuff I don't really do the other stuff.

Speaker 2: 9:19

I'll help you, okay, great, Well, thank you both again.

Speaker 1: 9:23

We appreciate you coming out. We hope you enjoy the rest of your night All right, thank you. Bye.