Q&A: Tish Melton's 'When We’re Older' Journey
SINGER-SONGWRITER TISH MELTON’S NEW EP When We’re Older , emerges from years of introspection and collaboration with Brandi Carlile. Crafting songs like "The Chase," Melton delves into themes of unrequited affection and teenage angst with raw honesty and evocative musical arrangements.
Guided by Carlile's mentorship, Melton's journey as an artist takes flight, driven by a shared commitment to authenticity and storytelling. As she prepares to perform at Brandi Carlile's Girls Just Wanna Weekend in 2024, Melton's music serves as a testament to the transformative power of vulnerability and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Through When We’re Older , Melton invites listeners on a profound journey of self-discovery, reminding us of the beauty found within our own vulnerabilities. As she navigates the complexities of love, loss, and self-discovery, Melton's music resonates as a beacon of hope and empowerment in an ever-changing world.
LUNA: Congratulations on the release of your new EP! Can you give some insight into the making of the project?
MELTON: This EP was years in the making. A lot of the songs I wrote my sophomore and junior year, so the fact that I am putting them out now speaks to how proud I am of this record. I collected about 20 songs, all written from my bedroom floor, and shared them with Brandi. We narrowed them down to five and got into the studio to record, finishing in less than a week. I’m super excited to circle back to some songs that we chose to exclude from the EP; hopefully I can put some of those out too.
LUNA: "The Chase" is described as an angsty and teenage ode to unrequited affection. How did you approach capturing the essence of these emotions in both the lyrics and the musical arrangement?
MELTON: Lyric-wise, I think “The Chase” is some of my most honest songwriting. I didn’t try to do anything fancy or over the top; I just wrote how I was feeling in the moment - and in the moment, I was feeling hurt and petty and angry. In the studio, the production really translated those feelings, especially with the guitar. I remember wanting it to sound super muddy, so Brandi and I turned it up to the loudest setting and just played. It was so fun to watch the song come together from there
LUNA: You've received praise for your sharp-witted lyricism and direct songwriting. How do you navigate expressing vulnerability and authenticity through your music while also maintaining a sense of empowerment?
MELTON: To me, the ability to showcase my vulnerability through my songwriting and the feeling of empowerment are not far off from one another. I sometimes feel my most powerful when I am saying how I feel plainly and without any barrier of protection. It takes a lot of courage to write with vulnerability - or just honestly - especially when I know that a lot of people will hear my music and know how I feel. But a sense of empowerment always comes from leaning into my most vulnerable, authentic self, so I really try to write honestly and bravely.
LUNA: Working with Brandi Carlile as your producer must have been an incredible experience. How did her mentorship and musical influence shape the creative direction of "The Chase" and your upcoming projects?
MELTON: Working with Brandi has been one of the honors of my life. I think her guidance - musically and otherwise - has informed my life into a direction that I never thought possible. She’s a genius and a giver; she is all over this EP and helped me figure out what I wanted my sound to be and how I wanted to introduce myself and my music to the world. However, I think she has impacted me most by just believing in me. I approach songwriting and performing so differently now, knowing that she’s in my corner. I have never felt like an outsider or like I didn’t belong when she’s around, and I’m so grateful to get to be a small part of her musical legacy; I hope to remain a part of it and work with her for future projects, too.
LUNA: Your musical journey seems deeply intertwined with your personal experiences and family background. How does being raised by formidable mothers like Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach influence your perspective on storytelling and creativity?
MELTON: Being raised by people who live extraordinary lives and do extraordinary things just gave me permission to dream and work towards being extraordinary. Although my moms aren’t in the music world, their creativity drives my own, and I have always felt supported in my goal of being creative for a living.
LUNA: How have you seen your music evolve the past year?
MELTON: It’s sort of hard to answer this question, especially because I’ve been so focused on these five songs for the past year. However, I’ve just recently began writing again, and I’m thinking about so much more than just songwriting. When I write a song, I’ve started to hear harmonies and background vocals, drums and electric guitar rather than just lyrics. The possibilities of how a song can sound feel endless.
LUNA: As a young artist, what aspirations do you have for your music career, and what messages do you hope to convey to your listeners through your songs?
MELTON: I hope I can create a music career as lasting and as impactful as Brandi’s. I also hope to win some grammys and sell out some really cool venues.
LUNA: Looking ahead, you'll be performing at Brandi Carlile's Girls Just Wanna Weekend in 2024. What are you most excited about regarding this opportunity, and how do you envision your growth as a performer in the coming years?
MELTON: Anything that Brandi leads will be so community-oriented and so much fun. Girls Just Wanna Weekend was no exception; her crowds are always the most supportive and the other artists performing are always the kindest. The most exciting part of the weekend was definitely performing with Brandi - being on stage next to her will never not make me nervous but will always bring me so much joy. In the next couple years, I hope to grow as a performer and get more comfortable on stage by putting myself into situations that may feel scary or uncomfortable at first - like performing “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” in front of thousands of people in leg warmers and a rainbow furry jacket.
