Maggie Rose’s fourth album No One Gets Out Alive, released in April, earned rave reviews from Billboard and Rolling Stone. When Rose called SPIN a few months later on a recent Friday afternoon, however, she was already hard at work on her next album. “I always have the acoustic with me when we’re writing,” she says of her Gibson Hummingbird. “Even if I’m writing with someone who’s more track-oriented and production-oriented, I still like to have the Hummingbird with me, for the ability to see if I’d like to pivot in a [chord] progression that we’re already working on.”
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On this particular day, she’s meeting up with Chuck Harmony (Rihanna, John Legend) Claude Kelly (Kelly Clarkson, Whitney Houston), who co-wrote the No One Gets Out Alive standouts “Fake Flowers” and “Vanish.” “We’ve written tons of songs together,” she says.
No One Gets Out Alive was Rose’s second collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Ben Tanner (Emily Wolfe, Blind Boys of Alabama). While 2021’s Have a Seat was recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and had soulful grit, the follow-up was recorded in Nashville with ‘70s singer-songwriters as its guiding inspirations. “I think I was just very much in this creative stream thematically, with this kind of Laurel Canyon, Carole King sort of approach to the songwriting structure. And the subject matter was a little bit more introspective than previous records,” Rose says. “I think just my friendship and history with Ben allowed me to take these songs and really realize them the way we wanted to.”
Rose and Tanner assembled an all-star band including members of Alabama Shakes, Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit, and the Allman Brothers band. Rose would cut songs live with the band, sometimes even using her initial vocal takes on the final tracks. “I like to try and capture as much of the live energy as I can,” she says. “We took our time to just really cultivate these tracks.”
Rose, 36, grew up in Potomac, Maryland, and moved to Nashville in 2008. Her 2013 debut Cut to Impress notched a string of charting singles on country radio including “I Ain’t Your Mama” and “Better,” but the musical landscape was shifting underneath her. “When I was in high school, there was the explosion of female country divas on the scene with Faith Hill, the Chicks, and Shania Twain.. It just was kind of an exciting prospect for me as a young aspiring musician to see all these young women succeeding,” she remembers. “And then I moved to Nashville, and it was like the dawn of ‘bro country,’ and the tables totally flipped. In a way I’m thankful for that, because it definitely pushed me to explore the sound that I’ve arrived at, which I think is much more authentic to who I am and my abilities.”
These days, though, Rose is feeling more optimistic that there’s enough room in Nashville for her to make great albums that don’t adhere to mainstream country conventions. “I probably would’ve moved away years ago if it wasn’t evolving at the rate that it is, but there’s so much music here.” No One Gets Out Alive was released on Big Loud, a label that boasts country radio powerhouses like Morgan Wallen and HARDY. Since the album’s release, however, Rose decided to jump to One Riot/Virgin for her next project, where she’ll be labelmates with more likeminded Americana artists like Margo Price and American Aquarium. “I actually got my masters back from Big Loud, and I’m taking all of my music back under my ownership,” she says.
Photo Credit: Jamie Wendt
“That’s why I rely on Elixir Strings; their long-lasting tone and durability hold up through every performance, no matter the venue or conditions.” – Maggie Rose
Rose grew up with a passion for singing, and didn’t start playing guitar until she was 18, which she considers an essential part of her creative process now. “I wish that I had started playing guitar when I was younger, just because I love the self-sufficiency of being able to present the song that I’ve written without having to rely on someone else to accompany me,” she says. “I think just as a songwriter, I would not be nearly as prolific as I am if I wasn’t able to play guitar.”
In addition to her Hummingbird, Rose has a set of Elixir Strings with her. “I’ve used other strings over the years, but these are really the most resilient strings that I’ve used,” she says. “They’re 12-gauge light strings, NANOWEB Coated. When I’m out on the road—especially because I play acoustic in so many different settings, whether indoors, outdoors, or across various climates—it’s important to have strings that not only protect my instrument but also maintain their tone. That’s why I rely on Elixir Strings; their long-lasting tone and durability hold up through every performance, no matter the venue or conditions.”
Rose enjoys going out on the road to perform for her growing fanbase, especially when she goes back to Maryland around the holidays for annual shows near her hometown every December. Living in Nashville, however, has allowed her to raise her game and refine her musicianship in a supportive but competitive industry epicenter. “It’s exciting and it’s definitely a baptism by fire kind of environment,” she says. “You’re gonna be surrounded by talented people from all over the world.”
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