Photo credits Jeremy Ryan
The daughter of Outlaw Country singer David Allan Coe (and in fact the subject of one of his songs) Tanya Montana Coe initially headed down a different path. Thankfully she’s found her way back to music, and releases her debut album, ‘Silver Bullet’ on 30 August. We caught up with Tanya for a chat.
EP: Tell us the Tanya Montana Coe story.
TMC: I’m too emotional for this. I start to try to type something and my throat tightens up. Wish I could think about it less seriously. The only way I’ve been able to begin to express my story is through my songs.
EP: Do you think you were running away from music in a way? It’s in your blood but you tried hard not to go down that track?
TMC: Subconsciously, I think I was always running to it, but I had no idea where to start or how to get there. I didn’t pick up an instrument until I was 23, so it wasn’t a matter of choosing to not go down that track, it just wasn’t even an option, at least at the time when I was “making a plan for my life.” Once I started writing songs, I didn’t plan on anyone ever hearing them, it was just therapy for me. I was reluctant to play them for people and was only able to justify things pertaining to the music if they happened naturally and organically because I was scared of putting myself out there for fear of what people would think and say, a big part of that being because of who my father is.
EP: How’s Goodbuy Girls going? Tell us about that.
TMC: The shop is great! It keeps me busy, been at it for 6 years now and it has been a positive constant in my life. I love being a part of my community in Nashville, TN and connecting with my GGs all over the world <3
EP: If you could do it over again, what, if anything, would you do differently?
TMC: I would have had more compassion for myself. I’m proud of the things I’ve overcome and accomplished but I wish I would have loved myself more and been less hard on myself. I wouldn’t have let the negative things that happened to me make me feel less worthy.
EP: Talk us through ‘Silver Bullet’. How cool is it to have recorded in the same studio where ‘Van Lear Rose’ was produced!
So cool although it’s not the reason I recorded it there. I made this album with the help of great friends. Long story short, Folk Singer/Songwriter, Todd Snider, discovered me and wanted to record my songs. He took me over to his best friend’s, Eric McConnell, studio which just happened to be the same studio where ‘Van Lear Rose’ was produced. McConnell engineered Silver Bullet. Seattle native, Nashville based musician, Shane Tutmarc produced it as well as playing almost every instrument. We had Dillon Napier on drums, Eric Whitman on lead guitar for three songs, Kim Logan and Margo Price on backup vocals, and Nathan Thomas mixed it.
EP: What’s your advice for anyone considering getting into the music industry?
TMC: Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons and be true to yourself. It gets confusing and blurry so you really have to know your needs and wants well.
EP: Who or what’s inspired you musically? In life overall?
TMC: Observing those closest to me throughout my life (my mom, dad, brothers and sister, friends) has inspired me the most musically. The unfairness in this world towards women and helpless children destroys me and motivates me to do my part to make a difference.
EP: Top three artists/songs you’re listening to right now?
TMC: My friend Lalie added a song to the Goodbuy Girls playlist that I really like called “Lights Out” by Angel Olsen. My boyfriend/producer, Shane Tutmarc, just released a song called “Out of the Dark” that I love and he turned me onto a song called “Let My Baby Stay” by Mac Demarco that really chills me out. My anthem song for a few years now has been “Long Road” by Cary Ann Hearst.
EP: What will you be doing in a year’s time? In 5 years? 10?
TMC: Hopefully in 10 years, I’ll be a momma, but for now, I’m content working on my store and music.
EP: What question do you wish someone would ask you in an interview, but nobody ever does?
TMC: Haha, I’ve only thought about the questions that I wish they wouldn’t ask. I’m an introvert at heart, so coming out of my shell is a process for me.
Find Tanya Montana Coe online on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud and her website.
Check out ‘Did I’, from ‘Silver Bullet’:
