All right, welcome to episode eleven of the Bobby Cast. Thank you very much. In uh the studio today is Natalie Stovall, singer, fiddle player, dancer. You did have to dance as a kid when you were doing operaing Land, you were a dancer. The weird thing about Natalie is um and by the way, at Natalie Stovall on Twitter is would you say that you were a prodigy if you were looking at yourself from someone else's eyes? Because I see prodigy because I know how young you started.
I feel like prodigy is like I don't know, just beyond the way, beyond anything ever. Okay, well then let's just go back. You started playing the fiddle. Win four. Okay, a four year old even care about playing the fiddle. It's weird, but that's a really good time to start, because then it's just part of your life to start for too. It's a wonderful fun to start. But no four year old really wants to pick up a fiddle. So I just want to be able to pay attention
to me. Just four. How do you get a fiddle into your hands? My grandmother read an article in the newspaper and we had a violent teacher coming to Columbia, Tennessee, and she thought it'd be a good idea if I played. So she called mama, and Mama asked me if I wanted to play, and I said, yeah, four years old, you committed to playing the violin. Was it the violin? I was it the fiddle. It was the violin. I started with classical music. So that's even crazier that you
cared about classical music before. Okay, so you picked it up. And when did you start to be where people will be like, wow, this kid's kind of good. How old were you then? I think I started fiddle competitions when I was seven or eight. I don't remember my first competition, but I started out in like the junior competitions and stuff, probably eight, because I guess eight is when I started playing fiddle music and taking like double lessons classical and fiddle,
and so then I just started. I don't know, i'd play for anyone that would listen, though, Yeah, that's that's that's this case of a lot of musicians. But you're seven, eight years old playing the fiddle. Were you the best when you were seven? No? No, I definitely wasn't, especially like in the classical world. I mean, I was not the best. There were kids in in my group that were just, you know, like they could play anything. When did you flip over and start to do the fiddle
or kind of more of the countryside of things. As soon as so my teacher brought in a fiddle team first to play because she was trying to introduce this to different things, and that's when my whole world opened up. I mean that's when I was like, oh, oh, oh, I want to do this because I used to get in trouble for smiling while I was playing my concertos on stage. You're not to know because they want you to take it really seriously, but I was performing. It
was just what I wanted to do. I don't know, I didn't really think about it, and so um so when a fiddle tune came in, that's when I was like, oh, I like played two strings at once and like, smile all I want. And so then Mama went and found a fiddle teacher for me, and so then I started playing fiddle music. So if you're four and you have this need to perform, was there a lack of love? Why would you want to perform at four years old? Why did you Why did you need the love from
the crowd four? Like I know that's why I started being in front of you. No, there wasn't not for me. I mean, you know, I'm I'm I'm a weirdo that is a songwriter and creator and musician that had a very loving upbringing. And it's not a family and still do. Yeah, and all my siblings are supportive. And you know, I've got three older siblings that are either ten years or more older. Um, I don't know, I think because also I started acting classes when I was three and started
doing commercials and stuff. When I was said, parents, pro are you into this? Like not at all? So they're trying. They saw like a little golden child. So at three you started taking I don't even have a memory at three years old. Can I take this off it back? Yeah, you're sure. The microphone, y'all. Microphone. You're the first guest to ever take the microphone off because really, Yeah, I feel like I saw a picture with somebody. Yeah, I don't know. I feel like I'm being too proper sitting
up at the front of the chair. I'm gonna have a pants off. So you're taking acting lessons at three. You're playing the fiddle at four, Um, you know that's what you want to do. In school? Were you the music kid? Yes? Yeah, I was always the weirdo that you know. I always did the performing thing. You went to college. You went to a music school in Boston, right, Yeah? Berkeley? Berkeley not the world? Did you get in there? I first heard about Berkeley through my voice teacher in Nashville.
But Berkeley was like super prestigious and like where we come from? Are you and I? That's not even real? Yeah, Like Berkeley is not real. It's like it's something you see on TV where kids go there, rich and super. That's why I'm saying, like, as soon as I found out that it existed, though, there was nothing that was going to stop me from going to school there. Um. I started working on my scholarship audition pretty much in my sophomore year of high school. And you know I
didn't audition until senior year. I mean, you don't audition to get in until then. Audition you play in front of someone. Yeah, you you audition on your principal instruments, and mine was voice. That's what I wanted to do. You got it on voice, not fiddle, yeah, I that's that's kind of a funny story. They destroyed my confidence on fiddle at Berkeley. I stopped playing for a while because they told to stop um. But I had never had technical vocal training. My vocal teacher in Nashville I
had started at eleven. We'd worked more on repertoire and we worked a little on technique, but that wasn't really his forte. So then I went to college and I knew if I wanted to do this for real, I needed to, you know, really focus on it and do vocal performance. So I started working on my scholarship audition and I worked. I picked this four and a half minute Ella Fitzgerald's got solo for my jazz piece, and learned every note. Went to Berkeley on a vocal scholarship.
