Matt Bjorke: You've experienced quite a bit of success with your first album, what has been a great thing about getting to meet with fans all over the country?
Craig Campbell: You know, there's all kinds of great things about getting to meet fans. There the reason we get to do what we do. At the end of the day, if they didn't buy the tickets, if they didn't buy the music and the merchandise and go to my website, we wouldn't have a job so..
Matt: That's Us with Roughstock too…
Craig: Exactly, so I'm grateful. I want to meet them all!
Matt: What's one story that a fan maybe told you that sticks with you when meeting fans out on the road?
Craig: Well, when "Family Man" first came out, there's a guy that sent me a message about one of his friends who became a father of Quintuplets the same day that "Family Man" was released. He went from being a father of two to being a father of seven. So he was an ultimate family man. Add in the fact that the chances of all those five babies making it was very slim, but they all made it. We've become friends since then and stay in touch. That's something that will always bring us close, because the song "Family Man" brought us all together.
Matt: Amazing! So, how much fun has it been for you to have had the success you've had with your music since the early days playing down on Broadway (a bar scene in Nashville).
Craig: Oh, it's validation. After moving to Nashville, what I wanted more than anything was to get to have my songs played on the radio and to have that happen and to be able to go somewhere you've never been and play a show and have people sing along, it's the biggest wow moment…ever.
You've had that success with a more traditionalist approach, how important it to you to retain that nod to those who have came before you?
Craig: Well, it's important. There's a bunch of stuff on the radio right now
Matt: I think it's swimming back slowly…
Craig: I'd love to think that with some of the stuff I've heard like Greg Bates, Easton Corbin and Chris Young. So when my third single "When I Get It" off of my first album didn't work, it was a wake-up call for me to think about, 'wow, what am I doing wrong?' so I went and listened to what's on the charts and there was a common theme and I thought 'well I guess I could write songs like that and I think I could make my records sound like that.' I even found songs that would fit that mold but then, later, I thought, I'm not going to do that, I'm gonna hold onto who I am and just do it the best I can and hopefully, I can make it work.
Matt: Well, I think we're starting to see that with "Outta My Head." It's definitely different from…
Craig: The First album…
Matt: …But at the same time, it doesn't sound like it's a stretch from that stuff either. So what made it the right song to release as the lead single from your second album?
Craig: We had a few songs that we went in and recorded and "Outta My Head" wasn't the original single choice - though all the songs we cut could've been potential singles - and we had an idea of what would be the first one but when we got done with "Outta My Head," it was like, 'this is it.' I'd never recorded a song about that subject before, about getting over a break-up so it was a good song to be the first single.
Matt: And in a way it's a great song choice because the first record was very 'of the moment' with the struggles of the economy and so forth but with things seemingly getting better it feels…
Craig: It was time to go along with it. It's a graduation of sorts, I had to keep going and to taylor my songs to compete with what's out there…
Matt: Without losing your identity…
Craig: Right.
Matt: When you went back into the studio with Keith Stegall and Matt Rovey this time around, how would you compare the process of making the new record verses your first one?
Craig: This current album was a lot more relaxed. My first album was just that, my first time ever working with Keith so I was nervous. This time around, I have an idea of how I want my songs to sound and they've given me a little more voice. I know it sounds weird but when you have Keith Stegall back there (producing the project) you pretty much give him the reigns and say 'do what you do best' but I've spoken up a little bit this time and given suggestions and, man, they've welcomed it. I'm having fun.
Matt: How would you compare the new single to your other radio singles?
Craig: Musically, if you listen to it, it's a little different and there's a new rhythm section playing on it, some younger, newer guys who are maybe a little fresh. Lyrically, it's still me but with a slightly different sound.
Matt: How would you describe a Craig Campbell show to fans who may never have gotten the chance to see you perform?
Craig: It's a country music show. We don't have Marshall stacks and I have a fiddle and steel guitar and an occasional banjo. I consider myself a singer first and a performer second. My show is a work in progress, always. I'm figuring out the things the fans want to see and trying to bring that into the show. It's good music and good times.
Matt: That works well with my next question and that no matter the size or scope of the artist, when playing shows and events with other artists you can always learn something. So do you ever watch the other artists and take notes, so to speak. Maybe see what they do that may also work for you and your live show?
Craig: No doubt about it. Every opportunity I have to go out and catch a show, I do. Because everybody has gotten something from other artists. Tricks of the trade passed from show to show and artist to artist. So I go out there and try to soak it in.
Matt: I'd hope that every artist would do this and if they don't, I'd think that it'd be a huge red flag for any artist's team around them, if they're unwilling to work with others….
Craig: Right.
Matt: You've had a loyal group of fans who help keep your name out there on social media and helped you win our first Music Video Madness contest…
Craig: And that credit goes to Campbell's Corall, Tiffany and Kay and all those people who really get behind the music on social media. And I'd like to think it says something about me that I can reach out to them and ask them to help us and they dig in. We won that and it was awesome. So the big shout-out goes to those people.
Matt: And when you're still building your career it must be an awesome feeling to have them there with you.
Craig: Yeah, to know that there are people out there willin' to take up their personal time to help out a new guy, it's really neat.
Matt: So how vital is it to you to be able to interact with the fans via social media?
Craig: It's priceless. It's the reason we do what we do and if it's important for them to reach out to me, wherever. Out of respect and gratitude, I need to respond personally and reach out to them. All they want to do is be a part of the family.
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