129: Reyna Roberts

On Episode 129, I catch up with rising singer-songwriter Reyna Roberts. I really feel like Roberts has transcendent star potential as an artist. As mentioned, she's really gained a following this past year with the release of "Stompin' Grounds," an anthemic ode to small towns and The South. She of course has stellar pop sensibilities and is armed with powerhouse vocals, but I think what makes "Stompin' Grounds" is really her embracing those country roots and beginnings. She showcases and highlights her own sense of what country is and who country is. I think that's really the key to "Stompin' Grounds." She captures Country as a lifestyle, those Alabama roots, and her unabashed love and appreciation for Country.

During this interview, we talk some about what she has planned for her full-length debut album, songwriting, song inspiration, piano lessons growing up, and the dialogue that is taking place about diversity and women in country music and the meaningless barriers and gatekeeping in country music.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

Interview Transcript

Note: Transcripts aren’t always accurate since they are computer automated and haven’t been edited for spelling, grammar, etc.

Thomas Mooney 0:02

Everyone, welcome back to New slang. I'm your host and music journalist Thomas Mooney. Of course, this right here is Episode 129, where I'm joined by rising singer songwriter, Raina Roberts, I spoke with Reina a couple of weeks back on the phone, you know, those people you meet, and you just kind of feel their energy, their energy just kind of transcends whatever medium you're communicating through. She's very much that kind of individual. And you just feel her bubbly personality and her energy. And it's just kind of refreshing. I think it's really easy to forget some of the the fun aspects of all of this, because often we are talking about serious subjects. And that's not to say that we didn't cover some serious ground here, but it's just really refreshing, talking with someone who is just so just really excited about all of this. And yeah, I mean, it's it's really easy to see why Raina has become one of these rising country artists that have really just emerged out of this year and gained a footing. I know her two latest singles last year's 67 Winchester, and this year stomping grounds. They aren't officially quote unquote, her debut material. But for all intents and purposes, they are our proper introduction, if you will, like in the artists ranges, early years have been filled with experimenting and honing in on what she wants to be as an artist and what kind of music she's wanting to make. And obviously, that's an ongoing process. And there's most definitely a pop sense to what she's doing. She has really great sensibilities to that. But she's also begun to embrace more and more country aspects to her music and, and a perfect example of that is stomping grounds for latest single, it is country embracing, which is not just country music embracing, I think it's key to understand like she's also embracing those roots, her her southern Alabama roots. And she's talking about country lifestyle country as a place as a place of mind, a place that you're from. And that's all really important too. I think her her development as an artist. Obviously, the song is very anthemic in nature, and it's incredibly infectious. And it taps into those very familiar themes of small hometowns. And like I said, Raina, she spent a lot of her youth in Alabama, and you'll hear like, you hear in the song that she mentions Roll tide, which I think is just kind of like this little funny, little personality added into the song, you know, again, like I said, like I really enjoyed talking with with Raina about, you know, country music and her songwriting and her craft and her being so early on in her career. And I just think she's going to really be doing some really monumental things in, in music, and I say music in general, not as a gatekeeping kind of way, which we do talk about in the interview. But I think she's really going to transcend just being labeled as a quote unquote, country music artists, because I do think she's just filled with so much potential and talent and just, obviously, an amazing personality and a great singing voice. And, and yeah, I don't know, I just think she's going to be doing some really amazing things here in the near future. Today's presenting sponsor is desert door, Texas SoTL. If you know anything about me, it's probably that I'm from the heart of West Texas and absolutely love everything about West Texas. And that's really why I love desert door so much. You may be asking yourself what exactly SoTL is, well, it's a premium spirit that's similar to a tequila or a Moscow, but for my money. It's a little bit more refined and smooth. There's a sweetness and faint hints of vanilla and citrus and it's also as versatile as your garden variety vodka. At its core desert door is authentically West Texas, they go out and harvest Soto plants from the wild and bring them back to their distillery over in driftwood, Texas. So next time you're at your local liquor store, get a bottle of desert door. For more info, check this episode's show notes. If this is your first time listening to new slang, I strongly suggest hitting that subscribe link. If you just did, I'm giving you a virtual High Five right now. New slang is over on iTunes, Spotify, Google podcast, Stitcher, radio, and basically any and everywhere you listen to podcasts. Go check out the new slang merch store. Grab a koozie some stickers, buttons and magnets. Any bit helps. I'll throw a link into the show notes. And if you're into playlist, go check out Tom Rooney's cup of coffee and the neon Eon playlist over on Spotify. neon, Neon is for all Uranus stategic 90s country needs, which there's going to be more neon Eon related stuff coming your way pretty soon. And then Tom mooneyes cup of coffee is a regularly updated mix of new Americana and country music. It's also a really great hint who I have coming up on the podcast. So yeah, go follow those. Alright, I think that just about does it for the intro. Let's go ahead and get on to the interview here is rayna Roberts. Yeah, well, let's just start off with you released stomping grounds just this year, and it feels like that was a really big, kind of watershed moment for you.

