Suzie Chism is a self-proclaimed desert kid, bringing a windswept grit to her neo-honkey tonk. Her music has traces of everyone from Courtney Love to Lauryn Hill, packaged into Chism’s striking voice and undeniable country chops. Chism, an alumna of the rock band Moseley, has toured with Canadian pop star FeFe Dobson, touring internationally with the American rap sensation, Yelawolf. Chism is prepping her debut solo album and its first single, “‘Til the Wheels Fall Off” underscores her bona fides. In our interview, Chism dishes on the music that inspires her and the concert that almost derailed her dream.
Does your single have an overarching theme?
It does! “Til The Wheels Fall Off” is meant to be a dichotomy of grief and hope. If you’re not in the wrong and a relationship ends, the breakup is a good thing; it’s a start to everything after that that doesn’t serve you. But it is not without pain and logistical challenges: you feel misplaced and hurt while, too, relieved. This song is written to capture the time between seasons when you have the windshield and the rearview equally in sight.
What’s the first concert you ever attended? What do you remember about it?
My dad took me to see The Turtles in Reno, Nevada when I was a 7. They performed at an extravagant car show/festival called “Hot August Nights”. During their performance, they seemed intoxicated (which I was something I was unfamiliar with then) and one of them said (in the microphone) “Kids don’t know anything about music anymore!”- which absolutely broke my heart at the time; I was young and didn’t understand the context, and music was the one thing I cared about! Growing up in the desert, pre-internet, I didn’t have a lot live (or recorded) music available to me. If I were older, maybe it wouldn’t have affected me at all, but I thought for some reason I might find the blueprint to following my dreams at this show, and I was devastated by one simple sentence, ha!
Have you ever been given something remarkable by a fan?
Yes! Well, when I got home from playing guitar on a Canadian tour with Yelawolf, I found SEVERAL Chevy emblems in the back of my VOX amp (he has a song called “Box Chevy” that was popular at the time). At my own shows, I am often gifted magnificent vintage clothing, which is my love language! Recently, I was given a floor-length, ox-blood leather trench coat at a show and it is gorgeous.
What recent release can you not stop listening to?
I played with Dean Johnson during Americana Fest last year 2023, and I can’t get enough. His record Nothing For Me, Please is perfect.
What five albums are you going to make your kid listen to and why?
The night I met my fiancee, we connected over Wanda Jackson’s Capitol (Records) Years, so if we do have children, they will surely learn their history through that record. Aside from that, I always dreamed of showing my kids Pussycats – Harry Nilsson, as it has songs I learned as a kid like “Rock Around the Clock” and “Loop De Loop” produced by John Lennon. They’d likely also hear The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill (at the right age), Parallel Lines – Blondie, and Tapestry – Carole King. Rickard would definitely show them Mark Knopfler, as well as Swedish/Finnish bands from where he is from, and we can both agree on Black Sabbath!
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