Did that's crazy? It is crazy. I didn't think of myself as a singer. I was always like the performer that could sing, you know, were you heads and shoulders when you got there? A better singer than most of the people there. No, No, I had I had a good ear. I've always gotten by on my ear. You know, I'm not one of those site readers that you can just put a sheet of paper in front of me. But if I can hear it at least once ahead
of time, I'm pretty good. And so there are people there that can just read anything you put in front of them, and there were, but I was one of the only country singers, so that was interesting. That helped make me different. And I thought I wanted to, you know, get away from country when I went to Berkeley for a minute, because I had always been the girl that played the fiddle, that was always given the country music song.
I no idea you went on a voice scholarship. And I've told Natalie even just like driving around, like she's one of the better singers in Nashville, Like there's a one percent group that that we put certain people in and Natalie sobas one of the better singers in all of the city. And I thought you were the fiddle place. So you go to Berkeley with the fiddle and they say you're just not good. Yeah. I kept auditioning for
this one show. It was their big singer showcase, and I didn't get in the first couple of times that I auditioned for it. But I would always I would audition and play fiddle too, and they would always encourage you to come in and watch your tape with one of the judges and he would give you advice. So I went in because I wanted to get into this sucker, and he was like, would you please just put the fiddle down. It's what's hurting you, Like, just stop playing
the fiddle and just sing. And the next time I auditioned just on vocals, and I I made the show every semester after that. And now it's weird because you're the girl that plays the fiddle like a monster. That's what you're known for. I mean, you're the baddest fiddle player around. It's crazy, it will and it it took me a while. It really destroyed my confidence on fiddle. I mean I thought I was horrible, and I thought I shouldn't play anymore, and so I kind of put
it down for a little. I mean I always still kind of played, but then when I started putting a band together at school, um, you know, Devil and Down to Georgia was always one of our big show stopping moments. And so then there were a few songs I'd play on but it didn't really play much. I just sang. So going back, you were on Oprah. Yeah, I was on Oprah. That was that was weird. Um. I I had won the Silliest Kid in America contest through No
it was in Okay. So when I was in Kids Club, the adult Kid Club is Oprey Land and you were a performer. Yes, I was in that show for four years, from like ages ten of fourteen. So, um, when I was in Kids Club, the adult in the show, she was hosting Nashville Silliest Kid competition and she called me and said, Natalie, you gotta come to your baby cry because I had learned how to do this ventriloquist kind of baby cry thing I can. It's not gonna work over my mouth is not and it drinks a bottle
of Bourbs. There's a whole act. So I won. I won the Nashville Silliest Kid Competition, which wasn't difficult because I was up against like your mom was so fat jokes, you know. It was like at the East Nashville y and it was just it was kind of funny. And then they sent my tape into national judges. I won the national competen ash and I got like a free trip to Disney World for my whole family because I did a baby cry, and one of the prizes was supposed to be to be on either j Letto or
David Letterman, and I was like freaking out. But the thing was I was at the end of the age group. I was like fourteen, and they sent my tape to David Letterman. They were like, um, no, we don't want her on the show, because I think they were expecting like a little kid, like a little funny kid. And now I'm like a fourteen year old kid that's like, hey, I can crawl like a baby. But then I didn't know this was happening, but tricks the sponsors of the competition.
They sent in my tape to Oprah because she was doing a show on her funniest viewers, like silly viewers and stuff. So um, the producers of Oprah called one day and I was like a freshman in high school by the time this happened, and said, do you want to come be on the show? We'd love for you to do something else though, too, And so that's when I played. I played the fiddle between my knees. So you want here's Natalie Stoball at Oprah. Here, Oh that's
is Oprey never mind. Couldn't we looked hard for hard? You can just call my parents. I'm sure they have want o. And you did the baby cry and you played the fiddle between your knees. Yeah yeah. And so did you meet Oprah? Was cool? It was awesome? Yeah yeah. When I walked out and she said, so what are
you going to do? When she introduced me and stuff, and I told her I was going to play the violin between moneies and she was like, of course you are Natalie as the video that I saw a couple of weeks ago where it was the first time you played the Grand ol Opry and you were how old? Twelve? Okay? And so this is a Natalie at the Grand ol Opry. She's only twelve years old. So I want you to make her welcome here tonight, ladies and gentlemen. Natalie Stowall
and I was him. She's in a cowgirl outfit, full cowgirl and that's not guess and the games and you're still blowing it and down tonight the guy right, and then days the bigger says like, I'm in an she's twelve playing the Opery, So how do you get that? Was so cool? People like, wait, the whole life to
play the Opery. It was yeah, yeah, they do, and it was It was crazy because when I was in the kids Club show out at the theme park, they we did a video that they wanted to sell at the shows and one of the songs was called Think Big and it was all talking about like you can be anything you want to be when you grow up. And they asked all of the kids in the song, what do you want to be when you grow up? And said they would ask me and I would say, I want to be on the Grand Ole Opry. And
then they just they made it happen. The first time you were supposed to be on there, you got bombed, right, yeah, so you go your and Natalie's gonna go and play the Opery fwelve years old and all of a sudden, Garth shows up. Well it was crazy because this that's such a crazy time in my life because I had just been invited to go audition for Pilot Season in Los Angeles. So my mom and I were getting ready to just go live in l A for a few months, and we kept postponing our leave date for the Opery.
