by pankhuri bhutani
photo courtesy of riley clemmons
Recently releasing her new track “Over And Over” in collaboration with the talented Lauren Alaina, Riley Clemmons has gained more than 800,000 monthly listeners on her Spotify Channel after the release of her track. The song showcases Alaina’s and Clemmons’ vocals blending perfectly together resulting in a duet that can’t possibly escape the listener’s ears.
Currently under the spotlight for the track, Riley hails from Tennessee. To talk about the creativity process behind the track, insights into her music journey overall and plans on her upcoming collaborations, we chatted with Riley in a short interview!
Hello Riley. Thank you for joining us on Unclear! How would you describe your sound in your own terms?
Riley: “Versatile, authentic, soulful pop.”
You recently released your highly successful new track “Over And Over” with the phenomenal Lauren Alaina. Congratulations on that! How did the collaboration come into existence?
R: “Thank you! My team and I were in talks of creating a duet version of ‘Over And Over.’ My manager came to me with the idea of Lauren being a part of this song. Immediately, it was a resounding yes from me. I was so thrilled when she said yes to being a part of this project. She’s truly incredible, and brought so much power and dynamic to this version of the song.”
What was the creative process like with the track? Did you face any challenges during the making of the song?
R: “I walked into the studio with the title ‘Over And Over’ and a general idea of where I saw the song landing. My co-writers, Jordan Sapp, Ethan Hulse, and Colby Wedgeworth, brilliantly helped me to capture the feeling of the melody, lyric, and production behind this song. We wrote the song in a few hours and sent it around to my team. Immediately it felt like something special, and we recorded it shortly after.”
Did your initial visualization of the track match up with the final outcome?
R: “Absolutely. I think my initial visualization was far surpassed by the final outcome. That’s the best part of collaborating on music.”
What is your usual process for songwriting? Do you need a specific setting to write your lyrics in or are you easily adaptable?
R: “I would say I’m adaptable in the sense that there are a variety of places that I’m inspired to create and write. Usually I’ll start with a title, phrase, or melody that comes to me while driving, working out, doing my makeup, sitting at a piano... you name it. From there, I usually take the idea into the studio and work on it with my producers and co-writers.”
You have more than 800,000 monthly listeners on your Spotify Channel. How does it feel to know that your music has such a high influence?
R: “Honestly, I have no words. Above all else, I’m truly grateful. It’s incredibly motivating to me.”
Having grown up in Tennessee, would you say that your experience living in Nashville affects your own music and your music preferences somehow?
R: “100%. Growing up in Nashville, music always felt like an attainable dream. I was constantly surrounded by creatives and a variety of musical styles. With that said, I tend to pull inspiration from a variety of genres and sounds.”
What’s next for you, Riley? Any projects/collaborations you’re currently working on that you would like to tell your fans about?
R: “New music. So much new music. I’m excited to share, but for now that’s all I can say!”
Lastly, I would like to ask you if there’s anything that you wish to say to your fans from all around the world?
R: “You are loved, and what you bring to the world is beautiful and unique. Be kind to yourself, and show kindness to others.”