Reyna Roberts 5:41

You know, you're getting crazy. Yeah, I get it.

Thomas Mooney 5:44

I was just gonna say, you know, you're getting like, a lot of buzz online, on on Instagram and on Twitter and getting a lot of shout outs from people were established in the, the country music industry and stuff. What was like, I guess, like that whirlwind of releasing the song, and then actually, you know, there actually being a really positive really a lot of people gravitating to it and whatnot.

Reyna Roberts 6:13

Amazing, especially because it's like, the day I released the song is the same day that Rolling Stone kills the article. So it was like that. And then it was so many other things like backs back to back, it seemed like every day, every day, I'd be like, wow, this is I don't even know if anything better can can pop what just happened. And then something like more blessings just kept coming and coming. So yeah, knows, it was a whirlwind. It was a lot, but I'm just thankful that people even liked it in the first place.

Thomas Mooney 6:46

Yeah, I mean, I, I can probably feel like, you know, when you release a something that that that you're putting out there that there's a second where you're not sure how people are going to take it like, Oh, yeah, so like, there's that like, that moment of maybe you going like, is there a way to stop this train? Like, like, I don't know, if it's ready or something, you know. And then when you finally do get out, there's that sense of relief, and you just kind of put it in everyone else's hands to take it.

Reyna Roberts 7:21

Honestly, for me, I never get the release part. It's always like, oh, my goodness, are people gonna like this? I really hope so. Let's see what happens. And then, and then the release, but I never feel like there's Like who? Okay, I did it. I'm just like, okay, what's next? What's next? For me to do? I always feel like I need to be doing something or pushing to get things done. So, maybe one day though, I'll be like, okay, I did that. There we go.

Thomas Mooney 7:51

I don't know. It's, it's important to like, take those moments. Because like, I feel I get what you're saying, because like, you're gonna be like, well, I need to I need to work, start working on the next thing. I need to start doing other things. Because this just can go, you know, and like, just like appreciating that moment, but are trying to, I think like one of the things about that song that resonated with people is that you're talking about hometowns, and you're talking about, you know, like you said, like your stomping grounds, like you're talking about things that there's a nostalgic factor. And I think that so much of music ties to the nostalgia of like where your home is. Where was like, I guess like framing that song like the idea where did Where did that first start? And like what was the the process of, you know, actually writing the song,

Reyna Roberts 8:45

creating it? Well, I just got to Nashville, Southern California. I live in Nashville now. But at the time, I signed to Nashville, and that was my producer, Noah. And we both wrote the song together. And he came up with this really, really cool riff. And he had just moved into his new his new house as a family. So he didn't have anything in his in the studio setup. This is me, him and a guitar and like, a whole empty room that was just like to do to be a guest. And he did this really cool, like guitarist and I was like, No, like, what is that? I was like, I want that, whatever that is right there. I'm like, that sounds like me. And he's right, right, right. Let's do it. So he can't play in it. And I looked through my phone. I was looking through my song titles, because I'll write a whole bunch of song titles. And I'm like, okay, maybe one day I'll use this. And so I saw stomping grounds, and I was like, oh, my goodness, this is so perfect. And I was like, no, what do you think of this? And he was like, I think I like this other title. I'm like, No, but he's like, okay, let's see. And then we just started writing. And I was thinking about my mom and our family. Leanne and her life in Alabama in my life in Alabama. And it kind of just went from there. Honestly. It's it's funny because we were talking about Roll Tide because my mom went to the University of Alabama. And all over our houses, University of Alabama everywhere. Sounds like no, we got to say, Well, fine. He's like, Alright, let's do it.

