Since the release of her debut EP, After Midnight, in 2020, Callie McCullough has proven herself to be comfortable exploring multiple influences and sounds with her music. She’s just as much steeped in traditional country as she is bluegrass, and she’s just as comfortable spinning a folk tune as she is tapping into a Celtic theme, which she’s done on her newest single, “Great Big Sky.”
McCullough’s newest effort captures the same delicate, ranging vocals that we have come to expect from her, while the melody offers a spacious, wide open sound that falls perfectly into place and transports listeners to the wide open spaces she sings about.
We chatted with McCullough all about “Great Big Sky,” as well as growth, more new music on the way and more!
Pro Country: March brought about the four year anniversary of your debut EP, After Midnight. With those four years behind you, how do you look back on that project? How do you feel you have grown as an artist and songwriter in the years since?
Callie McCullough: Isn’t it crazy how time flies? You guys were so incredibly supportive of that record; so first of all, thank you for that! I’m really proud of that album; it was such a dream to work with legendary musicians from Union Station and The Time Jumpers, and to make that album with my best friends to boot; it was a combo of organic and crazy dreams, and it opened a lot of doors for me, so I’m really thankful for that; but most importantly, I think the music stands the test of time. I’ve grown into myself a lot in the past few years, and I think we’re about to see a much bolder, sassier side of me, with the same good roots.
PC: Your first single release after After Midnight, “What If I Don’t,” has earned over 130,000 streams on Spotify since its release. As you began a new musical chapter, how encouraging was it to see the response to “What If I Don’t,” and what do you think it was about the song that allowed it to strike a chord with people?
CM: “What If I Don’t” is such a fun track! I knew when we wrote it that it had to be the first song I released to start this new chapter. I think it’s really lighthearted and fun, and it also touches on something that everyone goes through: the pressure to settle down and have babies and the way our world prioritizes money and fears aging; it’s pretty universal in that way, but in a super digestible way that’s catchy. Mostly, I’m just happy I found a reason to dress up like a Golden Girl in a music video!
PC: Your new single, “Great Big Sky,” expands your sound towards a folk/Celtic sound. How much did you enjoy exploring that sound and paying homage to those influences with the song?
CM: Man, it was like a homecoming. Something has happened lately where I’m experiencing this return to my Celtic roots, and I love it! When I was a teenager, I was in a Celitc band for about 15 minutes, but I was deeply steeped in that music my whole childhood, and it’s been really cool bringing some of those sounds into new music.
PC: Can you take us in the room and talk about how “Great Big Sky” came together and the inspiration behind it?
CM: “Great Big Sky” is the first song I’ve released that I wrote all by myself. While I’ve written a ton of them, this is the first one that gets to fly into the world, and I’m really excited about that. This song is really honest; there’s no writing room and no motive, it was literally me staring up at the night sky pondering what the hell it all means down by the lake one night and being okay with asking those questions. Now when it came time to write the spoken word part near the end, that was something that came about in the studio later, and I may have gone home and taken some herbals to get on that wave length [laughs].
PC: “Great Big Sky” is the third song you have worked with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Brainard. What has it been like collaborating with Dave in the studio and how has he helped capture the music you want to make?
CM: Man, Dave is absolutely brilliant. I call him the wizard! He can take any idea and give it steroids. We make a lot of fast decisions and rely on instinct, so I think this collaboration has taught me to trust myself more
PC: You’ve told us that you have plans for more new music after “Great Big Sky.” What information, if any, can you share about any forthcoming releases? What can listeners expect to hear?
CM: Well, there’s more new music on the way, that’s for sure, and one that’s super country coming next…
PC: With “Great Big Sky” now released, what do you have planned for the rest of 2024?
CM: I’m excited to be out playing some great shows this season in the US and Canada, and heading to Scotland this fall!
Pro Country 
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