EV Mae

FROM THE EARLY YEARS: OUTTA LINE

Success overnight is not a thing. Most of the artists that have made it big, worked for years and years to get there. You have to pay your dues to get where you want to be. - EV Mae

EV Mae is capturing hearts with her performances all around Nashville.

INDIANA TEEN MOVES FROM STAGE TO TV SCREEN IN TENNESSEE

By David C. Lannan 

It was practically predestined that EV Mae would choose to pursue a music career. Her grandfather Donnie Lasher played guitar and sang around the house. “He had stage fright so he never sang outside of his friends and family,” EV said. “My father Faron Lasher has played bass guitar and the acoustic guitar his entire life as well. Dad has been in a band in Indiana for over 35 years.”

EV’s music career began in Jasper, Indiana but a couple of years ago the family moved to Tennessee to be closer to opportunities to perform and to her producer, Curt Ryle of Clarksville Creative Sound. The move led to more opportunities to perform professionally and to a spot on a TV show on a new country network.

I exchanged emails with EV Mae to get an update on what she has been doing lately. Here’s our Q&A session.

Q&A WITH EV MAE

DL: How and when did you first start singing? Where?

EV: Dad played and sang around the house for me all the time and it was only a matter of time before I started joining in. I learned my first song when I was 3 years old. (Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show). When I was 9 years old I asked my dad if we could learn some Christmas songs and go to the local nursing homes and play music for them. From there I started performing more and more.

DL: Do you remember the first song you sang in public?

EV: The first song I sang in public was In Color by Jamey Johnson when I was 9 years old.

DL: You are one of the many talented artists with Clarksville Creative Sound. How did you get connected with CCS?

EV: Great story! My 8th grade Math teacher and neighbor followed what I was doing around my hometown. He graduated high school with a gentleman named Brent Adams who was in the music business as a podcaster and had a lot of other roles and contacts. My teacher, Brent Seibert, introduced us to Brent Adams who was familiar with CCS and introduced us to them. The rest is history!

DL: Have you written your own songs?

EV: Yes, the song that opened the door with CCS was “Wrong Side of Jesus”, to date this is still one of my favorite songs! I also recorded Outta Line, Me, and Country Kinda Girl.

DL: How has being part of CCS impacted your music career?

EV: They have helped to introduce me to many different avenues! Song writing is not something I liked to do before CCS. Since joining them and the huge talent they have in house I started song writing and now love it! They have also helped me develop my voice and sound further than I ever imagined. I’m also lucky enough to be a part of the American Country Network and on a show called Small Town Sound which is a reality show about our wonderful producer, Curt Ryle, along with some artists on the label he’s developing. The label has opened up so many doors for me already and I feel like we’ve only just started!

DL: What is your inspiration for your songs?

EV: All of the songs that I write mean something to me. They all come from personal experiences that had an impact on me and there’s no better way to work through emotions than to write about them. Writing has helped me process things that I have gone through in my personal life.

DL: What is your favorite or couple of favorite originals you have sung/written and what do they mean to you?

EV: My favorite original is Coyote. I wrote this song after a breakup as I was sitting around a campfire by myself and I was thinking about everything that happened from that past relationship. As I was lost in thought, I heard a pack of coyotes howling in the distance. It almost made me cry when I heard it. As soon as I gathered my emotions, I went to work. I started writing down all of my feelings. I then called Brayden Ryle to help me put everything together into a song. We sat down and wrote my favorite original song in about an hour.

DL: Do you or have you ever played any musical instruments? If you do, how do you feel it helps your musical journey?

EV: I started playing guitar when I was 15. I never rushed to learn since my dad always played for me but since I was starting to do more with music I decided it was probably time to learn. Since learning to play it has helped me with writing. I feel I can write a song more easily since I can put the music to the lyrics.

DL: Where is your favorite place to perform and why?

EV: My favorite place to perform is the Lincoln Amphitheater back home in Indiana. The first time I ever played there I had just turned 13 and it was a full crowd of 2000 people. That night is one that I will never forget. Every time I get to go back I count myself lucky because that stage is my favorite place.

DL: What life lessons has the music business taught you?

EV: Success overnight is not a thing. Most of the artists that have made it big, worked for years and years to get there. You have to pay your dues to get where you want to be.

DL: What is a typical day like for you?

EV: A typical day for me would be going to school, working on new music, preparing for live shows, playing with my dogs, or baking.

DL: Have you always wanted to be a singer/musician? If not, and you couldn’t be in the music business what career would you choose?

EV: In kindergarten we made a book saying what we wanted to be when we grew up. I drew myself with long red hair on a stage in front of a bunch of people. Music has been my dream since I can remember. I couldn’t imagine not singing.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

From EV Mae’s website bio: Drawing her musical inspiration from classics such as Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and George Jones; and current artists like Zach Top, Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney. EV Mae works to create her own unique sound that blends Americana and classic country.  Catch her co-starring in Small Town Sound which airs on The American Country Network.

HAVE A LISTEN

Pass Me on By

Always Lovin’ Me (featuring Brayden Ryle)

WHERE CAN YOU FIND EV MAE

Website: https://e-vmae.com/

and on social media plus major streaming platforms

BOOKING ARTIST

If you would like to book EV MAE for your fair, festival or other special event, visit her website and fill out the booking form.

In addition to writing this blog for KICR, David C. Lannan is a freelance writer with feature stories published across the country. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors for The Branson Opry. If you would like to be considered for a future blog, send your contact info and links to your music to dlannan@LFE.design.