A Chat with Amanda Donald

Amanda Donald: [: 00:00:00

When you marry someone or whatever, hopefully there's like a mixture of your heart and brain. I don't know. I feel like if you overthink it.

It's not good. But also you have to think a little bit. It's like you gotta have the balance.

Jason English (Host): [: 00:01:00

We also go deep on her first album, 100 Roots, and hear the inspiration for the title track. An incredible true story from the 1800s. Her sister Katrina encouraged her to write a song about it. And it's beautiful. And speaking of Katrina, she was also with Amanda during the recording. You will hear her in the background.

connection that they share. [: 00:02:00

Just don't ask them to play Rocky top. Here's Amanda Donald. Let's dive in.

All right. So I'm here at 30A a songwriter music

festival in January, and I'm sitting

with Amanda Donald, Amanda. Nice to meet you.

Amanda Donald: uh, is this your first time at

Jason English (Host): Thanks for coming in. is this the, is this

your first time at the festival?

my first time was last year,: 2023

Jason English (Host): get hooked up

with the, with the festival last year?

part from his band last year [: 00:03:00

Jason English (Host): Awesome. And you're close. Yeah.

South

Amanda Donald: Mm hmm. Yeah.

Jason English (Host): How many festivals and things like do you do on a regular

ongwriter festival last year,: 2023

But not, not very

Jason English (Host): in

Amanda Donald: out

100 Roots

came out August: 2023

Jason English (Host): Are you, are you happy with

the,

End product?

Amanda Donald: yeah. I was, I was able to be a co producer, which was important for me because I had a specific vision for each of the songs. And so I'm glad I was able to have that freedom call of the shots as far as instrumentation that sort of thing.

So it all worked out It all worked out for the best

Jason English (Host): Do you go to a lot of festivals as as a, an attendee or is

it it mostly

Amanda Donald: Again,

not really. My first, so we [: 00:04:00

can't see. But we grew up going to a lot of bluegrass festivals. So the first like non bluegrass music festival I went to was recently.

We went up to Chattanooga we had a blast. It was so much fun. so Yeah, I'm not very experienced

as a

A music festival

Jason English (Host): Well, I'm going you spot.

Okay. Live or whoever said, Hey Amanda, you have one evening to put the lineup together acts four or five acts a festival

Who would that be?

Amanda Donald: My number one is Allison Krauss and Union Station.

Jason English (Host): close it or

they would

open?

Amanda Donald: oh

Jason English (Host): order is

Amanda Donald: The order,

okay, I'm gonna say they would close it.

And then I would love to

see

I'll be honest, I would love to see Led Zeppelin

In

concert.

That would be so much fun.

Jason English (Host): Didn't Alison Krauss do something with Robert Plant?

Amanda Donald: Allison Kras and Robert Plant are currently touring.

Jason English (Host): ok that makes sense

a Donald: Yeah. It would be, [: 00:05:00

Jason English (Host): So Led

Zeppelin kind of

opening for Alison Krauss.

That would be,

Amanda Donald: would be awesome.

Jason English (Host): that'd be good. All right. Any, Anyone else to

Amanda Donald: Let me think. I have so many. okay.

Can the people be like already gone? Okay. I want to, I would love to, have seen George Jones. in concert.

Jason English (Host): I will say Alison Krauss Union Station, their live album from

Louisville, Kentucky.

Amanda Donald: Wow.

Jason English (Host): was living

in Lexington at the time, very briefly. and that came out and I, I played that over and

over.

and over.

Amanda Donald: to me it's just perfection,

Jason English (Host): Was Alison Krauss one of

your big inspirations?

Amanda Donald: Absolutely

Jason English (Host): 100 Roots album. What's the what's the story behind that

Roots is a song written [: 00:06:00

ZOOM0032_Tr1: of

Amanda Donald: murder. Murdering his best friend Because the last place they were seen was The Graveyard at night.

And next day the guy's dead. His friend is dead So

They are convicting him of murder, but he is saying he didn't do it, and up until the day they hanged him for murder, he was claiming his innocence. And and he said, an oak tree will grow out of my grave to prove my innocence. And there's literally an oak tree growing out of his grave.

And the grave is a true story. is there. So I don't know what are the, I, don't know the Statistical like chances of an oak tree, how oak trees work.

Somebody said he put acorns in his pocket before they hanged him or he swallowed some acorns, acorns

Jason English (Host): that's

[: 00:07:00

Inspiring

Source for the, for the song. What

was it like to write the song? Was it quick?

ed the story. And the date in: 1835

and had the chorus. So that one was pretty quick. And it's actually one of my favorite story songs that I like to perform.

Jason English (Host): It sounds

like, of like, long

black

veil

Amanda Donald: same vibe.

Jason English (Host): vibe. Yeah. Yeah. That's great.

