Calgary country artist Alex Hughes, who just released her debut EP, Take Me Home — a six-song project that pulls together the range of what she’s been building over the last year, from hook-forward country-pop to more emotionally detailed, story-driven material.
Congratulations on the release of your debut EP, Take Me Home! How does it feel to finally have this complete six-song collection out in the world via Phase Entertainment Group?
I’ve been working on this project for a couple of years so finally having it out into the world for people
to be able to enjoy is so surreal and exciting. I’ve been so lucky to be able to work with Phase
Entertainment Group this past year and we’ve worked tirelessly to give these songs the spotlight they
deserve. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to do and so proud of this project.
The focus track of the EP is the tender, slow-burning ballad “Slow Dancing In The Kitchen.” Can you take us into the writing room with Lydia Sutherland and Fran Litterski, and tell us what it was like collaborating with three-time CCMA Producer of the Year nominee Kyle McKearney to bring that specific track to life?
It was a rainy night in Nashville and with the cozy ambience the love song vibes were high. Fran and
Lydia are both such incredible storytellers and we were able to tell a love story that is really honest
and true to me. Nothing makes a hard day better than a nice meal, a glass of wine, and maybe a little
kitchen floor slow dance with the one you love. It was amazing to get to bring this song to life with Kyle
McKearney who is an incredible vocalist. He really helped me dig deep and take this song to a whole
other level vocally and sonically.
You’ve mentioned that this EP captures the emotional roller coaster of early adulthood—from falling hopelessly in love to holding onto relationships that probably should have ended. Was it difficult to let your walls down and be that vulnerable when putting this track list together?
This EP shares a lot of my own personal stories and I’m now in the life stage where I’m in a happy
relationship so I feel really comfortable sharing these stories. Everyone experiences major changes
and challenges in early adulthood and my hope would be these songs help people know they aren’t
alone. Releasing music is always a vulnerable experience but these songs are a piece of my heart
that I’ve been really excited to share. I hope they resonate with listeners and bring up memories with
shared experiences and feelings.
Sonically, you seamlessly blend traditional country storytelling with the pop influences you grew up on. How do you find that perfect balance in the studio between paying tribute to country roots and maintaining a polished, modern pop edge?
Working with producer Dan Swiminier really helped me find this balance. Until This Fire Dies, or track #2 on the EP was the first song we worked on together and I knew as soon as we started to dive in
that I found the sound I had been looking for. I’m so grateful to have been able to work with him and have his ear help bridge the sounds that influenced and inspired me from 90’s pop to traditional
country from artists like Patsy Cline. I really think you can hear all these influences when you listen to
the entire EP.
You noted that there is a bit of “sass” sprinkled in alongside the heartbreak and nostalgia on this project. Which track on the EP was the most fun to write or record when it came to channeling that confident, sassy energy?
Break All The Way was super fun to record, it’s such a sassy song and the cadence of the verses
really require you to lean into that. I felt like I almost had to take on an alter ego in the studio (and
even when I play it live) and I love that about it.
With over 500,000 global catalogue streams and recent Country Music Alberta Award nominations for Horizon Female Artist of the Year and Fans’ Choice, you are building some incredible momentum. How have these recent milestones shaped your confidence as you officially debut this project?
This has been a really exciting year and I’m so grateful not only for the momentum and recognition but
for the hard work of my team to get us here. Being able to have a good build up to this EP was
something we really strived for. Now the goal is to keep the momentum going and growing!
You’re kicking off your summer tour with an official EP release party on June 12th at Calgary’s
legendary King Eddy. Why was that specific venue the perfect place for you to celebrate this career milestone?
I’m a born and raised Calgary girl so having my EP release show & party at the King Eddy is so
special and exciting. The King Eddy is not only one of our best venues in the city but it is also full of
history so I’m honored to host the party there. I also have personally benefited from some amazing
programs held at The National Music Centre (which the King Eddy is attached to), so it really feels like
a homecoming and the perfect place to meet friends, family and fans to celebrate!
Looking ahead at your busy summer schedule, you’re set to make your debut on the Calgary
Stampede Coca-Cola Stage on July 5th. Growing up in Calgary, what does playing that iconic stage mean to you personally and professionally?
It is such a huge bucket list moment to be able to play the iconic Coca-Cola Stage with my full band
this Stampede! We’ll be playing this EP and some new original songs that I can’t wait to share with
Calgarians and visitors to the Stampede. I grew up performing at the Calgary Stampede Search with
was a talent competition at the Stampede, so this full circle moment of getting to play the biggest
stage of this festival is not lost on me.
Beyond Calgary, your summer tour takes you out to the Penticton Peach Fest in BC and the Feast At The Beach Festival in Cold Lake. What is your favorite part about taking your music on the road and connecting with country music fans at summer festivals?
I love meeting fans and making new ones in the places we perform and I can’t wait to do that in
Penticton and Cold Lake. I’m so proud of the new songs from my EP and love it when a crowd gets
into them too. My favourite part about getting on the road is chatting with the amazing people from
these towns and hearing more about them, what kind of music they like, why they like coming to these
festivals and supporting live music. It’s so rewarding!
You’ve expressed hope that listeners will see pieces of themselves within these six tracks. What is the main message or feeling you hope fans walk away with after they listen to Take Me Home from start to finish?
I hope fans feel the emotional journey this EP takes you on, and all the love that went into it. From the
writing, to recording to the album art, promotion etc. each stage of this project has been filled with
love. It takes a village to create a full EP and I’m so grateful to every single person who leant their
talents to this project. I hope the stories resonate with listeners, I hope they like my voice and the
songwriting. But mostly I just hope they feel all the love!
