10 Questions with…Corey Wagar

12 years ago Liv Carter 1

Young New Jersey country-rock artist Corey Wagar has hit radio with the fun ‘I Hate My Boyfriend.’ During her recent trip to Nashville, we sat down to get better acquainted.

1. Why did you chose a country music career?
I grew up listening to it. I grew up in New Jersey and country music was not cool. It’s still not cool out there. All my friends were listening to the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and Nsync. When I was in the 3rd grade my uncle forced me to listen to the Dixie Chicks Fly album. At first, I didn’t want to but one day I opened my mind and my ears and loved it. What I mainly fell in love with is how every song tells a story and it’s real. It’s believable and relatable. My dad also listened to the Eagles and Kenny Rogers so I kind of fell in love with my family’s music. I guess I was country when it wasn’t cool!

2. Who were your earliest influences?
Definitely the Dixie Chicks. The Eagles and Kenny Rogers because I remember listening to them in the car with my dad. The Eagles’ ‘Take it on the Run’ was one of the first songs I learned to play on my guitar. The later I got into Rascal Flatts.

3. What is your best musical memory?
The coolest memory for me is doing a benefit concert here in Nashville. My producer’s nephew passed away and they do a big concert for him every year, the Dustin Wells’ Gift of Music Benefit. Two years ago I was just starting out recording with Kent [Wells]. The Rascal Flatts song ‘Bless the Broken Road’ had really hit home with me. I was standing backstage and suddenly heard them starting to play that song. I just stood there, in the moment, watching it. Chills the entire time, tears in my eyes. It was a dream moment for me where I could start to see everything come together and could see the possibilities for my own career.

4. What is your songwriting process like?
Often I will hear a line, just in conversation with someone, and I’ll think of a song. And sometimes it just starts with hearing a melody in my head. I really like the process of co-writing where you can bounce ideas off other people. It feels much more creative than writing by myself.

5. What is your favorite part of songwriting?
My favorite thing is when I bring an idea to a writing session that I have a certain take on. Then we talk and I hear the other writer sees a totally different meaning in it. To then sit down and try to put both those ideas in the song is one of the coolest thing.

6. How would you describe your music?
It’s very different; it’s me. It’s everything from Bruce Springsteen to Bon Jovi meets Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean. It’s just kick-butt honest in your face country-rock. I took the whole Jersey guitar sound and threw it in with the country music.

7. Tell us about your new song ‘I Hate My Boyfriend.’
When we first started writing it I thought ‘there’s no way this song’s actually going to be good!’ *laughs* We did a show in NJ with LoCash Cowboys and we just hit it off. I got together with Preston [Brust] to write her in Nashville. When I walked into the session my phone was just blowing up because the guy was texting me non-stop. Preston greeted me, asked ‘how are you doing?’ and all I could say was ‘I hate my boyfriend!’ So he goes ‘well, that’s going to be our title!’ I was like ‘Are you kidding?’ *laughs* But it was a lot of fun. The song is honest and so funny. I love singing it live because so many girls in the audience are going ‘Yeah, I get it!’

8. Being from New Jersey, what do you think of Nashville so far?
It’s very different in every way! The Jersey/NYC scene, it’s a zoo and you get eaten alive. Down here, it may also be competitive, but there’s so much honesty and talent here. You’re surrounded by some of the best musicians in the world and it’s such a humbling feeling to me. You know, in Nashville, the person sweeping the floor at the restaurant could be a better singer than me, or in a few years’ time could have a couple of #1 hits. That’s what makes this city so cool!

9. With Christmas coming up, what is your favorite holiday tradition?
I take part in something called Holiday Express in New Jersey. It involves the best musicians in the state, like Bon Jovi’s guitar player, Bruce Springsteen’s background singer… I’ve only done it for 2 years. We go sing for children and adults at different places like psychiatric centers and hospitals. We’ll sing songs, do face painting and all kinds of fun things. The way it impacts these people gives you the best feeling. We do about 55 shows between November 17 and Christmas Eve.

10. How can people connect with you and find out more about your music?
I have a website, www.coreywagar.com, where I know have a free download of ‘I Hate My Boyfriend.’ I also have a facebook page, and I keep up on Twitter and MySpace.

Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter

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