The 15th annual Americana Music Festival takes place Sept. 17 to 20 at various venues throughout Nashville and we chatted with Grammy winner and AmericanaFest performer Lee Ann Womack about her rootsy new album, The Way I'm Livin'.
Tell us what you've been up to in the nearly seven years since your last release.
I definitely took time off my working career, but I never take time off music because in my house we're all in the music business. We constantly have musicians over at our house, and we're either playing records or making music. It's so wonderful to be able to have the time to do that, because that's how you really grow as a musician. You don't really have to think about doing the work side of things.
How is The Way I'm Livin' different from your previous albums?
People are going to think it's a great departure from things I've done in the past, but the truth is it's different from my big hit songsthe ones that most people know me for. It's not so much different from a lot of the album cuts I've had and the music I do live.
So how does it sound compared to, say, 'I Hope You Dance”?
Sonically, and in terms of instrumentation on the record and the aggressiveness with which it was played, I do think that it's different from a lot of the stuff I've done that's been more polished and [has] a lot of strings and things like that. It's a little more aggressive, I guess you'd say.
What can you tell us about the title track (and first single)?
I heard the song, and it just knocked me over. I love songs and songwriters who aren't afraid to say anything. This song is about how life's not always pretty, and a lot of people go through that kind of stuff. If you have any kind of problem in your life, I think you can hear that in this song.
How does the Americana genre influence your music?
It depends on how you define it. When I think of the term Americana, I think of American roots music, and I think it's very akin to the things that I grew up listening to and that had a huge influence on me.
What do you love about festivals like AmericanaFest?
It's really nice to see fellow musicians and like-minded music lovers. In the past 15 years of my career, my favorite moments are when I run into these guys and when I'm able to work with these guysbecause it feels like home.
Womack performs at The Cannery Ballroom on Sept. 18, and The Way I'm Livin' arrives Sept. 23.Visit americanamusic.org for more information and to purchase tickets.