Interviews

Rising Country Music Artist Maggie Baugh talks music, guitars and news for 2017

June 3, 2017

Young rising Nashville recording artist Maggie Baugh is only 17, but already has three albums under her belt; with her latest album, Catch Me, charting #56 on the iTunes albums chart. The title track “Catch Me” debuted and plays in rotation on Radio Disney Country. At 16, she received her first publishing deal with Placer Creek Music Publishing; and this year, she signed with Cold River Records and was added to the artist roster of WME Nashville.

From South Florida, Maggie began playing the violin at six years old, later adding the guitar. Experiences in middle school drove her to putting her feelings into words and her songwriting skills began.

We met her while at the NAMM Show in Nashville several years ago when she was only 14 years old and was impressed from the moment we met her.

Since that time, she’s opened in South Florida for Ashley Monroe (of Pistol Annie’s), Craig Morgan, Neal McCoy, Cole Swindell, Phil Vassar, Taylor Hicks, Chase Bryant, Drake White, Josh Dorr, Radio Romance, Drew Baldridge, Montgomery Gentry, John Anderson, Cowboy Troy and Old Southern Moonshine Revival. She even played her fiddle onstage with Charlie Daniels.

She has a lot of great things in store for 2017 – CMA Fest, new video soon to be released, and more music. Read on to learn more about Maggie – she’s definitely an artist to watch in 2017!

So at the age of 12,
I started singing, songwriting, and playing guitar.

For such a young girl, you’ve done quite a bit so far! First, I’d like to ask, how did you get interested in music, and which instrument came first – the violin or the guitar?

Well, I started out playing violin at about 6 years old. I practiced and studied classical music all the way through middle school. I really loved classical violin and I really wanted to pursue that as a career. Half way through middle school I started getting bullied. Since I was already at an art school, I was always around music. While I was getting bullied, that was the time I decided to take up songwriting. I started off writing songs on GarageBand. After a while, my violin teacher suggested I take up guitar since you can’t really sing and play violin at the same time. So at the age of 12, I started singing, songwriting, and playing guitar.

Catch Me is your third album and was released earlier this year and charted at #56 on the iTunes album chart and receives rotation on Radio Disney Country. What was the writing and recording process for that album?

Last year in April, I signed my first Publishing Contract. I got to write with some amazing people that I never thought I would ever get to write with. After signing that deal, I wrote a total of 45 songs just in one summer. It was never the original plan to record a full-length album. Going into the summer I was only supposed to be writing for a 3 song EP. By the end of the summer, I had a plan to record 11 songs and make it a full-length album.

As a country musician, who are some of your favorite country performers?

Some of my favorite performers, of course, I have to stick with my girls! Kelsea Ballerini is a huge inspiration to me. I love the older country music stars, too. Charlie Daniels is a huge inspiration when it comes to pursuing the violin. Also, on the other side of things, Lindsey Stirling is a huge inspiration, as well. Even though she isn’t country, the way that she moves around while holding a violin, playing every single note exactly on pitch.

You’ve had the amazing opportunity to perform with the legendary Charlie Daniels. Can you share with us that experience?

When I was 13 years old I got to perform with the one and only Charlie Daniels. I opened up his event with the National Anthem so I was there really early. Because I was there so early, I got to sit in the front row. I was also able to have a meet and greet with Charlie before his show. Of course, I brought my violin. When I was standing 2 feet away from the legend himself, I asked him if I could play one of my songs or one of his songs. He said one of his songs, so I played the opening lick to “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” Five minutes before his last song of the night, his manager came up to me and asked me if I wanted to play on stage with Charlie. Of course, I said yes, so at 13 years old I played “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” with Charlie Daniels!

My Taylor guitar is my baby.

Endorsed by Taylor Guitars and Deering Banjos, can you give us a rundown of your gear and your favorite feature of each instrument?

My Taylor guitar is my baby. I love the fact that each sound you make resonates off the strings. Taylor Guitars accommodates any type of genre for any type of musician. I have been a Taylor Guitar player for a couple years now and Taylor has only done good for my musical journey.

Deering Banjos has their own unique brand and type of sound all together. I play a 6-string Ganjo from this company. I love the fact that I can change the sound between the instrument to either sound more like a guitar or sound more like a banjo.

Fishman music has been a huge supporter. I have a Fishman pickup attached to my violin along with different pedals on my pedal board. I love the fact that their pedals allow different sounds to be portrayed through the instrument.

You’ve got a lot going on this year – what’s next on your agenda?

It really is a crazy next couple of months. I am going to be up in Nashville writing and hopefully recording some new music! I am going to be performing in Nashville during CMA fest during the first week of June, as well. Along with performing and writing in Nashville, I am going to be making it up to New York to play a couple shows.

When you aren’t writing music or performing, what do you like to do during your free time?

Well, IHOP is actually my secret obsession. I am a Jeep driver and love hanging out with my friends. Of course, I am 17 so Netflix plays a huge part in my life.

It was really fun to get
out of the usual life style of beaches and palm trees.

I hear you have a new video to be released soon. Can you tell us more about that … where it was shot, the producer, a little background on what we can expect?

I recorded my music video in Nevada. It was really fun to get out of the usual life style of beaches and palm trees. Going into that area was really a huge change from what I am used to. It was all mountains in the background. We chose that background because the song is about going and following your dreams and going to places where it is nothing but open spaces. You’re going to just have to see it when it comes out!

Catch Me Tracklist: