Leavin' Page Town debut's Ride or Die

This post isn't an introduction, it's a reintroduction. Cindy and Tony Haedt recently took on a new adventure as a singer-songwriter duo Leavin’ Page Town. They have been the Minnesota band front runners for Dram Shop Country for the last ten years. This new adventure expands their talents into performing at intimate songwriter sessions, and listening rooms, as well as recording and releasing original music. 

The name of their duo is inspired by Page Township, a northern Minnesota town that Tony and Cindy call home, the place they return to that gives them inspiration and rejuvenation. A series of events took place that gave Tony and Cindy what they needed to confidently pursue this path with Leavin’ Page Town. Meeting producer Greg Huberty (Loud Cow Studios) at the Midwest Country Music Organization Awards was one of those connections that inspired this path. A Nashville trip gave them some inspiration for songwriting as well.

Cindy and Tony are members of the Texas Country Music Association and the Midwest Country Music Organization, leading them to travel and perform through many states. Tony and Cindy have connected with many other artists including some Red Dirt Country artists throughout Texas as well as the upper Midwest. Leavin’ Page Town plans on releasing singles throughout the year and finally, an EP to conclude the year.   

The debut single for Leavin Page Town is a love story, Ride or Die. Written by Cindy and Tony Haedt and Josh Morningstar (Must Be the Whiskey by Cody Jinx), produced by Greg Huberty. The video for Ride or Die was shot in December on a farm on the upper level of a working dairy barn while the cows were below with birds flying through the rafters, soon to be released.

“I was living’ life full speed ahead

Never thought that I’d see thirty then

This old guitar was my escape

Never dreamed it’d lead you my way

Your soul’s reflection of mine

You showed up in perfect time

You’re my reason why

Like a harmony you melt right in

You set me on fire

Baby, you’re my ride or die”

Keep up with Leavin' Page Town and their show dates on their website linked above.

Thank you, Cindy and Tony, for introducing me to your new adventure, I'll catch you at a show this summer, In A Country Minute

Mary McGuinness's album Shadowcatcher

Mary McGuinness recently released the album Shadowcatcher. I had the pleasure of talking with Mary about the songs and process of this release recently. The album consists of 10 songs opening with Dreamy Feeling which was the final released single. Each song on this album is a snapshot of Mary McGuinness's life, "the stories I wanted to get out, and the stories I wanted to tell". Bounded Beauty is a song Mary wrote about her great-grandmother, and Springtime Thunder is a song Mary wrote for her dad while he was going through cancer, diving into her Celtic heritage in his honor. The title track ties them all together.

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Mary McGuinness said she originally wrote 15 or 16 songs for this record and to narrow it down she solicited the help of her producer. Mary expressed that the songs seemed to reveal themselves to them knitting themselves together into a flow. The songs she didn’t select for this collection were not "throw-away songs but maybe will fit better on a different project." Each song on Shadowcatcher was meticulously placed in the layout after Mary played them in 30 or so different song lineups before choosing this particular order. Mary aimed for a continuous progressive flow through these 10 cuts and was specific with her choices to make a masterpiece. Those details make this record special and authentic to getting to know Mary McGuiness and her multicultural heritage. Shadowcatcher is a reflection of Mary McGuinness and what she envisions. The bulk of the album was written in Nashville which she now calls home.

Songwriter and producer Joe Pisapia produced Shadowcatcher but there is more to that story. When Mary McGuinness and Joe Pisapia had their initial meeting, Mary requested Pisapia to assist her on a song she was stuck on and trying to finish, she played Joe a couple of songs, and ... they completed Spellbreaker, and then another and those couple of songs turned into a full album. Mary wrote with a talented array of songwriters to create this album. Mary said they had so much fun and she'd never laughed so much during a project that she is certain "the laughter was absorbed into the music." Recording the tracks for Shadowcatcher took about 5 days and then there were a few rerecorded parts, mixing the tracks, adding background vocals, harmonies, string instruments, and the harmonica to complete the songs.

