Having the opportunity to talk with a giant in music can be a little daunting, especially when it’s someone whom you respect. With 30 years in the music business, Michelle Wright continues to envelope us in songs with not just meaning but some rollicking good times as well. Had the opportunity to sit down with the Canadian Icon and discuss new single, Canada, songwriting, poutine and the goal to play the Ryman.
You’ve been inducted into the North American Country Music Hall of Fame. Thrilled? Surprised? What is it?
I’d never heard of the organization before, but I found out why. I’m the only female Canadian artist that has been inducted. It’s out of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee has been around 18 years. Donna Fargo, Lorrie Morgan, Doug Stone, they’re in there.. I’m going in with a Canadian songwriter, Ralph Murphy who’s quite ingrained in the Nashville community. So going to go hang out with my mates and have a good time. I mean when a hall of fame comes to you and asks if you’d be interested what are you going to say? No? Of course I’m going and I’m honoured.
New single, “Laugh A Little,” is new on Canadian Radio, how is that going?
It actually was the single I wanted to go first on Strong which we released last year. It’s a song about living, truly living. Even when you want to look back on a whole bunch what if’s. No no that’s not what life should be, you really do need to laugh a little and live your life.
The Music Business is a fickle vixen and can completely eat you up. But tell me being Canadian and a woman what was that like and what was the ‘trip’ to Nashville all about
When I go my record deal.. You had Anne Murray in the 70’s, K.D. Lang in the 80’s pushing the envelope. Then Shania, Terri Clark, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and myself. There are only 6 women, from Canada that got records deals (country). It was a trip and as Tim Dubois said
“it’s like College with money.” Country Music in the 90’s was a rare bird, you had to put out stuff to be heard even if it wasn’t that great.. but you know you give you take and you move along. Now maybe you could stay in Canada and grow a career, but there is that part of you that you want to prove you can at least “try” Nashville.
You’ve played the iconic Massey Hall in Toronto, but you haven’t played the Ryman Auditorium?
Yeah, crazy eh? Love Massey Hall but I mean you have to play the Ryman. It is a dream. Would love to get Terri and Carolyn and a couple other of us Canadians involved, that would be an amazing night.
The world and music need more Michelle Wright’s. Her vision, her history and her story and what legends are made of.
For more information visit; http://www.michelle-wright.com/