Golden Girl

Man, there's nothing like a success story. Miss Kacey Musgraves is coming up just at the right time. Haling from the hopping metropolis of Golden, Texas; Musgraves has one foot in country music’s revered past and another planted firmly on the path of the future.

Man, there’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned success story. It just makes you feel right about the world when someone combines their natural talent with hard work and good timing. Maybe that’s because it doesn’t seem to happen that often? Someone with the talent don’t always use it like they should, I guess. Maybe they’re too far behind their time; or they could be a little out in front of it?

No such (bad) luck for Miss Kacey Musgraves, and all the better for us. She’s coming up just at the right time. Haling from the hopping metropolis of Golden, Texas; Musgraves has one foot in country music’s revered past and another planted firmly on the path of the future. She’s a songwriter, a traditionalist and a fan of Indian food buffets. She loves John Prine and Brand New … and the fact that fans of either of those two have very little clue who the other is serves to tell a little bit of Kacey Musgraves’ story, right there.

Musgraves went to school and graduated from Mineola. None of her family were particularly musical, but there was plenty of creativity around. Just in her immediate family there is an accomplished painter (mother) and successful photographer (sister Kelly, who shot the photos in this story). Though not a member of the Partridge family, Kacey grew up singing “anywhere they’d let me.” At 12, she got her first guitar, began lessons with local legend, John DeFoore, and almost immediately began writing songs – her first one when she was just 9 years old. “It was called ‘Notice Me,’” she recalled. “I think my mom still has that crumpled-up piece of yellow paper somewhere. It wasn’t something I was passionate about until I had a guitar teacher (John Defoore) really push me to start writing. Anything. Every week he’d give me the task of writing and finishing a song. It was my ‘homework.’ Then I’d bring it back the next week and he’d sort of critique it. That’s where I started to improve. Not saying the songs weren’t total ‘emo’ crap, but you have to start somewhere!”

Malcolm Gladwell says it takes roughly 10,000 hours to master something … Musgraves probably passed that marker when she was 16. She began performing at a young age, following in the hallowed footsteps of some Texas greats playing Western Music. “That’s Western Swing and traditional country – 10 gallon hat and all,” said Musgraves from her place in Nashville. “I did a lot of yodeling and wore a lot of fringe. And it was, honestly, a great introduction to getting comfortable onstage and learning instruments for someone as young as I was.”The practicality of stage time, mixed with instruction helped Musgraves to develop her talent quickly. For her, that meant writing music of her own. “When I was good enough on the guitar to start writing songs I realized I didn’t have to sing other people’s anymore,” she remembered. “I loved the writing side of it so much I really worked to get better and write as much as I can. I had the support of my family who helped me make an album when I was 16 and traveled with me all over Texas and the U.S. making a little living playing shows.”

We’ll go out on a limb and say being able to tour with your original music at 16 is a great platform for a young musician. But ask anyone who’s tried to play any venue larger than their living room and they’ll tell you: the support of those around you – and the luck that brings – is too valuable to be quantified. Music is always a struggle, but it can make the difference between a hard road and a much, much harder one.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve ever really had a ‘rough’ time,” Musgraves said. “My journey up until now has been admittedly great. Not to say I’m at the top of any game – I’ve just truly enjoyed all of the pieces. Nothing would have been done without my family and the people helping me. Everyone from my little sister, who takes my photos, to the local Mineola radio station (KMOO) who’s played me on air since I was 12, and anyone who encouraged me to stick with it, have all been a part of it.”

Talking to her though, you get the feeling the encouragement certainly helped her along, but Musgraves would be successful anyway. When asked about troubles or rough times or even being a girl in the mostly boys’ club of country music, she’s realistic, but upbeat and determined. “I am always the only girl in pretty much any given musical situation. I’ve gotten used to it!” she said with a laugh. “There aren’t many of us doing this. So, I’d say it makes you appreciate the few out there a lot. I mean, I’d say I’m typically more of a fan of guy’s music. It really is mostly a man’s world. But I think that’s beginning to change thanks to songwriters like Brandi Carlisle, Adele, even Miranda Lambert. I just try to do what I do and hope someone out there likes it, regardless.”

Resolve like that from a young age has pushed Musgraves to some pretty interesting spots. There are the obligatory bars and dance halls, but she’s also played festivals, fairs and private events. She played the Today Show when she was 13, USA Network’s “Nashville Star,” the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake and the Presidential Inaugural Ball ... Not too shabby for a teenager’s resumé. So, there was never really a doubt about what Musgraves would do when she graduated; it was just a matter of where. She settled on Austin.

“I moved with a good friend (Miranda Lambert’s little brother, actually) to Austin to pursue something – whatever I could do – musically,” she said. “An unusual amount of talent comes out of East Texas, but I knew I’d have to break out of it myself if I ever wanted to be taken seriously. I knew I wanted to play gigs, but I knew that wouldn’t be enough ... so I worked answering phones at a booking agency for Texas acts.”

