The New Music Business with Ari Herstand Old Dominion on Songwriting, Keeping Band Harmony and Maintaining a Die Hard Fan Base
Aug 27, 2025
Matthew Ramsey, the lead singer and songwriter of Old Dominion, shares insights from the band’s impressive journey in country music. They discuss their upcoming album 'Barbara', including its humorous concept and the emotional backstory behind the poignant song 'Miss You, Man'. Matthew reflects on maintaining artistic integrity while balancing the evolution from cover band to original artists. He offers advice for aspiring musicians, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and camaraderie within a band.
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Who Is Barbara
- "Barbara" is a fictional character the band visualized to represent the album's spirit and humor.
- The model on the cover embodies someone with stories who draws listeners into the record.
Writing Through Grief
- The band wrote "Miss You, Man" spontaneously about their late friend Andrew Dorff during a session to process grief.
- They initially wrote it for themselves and later added it to the album when it felt powerful enough to record.
Chase The Best Song First
- Old Dominion focuses on writing the best song in the room rather than chasing a preset artist sound or single.
- They let ideas lead sessions and only later curate for albums and sets.