Thomas Mooney 10:29

Yeah, like I caught that Roll Tide. And I was like, Oh, she's, she's one of these Alabama fans that have never losing football ever. So

Reyna Roberts 10:41

I know, right?

Thomas Mooney 10:42

It's a, I don't know, it's like being it's one of those things where like, I'm all my sports teams. I have like, one championship. It all like any sports fandom. And like, of course, we can have like the Yankees or the Lakers. And I'm like you guys do not understand. Like what it is to be on the other side. So like that one championship just like means the world to us. But I digress. This episode is in part brought to you by the blue light live here in Lubbock, Texas, there is a way to help a support blue light, and B get a sense of that normalcy by visiting blue light lubbock.com clicking on the merge tab, and getting some koozies a vast array of T shirts and caps. And yes, even a blue light flag. While it is such a bummer that live music is still on hold right now. I'm telling you by getting some blue light live merge, we're gonna feel better. It just feels better wearing a T shirt and ballcap and helping support your favorite board. Again, that's blue light. lubbock.com click on the merge tab. Get some merge. All right, back to the episode. You know, like, like, this seems like? It seems like right now you're probably working on on a larger project.

Oh, yeah. So like, What? What's the plans there? What is like your What? What are you thinking as far as going like next? Yeah, what's what's next for you?

Reyna Roberts 12:21

Right now, I'm actually working on a music video for stomping grounds. And I'm super excited about it. One of my friends, his name is Matt Cohen. He's an actor and director. And he's on like, a few. funny because he's on a few shows that I watched before we became friends. And now he's directing my music video with my other friend Jason man. So we're getting ready for that. And at the same time, I'm just like writing a whole bunch of songs. So a lot of songs, a lot of CO writes that I've been really enjoying, and I'm excited about. And I can't wait to like, record all the songs and put them out. But that's what I'm doing right now. Just basically creating a whole bunch of new material and getting ready for some engrafting music video.

Thomas Mooney 13:10

Yeah, what like, what is the, you know? Like, I guess like what is like, you're not that you have like a necessarily a magic number, like, What number do you kind of want to get to as far as like songs before you go? Alright, let's start, you know, dwindling these down to what makes a an EP or a record or whatever the case?

Reyna Roberts 13:31

Oh, man, that's hard. I want to say honestly, like 12 probably, I want to have 12 songs that I can't stop listening to, like 12 songs that makes me want to listen over and over and over again. And that makes me say I want to sing these songs for the rest of my life. So once I once I hit those 12 songs, and that's when I'll be comfortable, I think comfortable enough to release them.

Thomas Mooney 13:59

Yeah, it seems that like you know, you you are like really attached to like, I guess like your pant like the piano is likely a really a focal point for you. You've been playing it for most of your life and everything. Is that where a lot of songs start out for you on the piano.

Reyna Roberts 14:21

Oh, when I first started writing guess I would just sit on the piano. And then I would just start writing there from there. But since I've over the years, sometimes it's on piano but a lot of times now I'll just be like singing around the house and I'll be like in the kitchen, like making food and I'll just be singing about some random like, Oh, that's cool. Let me write a whole song based on like this one riff or just this one line I just said and that's that's usually how the song starts. But yeah, sometimes I start just by singing some random stuff. or sitting down on the piano and really feeling something already having in mind something that I want to, I want to sing about something I want to express.

Thomas Mooney 15:10

Yeah, you know, like one of the things that I guess I picked up on, for a lot of songwriters has been, I think we, we just kind of talk about the songwriting as like, when you're at an instrument, when you have the pen and paper, and you're writing the song, it's like that just being the the writing process. And it feels like, we just kind of dismiss all that time beforehand. We're like that song, like, whatever that idea is, that is kind of just like stuck in your head, and you just can't get it out. And it seems like for you, you know, like, that what it is that gets stuck in your head is like you just kind of, for lack of a better term, kind of just like mess it around. And like, when you're doing other things.

