“Worrying truly was just something to do, but it wasn’t moving me forward one bit, like a rocking chair.” – Alyssa Trahan
It’s hard to assume that there is not a person in the world who doesn’t wake up every day and worry about something. From stressing about the state of the world to being worried about something as small as whether or not they have milk at home; we’re a world of worriers but why? Like most of us, Alyssa Trahan also found herself focusing on all of “what ifs” in her life and realized that it was getting her nowhere.
Stuck in a constant state of back and forth with her thoughts, she penned her latest single, “Rocking Chair.” Which is what was on the table when we caught up with her, as was her move to Nashville, producing, and more.
Kendra: With so many musicians moving to Nashville every day, did you have a plan or the slightest idea how to stand out from the crowd once you got there or did you just pack your bags and figure you’d deal with that once you got settled?
Alyssa Trahan: My plan has always been to stay true to myself and not worry about what other people are doing. It’s so easy to compare yourself to others and their success, but if you try to sound like what’s already on the radio, you’ll end up being told you’re not different enough.
Kendra: Now you’re not only a working musician but have also made a name for yourself as a producer around town. Thinking about this from a producer’s standpoint, what’s one of the best mainstream records to come out in the past year or so?
Alyssa Trahan: I would say my favorite record so far this year has been GIRL by Maren Morris. Every song is so different and the writing is top-notch. I also love how edgy and out of the box it is. Another great one is Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves. That record is a masterpiece! What I love most about both of these records is how genuine the artists are to themselves. Neither Maren or Kacey are ones to play it safe. They aren’t afraid to push boundaries and be different, and I absolutely love that!
Kendra: Now let’s talk about “Rocking Chair.” I feel like everyone needs to hear this analogy and get behind it. This song sounds like the perfect pairing for the constant anxiety-ridden millennial. Did you pen this with your fell worriers in mind or was this from a personal standpoint, a reminder of sorts?
Alyssa Trahan: This song was written as sort of a therapy session. I wrote it by myself right after New Year’s, so I was in a “this is my year” mindset. I was thinking about the past year and realized how often I played it safe out of fear of what could go wrong or what people might say. I was thinking about all the opportunities I could be cheating myself out of and how the only thing holding me back at this point was myself. I decided then that I was done worrying about the “what ifs.”
Kendra: Going off your last single, “Petty,” what’s the pettiest thing someone can post online?
Alyssa Trahan: Any hateful or negative comment! It’s fine to not be the biggest fan of something you see online, but taking the time and energy to leave a nasty comment is just, well, petty!
Kendra: On top of making your music and producing for others, you also launched your own jewelry line last year? What’s that all about and does music play a part in it?
Alyssa Trahan: I did! We tried to incorporate music as much as we could, so we created our signature line which is all based on something I use every single day, a guitar pick! There are also a couple of pieces based on my tattoos. I wanted to keep it true to my style and I love simple, elegant pieces that can be worn by themselves or paired with others. So the line reflects that as well! It adds the perfect amount of shine whether I’m just hanging out in Nashville or performing on stage.
Kendra: In July you had a number of shows in Nashville at the George Jones Museum and come August you’re heading home to New York for a good deal of shows throughout the entire state. Do you ever get nervous leaving the comfort of Nashville after awhile?
Alyssa Trahan: It’s definitely a little nerve-wracking because people have a certain expectation of you when you’re from Nashville. But especially in my hometown, people have been so supportive that my nerves just melt away. When I do feel nervous, maybe for a big show or I’m in a place I’ve never played before, I just think about how I feel when I’m in the audience at a concert. People are there to have fun and forget about “real life” for a while.
Kendra: You have so many shows coming up, but any other plans? More new music?
Alyssa Trahan: I’m always working on new music, and I hope to release some new stuff very soon! I’m also producing music for some new artists in Nashville that I’m very excited about. Other than that, once tour season calms down a little, I’ll be gearing up and planning for 2020!