But then they kept postponing on me. They did twice and so finally the operaly and said, hey, just go on and we'll just fly you back whenever the date comes through. So I was actually living in l A at the time, and then they flew me back and I bought the most country outfit I've ever worn in l A, like I wouldn't got that outfit in l A, and then wore it on the opry that and I'd already had the hat of course, but yeah, and then
a fule back to l A and finished out. Thank goodness, I never booked anything out there, because that's really where I've was like, Okay, I don't want to be an actress. I want to be on stage all the time. You were so composed at twelve. You I played the Outbreak for the first time at thirty five, and I was like, this is crazy, Like I don't even know what I'm
doing here. I'm looking around, my eyeballs are beady, and but for you at twelve, you were just like it was just you, just that they're smiling, having a good time. I didn't enjoy it when I did it, really because I don't enjoy awesome things while they're happening, because I think I'm gonna screw them up. Yeah. I enjoyed things that go well, and looking at pictures afterwards, I don't enjoy them while they're happening. You were enjoying enjoying this.
I was enjoying every second. And I told myself before I went out there, like, enjoy this. This is not something that anyone gets to do. You sang for the president. I did, which President George W. Bush. So I have Natalie singing for the president here. God, it is my great pleasure to welcome tonight from Nashville, Tennessee. Ms. Natalie Stowball. God bless um America. Then love stand beside, and God through the nine went the light from a book. Now I know who you are, and I've figured it out
as we're talking. You're the forest gulp of country music. She's you're the first. You have the odd off stories that all just kind of come back together, you know, like it's like Forrest Gump. I mean, I was not composed for that one. They asked you to come sing for President Bush. Yes, and so did someone just call
you and say, hey, we've heard you sing. I got an email from my agent At the time, I was out touring colleges, and I was on one of my very first big college shows and I remember getting in the back of the suburban and it was, you know, one or two in the morning, and this was back when I had my little Trio Palm Pilot or whatever. And I see this email coming that says, hey, um, what was the gray headed dude from American idol Taylor Hicks. Taylor Hicks just dropped out of singing for the president.
It's all pro bono. Does anybody want this? And I was like, does anybody want this? And the reason they were asking was because you had to pay your own way. You weren't going to get paid to do it or anything. And I was going, who wouldn't do this? And I immediately was like, please, please, please, I'll do anything to do this. And they asked for a recording of me singing the national anthem. It was supposed to be the anthem um, so I sent that in and they called
and asked me to come do it. So you're singing in front of the president, you're able to see him while you're singing. I got to meet him right before. He was on my right and the first lady was on my left and in front of me, it was you know, it was the correspondent stenter, so it's all movie stars and you know, famous people. And in front of me Larry King and Larry David were sitting at a table right next to each other, right in the front row. And I was like, this is crazy, Like
where am I right? Like a girl from smalltown Tennessee is singing pent in the United States And regardless of who the president is, that's still the franking president of the United States. Yes, I know it was. It was
one of the most incredible honors of my life. I mean it was so surreal, nervous, yes, shaking, And they told me they were, you know, the guy Steve Scully who was introducing me there, he was gonna put the little step stool up because even with my heels on, I was too short to reach the mic and so um, but they forgot to do that. So I had to get there like in my ball gown and pull the little steps stool out and then stand up on it myself.
And I think that was good. It kind of called me down for a second, yeah, but I was so nervous. How did you feel about the performance once it was over? Did you feel like you did pretty good. I did, okay. It's hard for me to listen to that, though, I don't I don't like that one. Why don't you like that? Because I can hear myself. I can hear the nerves, I can hear a little pitch issues. I can tell that I was not on my game. Do you have a picture do you look at and go, okay, this
is awesome? Yes, I have one? Backstage? So right before we went out, um, they had just introduced me to President Bush and the first Lady, and then they cleared the room of everyone except for me, the two of them in secret service and a photographer. And as we're standing there, I'm talking to him and he I think I think. The first lady said, George is Natalie. She's gonna sing the anthem, and he goes, no, she's not.
