Nashville-based country/Americana singer-songwriter Rachel McIntyre Smith has just released a new EP, “Honeysuckle Friend,” and she recently sat down with @skopemag to talk about this amazing new collection.
@skopemag: Tell us about your fantastic new EP.
Rachel McIntyre Smith: In the summer of 2023, I realized that I had a collection of songs with a different flavor than my debut EP. I was trying to decide between different titles that were all lyrics from some of the songs that I wanted to include. I wanted the EP to feel like a summer spent with friends. The phrase “honeysuckle friend” comes from the third track, “Memories in The Middle.” A honeysuckle friend is a friend who doesn’t dismiss the small moments and can turn a forgettable moment into a lifelong memory.
If you compare this EP to my debut, “Glory Daze,” you’ll see a lot of similarities about the subject matter. However, “Honeysuckle Friend” is filled with a more hopeful and peaceful point of view because I wrote these songs surrounded by a positive community of friends and family. I’m so grateful for my honeysuckle friends, both past and present.
@skopemag: How did the EP come together?
Rachel: I enjoyed this creation process more than “Glory Daze” because I had learned a few lessons from the first time. However, there were a lot of things that I couldn’t possibly anticipate. When I was recording “Grow Up Slow,” I had opened for Gabe Lee the night before, and my keyboard and keyboard stand had smashed into my hand, and I had passed out from the pain. During that studio day, I had an ice pack on my hand. When I was recording “Stoke the Coals,” my brakes went out on my car. I had to get my car towed and figure out how I was going to get back to Nashville since I recorded in Chattanooga.
@skopemag: What do you hope the message of the EP is?
Rachel: The overall message is life is hard, but when you have good people in your life, it is so much easier and more fun.
@rachelmcintyresmith
