Pillbox Patti. Alexa Kinigopoulos
In a town that’s built on the bedrock of songwriters, no one can deny that Nashville has an incomparable legion of dedicated wordsmiths tirelessly pumping out carefully crafted songs every day.
Over the last few years, more of Music City’s prolific lyricists have decided to put their own voice behind their art, such as Nicolle Galyon‘s recent project Firstborn, Ben Burgess‘ Big Loud debut Tears The Size Of Texas, and plenty of others along the way.
The newest addition to this group of songwriters taking their turn in the spotlight can be found in Nicolette Hayford.
After more than a decade of writing songs for other artists, including Ashley McBryde (“A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega,” “One Night Standards”), Lainey Wilson, Steve Moakler, William Michael Morgan, Chrissy Metz and more, the 2021 MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year has emerged with her own artist project with the rough-around-the edges moniker of Pillbox Patti.
Venturing off with her own tribe of writers, such as McBryde, Aaron Raitiere, Benjy Davis, Connie Harrington, Joe Clemmons and producer Park Chisolm, Pillbox Patti aims to convey her take on growing up while delivering it in an honest, yet not always pretty package that’s one part playful and one part painful.
The Monument Records recording artist’s debut project, Florida, named after her home state, features a personal collection of songs that range from the funky bopper of “Suwannee” to the nostalgic “Young and Stupid,” the love crazy “Hookin Up” to the guitar-licked swayer of “Good People,” a few odes to her home town of Starke that can be heard on “Eat Pray Drugs” and “25 MPH Town,” and more.
Within the eight-song project, Hayford and her co-writers break down every wall, opening up a level of authenticity that’s generally hard to find. This is best exemplified on the hardest-hitting song of the album, “Valentine’s Day.” Chronicling Hayford’s real life experiences, the chilling song pulls back the curtains on her abortion story at the age of 15 on Valentine’s Day.
“I had a lot of stories to tell and a lot of healing to do,” Hayford shares. “As a writer I spent years helping artists tell their truths and I have always really enjoyed that part of the craft, but I realized that I needed to tell my own truths or I was going to lose myself in this town.”
She continues, “I wasn’t on anybody’s dime but my own so no one was telling me how or where or what kinds of songs I could cut or get away with. It was about me and for me with no other agenda. I had never given myself that freedom or permission before. Florida is a result of that freedom.”
Pillbox Patti at Patti-Palooza. Photo: Robert Chavers
Earlier this week, Hayford took over The House rehearsal studio outside of Nashville to host her very own Patti-Palooza.
Decked out in inflatable pool toys, string lights, fake pills and plenty of alcohol, the night saw Hayford take the stage to perform Florida in its entirety. She also peppered in a handful of unreleased songs along the way, including the Jessie Jo Dillon-penned “Low Life,” the empowering “Die Alone,” and her ode to never growing up in “To Be Young.”
“Thank y’all so much for being here. This shit is really important to me. I made an album that I’m really proud of and really excited about with my favorite people ever,” the CMA and ACM-nominated writer gushed to the packed room. “Welcome to Patti-Palooza.”
Backed by a drummer and Florida‘s producer, Park Chisolm, on guitar, Hayford enamored the crowd as she rolled through the sexy slow burner of “Candy Cigarettes.” The room fell silent during the stripped down “Valentine’s Day.”
Pillbox Patti at Patti-Palooza. Photo: Robert Chavers
“There’s a lot of people in this room that wrote that song with me. Thank you for giving me space to do that,” she said following the tear jerker, listing off each of her co-writers. “I really appreciate y’all. Thank you for writing that song and all of these songs with me.
“I have to say thank you to my co-writers, all of them, because song’s don’t write themselves,” she added knowingly.
Through Florida, Hayford sets out to tell her truth, while also speaking to the people often forgotten in country music. “I hope it sheds a light on the badass, cool ass, good ass people on the other side of these small towns. The kind of people I know and came up with, that aren’t livin’ in a paint by number country song,” she sums.
Pillbox Patti’s debut project, Florida, is available everywhere now.
Pillbox Patti at Patti-Palooza. Photo: Robert Chavers
The post Pillbox Patti Puts It All On The Table With Deeply Honest Debut Project, ‘Florida’ appeared first on MusicRow.com.