Music is a constant thread in my life. Depending on the situation, tt entertains, consoles, inspires me and celebrates events in my life. I listen to my favorite artists (see some of those listed under MP3 in my Collection) as I drive, garden, perform dreaded housekeeping tasks and, of course, write.
Lady Antebellum, besides being my favorite musical group, has been a great inspiration in my Brands Crossing novels where songwriting and performing is a strong subplot. In the first, Thicker Than Water, my protagonist Kate O’Donnell joins her brother Gordon and their long-time friend Mick Caseles to form the band Crossing Texas. Like Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood from Lady Antebellum, Kate, Gordon and Mick write most of their own songs. Kate and Mick share duties as lead singers but the harmony of the band weaves through all their songs–just as it does in Lady As.
In the second novel, Whatever Goes Around, which will be published in early 2012, Crossing Texas cuts a studio album and begins touring as a group. Again I looked to Charles, Hillary and Dave for inspiration for the dynamics of a performing group.
Yesterday, Lady Antebellum’s new album Own the Night was released and I couldn’t wait to buy it. I’ve already listened to all the songs and, though I didn’t think it possible, they are even better than the ones on their first eponymous album, Lady Antebellum and the second, Need you Now. Never thought I would say that. You can check it out here at Amazon.com and sample the songs or download them to your MP3.
Reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum released their third Capitol Nashville studio album Own The Night. The album’s lead single “Just A Kiss” has quickly become the fastest-rising single of the trio’s career, climbing into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart in just six weeks.
“We took more time to write and record this record than we’ve ever done before,” says Charles Kelley. “I remember looking at Hillary and Dave at the GRAMMYs this year, on the wildest night of our lives, and saying `this is amazing…we’ll never get to experience a moment like this again, but now we
have to go home and get to work.'”
“One of our favorite songs on the new record is called `We Owned The Night,’ which is about a special once-in-a-lifetime moment, and we thought that naming the album around that same sentiment was really appropriate,” says Hillary Scott.
Own The Night follows the band’s GRAMMY winning sophomore album Need You Now. Since its release in January 2010, the album has sold over five million copies across the globe, spawned three multi-week #1 hits, taken home five GRAMMY Awards and scored over a dozen other award show trophies. With the success of “Just A Kiss” already producing massive momentum for Lady Antebellum’s highly anticipated release, the trio is sure to own the night.
I hope you’ll buy Own the Night and enjoy it as much as I do. Maybe you’ll also buy and read Thicker Than Water and see if you can find Lady Antebellum’s influence there.
