Paige Rutledge is stepping into a bold new era with her sophomore EP, The Last Call, a deeply personal project that builds on the relatable heartbreak of her 2024 debut with a fresh sense of perspective and maturity. From pulling the relatable single “Drunk Text” out of the vault after four years to collaborating with long-time friend Chase Kasner and gearing up for a high-energy release show at Toronto’s Rivoli, Paige breaks down the personal experiences, studio magic, and artistic evolution that shaped her most vulnerable music to date.
“Drunk Text” captures that all-too-relatable moment of reaching out to someone you know you should leave behind. What inspired you, Lydia Sutherland, and Rich Cloke to tackle this specific dynamic when writing the song?
Whenever I am writing, I really try to draw on personal experiences and stories that I know can resonate with listeners. Writing this song was no different. As much as maybe we do not want to admit it, we have all been there getting that late night text that we know we should not answer – especially living in such a digital world! This is definitely a song that I drew from my own personal experiences in the past and something that I know many of my friends have also experienced. The three of us were able to take these ideas and turn it into “Drunk Text”!
You originally wrote “Drunk Text” over Zoom back in 2022, but waited four years to release it. How did you know it was finally the right time for this track to live as a single?
I always knew that “Drunk Text” felt like a special song to me since we wrote it a few years ago, but I think it needed to live a little bit. When I was putting together this project, it immediately felt like it had a home on “the Last Call”. I think as I’ve grown as an artist over the past few years, this was a song that now feels more true to me now than it did before.
Your upcoming EP is titled the Last Call. How does the concept of a “last call” weave through the different stages of relationships explored on the record?
“The Last Call” is super fun because it plays on the idea of different stages of a relationship figuratively but then there is also many literal references in the lyrics of the songs. When I started putting together this project, I realized that every song represented a different kind of last call. Sometimes it’s the last chance to tell someone how you feel, one last attempt at trying to hold together a relationship, or even that it’s last call at the bar and it’s time to make that last move of the night.
You’ve described the Last Call as a “big sister” to your 2024 debut EP Break Up Rules. In what ways do you feel you’ve grown both personally and as a songwriter between these two projects?
I spent a lot of time after “Break Up Rules” trying to figure out how I can push myself as an artist and a songwriter. When I was writing and coming up with this project, I really wanted to show a different side of my vulnerability. I think “Break Up Rules” navigates heartbreak, relationships, and all the emotions that come with them. “The Last Call” now feels like it’s come from a place of having lived them, reflected on them, and gained more perspective.
Producer Matt Koebel helped shape the sound of “Drunk Text.” What was the studio process like when turning this conversational, Zoom-written song into a track with such a big chorus?
I am SOOO lucky to work with someone as talented as Matt Koebel. He constantly pushes me to go outside of my comfort zone and try new things while still feeling very true to “Paige” as an artist. The melodies in the chorus of this song are so open that I wanted the instrumentation to also feel like that, and I think Matt was able to capture that perfectly.
The EP features the track “Tennessee Time,” which includes a collaboration with Chase Kasner. How did that feature come together, and what did Chase bring to the song?
Chase and I have known each other for years and I have always been such a fan of his as an artist, vocalist, and person. When the idea was presented to me to have Tennessee Time as a duet with Chase, I immediately said yes. The lyrics tell a story of a relationship slipping away and making it a duet really brings that story to life with two voices. I also think it is so special to get to sing this duet with Chase Kasner, who was a writer on the song.
Chase helped to truly bring this story and song to life adding a layer of vulnerability and emotion. I also love duets and have never had the chance to release one before so getting to do that with someone I’ve known for years was such a great feeling.
You are celebrating the EP release on October 23 with a hometown show at The Rivoli in Toronto. Having previously sold out the venue twice, how are you preparing for this headline performance?
I think the beautiful part about having this EP release show at The Rivoli is that it truly feels like a second home. I am so grateful for everyone that has bought their tickets early and are planning on coming to help celebrate this next chapter of my career with me. I think there is a bit of added pressure when you’ve sold out a venue before, but I try to look at that as motivation rather than expectation. I’m incredibly thankful for the people that continue to show up and support me and my music and that is something I never want to take for granted.
The whole night is going to a blast start to finish! Both Alycia and Chase bring such an energy on stage with their music and their personalities that I think it will set the tone right away that we are going to have fun and celebrate that night. It’s also on a Friday so no excuses for the audience to stay up and late, dance and sing, and have a good time haha!
Now that you’ve crossed one million streams and earned four CMAO nominations, what goals or milestone moments are you setting your sights on next in the Canadian country music scene?
Wow, sometimes it’s crazy to read that sentence out loud to myself. I always tell myself that if I get to wake up, make music, play shows across the country, and just be happy, then I am achieving everything I’ve wanted. I think my biggest goal is to keep building a career that feels authentic to me. I want to continue to make music I am proud of, feels like me, and build genuine connections with listeners. I think the EP is the next step to really help me take a step further and open new doors to what is next.