She's gonna sing America is beautiful. And then I'm standing there thinking like, oh no, do you correct the president? And the first lady like what do you do? And I kind of put my hand on my my heart and was like, God, bless America. And then we all started laughing. And I wouldn't have remembered this, but they snapped a picture right when we're all laughing at the same time, and apparently I put my hand down on
his arm, like I'm that's just how I am. I'm real kind of I don't know, I'm I'm touchy with people, you know. And I got my hand on the President's arm and the first ladies kind of looking at me, but we're all laughing, and it's just one of my favorite piers. So cool. You got to meet the president of the United States of America. And when I was done,
this is crazy. When I was done, when I got down off of the stage, as I was passing by, President Bush put his left hand to his side but kind of underneath like a low five, like when you give someone a low five. And that was another moment where I'm like, yeah, I give them president on five. What do I do right now? I just kinda put my hand in his like like a soft five. I guess, really awkward, and he goes he nailed it, and I was like, for like the four's music like before, they're
blowing me away right now. So it's so funny. You started acting at three fiddle. At four You're in the kids club at opry landa opus Landa not exist anymore because it wasn't It was a theme park. And you, as a kid, I would assume we're making pretty good money performing. Yeah. Yeah, for I'm making any money performing for me, Like and I I put every single penny
away in the bank. Um. And the only way that I got to do that Los Angeles trip and go live out there for a couple of months was that I paid for the whole thing for me and Mama and then, um, the rest of it went to college. So you go to l A to be an actress, and what you did just audition for a bunch of roles and yeah, I auditioned. I had about I don't know, twelve or thirteen auditions, which wasn't a ton for the time. My acting coach's son was my age. He was my boyfriend,
and uh, he had like twenty six auditions. Dudes at the time, twelve year old kids at the time had a lot more opportunities. And that it just fluctuates, just like crazy because women have all the opportunities. Oh I know now they all especially catch love in the world. Yeah, so you go out and I was I guess you didn't land You know, they worked really hard um to help me get rid of my accent, which I am glad did not work on me. And I started listening to tapes and I started trying to but they just
stuff I did that I want to speak with. Yeah, I went for years. See that's the thing. I would have to go for years, and you still don't lose it because you're maybe if you're in l A. It's different for me. I never left the South. Yeah, I meaning I lived in Arkansas and as I'm learning speech path and you know your your eyes guy, yeah, I say I now, but when you're in Arkansas, need you know that's how that's how I would talk, or you know,
you go fishing, you wanna go fishing? You know there were different things that you would learn by doing that. So they're trying to remove your accent. I would think they would try to put you into roles where your accent was kind of a character, you would think. So I guess there weren't really any auditions because I mean I was only out there for a couple of months. You got nothing, were you destroyed? H I got to
audition for Roseanne for Roseanne show DJ's first girlfriend. But and in some girl that was on a lot of shows, like you knew who she was, got the part they see at the video store. I've seen every episode of Roseanne. Know he went he was taking her to a dance. It was like his middle school dancer could be it could have been me, Oh, I've got one for you. I audition. I got a call back to be a little Jinny in Forrest Gump. Really you look like a
little Jenny. So Forrest Gump did for Little Jenny. They came to Nashville. Yeah, yeah, and I don't remember the audition, Like I don't remember what we did. I don't know if I said any of that. But um, but yeah, and they wouldn't even let you in that, like they would look at each kid. Because my best friend and I and she was also at opry Land. We both auditioned for it and she actually made it, I think
to a third callback, like she made it even further. Um. But yeah, you had to have blonde hair and blue eyes, and you know, they would kind of look at you before you go in, and then you'd go in and do your lines or talk to him or whatever. I don't know. So you go in to get the part of Jenny, obviously, but she didn't know what for. You just knew it was a Tom Hanks movie. You know what it was yet And then when I saw the movie, I was like, dang it, I could have been Little Jenny. Yeah,
it's I Can Fly Far, Far Away. Um. So okay, So so this is happening. You're you're trying everything. Yeah, young're you got through a high school normal, like twelfth grade. You graduate school, so then you go to Berkeley. You graduate from Berkeley. Yes, so you finished school there too, Yeah, okay, and then you're at a crossroads. Do you go out to Nashville? Do you? Oh? I knew I was coming straight back here, straight back and start. While I was
at Berkeley. UM, my sophomore year, I I met a guy named James, and he was now my husband and drummer, but he was I had a crush on his roommate, so I would always like try to hang out and fill in James's room. And I went and I met this dude named James, and I was like, hey, well, I'm a country singer and he was like I'm a country drummer and I was like no, wall, oh my gosh. And he still swears to this day. Did not say that, but I swear he said he was a country drummer.
But we were talking one day and he was like, hey, why are you singing for all these other people? Because I was singing backgrounds and playing fiddle for a lot of people. I was like, why don't you have your own band? And I was like, I don't know, I don't have my own band. So we started a band, and you know, I had auditions and brought in all these other players. And then I called my parents and
was like, hey, and this is weird. What do you think about a band moving into the house during the summer? And in my parents how in Columbia, Tennessee, And I'll just book shows for us all summer. They're like, okay, I cannot believe. They said, okay to that. How many people have been to your parents house? The first summer it was four guys, and the second summer was five guys plus you guys plus me. So they were told of eight people living in your house at one point.
Us cook and stuff. Yeah, Mama would cook all the time, and and you know we need to like not to expect that. But and I just like it's crazy. I can't believe they let us do that. Your band is Natalie stove All on the Drive. I always I think it's like the other people didn't care, like how comments it's not you know, the Drive or a bunch of any name, but it was you then a side band. Oh well, at first I really wanted it to just
be stove All. But there was another band in Atlanta that is a bunch of duds that play on the weekends and stuff, and their name is Stoveall. And now with the way the world works, um, it's like you, because of Facebook, you're established worldwide if you have a name, you know, I mean, you know, before Facebook and stuff, was there an issue like hey, why do we have me to drive and you get your own name as
the head of the band. No, because with that, because also when it was at Berkeley, it was Natalie Stovell on Green Line South. It was a different name. Um, but for years we toured under just Natalie stove All. But after about well, i mean this November, William Miguel's tenth year on the road with me and Joel's almost a five years and so it's like after a while, it was like, man, I don't I don't feel like me without these guys, And so that was really a call on my part to give the band a name
and recognize them more, elevate them more. As my band were called Natalie Stival on the drive right right, And when we from Natalie stove All to deciding to name it as a band, that's when I was looking at stove All and when that didn't pan out, you know, we were searching for a name, and then we decided to do the end. Yeah, here's a weird hard and maybe a question that you take in a weird way.
