10 Questions with ... Kacey Musgraves

1. In a world where "complete albums" are few and far between, you raised the bar with the release of "Golden Hour." The album includes some new territory for you. How were you able to grow as an artist, while maintaining your fans from your first two albums?

It was very important for me to experiment with new sounds but also keep the parts of country music around that make my music familiar. I purposfully changed teams and searched for the right balance of futuristic elements meeting the traditional. It was also important for me to self-learn how to take a step back and give the lyrics more space -- more of an arial view as opposed to previous albums, where every lyric got wrapped up in a bow. I didn't want to go in a different direction gratuitously. It was about finding balance and feeling my way through the project vs thinking through it. I found myself at some important junctures of the heart while making this album: turning 29 (on the day of the total solar eclipse), assessing the whole last decade, getting married, seeing the political landscape change. I was inspired by good vibrations. I turned inward more than ever and showed more emotion than I've ever shown. It's a very personal album.

2. The critical raves for the album have been off the hook. What has that aspect of the process been like for you?

I only ever chase something creatively because it intrigues me, feels right and true to me. When you do that it (hopefully) resonates with more people because it's genuine. Getting to share something that's truly a genuine display of my feelings very exciting ... a little scary. It makes me want to work hard to give it a long life. The reaction and the love the album has gotten on many different sides of music has made me super-grateful I followed my instincts and broke my own formula.

3. You made your first ever appearance on Saturday Night Live in the spring, with Amy Schumer hosting no less. With such a dynamic duo in the mix, the ratings went bonkers. What was the experience like from your perspective?

I grew up watching Saturday Night Live and being the musical guest has been on my bucket list for a long time. The show was one of the greatest experiences of my career! It's a very well-oiled and classy establishment.

4. Nashville continues to be a magnet for multiple music communities. How has the city changed since you moved there from Texas?

I moved to East Nashville -- sight unseen -- in the late fall of 2008. I was 19. I've seen the city change in many economic and social fashions. I made the move because I wanted to immerse myself in and learn from the Nashville songwriting community and it was the best decision I ever made. I've seen the turnover of many different neighborhoods, the influx of more dream-followers than ever, and a boom in a more cosmopolitan attitude. And it still feels like home.

5. You're not opposed to answering questions and engaging folks on social media. Is that more like fun, or more like work for you?

I take social media with a grain of salt. If it's going to play such a large role in pop culture and society, why not have fun with it?

6. Your album is full of many diverse musical styles and instrumentation. Yet nothing else comes close to sounding like the single, "High Horse." What made you want to stick your toes into the dancier end of the pool?

A myriad of different styles make up my influences. I'm a Texan who grew up learning classic Western swing and traditional Country music while choosing to listen to the Top 40 of the late '90s, while being subjected to my Dad's playlist around the house which included Sade, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, and early Jewel.

Going into making this record I was on a giant Disco kick and I couldn't stop imagining a Western take on that kind of groove. I had the title and general idea floating around and this is what came out when we sat down to write. It was really exciting for me to experiment with combining all these elements together. Disco ain't dead, baby!

7. Speaking of "High Horse," the video is wickedly subversive/excellent. It's almost like an estrogen-fueled episode of "That '70s Show." The karaoke bar portion complete with disco ball seals the deal. How did the concept for the video come together?

I wanted the video to encompass all these different things I see in my head when I hear the song: a Japanese, western, modern-yet-'70s karaoke disco, with a dash of 9-to-5 sprinkled in. I knew I wanted the director to be Hannah Lux Davis. I saw some of her other videos and I just had this feeling that she would totally nail it. I got the chance to sit down with her and her husband and relayed my thoughts and the treatment they sent back was exactly what I was looking for. That video was a complete dream come true and such a joy to shoot!

8. You were on the road this summer with Harry Styles. At first glance, that's not a "typical" pairing. What was that tour like and what were you able to take away from it as a performer?

Playing an opening slot and being of a different "genre" than the headliner can sometimes be a challenge, but I always go into those situations still just doing what I normally do. Harry's fans made sure from the start that we were welcomed with open arms and screamed lyrics and cowboy hats. We had such a wonderful time on that tour and it made me happy to see fans who might normally turn away from something they think represents Country music completely support it.

9. You've also recently made a couple of 'quick' trips to Japan. What was your biggest cultural takeaway?

The level of care, thoughtfulness, detail, and hospitality that is engrained in Japanese culture blows me away. It's such an interesting place -- a place where the very ancient meets the very modern. Anytime there's a juxstaposition of new and old, I'm intrigued, obviously. Plus, aesthetically it feels like you're stuck in a Wes Anderson version of the late '70s or the future or somehow both.

10. Speaking of tours, you've got a big one planned in the beginning of 2019. You're headlining major cities for a solid two-and-a-half months. Quite a way to kick into a new year. What are you looking forward to the most?

Really diving deep into this new album and finding its life in a live setting will be fun for us. We've been on opening slots this whole year, still, and I think there's a lot of new people who are gonna come to the party. I'm excited for that and to go on the road again with fresh songs and a fresh outlook on touring and working hard.

If one artist would cover one of your songs who would it be and which song is it?

I would love to hear Daft Punk completely overhaul any one of my songs! But they'd have to promise to keep in a little banjo.