Amanda Donald: a

great comparison.

Jason English (Host): Where did you learn to write songs?

I guess I never learned how to write songs in the fact like I never took a songwriting course or, I guess the songwriters that I love. Kind of just copied their song layout.

Amanda Donald: or whatever, verse chorus type thing.

rst grade, rhyming is. Very, [: 00:08:00

Jason English (Host): And another song on the album is when I leave Alabama. Is that a story about your own journey?

Amanda Donald: Um, somewhat.

so I was born in Mobile,

And

I have never

lived outside of the

general Mobile

area. so the first verse is not autobiographical, but I I just remember being in high school and the kids would always be like, I can't wait to get out of this place. as if it were just so terrible. We live in a very beautiful area. Used that sentiment of when you're young, you just want to go and explore the world.

anD then

Maybe

like

when you get in your late 20s, you appreciate home a little more. And then Obviously when you're at the end of your life, you're going to

a different place,

Jason English (Host): There's another song called Red Flags. which apparently is your

sister's [: 00:09:00

Amanda Donald: Absolutely. That's, If that's how you want to

interpret it, then that's, I'm just kidding. that is, that is how I wrote

it.

I was gonna say most people have probably been in a relationship that they saw red flags and they ignored them. I have, I don't know if anyone, else, I'm sure most people on the earth have.

So,

Jason English (Host): You're

married now though,

Amanda Donald: I'm married now.

Jason English (Host): Okay,

cool.

Amanda Donald: He, he probably has some they call it nowadays? Beige flags?

Jason English (Host): Great.

Amanda Donald: They're not red flags, but

Jason English (Host): We all

do,

Amanda Donald: some kind of

Jason English (Host): Yeah, we all do.

Amanda Donald: Yeah,

we all do.

Jason English (Host): Well, no, what I love is how you talk about riptides

and, other, other things. It was a, it was a great kind of way to,

Amanda Donald: thank you.

Jason English (Host): to put that, the red flags are flying, right?

year, there's new stories of [: 00:10:00

in the

Gulf. Because of the rip currents or, they get pulled out and then they get, and always like the red flags were there. And I'm just like, people. like why in the world would you ignore the red

Jason English (Host): Like literally

the red flags on the

Amanda Donald: Yeah, Literally they

Jason English (Host): Telling people,

Amanda Donald: probably fine today out here.

Jason English (Host): So

what, and I know you're married. Why do you think people are drawn to people, even though the red flags? are so blatant. Why,

why do you think people ignore them?

Amanda Donald: I think some red flags are more easily seen in hindsight, maybe. And maybe, in your gut, you saw the red flags, but you just, either ignored them, or made them, in your mind, seem not as bad as they were, At least for me personally.

Jason English (Host): it's it's one of those things where I always,

it's like they're screaming [: 00:11:00

Amanda Donald: Attraction is a weird thing. It's I don't know if it's science or if it's just magic. I don't know! It's like you can't help who you're attracted to. The battle between your heart and your, brain type thing. So hopefully,

when you marry someone or whatever, hopefully there's like a mixture of your heart and brain. I don't know. I feel like if you overthink it.

It's not good. But also you have to think a little bit. It's like you gotta have the balance. I'm by no means like a relationship expert, just for the record. I'm just,

Jason English (Host): so on the topic of red flags, there's other podcasts. I'm not going to claim this. Other podcasts that focus on relationships and dating, they play these

little fun games.

like a, red, Is it a red flag or a deal breaker? So, can I, can I give you a, few of

anda Donald: Yes, but let me [: 00:12:00

Is, if it's a, are Red Flag and Deal Breaker synonymous? Is that the same thing?

Jason English (Host): So the red flag

to me, it's okay, there's an issue, I'm aware

of the issue.

but.

Amanda Donald: ignore

Jason English (Host): Yeah,

We're going to navigate it. The deal breaker is

Amanda Donald: You're calling it

off.

Jason English (Host): off. Another way to think of the deal breaker, Are you all familiar

with

The term Ick? What's your

Amanda Donald: Yeah.

Jason English (Host): So that's, that's another way to

think about it. By the way, what is your Ick?

Amanda Donald: Uh, to me it's an attitude thing. if someone just has a, is full of themself, or can't just chill out and have fun to me that's a ick.

Jason English (Host): So just undateable.

that's good. All right. so here

I'm just going to give you some rapid fire things.

Amanda Donald: Okay.

Jason English (Host): Red Flag or Deal Breaker, they are a musician.

Amanda Donald: I don't think that's either.

I don't think it's a deal breaker or a red flag. Because I'm a musician.

And I'm waving all kinds of green flags.

Jason English (Host): green than red. All right.

What if they're not a

musician?

Amanda Donald: My husband is [: 00:13:00

Jason English (Host): Same answer.