Making great contacts, honing her skills writing and performing and just living formed a connection with Austin, as so many folks do, Musgraves said: “I’m absolutely in love with that city and plan to live there again someday.”

But, she was going broke traveling back and forth between Texas and Nashville. She realized that the songwriting scene in Nashville was exactly where she needed to be if “I was completely serious about making this my life.” In 2009, and at the urging of colleague and friend Radney Foster, Musgraves made her way out to Tennessee, something she calls the “best decision I’ve ever made … But seriously, I love Nashville. It’s the perfect amount of small town/big city. The music scene here is unbelievably small. Word of mouth travels fast here. But it’s the ultimate truth that you have got to be present to win. There are so many people here day in and day out that want to make it so badly. So, you can’t afford to be pushed out of line because you’re not here. Plain and simple.”

At the beginning, Musgraves concerned herself with open mics and getting her name out there. “I remember I made these little compilation of my demos … my mom designed a pop-up, sunflower CD jacket that was sure to keep it from getting tossed in the trash,” she said. She took those compilations to every publishing company in town, asking for work singing demos for other songwriters. It was easy money and kept her on her toes, vocally. Eventually she started writing with a a talented circle of people, and with her demos being passed around she began building relationships with a few publishing companies. “Word of mouth travels very fast here,” revealed Musgraves. “If you’re new in town and doing something different it’s not too hard to get noticed in such a tight-knit community.”

Musgraves was also lucky in that she never had to work a full-time job to support her music career, and therefore was able to continue writing and improving.That’s not to say she never worked beyond music, though. “Dress up for kids birthday parties? Done it,” said Musgraves. “Luckily, I’m at a place that allows me to live and focus on being creative, and I’m very thankful for that. I know it may not always be that easy, so I’m taking it all in while I can and trying to make the most out of it now.”

After about a year of scraping by with demo money, odd jobs and some help from her grandparents, Musgraves signed her first publishing deal with Warner/Chappell (A division of Warner Brothers). It’s through them that Musgraves has started to get her songs on some pretty important records: like the new Martina McBride record. Musgraves penned “When You Love A Sinner.” And, it’s been a fairly quick rise for her. “[That deal] was definitely a goal of some kind for me. It’s a very important piece of the puzzle if you’re not planning on making it completely on your own. I am so thankful I get to make a living crafting songs that come out of my brain, so I’m going to stay focused and enjoy the journey while I’m on it. However long it may be.”

Slow down now. Plenty of musicians would be satisfied writing and singing a song with an award-winning musician like McBride. But Kacey wants to sing. Musgraves has always been divided as to whether she was a songwriter or a performer, or unequivocally both.

“I’m totally torn on this question,” Musgraves admitted. “I think I lean towards more of a writer. I absolutely love performing, though. It’s the whole reason I write the songs to begin with! If I had to choose, I’d rather be a songwriter. It’s therapeutic. And it’s where the money is!”

At the moment, it’s not a choice Musgraves has to worry about making. After being in town just a little bit, she started getting the interest of some major labels. Though definitely excited by the prospect, Musgraves said she felt the need to wait before getting into any label situation – she wasn’t ready for a deal. “I figured, you only have one real shot,” she said. “If you even get one real shot. Is the music I’m making now what I’d want to give the world as their first impression? No. I truly don’t play music sheerly to become ‘famous.’ If I did, I would have jumped on the first opportunity that came my way. I am so glad I listened to myself and my intuition because I feel more sure now than ever that I’m where I need to be.”

And that is on Lost Highway records – the legendary home of everyone from Elvis Costello to Johnny Cash, from Ryan Adams to Willie Nelson. “I’ve always looked up to the Lost Highway Record label and knew when I had my shot at being an artist there, I couldn’t pass it up. I signed last month and still feel great about my decision.”

After the careful consideration she brought to signing, she’s certainly not rushing into the process of creating her album. She’s recorded six songs “as something to kind of aim for,” and is working on narrowing them down. She’s busy getting her band together and writing for the record, getting to know the people at the label. She’s also looking into the management and booking agent sectors of the industry and “will be making decision soon.” The plan is to get into the studio, rehearsing with players in December, and to have something finished up by January. In the meantime, Musgraves band is coming together and she’s already working on tightening up her live shows.

It’s another piece of a rapidly assembling puzzle coming together. Musgraves has worked diligently from a very young age to get to where she is, and everything would indicate she’s got the tools to push further onward. She doesn’t have a five-point plan, or anything like that. But, if you were to wager, there’s probably a list hidden somewhere. On that list you’d see things like “play a show with Willie Nelson” or “sign a deal on my terms” an even “get one of my songs on the radio and Billboard charts.” All those items on the list have a line marked boldly through them. But the list is much longer than that.

“I have absolutely no idea what the future holds,” Musgraves acknowledged. “Hopefully, if nothing else, [it includes] being able to make a living doing what I love. Every day is new for me.”