Reyna Roberts 15:53

You know what I mean? Like? Yeah, absolutely, exactly. I mean, I feel like, I definitely know what you're talking about. And I agree, I feel like we always talk about, like, sitting down being ready to write the song, as opposed to just being in the moment. And that's how most of my songs start. When I'm when I'm by myself, if I'm not writing with other people, I get most of my inspiration from watching movies, watching TV shows, reading books, and then it'll, you know, it'll ignite something in me that I'm like, oh, my goodness, that was an awesome line, I want to write a whole story about that, or a relationship that I see on TV, or the feeling I get from watching the characters. And then I'll just start from right there. Just start singing to it, see if anything cool comes out. And if it does, and I just, I go from there. And if not, well, then, you know, just go to the next idea. But I'm not always like, sitting down or doing, like, prepared to write the song. I'm just, you know, seeing whatever feels the best.

Thomas Mooney 17:00

Yeah, I feel like we it's partly because, like, some songs have been written this way and everything. But it feels like we just kind of romanticize the idea of like, you just kind of being so effortless for a song to happen. And it's like, No, you know, like, just like,

Reyna Roberts 17:20

yeah, you Oh, no,

Thomas Mooney 17:21

I was just gonna say like, just kind of like that effortless kind of just like Too Cool For School. Kind of like, Yeah, I just did this. It just came out this way perfectly. And, you know, like, it feels like that you have to kind of give yourself an allowance to just not feel like right, so we're not judging yourself.

Reyna Roberts 17:45

Yeah, I take it very, very seriously.

Thomas Mooney 17:48

Yeah.

Reyna Roberts 17:50

I feel like me personally. I mean, I've been around writers, you can just like, it is effortless for them. And they're just like, going and going. And I'm like, how did you do that? For me, it's very different. Sometimes. When if I'm at a piano, and I can possibly write a whole song like during, like, 510 minutes. Sometimes, though, I have an idea. And I have the story. But I'm like, Okay, this can go three different ways. Which way do I want to? Do I want to go so I, it's kind of it's kind of a long process, but sometimes I'll write a whole song, three different ways to see like, what story I like the most or what feels the best, and then I'll choose that one that I liked the most. And that, you know, sometimes that'll take a week, or that'll take two weeks for one song, but for me, I'm like, if it's an if it turns out an amazing song. In my opinion, I know I'm biased, but then it takes a week for me as long as it comes out. You know, the way that makes me feel? Then I'm like, okay, mission accomplished. Yeah, I feel like it's, for some people, it is effortless. But for me, I'm not one of those people.

Thomas Mooney 19:04

See, I also think that like they're lying to us like is hard and like they they've just like I don't know, been putting all the practice and just don't show that slide. I find that really interesting that you say you know, if you're writing a song and it feels like you're you've got like different outcomes for the song you can go that three or four different ways or whatever the case that you will go that route you will go every route and kind of exhaust that as an exercise and then kind of go back and and go Okay, well this one actually works the best or this one is what makes me feel the most. I find that really interesting. When did you start I guess, did Have you always kind of done that? Or is that something that you eventually just kind of went I need to like do this. I need to exhaust every every avenue.

Reyna Roberts 19:58

I feel like once I see Already, once my ideas started kind of evolving, and me personally, I feel like started getting better, better, better stories, better song ideas, then it turned into, okay, this can be taken multiple ways, or this story can go can have different versions. And I'm like, but I like this version, but I like this version too. Which one do I want? I'm like, Okay, let me just write out both. And then, at the end of that, see which one I liked the most. And I'll usually just ask my parents, I'll be like, hey, which one do you like more, and you know, then I'll end up choosing what everybody feels like is the best. Because even though for me, I'm just like, I want to tell the best story. It also has to speak to other people. It also has to be universal. So I usually get other opinions. And I'll be like, okay, I'll do that one. That's the way to go. When I when I'm undecided. Well, it's hard for me to choose.