Amanda Donald: answer.

Jason English (Host): Red Flag or Deal Breaker They are from the north.

Amanda Donald: Red flag. Maybe. I'll be honest with you. I have been to Boston once. once. And I loved it. Boston. The people were so nice. And I'm from the deep south Alabama. You, I'm not gonna tell you what my preconceived ideas of the of Boston Bostonians were. But,

I would totally date a guy from Boston. Really? Yes!

Jason English (Host): I have a lot of friends in Boston. I just want to clarify that.

But There's a lot of people that are not

that

nice.

Amanda Donald: people that they

Jason English (Host): they know it. It's this self

Amanda Donald: where it is.

They

Jason English (Host): And they don't care.

Amanda Donald: So, If

Jason English (Host): So, you know. you

Amanda Donald: in Boston

Jason English (Host): you and the beige flag thing don't work

Amanda Donald: out,

it may

Jason English (Host): you and the beige flag man don't work out, there's other places to look for

men that

nald: So don't go to Boston. [: 00:14:00

Jason English (Host): Anyway, all right. Red Flag or Deal Breaker They listen to Pandora.

and not Spotify.

Amanda Donald: Oh Lord.

golly, I feel like you're just describing my husband.

He is definitely a Pandora user. And I don't know why. I guess

I think it's because he probably doesn't want to pay for music streaming services. If I'm being honest.

pay for Apple Music. And maybe that. maybe that's a red flag for others because a lot of People use Spotify.

Jason English (Host): That's right. Yeah. Pandora was cool for its own reason. but

that's

Amanda Donald: true like during Christmastime I use Pandora as like I'll type in Folk Christmas or something And I like hearing stuff that I wouldn't normally hear.

on Apple I don't know because Apple Music has playlists now

Jason English (Host): I just remember when I when I moved, to the South a few years ago, one of the

u listen to your music and I [: 00:15:00

Amanda Donald: Oh.

you're an

Apple Music user?

Jason English (Host): I was. and then, and then she said, listen, Spotify, it'll change your life. And I was like, really? It's just

seems all the

Amanda Donald: She was

Jason English (Host): was 100 percent right.

percent

Amanda Donald: Should I convert? Okay, Katrina's been trying to get Me to convert for years.

Jason English (Host): Yeah, I think me and

Katrina,

we're aligned, we're aligned on this.

Amanda Donald: Okay.

Jason English (Host): All right,

And then you're from Alabama, so, there's, in terms of college football and SEC, I'm not sure if you're aligned to a particular team, but I'm just gonna throw this out

Amanda Donald: Okay.

Jason English (Host): red flag deal breaker.

They're an Auburn fan

Amanda Donald: I feel totally neutral about it, to be honest. We grew up with our dad's side of the family being Alabama Crimson tide.

fans. Of course but we had our one cousin who for some reason grew up being an Auburn fan. And, he was like the black sheep of the family.

Yeah. To this day, I still don't know why he's an Auburn fan.

Do you know why? Probably [: 00:16:00

I love Auburn University. You said

Amanda Donald: you had a child there? It's a great school. I feel neutral about it. Roll Tide.

I just had

to, I had to throw that in there. Let's just say when we, playing out and people request Rocky Top, so we usually have to pass on that request.

Jason English (Host): There's not enough money in the tip jar

for Rocky Top. Is that what you're saying? All right. Fair enough

Amanda Donald: we were Yes, one time we were playing somewhere and this old guy, and this was like

the

day after Tennessee beat Alabama.

And he came up with a 10 bill and he was like, can y'all play Rocky Top? And we were like, no. sorry, we can't. And he was like, He took it He

he literally took it

Jason English (Host): mean, the

Tennessee fans, they are

a different

breed.

ald: Yeah, that was a first. [: 00:17:00

Jason English (Host): Just a couple more things.

So you're 30 now. Yeah. You have one album out.

Amanda Donald: I have one album out.

Jason English (Host): Many years were you working on music before you were like,

Hey, I've got enough for

enough for an album.

Amanda Donald: We've been playing music.

since we were kids.

So, but as far as songwriting I was probably in my mid twenties when I really started wanting

to write my own songs.

and kind of dive into that aspect of music. Because I love, I've

always loved to play music and sing, but I guess it never really occurred to me that, hey, I can like create my own songs and watching those singers songwriters perform their own material. it kind of inspired me.

Jason English (Host): what about the process or art you love

so Much?

Amanda Donald: Just, I guess it's more of like a creative outlet. I love that aspect of it, where you can just create. and I know

it's fun. It's challenging [: 00:18:00

Jason English (Host): Probably every song is different but do you start

with the words first typically, or sometimes just the melody you have to find the words for the

melody.