Why do you think that you haven't popped yet? Because I say that in the most complimentary way, because you are one of the best singers in a city of the best singers, and to watch you play the fiddle, nobody does what you Nobody does what you do, and it's just like, why why do you think you haven't
popped yet? I think part of it is that I have kind of gone at it from a little backwards way than a lot of people did, because I was on the road for so long before I really started to kind of take more time in Nashville and spend more time writing and developing the music side. Because you know, the typical Nashville route is it's like you move here, you start writing, you start honing in on what your sound is. And I really, I really just wanted to
be on the road. I wanted to do anything I could to be working full time as a musician, and I went that route instead of writing all the time. And I would write as often as I could in town. But you know, I don't I don't know. I think you are one of the most talented people I've ever met. Why do you think I haven't popped. I don't know the answer to that, because I didn't know that that you went road dogging way early instead of because people
that's what happens. People come to Nashville. They try to establish an identity or a sound. They right right right with as many people as possible they play. Then they start to play a little bit locally and they try to branch them. So I didn't know you went backward like that. That makes a little sense. Um, yeah, because I've done the college market for you know, since two thousand and six, and we've I mean, we were doing between two hundred and two fifty shows a year up
until last year. You're so so talented that I asked Natalie and she plays on the road with the Raging Idiots. Some it was just like, would you please play with us? Because and I can ask frankly, I can ask anybody musicians everywhere. And I was just like, hey, would you please play with us? Because you're so good? And at times I feel guilty because I felt like, man, I'm holding you back because I mean also, I'm really good
and I'll overshadow you alive. So I felt bad there. Um, what is you're You're raising the bar so that I can hold my own stage, so that I can get up to your level. You do get a deal, a record deal? Okay, how long ago is that when you get your first record deal? So three years ago roughly you get a record deal? Um, and so what what's the first song you start with? Like, first time, first record deal, first single, you're excited? What song you put
out there? Baby? Come on with it, Baby, come on with it, Come on with drink on that, I'll drink, sing show me the outside down by the fis, come in all song with it, I don't me and you and dance do there wrong with? So what did this song do? Uh? Did chart? Yeah? I got to thirty six, He got a thirty six? Is this your biggest song? Yes, it's my only song to radio that we actually shipped to radio. So baby, come on when it comes out. You hit thirty six, do you think, okay, this is it,
like we're about to hit big. Um, there's no. There wasn't a lot of time to think too much. But I felt like we were in We had positioned ourselves really well. I felt, you know, because we we were meeting every radio station in the country and just going
like crazy, going NonStop. I mean all the crazy stories you hear about radio tours and Um, the way you hit Shop did it was pretty cool because they would book a show like a real show in a club, and they were the record deal, Yeah, the record label, so they would fly all these radio p ds and all these people, all the representatives from the station's out to see our live show instead of just going into the conference room and just playing acoustic. And that was
really an amazing way to do it. Um, and I felt like our second single. Once we recorded it and started working on it, I felt like that was I don't know, I just I was really excited to see where it went. It was called Mason Jar got me from them. So this is how you thought, Okay, this could really be out for us. Yeah, well, I just I felt like it was gonna I don't know. I was really really excited about it, and it was. It was really reacting well to crowds, which is always my gauge.
Like when we were playing on stage, if the crowd gets into it when they don't know the song, then it it feels really good and you feel like you're on a good a good plan, a good route. I guess um what happened the week before that got shipped to radio the label clothes. The investor said, we don't want to do this anymore, and so that was about a year into signing the deal. So a couple of years ago, you're on a label, you chart, you have a second song you feel great about, and the level
goes at we're out. So then what do you do? So then everything just kind of you know, all the stuff that we had worked for really fell away in a lot of ways. I mean, we were the good thing about my band is it's like we're gonna play and we're gonna tour the crap out of the country no matter what. Happens. Deal, no deal, it doesn't matter. I'm gonna make sure that we're touring. Um, But yeah,
it was. It's it's hard to have help both financially and just support wise in the industry and then have everything fall away because everything were breaking the band up. No no, no no, and like it's cheaper to go solo now on, I don't even think it is. Also, my guys have put in so much time and work and work done, done more jobs than they needed to as far as like they work so hard for me.
Joel does merch during like after the shows for me, and Miguel does the stage and James tour manages, and we all take on about fifteen extra rolls to make this thing work. And I mean, I think being by myself, I wouldn't have it with my guys to share it with, you know, And I don't know. It's it's a family that we've worked really hard to build and it's really fun to see these highs and lows together. It sucks when it's a low, but we're we're experiencing it together,
you know. So now you're not on a label, um, are you trying to be on the label? And are you, it's like, are you on the meetings and they're just like, ah, we just don't feel it right now. Um, yes, and no, I'm I would love to have the right partnership again. That'd be amazing, you know, and I'm constantly looking for it, but I try very hard not to worry too much
about that. That's what management and all the other parts of your team were for, I think, because it all starts with the music, and it's all about the song. And I'm just been writing a bunch and trying to find the right next thing, you know. I mean, as I'm writing and working, I've been meeting with different producers and talking to people, and that's another relationship that's really
integral to your your sale. And what happens next is recording the right music and the right sound and kind of taking everything I've learned from the last few years and what worked and what didn't, what I'm good at, you know, what do I do that other artists don't do? Or you know, what is the one thing that I'm better at? You know, because I think we all have that. You. Um, you label folds and you decided to crowd fund a record.
