Artist Spotlight: Cece Coakley

Cece Coakley: Hi. How's it going?

CC: Of course, thanks for having me.

CC: Oh my gosh, I do remember. That's so funny.

CC: I love those songs. I feel like I wrote them in a very specific headspace, and as they were coming out, I wasn’t necessarily in the same headspace I wrote them in. So it was very cool to relive a lot of that process by putting them out. And it’s been fun because ever since I released the songs, I’ve mostly been staying home working on new music, but over the summer, I got to play them live for the first time. It was so fun to see that interaction on stage after the songs had been out for a few months and people had time to really digest them.

CC: Totally. It was very reaffirming, because it can be hard to connect comments I get on internet to real-life people. Getting to play those songs live and see actual humans listening was such a cool, special feeling.

CC: Yes! This summer I got to play my first show in the UK, opening for my friend Ethan Tasch. That was such a cool feeling because I’d never played overseas before, and there were a lot of people there singing along. It was a crazy experience and one of my favorite shows of the summer. Being somewhere you’ve never been and seeing people connect with your music is so cool.

CC: Yeah, absolutely. I spent about three weeks there this summer, it’s so beautiful and inspiring. I’d love to go for a longer time and share more with people there.

CC: Yes, I’ve lived here for four years now, but I’m from Tennessee originally, only about two and a half hours away. It’s always been home, but I’ve been in Nashville proper for four years.

CC: At first, I wanted to steer away from where I’m from, which I think is an angsty teenage thing. But as I’ve grown into the music I create and listen to, I’ve found myself falling back into the songwriter roots and country music I grew up with. The South can be a very prejudiced place, but finding the pockets of beauty and amazing people makes it worth it. Those connections feel so affirming.

CC: The scene here is so inspiring, and it’s nice to come home to when you travel a lot.

CC: Honestly, I don’t think about genre much when creating. It’s very stream-of-consciousness and lyric-focused. The lyrics tend to dictate whether a song becomes more singer-songwriter/folk or upbeat indie rock/pop. It’s fun to explore and try new things.

CC: It’s surprisingly easy to tell. You don’t want to put out a song you never listen to yourself. If after a great day in the studio I can’t stop listening to the demo, that’s usually the sign. It’s the songs you can’t get out of your head. If I don’t think it’s the worst thing ever, hopefully someone else will like it too!

CC: It’s a mix. I do a lot of writing for other artists, which inspires my own work. I collaborate a lot with my friend Sam Westhoff, he’s an artist named Haffway. He produced my last project and what’s coming next. We have a lot of trust, which is key. You have to feel safe sharing even the “stupid” ideas, because those can turn into something great.

CC: He’s the best. So talented and a great guy!

CC: Yes! My good friend who makes music as Ethansroom. We’ve toured together, and he’s one of my favorite songwriters. I’ve also been listening to an artist named Elio, they put out an eight-song project I’ve had on repeat.

CC: It changes daily. I love Billie Marten from the UK, and she just put out an amazing album. Also Steven Wilson Jr. He’s such a great songwriter, and selfishly, I just want to see him live.

CC: I just got off tour a month or so ago. The next project is done and will start coming out this fall. We’re finalizing everything, shooting visuals, and I’m also writing the next batch of music.

CC: I think many artists have a love-hate relationship with touring. Taking time off this year made me excited to get back to it. Journaling every day helps me stay grounded, writing down both the mundane and the highs and lows. Practicing gratitude is important, even when drives are terrible or the crowd is small. You have to remember you’re living your dream, even if it looks different than you imagined.

CC: I love this question. I’m movie-obsessed. I watch a few a week. It’s not one specific film, but the creativity of other mediums inspires me. One of my favorite movies is Pitch Perfect. It’s silly, but it reminds me not to take myself too seriously.

CC: Pitch Perfect, Silence of the Lambs, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and She’s the Man. I love both serious and playful movies.

CC: Thank you!