The songs selected for music videos were Once in a Blue Moon and Double Vision following their single releases. The compilation of this record was a reminder to Mary on when to pause and when to revisit those parts of projects that caused the most struggle but in the end, it is a one-of-a-kind assortment of authenticity and musical talent.

Congratulations Mary McGuinness on this release. I appreciate your time and openness in talking about yourself, In A Country Minute.

Jordan Rainer on the Straight Shot Tour

Jordan Rainer is on the Straight Shot Tour following her latest release Straight Shot.

I talked with her after her first night on this headlining tour. Her first stop was at the Mars Music Hall in Huntsville, Alabama. Jordan had brought one guitar pick with her on stage and for the first time, she dropped it just before the chorus of Straight Shot. She had to try to spot it on the stage and paused while the band continued to play. The timing of that pause increased the energy in the crowd and they started screaming in response, now she said they would add a pause on purpose during that part of the song.

Jordan Rainer - Photo by Dave Bjerke/NBC

Jordan Rainer became a household name during the 24th season of The Voice after landing on Reba McEntire’s team from a four-chair turn. "Reba was an amazing coach, humble and genuine, exactly how you have imagined her to be." Jordan Rainer gained a lot of attention during the competition, not only for her talent but also for her wardrobe of all black. Fans gave her the nickname "The Woman in Black". Jordan said her wardrobe is primarily black, even her loungewear. Jordan and her team prepared for the influx of fans from the show while waiting for the airing of the recorded episodes of The Voice after the tapings were completed. Jordan has a style unlike anyone else in country music, she's tough and raw which shows off her roots in Texas and Oklahoma. She believes music should reflect the audience it was designed to represent, and will hold herself to those standards while writing and performing music.

Jordan Rainer photo courtesy of Brickshore Media

Jordan Rainer held an interest in music from the toddler stage trying to play on their family piano. Jordan received her first guitar as a Christmas gift at 12 years old and began playing with the help of her dad and a few chords. Jordan was born in Oklahoma and lived in both Oklahoma and Texas until moving to Nashville. Nashville is proving its reputation to her as The 10-year town, paying her dues as an artist. The persistence and confidence Jordan brought with her to Nashville from her roots in Texas and Oklahoma mixed with the discipline that the music scene taught her in Nashville has developed her into an incredible writer and performer. Jordan Rainer recently had her first #1 with Straight Shot on the Texas Regional Radio Chart. Jordan Rainer took home the New Female Vocalist of the Year and the New Faces of Texas Country Award at the Texas Country Music Awards in 2023. Jordan co-wrote Three People making it a #1 song for Sundance Head. Jordan currently has songs on hold for some of country music’s top artists.

 Jordan Rainer enjoys performing shows and prefers to play in a seated theater setting where she can mix in a little bit of stand-up comedy and talk about the stories behind the music.

The Straight Shot Tour kicked off in January and has some dates that Jordan will coheadline and collaborate with other artists who competed alongside her on The Voice.

Jordan and I talked about all of the aspects of music, writing, touring, and performing, but also how she deals with the negative sides of it all. Some of the toughest obstacles for her were being told 'no', remaining confident in herself, and patiently waiting for the right person to hear her. Jordan is a confident performer and it is hard to see her as a person who has had to deal with stage fright or anxiety, but like most people, she certainly has. During an episode on the Voice, she had to deal with it and afterward, Reba (and Rex) gave her some pointers to use for any future situations. They started by telling her the names of a few well-known artists who also deal with stage fright. She has learned that you can reset your brain by using your other senses and moving your focus away from what is putting your thoughts into hyperfocus. Look around, find 3 things to look for in a specific color, touch and feel something and focus on the details of that, switch to scents, and pay attention to what you can smell. Jordan said she has learned a few more tricks and they worked for her.

Catch Jordan Rainer on tour with dates added continuously on her website https://www.jordanrainerofficial.com/

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Thank you, Jordan Rainer for sharing your stories with me In A Country Minute!