Orla: Okay, hi! So I’m Orla, here with Sippin’ on Country. Today I am interviewing Alyssa Bonagura. Would you like to introduce yourself Alyssa?
Alyssa: Hi! What’s up ya’ll! Nice to meet you, thank you for having me.
Orla: Thank you so much for your time, I appreciate it, because I know it is busy isn’t it?
Alyssa: You’re welcome!
Orla: So, how does it feel to be at the Long Road?
Alyssa: I love being at the Long Road festival, this is a fantastic festival, just… all around. I love the music, I love the hangs, the tents, the food, everything is awesome!
Orla: Definitely, it’s so chilled I feel like. I saw you at Country2Country in March and you did one of the Bluebird sessions that I was at and I remember it was so busy and hectic. But that Bluebird session was nice and chilled because it was quite a small one. And then you come to the Long Road and it’s just so nice and chilled.
Alyssa: It’s so chilled people just love to hang out here. They bring their dogs and their kids and it’s just really lovely. Lovely atmosphere.
Orla: Exactly, and we’ve got lovely weather for it today!
Alyssa: Sunshine yeah!
Orla: And how do you feel performing over here? What do you feel like, how are the crowds over here, different from at home?
Alyssa: You know, I love the UK crowds. The thing is like once you make fans here, they are your fans for life. They love good music and I’ve really felt seen and heard here. That’s why I love coming back. I’ve really started to build something here and I feel really grateful for that.
Orla: Yeah, I feel like as well country music over here has grown so much recently, just over the past few years. It used to be so niche. And I’d go to stuff with my mum because she is a big country fan, and like growing up that’s what I would listen to. I’d be listening to Carrie Underwood or Zac Brown Band and then all of a sudden these tiny gigs – like the Long Road are so busy! This is one of the busiest Long Roads I’ve ever seen. It is so busy.
Alyssa: And I think the UK fans love stories. It is all about the storytelling. So…
Orla: One hundred percent! It’s like I like your song ‘I Make my own Sunshine’ and I love that because it is so inspiring. For your fans obviously it is very personal, and a lot of people can relate to it if they are going through hard times. If I need some inspiration I’m like that’s the song!
Alyssa: Yay!!
Orla: I think my mum even has it in her instagram bio or something! It’s just an inspirational line.
Alyssa: That’s fantastic.
Orla: And that’s why your fans love the music because they have that inspiration.
Alyssa: That’s totally my positive attitude towards life. I just think that in life you kind of have to create your own scenarios. What we speak is really important and powerful, and what we do everyday. And if we say we’re gonna make our own sunshine we can. Even if it’s raining.
Orla: Exactly and we do it. With country music too it is inspiring. It makes you think you know what I’m going to do it. And it gives you the power to get up and go and do it in your way.
Alyssa: That’s true!
Orla: So how does it feel to be a solo performer as well, because you were a duo right? You were the Sisterhood Band.
Alyssa: Yeah I love it. I’ve always had music in my soul. Grew up in Nashville.
Orla: So you’re a musical family?
Alyssa: Yeah, my parents were singers so we grew up on a tour bus together. And I loved harmonies and singing and all that. So it was really fun to be in a band. As a solo artist I get to share my own story. And I get to create the sounds that I hear in my head, you know, how I want to. And it’s really freeing and fun. I think sharing my story is why I was put on this earth, so I feel really grateful that I get to do that.
Orla: Awesome. And how does it feel to be a female artist, in country music? Sometimes we find it harder as there is a lot of focus on male musicians. I am actually doing my dissertation on country music and female empowerment and I just wonder how you feel as a female in the industry?
Alyssa: You know, I think just what we were saying like creating your own sunshine in life is also very important and I think that you… even if there are any adversities you have to kind of push through. And I feel so grateful to be a female in country music. And there have been amazing females in country music before me, you know, and I’m just trying to pave my own road just like they all did for us. You know, I think you have to be a trailblazer and you have to like yeah, you gotta keep pushing through you know, even when somebody says no you say, well, let me show you how.
Orla: And you have to, don’t you? And there’s so many examples. I mean just look at Dolly!
Alyssa: Dolly is a good example!
Orla: It’s inspiring because anybody can do it. It gives you the courage to put yourself out there and really get into it. And you can tell because you have a big support network and it’s lovely. It’s nice to see and nice to see it over here. I bet it’s the same at home where you have a massive support network and then you come over here and it’s nice for the fans to see too, because it means a lot to them, too.
Alyssa: Of course, thank you!
Orla: So you had a new single out, Feels so Good, in July. Are you working on anything else? New albums, or?
Alyssa: Yes! So I have a brand new album. We’re just in the mastering stages of it now, and I’m very exited to finally have it done and finished. You know, I’ve perfected it as much as I can, and now it just needs to get out! I’ve been talking about this for like the last six moths! But it’s actually done! (Both laughing)
Orla: And these things take time as well.
Alyssa: And I went back to the drawing board on the record because I was doing a lot of old songs, that I was trying to make, um… new but I was using old recordings. So what I did with this new record is I just went into the studio, we did everything live. We got it done in two days. And it’s done. That’s the way to do it, get back to the music while you’re doing it. And also back to live music. Our live show is a real thing. When you come to see us live, we interact with each other on stage. We don’t play with tracks, we play on live instruments, our musicians are amazing. You know, Vince Gill told me to always be with players that are better than you. So I’m just trying to be as good as I can around these awesome players!
Orla: And that’s all you can do. And I mean, you’re doing great. And it’s great to see you over here and we can’t wait for the new album! That’s really exiting!
Alyssa: I feel so good! It’s fun!
Orla: It’s a really fun song! Upbeat, and awesome! So we can’t wait for that.
Alyssa: Thank you!
Orla: Have you got any big goals or anything you really want to achieve in the future?
Alyssa: You know, I am on a… a journey of just holistic health at the moment, because I went through some health stuff at the beginning of the year.
Orla: Oh, I’m sorry.
Alyssa: Yeah, but you know, it kind of just realigns you to just wake up and be grateful.
Orla: Of course, and you have to put yourself first too.
Alyssa: Yeah, so I’m putting that first for the next year. And I’m planning my wedding! I’m getting married!
Orla: Congratulations!
Alyssa: To a Welsh man!
Orla: Wow! (To the engagement ring) it’s beautiful!
Alyssa: Yeah! And Steve plays in my band! So it’s really fun.
Orla: I love the ring, it’s beautiful, how exiting.
Alyssa: Thank you! He did good! (Both laugh) New chapter! New music, new life!
Orla: Yes! There are a lot of good things in store for you.
Alyssa: I’m just focusing on the good and grateful to be doing music.
Orla: Definitely. It’s been lovely to talk to you – thank you so much!
Alyssa: You too, you’re so welcome! See you soon!
Alyssa Bonagura and Orla Duffy, Long Road Festival, 24th August. Photo credit: Michelle Fredericks Photos