Thomas Mooney 20:57

Yeah, that's always interesting, too. Because I think sometimes what you feel is best, it's because like, you're so connected to it. And maybe it's latched on to you in a way that where it's so personal, we're so close to you, that like other people are like, I didn't understand what are they? Like, they only got half the message or whatever the case. And sometimes it does take that other outside view to at least understand, like, make sure like, it's, it's all being able to be understood and processed by other people cohesive?

Reyna Roberts 21:34

Yeah, absolutely. And that's why that's why I know sometimes I feel like I'm able to know when a song is personal to me. And if a song is more universal, like some, someone out in a totally different small town, can understand what I'm saying. And also feel what I'm saying, then, you know, that song is universal, as opposed to a song just being for me and me alone.

Thomas Mooney 22:03

Yeah, like, it's it's so weird, because like, in saying all that, like sometimes when you're like, super personal or super specific, that's what makes it universal. And it feels like that shouldn't be the the way. But it's like, sometimes when you're so detail oriented or so specific to a certain idea. That's what like what people go, Oh, well, that's actually it's actually something that's universal and not specific.

Reyna Roberts 22:28

I don't know that that's what you mean. Yeah. No, no. You mean, I feel like it depends on I guess it just depends on how, how specific it is how relatable also. And I think that's what makes it universal, if you can be relatable, and tell a story that millions of other people might have experienced, but like in a different way, in a new way, in your own way, then. My guess is specific but universal at the same time, maybe I don't know.

Thomas Mooney 23:00

Yeah. But yeah, like I said, like, it's just like, it sounds like it's, it shouldn't be true, but it is, you know. wanted to talk to y'all one more time about our new partners at Desert door and offer up a handful of my favorite ways to drink it. Do you a Mexican Coca Cola, have a couple of swigs. Then pour yourself some desert door oak aged in, toss in a lime wedge or two? Or how about this, pour some desert door into a mug, top off the glass with some ginger beer, squeeze in a lime. Or for Are you ranch water drinkers out there, get you a topo Chico, take a couple of polls off. And then pour in some desert door. Toss in a couple of lime wedges. And now you have a mighty tasty and refreshing ranch water. Remember, Soto is as versatile as vodka and has a more refined, smooth and a more complex palate than tequila. It's rich and balanced. And then whatever your go to drink is it'll make it that much better. And again, it's inherently West Texas, it tastes like home. For more info on desert door, check our show notes. Alright, that's it for Thomas Mooney, his cocktail minute. Let's get back to the show. One of the things that you mentioned earlier and also it's it's something that a songwriter in these modern times, like you have access to your phone, you're able to like record those voice demos, you're able to, you know, just record melodies or ideas or jot down lines or whatever the case is. It seems that like you have like been able to utilize like not only that for songwriting, but I've read that like you you've talked about, you know, you reaching out to people on on social media and utilizing it as the platform's for helping yourself in in your career, versus just you know, also just using it for fun. A lot of us uses like, all social media for fun, but it feels like you've been able to also utilize the the industry I hate saying the industry but like the industry side and what is I guess? Like, what did how did you get into doing that too as far as like just knowing like, don't be afraid to like send a message to someone?

Reyna Roberts 25:19

Oh, I think, well, it's like when you, you have this dream and you want to make that dream happen, but you don't have the connections you don't know, you don't know people in the music industry, how do you connect with people. I mean, you can post on social media and on YouTube. But there's millions of other people doing that as well. So you have to try and think of new avenues, new ways to connect with people. And so for me, I would go and look up my favorite songs, my favorite artists and their songs, and look up their producers and songwriters, and research. Like what their socials are in, in their managers and their teams now reach out to them to see if they'd be interested in having a meeting with me, or having a writing session. And it's funny, because, you know, I'd send out like 2030 emails, or dm, and like, in a day or two and maybe get like, two responses back. But sometimes those two responses are responses that can change your life. So that was, that's how I went about that. And I mean, it is a little intimidating, because you're like, I don't know, if this person's gonna say yes, it's a lot of rejection. But I feel like in I don't even want to say rejection, but some, those experiences, like you learn, you just grow and you become stronger. And I feel like sometimes people get intimidated by hearing No, or putting themselves out there. But that's the only that's the only way you move forward.

