The Jedburgh Podcast #047: Baptist Parking Lot - Country Music Singer Songwriter Mary Heather Hickman
For this episode host Fran Racioppi leapt down to Music City to spend the day with up and coming recording artist Mary Heather Hickman at the famed RCA Studios.
Mary Heather hit the iTunes Country Top 10 with her don't mess with Texas style. She has opened for Toby Keith, Eli Young and Hank Williams Jr. She has played at ATT Stadium so naturally Fran challenged her to describe her mentors and role models; and also explain what happened to the Cowboys this year!
Mary Heather not only shared her story and her lessons on building a career in country music, but she gave our team a solo concert including a sneak peak of an upcoming yet-to-be released track and her newest hit Baptist Parking Lot, which hit radio on February 14. Take a listen to our conversation and stay tuned until the end to hear for yourself.
Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.
Highlights:
-Mary Heather describes how she fell in love with Country music and how singing has come naturally, but she has had to work hard to learn the guitar and piano.
-As a senior in high school Mary Heather competed on The Voice proving she could make music a career.
-Mary Heather explains her songwriting process, how she chooses the topics for her songs, the importance of being meticulous in developing the storyline and how studying journalism shaped her communication style.
-Fran challenges Mary Heather on her “sassy, irreverent, don’t mess with Texas” style, why Country music remains optimistic & hopeful as compared to her peers in pop music and which established artists have influenced her.
-Mary Heather was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age four. She shares with Fran her battle with diabetes, how she pretended she didn’t have it, and how she finally accepted it as a fact of her life and advocates for others who suffer from the disease.
-Fran and Mary Heather talk Dallas Cowboys football and what it will take to win a Super Bowl in Dallas.
-Mary Heather ends the episode with a live performance of her unreleased song Late Night Lonely.
Quotes:
-”What initially drew me to country music actually was listening to The Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces Album.”
-”I see that these people are doing it. I’ve always wanted to do it. Why can’t I take that leap and give it a shot.”
-”If you want something you have to put in the work.”
-”I’m very meticulous about everything adding up.”
-”When it comes to music, fans can tell when you are being true to yourself.”
-”Knowing what I am not good at has been more helpful to my career than anything else.”
-”I wanted to be known as cool or popular. Not the girl with diabetes.”
-”I work at a restaurant so I can write during the day…you gotta do what you gotta do.”
-”I think everyone should find what gets them excited every day and chase that.”
-”I would love to be able to see the Cowboys win a Super Bowl sometime that I actually remember.”
Mary-Heather’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:
-Start every day with a list
-Write everyday to get the creativity going
-Find a few moments of “me time”
This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.