Ashley McBryde Talks New Music & Explains Why She Likes Her Albums To Be 11 Songs

New music from Ashley McBryde? Say less.

The great Ashley McBryde joined the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast to talk about coming to Nashville and grinding as a young artist before getting a record deal at 30 years old, growing up in Arkansas with a father who was a doctor and a preacher, how Eric Church played a roll in her success, concept albums, getting sober, her new music and when fans might expect a new album and much more.

And let’s focus in on that “new music” and “new album” part for a moment.

When we sat down with Ashley McBryde in early July, the talented artist was set to go into the studio and check on the new mixes the day after we spoke to her. McBryde also provided us with an update that she was planning on officially dedicating time to her upcoming album in the middle of July:

“I like to put 11 songs on a record. Like I said, this is a different pace. Normally we would pick out 15 or 20 songs, go in and cut everything in three or four days and now we’ve got our record somewhere in here. This time we’re going, ‘This group, this group.’ Maybe I write one tomorrow, and that goes in that group. I’m gonna go listen to mixes tomorrow, and then we get back in the studio with John Osborne July 15.”

If you call yourself a fan of Ashley McBryde, that number “11” comes up a lot. That’s the amount of songs that the country music star typically includes in her albums, and she’s planning on keeping that trend going with the current project she’s working on… unless she gets a sign that one less song will do:

“I like the number 11, and I don’t really know why. 1o seems short, but also, 10 seems really digestible to me right now. I like it to be 11 so even if I have to put a song about ‘Styrofoam’ on there, I will make sure that there are 11 songs. I don’t even know what the definition of a record is… I think if we were to get through the studio time this week and it’s 10 tracks, and we’ve told the story I’ve wanted to tell, then we’re done. “

As a fan of Ashley McBryde myself – and just a music fan in general – 11 songs does seem like the perfect amount to include on an album. Any less and it feels like it’s not complete. Any more and the track list becomes daunting.

And if you are waiting around for an Ashley McBryde double album, or a track list that surpasses the 20-song mark… don’t hold your breath. Even though the “Light On In The Kitchen” singer has people in her ear telling her to do so, she’s not on board with the idea of a 20-plus song album:

“That is something that’s been really interesting to me in a time where more than 20 tracks are going on a record. It’s been really interesting to digest the different ways we all perceive it and the ways we take it in. 

I’m getting advice via email that’s like, ‘If you’re not doing 20-plus tracks, you’re doing a disservice. You’re not doing enough to keep your audience fed all the way until the next record.’ For me, if I was a baby bird, and you just keep shoving stuff (down), then I don’t want you to come back and visit me because every time you do is too much.”

Have to say that I agree with Ashley McBryde on that one.

If you want to hear more from the country music star, make sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or click here.

We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts.

Cheers, y’all.

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