How were you doing this? And like, if you give me a dollar, I'll come to your house and give them. The songs were stuff And so is that where the EP that you guys have about now came from. Yeah, that was you know, when the label folded all the music. I mean they owned all the music, and um, well they that was. It took a while, but they were great about it. Once I called. I personally called the one of the investors and talked to him because they
took it offline. So we kind of lost all the all the reviews and all the fun things, and it looked like we didn't have anything out, you know, it looked like we were just some them band music. Probably we had had a couple of records out before this stuff that we took down at the request of the label because they wanted to put up all new stuff. But then, I'm not going to go back and put up stuff I released in two thousand and eight, you know, in two thousand and ten or eleven, I guess, but
I'm not gonna put up older stuff. And when I don't even have newer stuff to put up. So the name of the EP now is called Heartbreak. Okay. Here is the song which is called heartbreak, they'll take away little and this was paid for all by fans for the most part. Yeah, that's that's cool. It was amazing. It also shows the age were in. Yeah that you know, if people a passionate enough. And I remember, I mean listen, I put ten grand down myself. You didn't know, but
I did. You're welcome. I didn't not really didn't get No one put in den Graham, not one single person. I give it to Stove all why did you give it too? So you have the EP out there and so you're on the road supporting that. But is that something that like, you guys are gonna take that and make that into a bigger record or you just kind of starting from scratch now. I feel like I'm starting from scratch now. I mean at first I was, I'm open to all options. But this EP was really cool
because we got the chance to experiment a lot. We worked almost every song with a different producer, and I was writing thematically. Most of the songs are kind of about you know, the the label falling apart or just you know, just hanging in and not giving up on what you believe in. Um. But but musically I was trying a lot of different things and seeing what worked and what didn't end. So that EP was really fun
for us and kind of a great experiment. And so I'm trying to take what I learned from that and turn that into the next thing. You still downloaded now too. By the way, it's a heartbreak here. You're married to your drummer. That's a lot of time together. It is a lot of time. The reality of it. It's a lot of time together. And they say, you know, distance makes the heart grow fonder. That's not the case with you, guys. No,
it's not. I mean it is, and we do when we are a part which isn't very often, but it's I don't think it would work for everybody. I think because we were had such a musical partnership that was not at all romantic for a few years before it turned into something romantic. I think that was a big advantage for us. And uh, you know, we worked really
hard to to make it. We don't ever want people to feel like they're out with the married couple, you know, So even when we're on the road, it's we're we're working. We're not loved whenever. Um. Because by the way, Natalie comes out, and we're lucky enough that she should played the Raging Idiot shows. She'll she's done some shows. You know. It's like a cycle, and I'm lucky you have great artists come in and Natalie comes and sings the brains out and plays a fiddle and has really been as
part of the growth of our stupid band. Um, it's fun. It's been what you've actually been a part of the growth of what is just a it's a nutty thing, right, it's crazy, like it's crazy. The Raging Idiot thing is crazy. It's crazy. It's so fun and until you see it, you just don't understand it because I can't think, and I've gotten better, but it can't sing. But it is a very entertaining show. And people that will scream for us to go, and we'll go down and get undressed.
I never expected people are just like God. So for what you do, I always feel guilty because we go out and we've had this talk off just to ourselves to where we shouldn't have these crowds come to these shows. We shouldn't be having two thousand people show up at a theater and sell out and go nuts. And here you are that one of the most talented people I've
ever met, and you're like my side Federal player. I disagree that that you shouldn't and I disagree that you can't sing to you because you can sing and what you do is so accessible and the show is so fun and people just want to be there and have a good time, and you provide that for him, and you know, for the thing is I mean, I'm I don't know why it hasn't happened for us yet. I guess what I'm what have I taught you as an artist? What have I taught you as an artist? What do
you mean? Oh, you're genuinely asking, No, you need I'm not gonna let you be facetious at that, though, because I have learned so much from you by being okay with being on my toes and being okay with whatever happens roll with it, because I'm I'm much more. I like for things to be rehearsed, and I like for to know what we're gonna do. And there are times in my show where it does go somewhere, or there's a solo or some kind of instrumental or something that happens.
It's off the cuff, but that's a lot less often than a raging idiot show, because you will look at us at times and say, hey, hey, do you know this song? And I'll be like, well, I mean i've I've heard it, I've heard it before, and you're like, play it thousands of Oh yeah, no, we need a thong song we practice five minutes hilarious. Um, I was kidding with that, but um. But I have learned so much from that, and I think that's part of being
on the road too. And it's been good for me to do different tours and play with different people, because you do you learn something from everybody you're out with. Who do you you're out there now doing a lot of stuff. Who do you see out there now that you're like, man, that's special and it doesn't you know, the major artists are out there. We know they're special because they've broken through there. But who who's out there
now that you're like, that's special and it's ready. It's also ready to pop. You're just kind of watching for it. Oh well, I mean, I'm I mean my friends. Of course, I'm part of the reason I'm friends with some of the people. And I don't know, there's God there's so many in Nashville. Um, you know, Ruthie Collins is one of my best friends, and I just I think she's
one of the best writers in Nashville. I just think I think I don't understand why she hasn't because I think what she does as an artist is incredible, unique, very specific style that is so cool. Well, and she's you know, and he's on Curb and they're they're working on putting some stuff out, so hopefully you'll hear stuff saying, Um,
I think Kelly Bannon is amazing, you know. I mean, we're the three of us are doing the Three Girls Rocking to a Our tour and it's been so that's another one I'm learning so much from because I watch what these girls do and and the struggles that they have as artists and and trying to make what they do make sense all together. And it's it's kind of it's crazy to me the talent in this town and the people that are so good and that just haven't gotten there yet. But it's fun to see people like
Lucy Silva's really starting to pop right now. I mean, you know, people are really She's getting on some of the bigger festivals and the stuff with her music and Caitlin Smith and you know, and even Maren, Like, god, I'm so glad her stuff is coming through right now. It's awesome. You mentioned a lot of women. Everyone you just mentioned was a woman that wasn't on purpose. But I think the women though, have been making some incredible music.
