Singer-songwriter Callie McCullough chatted about her new single “What If I Don’t.”
She shared her music and songwriting inspirations and opened up about being a recording artist in the digital age.
Origin of ‘What If I Don’t’ single
On the origin of the single, she shared, “One part tragedy, two parts humor I guess you could say. 2020 happened, and instead of being out touring my new album, I wound up home on my family farm, right around the time I turned another year older…and all of a sudden well-meaning relatives, neighbors, and friends wanted to talk to me about my ovaries and let me know I was running out of time to get married and have a baby.”
“That gets weird real quick,” she admitted. “Right around the time my mom turned to me and said ‘have you ever thought about freezing your eggs,’ I went and sat down by the lake and the first bit of the song just came pouring out.”
Music and songwriting inspirations
Regarding her music and songwriting inspirations, she said, “I think the sounds of my music are in a lot of ways the sum of my influences. I have such a love for traditional country, folk, bluegrass and Celtic music, so those sounds are just inherently part of the way I make music, sing and write melodies.”
“As a songwriter, I’ve written hundreds of songs, but as an artist, I gravitate towards the ones that are telling my story, my life, and what I want to say to the world,” she added.
Future plans
On her future plans, she remarked, “Lots of touring, and lots more new music…and in my dream, a field full of puppies.”
She listed James Taylor as her dream duet choice in music.
The digital age
On being an artist in the digital age, she said, “I certainly appreciate the ability to reach fans across the world with the click of a button, but I’m nostalgic for the days when I spent more time making music and touring, and less time editing TikTok reels.”
“I think the demands the modern industry is putting on artists with social media is directly detrimental to the quality of music being released, and that’s a shame,” she added.
Success
On her definition of the word success, she revealed, “I want my music to reach a lot of people. I want to continue travelling and playing it across the world, meet new audiences and see new places. I’d love to pay my bills with ease, shoe shop without consequence and be able to suntan in Mexico for a month in the winter.”
“I want to make music that means something and leaves something good behind. I definitely want to make art that I am proud of and that stands the test of time. If I can blend that all together into a career, then yeah, that would be my version of success,” she added.
Closing thoughts on ‘What If I Don’t’
“I hope people do not take it all too seriously,” she said. “It is all about giving yourself permission to make choices based on what you truly want, celebrating the moment that you are in and not letting anyone else tell you what you should want. Should is a dirty word…You do you baby, and do whatever makes you happy.”
“What If I Don’t” is available on Apple Music.
To learn more about Callie McCullough and her music, visit her official website, and follow her on Instagram.
