The Fashionable Feminist Interview: Classic Country Singer/Songwriter Kari Scott

The following interview with me was first published on The Fashionable Feminist back in July of 2011.

The Fashionable Feminist Interview: Classic Country Singer/Songwriter Kari Scott

I am proud and privileged to feature acclaimed classic country singer/songwriter Kari Scott as my first Fashionable Feminist. Although Kari no longer plays live performances, her music is more popular now than ever and has the kind of staying power and universal resonance that transcends both time and place. Take a listen and let me know what your favorite song is. Mine is a tie between "I've Been Everywhere" and "Catch A Little Moonbeam."

When you got your start in the music industry, times were much different for women. How were your songs and performances received? Was it hard to break into the once male-dominated classic country scene?

I was still raising a family when I got really involved with music, mainly country music. Thus I was not free to go back to Nashville to push for a career. I felt my first responsibility was to home and my family.

Country music was mainly male-dominated at the time. Most of the women were in family bands so had pretty much equal billings as soloists and in duets. Other women were given spots with some bands but were limited. A few broke free and became stars in their own right and traveled with small backup bands.

Most singles or groups played clubs in their own area. If they got a record out so they were getting airplay, they would start going to other areas playing their clubs. Travel was usually by car, often station wagons. Ironically a few musicians bought old hearses because they were roomier than cars and had more room in back for their instruments than the trunk of a car.

County and state fairs started bringing in artists to make the fair fuller and more enjoyable. This gave all artists more venues in which to perform. Which, in turn, made them better known thereby gaining more airplay and so on.

It was hard to break into the music industry, period, even for men. But, if you got a good record out you had a decent chance for getting some airplay. Gradually the radio airplay turned pre-recorded, sent out by a big company. So, after that, you had little chance for airplay thus having to rely more on live performances and selling records there.

My performances, I think, were well received. People liked the idea of the live club performances as they could request songs and have them played right then and there. When "Snowbird" was so popular, one night we performed it seven or eight times! When we had done it three or four times and a woman requested it again, I said to her that we had already done it. She said, “I can’t ask Anne Murray to do it again, but I can ask you.” After that, no matter how many times a song was requested, we did it.

Many years ago we used to record a 45 rpm record, mail it to radio stations, ask them to play it, call the station to follow up, then wait for results. Most of the time the records were just used for giveaways of various kinds. And not much airplay… just once in awhile you would get a bit of airplay.

A few years ago I had my records and tapes uploaded onto a computer at a studio and digitally re-mastered to clean up noise. I then released two Cd's (In The Beginning Volume 1 and In The Beginning Volume 2).

The advent of computers, the Internet and digital downloads has enabled my music to be accessed from all over the world. It is extremely exciting to me to know that all of this modern technology has in a sense revived the music industry, especially in the classic country genre. Instead of my music being heard by the people in the small radius of a radio station, people all over the world are now hearing my music. The online social websites allow a person to share their music with a few clicks of a mouse, almost like magic. My goodness how times have changed.

How do your songs appeal to women? Are there any songs in particular that will resonate most with women?

"Tell Me Honey" (copyright Pillar Music BMI), is a song about a woman asking her run-around man to explain his behavior and longing to know if he will ever quit and come home to stay.

"Yes, I’m Just Looking," (copyright Pillar Music BMI), is about a woman in a bar or lounge looking for someone to share her life with and is definite about what kind of man he should be. “Yes, I’m just looking today, so please don’t think I’m forward, as I glance at you over my wine.”

"What Loneliness Is" and "You Know How It Feels To Cry" (both copyright Pillar Music BMI) are both songs about heartache probably after a break-up and the loneliness that settles in when you realize it is over.

"All Of Our Dreams" I think is more about someone left behind after a loved one passes. “Leaves turn, autumn settles in, bringing a sad refrain. Wishing that I could be, back in your arms again.” (copyright Pillar Music BMI).

Were you at all intimidated or apprehensive to cover songs traditionally sung by men? Your version of “I’ve Been Everywhere” is definitely my favorite and although Johnny Cash and Hank Snow did it well, you do it better.

Yes. I was uncomfortable doing a song that was written more for a man. I shied away from most of them, as they were so for a man. Once in awhile you could change a word or two such as his to her and because of how the song was written, it worked out all right.

How would you describe your personal creative process when it comes to songwriting?

When you are writing a song, you can get your ideas from anywhere including personal experience. For me, usually a phrase or sometimes a sentence or two will come, usually with a melody. I try to write it down immediately because the idea can slip away just as quickly as it came. I may or may not be able to go on from there right away. That is why most songwriters have at least one notebook with these ideas written in, waiting to be finished.

After I think a song is complete, I put it aside for a few days or weeks before going back to it and thinking about it to see if it is the way I want to leave it. When I am satisfied that it is complete, I copy it over then copyright it, then register it with BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) and it is ready for recording and production.

How does it feel to have your original songs featured in film?

Having two of my self-penned songs and a cover included in Indy film noir style comedy Quiet Shoes was quite an honor. It is gratifying to know that strangers liked the songs well enough to include them. The movie premiere had an excitement in the air that was contagious and made for even more enjoyment, especially since most of my family was able to be there sharing in it.

What does it mean to be a fashionable feminist? How do you use your musical talents to empower women?

Well, I don’t know how fashionable I am. I am not a card-carrying feminist. However, I do strongly believe in the empowerment of women and women’s issues. Many times I have written my state legislators and congressmen about issues I felt should be addressed for women.

What are five fabulous things about being you? What are you most thankful for in life?

1) I have always tried to be honest and trustworthy. To me, that is one of the most important things in a person’s life.

2) I have always tried to be a good and loyal friend.

3) I think I have a reasonable sense of humor.

4) Although my passion is classic country, I have developed an appreciation for all types of music.

5) I realized fairly early in life that I could do a little bit of a whole lot of things and I knew a little bit about a whole lot of things but I really wasn’t an expert in anything. But I accepted that because had I spent the time to become an expert, if indeed I could have become an expert, I would have missed out on so many other things.

I am so thankful for having been given good health throughout my life; for being a fairly intelligent person; for having been given good parents who taught me the honest basics of life and cared for me giving me a good foundation for my life; for having been given common sense; for having good friends all through my life. To top it all off is having a wonderful family, i.e. my husband, my children and grandchildren. They are the best.