Thomas Mooney 26:53

Yeah, like, that's how I felt like as, as a leader, when I read that, as a journalist, I immediately knew what you're talking about. Because so much of what I do, when I'm reaching out, like just exam, for example, this interview here, I reached out to our team, and it was like one of those things where, like, I have no connection to your team at all. So it was just like, you know, a blind email, but I also send blind emails to people because it's like, what do they like, the worst that's going to happen is the the know, or, you know, like, the just like the lack of response. And like, that's, but you're not going to know until they say so. It is such a it's such a vibe before you hit that send your there's like that, that moment that like, oh, should I do this or not? And you reread it like three or four times the fixture? You sound competent? And, yeah, but also at the same time, I would say that, like, I think people would be surprised that like so many emails are out there. Like a lot of these people are reachable, you know, so it just takes like that homework in the I bet like this kind of work has been really beneficial during this time when you aren't able to meet all these people actually in person that or like in that organic kind of like we're both at the same place kind of way. Has that been an added bonus? Like since we've been in this like weird strange quarantine 2020 time?

Reyna Roberts 28:30

I think it's been interesting. It's, it's definitely led me to think about different ways to connect with people to even though people are at home. Because you're also probably getting you know, a lot more a lot more emails and stuff from other people because their own too, you know what I mean? So, I don't even know if I answered your question for real. But, um, I think I think I've been able to connect to a lot A lot, a lot more people just in a different way.

Thomas Mooney 29:05

You know, I was reading about how like you as a kid you were you know, reading or like listening to a lot of the the the classic like 90s country kind of stuff and like singing along to people like the chicks. And what was it that I grabbed that made you gravitate towards chick songs?

Reyna Roberts 29:26

Probably my parents playing them. Because, you know, I was I was three for me. No, my mom's doing here playing chicks album and congressional Wilson and my dad's playing all these other albums. That's just what's in my environment. And what they played all the time and so you know, them playing that music is is the reason I love it.

Thomas Mooney 29:49

Hmm, yeah, I you know, I think that like that Gretchen Wilson when she like, I guess like her first record that kind of like broke. I think like people don't like realize Just how influential and like important that record was for like, What? What's going on in country music today? As far as like? I don't know, like, I guess like the A lot of you can see a lot of lines from like artists now back to her as a, like, when she first like broke into the scene.

Reyna Roberts 30:23

You know, like, and I think she's got a lot of women a lot of people in general, you know, pushing the envelope breaking barriers.

Thomas Mooney 30:33

Yeah, well, obviously, like, right now, in country music, we have all these, like, these barriers, these gatekeepers of making it as like, just pure white male as possible. And obviously, like, we're seeing a lot of, I guess, dialogue, and a lot of like, conversation about like, country music needs to be more accepting to just everybody. But like, I think like, all that conversation is great. Do you think that like, the fact that we are kind of stuck at home right now has opened that up a little bit more? And do you feel like maybe also the same time? Like, it's still like a waiting game? Because like, it's not like, Where? Maybe like, it's, it's all in kind of like bad faith in a way because like, we don't have like, there's no shows to, to show that like, Oh, you know, that we do have a lot more. We've got shows that are like, I guess we're we've got what I mean? Yeah, well, more diversity, more diverse show lineups, and obviously, all that kind of stuff. I know, that was like a rambling question, but what are your thoughts on I guess? Like, what is your thoughts as a Black Country artists and a woman in country?

Reyna Roberts 32:04

Um, I want to say that, definitely, I mean, being a woman in general, in country music is already it's already difficult. And you don't, you don't really see many black women in country. Like, if you were to go and ask any country music fan, like how many black women in country? Can you name it? They're probably gonna have a little bit of a difficult time. But I think it's, I think it's great that people are at least, like you said, having a dialogue and are at least trying to be more diverse. I mean, when you look at, like, for me, personally, I wasn't sure how people would accept me. Because one, I mean, one thing, not just being a black woman in country, but like from my red hair to the way that I dress. It's not it's not quote unquote, like, particularly country, but I mean, Benji disease countrywide. Like, I feel like I want to break barriers like country doesn't have just one look, and I don't just mean race, but like style. It's a round the world you know what I mean? And I want to help bring that to people's attention. That country doesn't just have one, one look.

