Heather Richards – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

Heather Richards – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – for Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Every artist’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

HR: The first song I ever recorded was a song I wrote called “Apple Tree”. I was invited to Nashville to have my song produced by Bud Reneau who wrote “Chains” for Patty Loveless and soul singer Dobie Gray who sang “Drift Away”.  I ended up recording my “Apple Tree” song on Side A. It was my first single which was a Vinyl 45 RPM record. I started really young so I guess it’s considered Vintage now! “Apple Tree” is a traditional country song that made it to number 23 on the Billboard and Independent charts at the time. Bud Reneau and Dobie Gray wrote the song “It’s Not Like Me” which was on side B. I don’t think my latest songs are much different in the sense I’ve always been steady in writing with the same kind of style and production.

RRX: Would you rather have one of your songs blow up and make you a one-hit wonder and household name, or would you rather have all your songs be solidly received, but no chart-climbers? (You have to pick one or the other here.)

HR: I would rather have my songs be solidly received, but no chart-climbers instead of one blowing up as a one-hit wonder. Maybe I feel that way because as an artist I want all my songs to be received because I care about them all. But, It’s hard getting original music accepted sometimes because People love the stuff they already know. I’m grateful when I write songs that people accept and receive!

RRX: Tell me about your most recent song, album, or video (you pick.) Tell me a story about what went into making it. Not a process, but a cool story that took place within the process.

HR: I’m working on a single remake of one of my songs called “Wings Of A Sparrow” that was on one of my albums called “Sweet As A Morning Ride” back in 2011. I decided it needed some new love and attention in the production. The song is special to me because I wrote it for my son. During the time I wrote this song, I was helping to tear apart and renovate the house I was living in. While renovating to save money, we lived in a tent for a month with the rain dripping everywhere, it was cold and I found out I was going to have a baby on top of it! But, in the midst of it all, I wrote this song inspired by him even though he wasn’t born yet. I don’t sing some of my older material as much anymore, but this one particular song I find myself singing all the time.

My love wherever you are
just know I’d love you from afar
I’d give you every flower that I grow
I’d sing you every song I know my Love

RRX: We let it out differently when we play music. The happy, sad, good and bad; it can all be put out musically. Overall, do you feel better when you sing about the better times, or the worse times? Is there a difference you can describe?

HR: I started out singing a lot of traditional country songs and most of those songs were about sadness and heartbreak, but now I feel better singing about the better times for sure. I’ve always done a 50/50 split in writing both sad and happy songs, but singing about something positive always makes me feel like I’m uplifting myself and someone else. Who doesn’t like the feeling of uplifting others!! Sometimes when I’m sad I will write a happy song, and sometimes when I’m happy I will write a sad song. There is no rhyme or reason sometimes as to what comes out at the time. When I sing cover songs, I tend to sing more positive songs. I spent a huge chunk of my earlier life going through a lot of trauma so I tend to sing the more uplifting songs because I’m in a better place than I used to be so they are easier to connect with. I had my share of singing the sad songs for sure and I do still do them, it just doesn’t monopolize my setlist.

RRX: Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Or so they say. Whether you’re off the wagon, on it, or never been, there’s something you got a thirst for. What are some of your basically harmless vices?

HR: I have a thirst for playing chess!! I’m still average at it, but I can’t stop playing. It’s become an addiction to play chess every day whether it be a couple moves until the next day or a full game. I even get friends that know to play against me to join in on my fixation!! I’m not competitive so I don’t care if I win or lose at it which is my personality anyways, but I have to play every day!! I’m not sure why, but it relieves stress!!

RRX: Artists, musicians, we immortalize. We set it in stone. Is there anyone who has passed that you feel you have immortalized in your work? If so, can you tell us a little about them?

HR: My grandmother Josephine. She was an amazing poet and was known for her perfect rhythm and rhyme. It must have been in the blood because my great grandmother was also a great writer. The thing I admired most about my grandmother was the depth in her poetry.

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