Amanda Donald: Most of my songs, I wrote the words first, but there's a few of them that I heard a melody and then worked

around that. But I'm definitely more of a lyrics person. And that's another thing I've discovered as I've know,

Dived into the songwriting scene, is that some people want the melody. like They want a good melody. and like Some people are more They want to hear the words And understand what the you know the words are about and I'm definitely more of one of those people. I love the words to a song.

So

I start, mostly I start with the words first. Okay.

Jason English (Host): your favorite lyrics? by anybody?

favorite songwriters is Paul [: 00:19:00

maybe somewhere. And it's just Paul Simon playing the guitar and them two singing. And it's literally every song. is just beautiful and amazing. If I could pick a song from that. Hmm.

There's a song called Sparrow. Do you know it? It's a Simon and Garfunkel song.

And it's just, as beautiful. It's just about, you know Life and then at the end you go back to the earth. But

anyway.

Jason English (Host): I love that. Yeah.

Amanda Donald: I don't know why I'm talking about that.

but

Jason English (Host): In addition to songwriting.

you obviously play instruments. not just one. not just two, but several. How, What was the first instrument you started with and how did it expand

beyond the one?

Amanda Donald: the first instrument I started with was mandolin. And, when I was probably eight or nine,

ttle bit. And then I started [: 00:20:00

um, in the Pensacola, bluegrass going to like the local jams um, played church Shows with our bluegrass friends. And that's when I really became interested when I started playing guitar And then I started playing the fiddle when I was 15 or 16. And then I became like obsessed with that I only wanted to play the fiddle

Jason English (Host): Um, acoustic guitar On

the songs with

Amanda Donald: No,

I um, acoustic guitar and mandolin, all the acoustic guitar and mandolin and fiddle parts. Katrina played bass, the on the songs with upright bass. And then I had someone else play electric bass on some of the songs. pedal steel, electric guitar, I

think that's it. Oh, banjo, Ron Block of Allison Krauss and Union Station.

played banjo.

Yeah.

Jason English (Host): How did that happen?

? hey, Ron, I'm a super fan. [: 00:21:00

Jason English (Host): That's

Amanda Donald: he was super kind about it. He's literally one of my music heroes.

Jason English (Host): Good for you to be proactive and reach out to

Amanda Donald: Thank you.

Um, I still can't believe you did it, to be honest.

Jason English (Host): In Preparing for this conversation, went on YouTube, and one thing that struck me was a few of those videos that I think you put together, that has the Brady Bunch

Amanda Donald: Yeah,

Jason English (Host): split screen, where you're literally,

in sync playing. four or five instruments at

a time. How did you do that

Amanda Donald: well, it's act, It's an app that you can get on your iPhone, and it's called a capella and it's a very cool app where you can, they have a metronome that you listen to, and so you would lay down. It's basically like recording in the studio if you were to just a track, which is how I did my album, just track by track.

layering on top of each other.

[: 00:22:00

just kind of was playing Around with it for fun. And I was like, this is really cool. Yeah, it's probably really, it's probably cheesy, but. Okay.

Jason English (Host): a good kind of cheesy, It's not a

Amanda Donald: It's mostly for Okay. Good. It's not an ick. Okay, good. It might be for some people as she uses acapella app. Deal breaker.

Jason English (Host): You're now a full fledged musician. Obviously you've grown up playing instruments and now writing a bunch of songs. Why is music so important to you?

Amanda Donald: think it's just something that's in my heart. And I think all musicians would say the same, like the guy, um, your previous episode, he loves to sing. I love to sing. I love to play music. It's just a passion and it makes you, it makes you feel good. When you do it. I think it's just something that, I'm not gonna say you're born with it.

ething that's in your heart. [: 00:23:00

Playing music,

Jason English (Host): And then curiosity is that relevant to songwriting and being a musician?

Amanda Donald: I would think so, yeah. Curiosity, adventure, doing things maybe outside of what you're used to or, what you grew up being used to or whatever, I think curiosity is definitely a major part of life in general. I was kind of giggling when you were talking about, curiosity and stuff, because I go through phases where I'll just, like, want to, I'll dive into something that I'm curious about.

And I call it, I'm obsessed with this right now. And so, my current obsession is Ancestry. com.

Jason English (Host): okay. Wow.

out about it with my sister.[: 00:24:00

Jason English (Host): What's the one thing that struck you the most about that process? Was there anything that was like, oh my gosh, I had no idea. Right.

Amanda Donald: we have is Like, it literally blows my mind, and I'm like, all these people, came together, and and now I'm here. It's cr I don't know, it just kinda is mind blowing to me. But yeah, that's my current curiosity and obsession.

Well, I appreciate the conversation. Would you be kind enough to play us a couple songs? All right.

Amanda Donald: Okay. [: 00:25:00

ntil next time, stay curious.[: 00:32:00