Thomas Mooney 33:24

Right. Yeah. Like it's it's so weird, because I guess like in with within country music, I think that so much of like this, so much of everything is tied to quote unquote, tradition. And in some ways, like, that's really great, because it's like, it influences the new generations of like, what they think country music sounds like, but it also at the same time, it creates this like, like I said, kind of like those the gatekeepers of like, well, this isn't country and this is and no, this is and this is actually like more Americana. And it feels like like that's just I've always kind of said like that's just really exhausting. Trying to like be that but also like on the the like the industry level. Just going to the fact that like a lot of women aren't played on radio is just right, ridiculous, because some of our greatest artists in America are women, country artists, and they're just not played on the radio nearly as much as men and it feels like some of these guys on the radio. They're just like we're force fed them no matter what. So I don't

Reyna Roberts 34:45

like a lot of a lot of the legends in the country are women. And I think I mean, the only way we can do is open the conversation more and keep pushing to have more women on radio. Other than being silent or? or trying to, you know, brush it off or just put it away put it on the back burner.

Thomas Mooney 35:09

Mm hmm. Yeah. Like, I guess like, what, what I've been kind of thinking about right now it has been the and you see this across America, regardless of if it's just country music or not, it's kind of like the since our culture is so I guess like, like the 24 hour news cycle, the rapid fire if you just kind of like ignore it, or if you go Yeah, yeah. You just hope it disappears within 48 hours. And I'm what I worry like that. That is like what a whole lot of people in pa in power and in charge are hoping for that we just kind of ignore it, or are you okay with him? Just saying Yeah, and then just kind of shutting up

Reyna Roberts 35:59

and then following through. I think that there's been too much movement and too much attention and to too many people progressing for, for them to, you know, not not keep pushing forward? In my opinion.

Thomas Mooney 36:21

I hope so. Because I mean, like, it's just like one of those things where, you know, you, you kind of see it all the time, as far as just like, hoping we forget about whatever the case or getting like tired of the that news story, because like people even got tired of like the the pandemic story, right, as far as like, yeah, we're just kind of tired of being inside and like, you just thought you started seeing people stop like being quarantined, or like, held inside their houses. And we're like, just now I'm going to the store. We're opening up and kind of like, what, like, how? I didn't know, you could get tired of this like?

Reyna Roberts 37:02

Yeah, no, no. I mean, I pray that that, I mean, I feel like we're, we're evolving with women in country. But at the same time, I don't even know if I'm the best person to ask, because realistically, I've only been pursuing my career in country music for like, year and a half, two years. So I'm not as experienced, I haven't been in it as long as a lot of other women. So I wouldn't even necessarily be the best person to ask because I haven't experienced all of them.

Thomas Mooney 37:41

Yeah, no, I understand what you're saying. Like, yeah, it's, it's, it's such I feel like sometimes, and maybe I am putting you like, in a bad spot right here. But it's no, I think of like, sometimes where we, like you're not like the necessarily the authority for everybody. Right? I guess that's what you're kind of saying or like, and sometimes you just kind of are asked that just simply because, you know, you you. You're connected to it in a lot of ways, but I don't know.

Reyna Roberts 38:17

I never mind. I don't mind when people ask at all. It isn't. I mean, I don't I don't feel like it does. Just in my personal experience. I'm like, all these women who have been doing it for years and years. I don't want to detract from anything that that they've experienced, or or Yeah, anything that they've experienced, because they've had a lot more time in it than I have. You know what I mean?

Thomas Mooney 38:49

Yeah. Well, you know, it's, it's been really great talking with you. I really am excited to hear what you have coming forward. I think that what you you've been doing is really great. So yeah, it's been great talking with you. And hopefully we can do this again. Once. Yeah, you'd have more material out and we can talk about those songs. crame Yeah, absolutely in please.

Okay, that's it for this one. Thanks so much for listening. Thank you to Rainer Roberts for taking the time for the conversation. Remember to hit that subscribe button. If you haven't just yet. Check out the new slang, Patreon and the merch store. I just added some new t shirts go stop by our presenting partners over at Desert door and the blue light live. Alright, that just about does it. I'll see y'all next week for more Newsline

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