Rachel McIntyre Smith may have explored her quarter-life crisis in her debut release, “Glory Daze,” but her new release, “Honeysuckle Friend,” finds her moving into hope and acceptance. Full of Smith’s signature lyrical prowess and gorgeous instrumentation, her vocals float on a bed of what she calls “comfort twang.” It’s easy to see why Smith has been heralded by many as an exciting new voice in the Americana and country worlds – her music is nothing short of magical on every level, and this new EP is sure to win many new fans. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Smith recently to talk about this wonderful new release.
Hi, Rachel! You have a terrific new EP which just came out called “Honeysuckle Friend.” How did these songs come together, and what broad strokes can you tell us about the collection?
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you like it. “Honeysuckle Friend” captures the essence of what my life has looked like since I released my debut EP, “Glory Daze.” Lyrically, it’s filled with good memories, friendship, and hope. Sonically, it’s filled with banjo, mandolin, three-part harmonies, and a bunch of other stuff that makes my hillbilly heart happy. This is a fresh collection of songs that I wrote over the past two years that showcases a different perspective than I had on my debut.
One of the songs on your new EP, “Stoke the Coals,” is really great and stood out to me. What can you tell us about this song? What inspired you to write it, and what is it about?
I’m so happy you like “Stoke the Coals”! It’s probably the most fun song in the collection. It’s lighthearted and flirty, and I don’t have many songs like that.
I’ve done a lot of work on myself the past few years, so I had not really been putting myself out there, romantically. I wrote this song in the fall when I realized that it was time for me to start dating again. I had taken it way too seriously. It was time to take a risk and go on dates. So far, no great luck has been had, BUT I have gotten several entertaining stories from it.
What was it like recording this EP overall? What was the vibe in the studio, and how did this song, in particular, come together?
Great question. I worked on this EP with Dran Michael who has produced all my music since 2020, so it was a very comfortable recording experience. He knows how to take my abstract ideas for how a song should be produced and turn it into something incredible. One of my favorite parts about recording with Dran is he always brings his dog, Lulu, who is a French bulldog. Lulu is a great distraction when we’ve gotten too in our heads about a specific part of the song. Sometimes she wants to play, and sometimes she naps all afternoon.
I wanted this project to be really sonically cohesive, so once we had locked in the vibe, it made producing the rest of the songs easier. Dran would always laugh when we’d start another song, because I’d be requesting mandolin trills all over it. I love mandolin trills.
Specifically, recording “Stoke the Coals” was actually a bit of a dramatic day. I love how the song turned out so much, but I was mentally checked out that day. The night before, when I had been leaving the studio, my brakes went out on my Prius. Luckily, I was safe. However, the day we recorded “Stoke the Coals,” I had to get my car towed, get a rental car, and arrange a way to meet up with my parents to get one of their cars to use for the week until my car was ready. It was all very chaotic because I was recording in Chattanooga, but I live in Nashville and my parents live near Knoxville. Several times that day, I was having to step out to call different folks, and I was also trying to keep my composure because fixing brakes isn’t cheap. I have to give major props to Dran, because he really helped me stay calm and carry on with recording.
What do you hope this EP conveys to those who listen to it?
The overall message for Honeysuckle Friend is that life can be hard, but when you have good people in your life it is so much easier and more fun. I write about a lot of similar themes to my debut EP, Glory Daze, but these songs were written from a much more hopeful perspective because of the influence of my incredible friends and family. I hope this EP makes folks think about their own honeysuckle friends.
Since you started out, how has your songwriting changed — both musically and lyrically? Do different things inspire you now? Where do you tend to get your biggest inspiration from these days?
I used to always write to a hook, but now I think I gravitate more to concepts. Nowadays, I spend more time letting songs marinate before I’m ready to perform it for others. I usually start with keeping a note in my phone of lyric ideas, and once I have a firm grasp on the direction of the song, I pull out my guitar and start figuring it out musically. I used to jump to the first lyrics and the first melodies that popped in my head, but now I know it’s okay to slow down and rework different parts. I guess that also goes along with the theme of the song “Grow Up Slow.” It can be boiled down to the lyrics, “I ain’t crushin’ it but I ain’t rushin it and I think I’ll be better off because of it.”
Conversations and storytelling are still my biggest inspiration. Sometimes, folks will say something to me, and I immediately have to jot it down in a note. It can be something so small that makes my brain go in another direction. It’s a lightbulb moment.
Songwriting can be a really personal endeavor. Is it tough to share that stuff that usually might be private if you weren’t writing a song about it? Does unveiling the songs publicly, when you release a single or an EP or album, make you anxious or is it cathartic to have the songs out there?
I used to get really nervous about releasing vulnerable songs, because I didn’t want folks to misinterpret it or send it around town making fun of me. Then I realized that perspective was really “main-character complex” of me, and everyone is too focused on their own issues to dwell on making fun of me for being vulnerable in a song. I learned through my experience with “Glory Daze” that there are a lot of folks who need to hear vulnerable music so they know they aren’t alone in their struggles. I don’t get nervous about it anymore. The writing process is very healing for me, so by the time I release a song I’ve almost always moved past whatever emotions I was working through while writing it.
It’s not uncommon for an artist or band to be working on something new while promoting an album. Do you have anything in the pipeline to follow this album? What’s next from Rachel McIntyre Smith?
Thanks for asking! I’m working on a lot of stuff, including an ongoing series called “The Honeysuckle Friend Sessions” where I invite my friends who are musicians to record a cover with me. Some really talented folks who you may know have recorded sessions with me. I’ll start releasing those soon. I also have a few more songs up my sleeve that will come out in early 2025.
Got any tour plans? Where can fans see you on the road?
Yes! I’m planning an EP tour right now for a few different cities in Tennessee. I’m still confirming more dates. Here are the current ones that I can share:
- September 9th in Nashville at The Virgin Hotel with The Women of Country Writer’s Round
- September 21st in Nashville at Jackalope Brewing Company for The Americana Fest x Olivia Management Songwriters Round
- October 5th in Chattanooga at CHI Memorial Stadium for the halftime show at the Chattanooga Red Wolves game
I’ll be posting all upcoming tour dates on my social media @rachelmcintyresmith, so stay tuned for more!
