HighRoad Talks About How Their New Album is a Window into Their Hearts

Breakout bluegrass/country quartet HighRoad returns September 30 with their much-anticipated third full-length recording, Somewhere I'm Going. Produced by GRAMMY®-nominated Ben Isaacs (The Oak Ridge Boys, The Isaacs), the project delivers 12 tracks showcasing the award-winning band's signature instrumentation and lush harmonies. 
 
A collection of original selections and beloved hymns, Somewhere I'm Going features eight songs co-penned by HighRoad founder and lead vocalist Sarah Davison, and includes contributions from such award-wining writers as Sonya Isaacs Yeary (Martina McBride), Jerry Salley (Chris Stapleton), Kenna Turner West (Hillary Scott) and Lee Black (Doug Anderson), among others.
 
Highlights of the project include the Celtic-flavored "Christ, My Hope, My Glory," featuring GRAMMY®-winner Jason Crabb; as well as new arrangements of beloved favorites "Give Me Jesus," "In The Sweet By and By" and "I'd Rather Have Jesus"; and the poignant title-cut.  

Q:  Sarah, thank you so much for doing this interview with us.  Briefly tell us a little about HighRoad and your sound. 

HighRoad was started a few years ago with just a fiddle and a piano, and we began playing hymns at local churches. We've always loved Christian music, country, and roots bluegrass, and we definitely bring those elements into our sound.

Q:  Congratulations on the release of your new album "Somewhere I'm Going."  This album is slightly different from your previous album because you co-wrote 8 new songs for it.  Why did you decide to record more originals this time round?

Thank you!  Honestly, we wanted this album to be a window into our hearts more than ever before. When the person singing the song can actually tell the story behind it, I think that gives a really intimate perspective on the song. Music is one of the places we all go to express what we're going through, and it's awesome that God can use it to bring healing or shed light into a situation for somebody. That's what it's all about. 

Q:  What are some of the joys and challenges of songwriting for yourself? 

Sometimes it's hard for me if I'm busy to just make myself take a minute and breath and start writing. In the end it is always worth taking the time. Even if you don't come up with something worth recording, it may have been just what you needed that day. God works like that! The joys would be at the end of a session, just getting to play and sing a new song over and over and getting excited about the words God gave. When we wrote "Christ My Hope My Glory" it was like we were having church at the end of the day in that little writing room!

Q:  One of the originals I really love is "Christ My Hope, My Glory" which also features Jason Crabb.  Tell us about this song and what it means to you. 

This song is one I will never forget writing. Kenna Turner West is one of my very favorite people in the world and I respect her abilities as a writer so much. I had this melody I had been stuck on for several days and when we got together to write it felt like our pens couldn't go fast enough. God totally gave us this song in a matter of minutes and its message is so simple, yet powerful. Nothing in this world is solid except Jesus. He's our Rock and all our hope should be placed in Him alone. 

Q:  What about the title track "Somewhere I'm Going."  What was the inspiration this song?  And why did you name the record after this song? 

This song was written by our friends Jerry Salley, Lee Black, and Sue Smith and it really hit home for me when I heard it. In the last year-and-a-half I've lost two grandparents and I miss them so much. Being here in Tennessee when my family is at home in Iowa farming is also very hard. This song is a great reminder that we will see all our loved ones again one day, and life is a journey. We named the record after this song because we wanted folks to go on the journey with us. 

Q:  On this album you've got to work with Ben Isaacs again.  What does Ben bring to the album that you really appreciate?

Ben Isaacs is the best there is in my book. He is talented, humble and super insightful as a producer. He has always encouraged us musically and let us be ourselves. I love working with him and hope to do it many more times in the future. 

Q: Besides Christian music, you have also performed with many country and bluegrass artists before.  Has the thought of recording a secular country and/or bluegrass crossed your mind?

We love throwing in some country tunes every now and again, the old stuff that most people our age don't know about. Ragtime piano, old time fiddle tunes, Western swing, and country songs-- we love it all! It's not uncommon for us to start jamming on a old country or fiddle tune. I think it'd be super cool to do a country tribute album someday! 

Q:  For our readers who would like to get to know more about you and your music, where can they go?

Our website is highroadmusic.com and we are on iTunes, Instagram (@highroadmusic), Facebook, and Twitter (@HIGHROAD) too!  

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