And not to take away from the men, because the men have been too, but um, that's part of what happens, is a backlash when you're you know, it's like then you have to step up your game. You know, it's like the women aren't getting played as often on radio. But some of the women have been putting out some of the most stellar records. You know. Maren is awesome because I don't think she cares, you know, and knowing Maren and I've gotten the I've gotten to know Maren.
It's special when someone is just like this is me and if it works, it works, and if it doesn't, if it and that's part of her appeal. Yeah, it
really is. I think that's such a blessing to have that attitude too, because you know, I want it so bad and I'm I get a little too crazy about like trying to find the p afect thing and trying to find the perfect sound and do the thing, and to have the luxury to to I don't know whether she did or not, but I'm just saying for myself to have the luxury to just sit back and write a whole bunch, just get in the room with people
and find your people. And you know, I've always kind of balanced that when you're I mean that was when year we were only home sixty days out of the whole year, you know, and talking about Lucy to Lucy, Sylvia's one of my favorites. Like, I mean, I've had her on the show two or three times I've she played. She'll come out and if there's any time I can
put her on any show, I put her off. She's open for She's played the women of country with this, Like it's just it's it's exciting for me to see because you're starting to see that little shift and not every year you see it a little more and more. And and I get interviewed about it a lot because I've been really one of the guys. There are a couple of us in the industry that really are like fighting for the females um and so it's cool to see it start to shift a bit and then shifting.
It's shifting all uh Lucy and yourself and even like Lindsay and Lindsay good Lord, Lindsay. Lindsay is by the way, Lindsay l is on such a different level as an artist and just her playing as a She's just someone who like like you to something. No one else can do what she does. No one else can do what you do, and it will be interesting for you guys to find your voices. Yeah, and that's what I think you got a searching for right now, Like what's your voice? Yeah?
Like what what is the sound of of Lindsay l? And what is the sound of Natalie Stove? All in the drive? You know, because I mean I I always feel like I feel it when I'm on stage and then putting that into the perfect song, you know, is much easier said than done. Mike, any questions over there they'd like to ask in the corner Mike destro there, go ahead, So when did you start writing songs? And how old were you? Because you started playing what was
like the first song you wrote about? I started when I was eleven, but I wouldn't shown anybody but I have like probably a boy. I don't remember the first thing I wrote about. I think I have the journal somewhere in my room at my parents. Also, it's hilarious. Oh, what's something your hometown is known for. We are the mule capital of the world. The um Yeah, well back in the day when that was a lot more important,
we were the mule trading capital of the world. And I don't It's just we have Mule Day every year. We have a big parade with all the mules and they do mule races and it's awesome. Mule Day is so fun. And then what's your favorite move on stage? My favorite move on stage? I know the answer to that. I know Natalie's signature move. It's where she plays the fiddle on back, bends all the way down and the
crowd goes nice. She plays the fiddle and then she bends all the way backward to our heads almost touching the ground, actually plays and the like every every time, like I every time. The weird thing is like Natalie is a dancer. Like Natalie has soul, and so like I, I like soul. I'm comfortable with soul, and so when Natalie and I are together on stage. I like to dance, and we dance a lot together, and I love dancing
and I love dancing. However, when now his husband's playing drum behind us, no no, no, no, no no no, I can do it. There was a dancing I talked about it forever to it. So I'm not going to dance if I'm not dancing like well, dance, you know, it's a show. To me, it's a show like we're there to entertain the crowd, and it's when when we play the REGI idiots. I do not have lead singer disease. There's a thing called lead singer disease. But the lead singer has got to be the star all the time.
I have the opposite of that. I want the best, the most fun thing happening, if it's Natalie singing, or if it's a mom odd or if it's Eddie, like I just wanted to come from all directions. And part of it is like we get down, Natalie has play the drums, we got up. I was out, like I was. I was blinding my Eddie, like I had Eddie bent over because I was her husband played them was loud and he's big, and I was like just today having
it and I'm not doing it. I even went up to you at one point and you wouldn't even look like I was trying to You got a six or four husband behind me, went playing the drums, and I got nothing to do with you right now. That is so funny. But he doesn't care. No, he does not care. No, okay, I just want to make sure, alright. So Natalie Stoball and the Drive. I put them as one of the ten acts that you have to see live if they're around. So if they if Natalie comes out, you have to
see her. I mean, just fantastic live even if you come and see it with the Raging Idiots. Um. And it's been cool to like you played the rhyme and with this last year with a million dollars show. Yeah, that was my first show with you. Was that the first show that it was cool for me because that was a big show because like it was Natalie and like it was carry and all these dirks and everybody
was playing and so. And then we played I Heart Radio Music Festival and we just played acoustic, but we went out in the Irwin Center and arena and it was me, Eddie and Natalie it was crazy and we played so you know, it was so many people in an arena and that was gonna play the operaty with this on Tuesday, depending on when you hear this. So Eddie and I are playing and I was like, Nady, we could please come and play with us. And so I know I take up a lot of your time.
