Kelly Gilmore
Many say love will make you do crazy things, but not often do we talk about the things that being lonely will make you do. Pop-country songstress Erin Grand has continued her momentum of pumping out hit after hit, and her latest single “Lonely Does” pours that hard truth into another incredible song.
“Lonely Does,” which hit listeners’ ears this month, not only offers a catchy tune, but a relatable mantra. The song’s theme addresses how loss in love, whether it be that of a loved one or of a heartbreak, can push you to do things in response to that undesirable feeling.
The strong message has pulled at the heartstrings of many listeners. With ten thousand views on just YouTube alone, fans simply can not get enough of this touching track.
But what led to the creation of such a powerful ballad?
Erin Grand tells Celeb Secrets Country in an exclusive interview that the song came to life as she was planting her roots in Nashville.
“….When I wrote this song, I was traveling to and from Nashville about once a month, so I hadn’t fully moved yet,” explains Grand. “We wrote this in 2019, and it was the first song I wrote in Nashville that truly made me feel like I belonged there. My co-writer, Allie Dunn, had the idea and title, and Lance Carpenter, the other co-writer, and I fell in love with it. Once we started flushing out what the song is now, I realized it was very relatable to me and my past. So technically there wasn’t much inspiration until we really got deep into writing the song and figuring out what it meant, and we found it could either be about a break-up or the heartbreaking loss of a loved one. I had lived and experienced both those stories and emotions in my life.”
Because this song holds so much passion and emotion, fans can be pleased to know that Grand has way more music up her sleeve. The track is just one piece to her upcoming EP Anything But Casual.
The singer-songwriter shared with us that the upcoming EP holds more emotion, more passion and even more of her personality in its tracklist.
“This EP is exactly what the title says! It explains my personality and my music. My sound covers a broad spectrum on this EP, and I think the title just says ‘Hey, I’m anything but keeping things casual.’ There’s always gonna be an element to my personality that’s crazy and a bit of a hot mess and that’s okay!” she says. “I want to show that in my music and everyday life. It’s also a play on the title of one of the other songs on the EP, which makes the whole thing even cooler!”
Celeb Secrets Country sat down with Grand (virtually) to learn more about this exciting upcoming EP and the behind-the-scenes details on her new single.
Check out the full Q&A below and don’t forget to let us know what you think of “Lonely Does” by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @CS_Country.
Celeb Secrets Country: Congrats on “Lonely Does.” What inspired you to write this powerful ballad?
Erin Grand: “Thank you so much! When I wrote this song, I was traveling to and from Nashville about once a month so I hadn’t fully moved yet. We wrote this in 2019, and it was the first song I wrote in Nashville that truly made me feel like I belonged there. My co-writer, Allie Dunn, had the idea and title, and Lance Carpenter, the other co-writer, and I fell in love with it. Once we started flushing out what the song is now, I realized it was very relatable to me and my past. So technically there wasn’t much inspiration until we really got deep into writing the song and figuring out what it meant, and we found it could either be about a break-up or the heartbreaking loss of a loved one. I had lived and experienced both those stories and emotions in my life. ”
CSC: This song really shows off your smooth soulful voice. Have any music artists inspired your sound?
ER: “Absolutely, yes! Maren Morris is my biggest influence vocally and lyrically. I always try to channel my inner Maren when writing and recording, but also stay true in keeping my own unique sound. When people hear me, I want them to hear Erin with just that slight influence of Maren tucked behind it.”
CSC: I’ve read before that you are “unapologetically pop-country.” Have you always gravitated to this genre?
ER: “I would say yes. There is so much back-and-forth today in country music in regards to what’s country and what’s not. Because of that, I’ve always been someone who wants to have that ‘unapologetically’ label, so to say. Don’t apologize for mixing genres. Stand out and be different, and be the one to create the new and ‘what could be!’ There’s so much more opportunity and creativity when you don’t box yourself into one genre and try to follow a specific set of rules. I want my music to be versatile, but also keep my roots strong – which, to me, is country music. That’s why you can always hear a hint of country in everything I do, whether that’s in lyrics or production.”
CSC: Who are your current favorites in the pop-country space?
ER: “My current favorites are Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Dan + Shay, and ALWAYS Keith Urban.”
CSC: Now “Lonely Does” is just one piece to your Anything But Casual EP. What can you tell me about this EP?
ER: “This EP is exactly what the title says! It explains my personality and my music. My sound covers a broad spectrum on this EP, and I think the title just says ‘Hey, I’m anything but keeping things casual.’ There’s always gonna be an element to my personality that’s crazy and a bit of a hot mess and that’s okay! I want to show that in my music and everyday life. It’s also a play on the title of one of the other songs on the EP, which makes the whole thing even cooler!”
CSC: Even before this new EP, you have really turned heads with the release of “Mood” and “Better with Wine.” Do you have a favorite song so far that you have produced?
ER: “I think “Better With Wine” was the most entertaining to work on just because of how crazy and fun the song is. But I will say my favorite hasn’t come out yet. My favorite will be on this EP, and it will release as a single as well!”
CSC: Beyond the new track, “Lonely Does,” can fans anticipate even more music released in the near future?
ER: “They most definitely can! I can’t spill too much, but there is a lot more than just music coming!”
CSC: And for “Lonely Does,” what can you tell us about the music video?
ER: “It’s very raw and emotional and open. I want people to take this song whichever way they feel is most relatable, so the video is simple but open to whatever emotion you feel towards the song. This is exactly what I wanted when I worked with my amazing team on this single.”
CSC: “Since we are Celeb Secrets, is there any behind-the-scenes secret from writing “Lonely Does” that we wouldn’t know just from listening?”
ER: “The song was actually written a couple years ago, which seems like forever ago after the crazy 2020 we all had. We wrote it in my hotel room in downtown Nashville and it took us about 6 hours to write, which is a very long time for a co-write in Nashville, haha. We needed it to be perfect, and we knew we had something good going, so we didn’t wanna rush it or potentially mess it up. This song was also the first song I wrote with Allie and Lance, and it’s pretty safe to say that I keep them on my regular list of co-writers after “Lonely Does” came to be.”