Did your band get mad? No, no, they're so happy for me, because I want to get annoyed. I think if you're an interview it. Some one was like, hey, so tell me about when you played with the rate. I would. I Sometimes i'll see a clip and I'll be like, oh cringe, and I'll text you me like I'm stuff. Sorry, No, it's it, really, I promised, though. I mean they know that that it's it's all good for all of us. My only goal is to get more people to see your name in your face, and
that's it. You're just so good. And I remember talking two weeks ago and I was like, I know you're gonna leave soon, but just thank you for playing with us, because you've just been an incredible run. And um, I hope people kind of start to see that now. And no, thank you. I mean it's it's it's been. It is so much fun and it still is. And I I've had a ball being on the road with you, and I'm so thankful you asked me to. And you know, the guys they know how much fun I'm having and
they talking about it because you have so much fun. No, they always ask, they always ask how it was, you know, every week, how the last weekend was? And I don't know talking about everything. No, it's not all right. I just get scared they're gonna jump me in an alley. They love you, all right. Natalie Soball how you can follower on Twitter, Instagram It's at Natalie Soball. Yes, Natalie Stowball on the Drive. They're all over the place and she's with us some but she's really out, you know,
doing her thing. Can't wait to hear a record. I know you have things popping right now. You're working on new stuff hopefully. Yeah, I'm excited and I can't wait to like play it on the radio because yeah, as soon as I find something I love, I just I can't wait to play it on the radio. Um, and I encourage you better to download Heartbreak. It's the EP now and I'm a huge Natalie stowball fan, and then thanks for hanging out with us today, Thanks for having me. Yeah,
it's good. Anything else you'd like to ask, Mike, You're good, all right, Natalie? About popsicles? Listen, I had a thing here at my house last night. I got rid of all the popsicles because I've been need nothing popsicles because I've been sick for like three weeks, had some sort of weird pneumonia that I couldn't shake. And aumonia actually sounds a lot worse than it is. Like pneumonia sounds like you should beat the little house on the parades. That pretty bad, no matter how Yeah, so I was
just good. It's a terrible coughing. And so I had my get rid of all the popsicles. Mike, I can't go in the room discard all of them. Now they walks five boxes of popsicles both drops them on the counter and that, and I was like, well, I guess I'll have a coupful game. It's trying to bring something to need. Like it's like some people you a bottle the wine or or now they brought popsicles. You know
you're definitely not drinking the wine. I'm not. Do you see how much liquor I have, Like I don't know if you could see it's it's in the corner I have because of like people will send me gifts that don't know me, know me, don't send me like Crystal or dom or have thousands of dollars in alcohol just
sitting in my house and they don't drink. But much like popsicles, once up, pop, I'm gonna prinkle those things like I'm gonna drink thousands of dollars in one night, Like it's gonna be a supermarket sweep, like and you can have all the big Hams and you throw it in the day of just alcohol, like I'm going I'll a like Joe, We'll have a big party. Thank you for the popsicles. Thank you for stopping Natalie Snowball the
Forest Gump of country music. She played for the President, she audition to be Jenny and Forrescum, which we learned later she played the operay at twelve years old, started playing the fiddle, went to Berkeley. I mean, it's just a nutty story. Thank you, and we will, Uh, I guess I'll see you sun soon, tay for Tuesday. Yeah, if you hear this later on. If you hear this later on, Man, we killed the Operator was awesome, Like, if you listen to Tuesday they standing ovation for like
ten minutes. It's crazy. There's there's nuts. Even Dirk's came out who played earlier, and it's like, that's awesome. It was amazing. So thanks. Natalie Stoball At Natalie Stoball, Mike destro At, Mike D E. E. S. T r Oh. By the way, Mike, somebody asked, Hey, if Mike has a podcast, why does he doing. Don't you don't do your podcast anymore? No, but he used to do a punk punk rock podcast, but he doesn't do it anymore.
What happened? He's got you too busy, and you have a lot of friends in like a watch of punk dudes sit around crazy talking about the ears Pierce and tattoos and stuff, and talking about music I've never heard of. I'll get in a mix car and it's it's not like this, like every song exactly, I don't even know what the listening to, but that that's this thing. Favorite band all right now, probably Maria. What do you think I've seen him the most every band I've seen him
like over fifteen times you go to their house. That's how it. No, I have no idea next paper band band. I really like Julian Baker right now. She's a solo artist. Is that the girl you post like a guitar pickure? She's like, she's twelve. It looks like Natalie playing the Obrey, but I see the other night. I really like her right now. Well, thank you all for being here this episode eleven of the Boby Cast until next time our sponsor.
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