Nashville-based country-pop singer-songwriter Erin Gibney continues to delve deeply into emotional territory, with each consecutive single peeling back more layers and exploring the difficult sides of relationships in the modern world. Her latest, “not something i’ve told my friends,” explores the anxiety inherent in talking to an ex again, and the fallout that could happen if the friends who helped the heartbreak survival were to find out. On-point with a merry-go-round of feelings, the softly driving guitar weeps with guilt, anger, and confusion, as Gibney’s plaintive vocals tell the story to perfection. It’s storytelling that so many can relate to, and Gibney has charmed us yet again with this brand-new single. Amplify sat down with her recently to get the details on this tremendous song.
Hi, Erin! You have a terrific new single out in January called “not something i’ve told my friends.” How did this song song come together and what broad strokes can you tell us about the single? What inspired it, and what is the story behind it?
Hi, thanks for chatting with me! I am so excited to be releasing my new single, “not something i’ve told my friends.” I feel like I have had this song in my back pocket for so long, constantly trying to perfect it before releasing it into the world. I love where it has landed and am excited to share the story behind it. This song was inspired by the six months following the end of my long-term relationship. I felt like I had nearly gotten over my ex before I ran into him while I was back home for the holidays. This began the cycle of us speaking again and brought me back to the place I was in before.
Was this a song that you wrote quickly, or did you work on it for a while?
I wrote this song fairly quickly but spent nearly a year on the production of it. We tried many different angles but felt like this version conveyed the message of the song the best!
Speaking of production, what was it like recording this song? How did this song come together when you recorded it?
Recording this song challenged me as an artist. I felt so close to the story and the emotion of the song that it was difficult for me to decide on the musicality of it. I battled with the feelings of anger, confusion, and guilt and was not sure which I wanted to come through the most.
What do you hope this song conveys to those who listen to it?
I hope this song makes people feel understood, and I hope it’s a reminder to give themselves grace in those months following a breakup. Healing isn’t linear, and it’s normal to feel a pull back to your ex.
The song title is great and really conveys an idea of the song very well. Do you find it hard to name songs or is it really natural? How about this song? What made you decide on the title?
Usually, titling a song is a natural process for me, and I generally feel a pull once the song has finished. I try not to write with the title already in mind so it doesn’t limit my writing. For this song, I knew some would say that the title was too long and it needed to be shortened, but I felt strongly that “not something i’ve told my friends” was the best way to convey its message!
If you look back over your career, you probably feel like quite a different artist now than when you began for a number of reasons – life experience, industry experience, studio and performing experience all factoring into that. Do different things inspire you now? Where do you tend to get your biggest inspiration from these days?
I would definitely say different things inspire me now. When I was younger, I would only write based on my own experiences. As an adult, I now feel inspired by so many different things. Whether that be TV shows, books, or movies, I feel my inspiration coming from all over.
Songwriting can be a really personal endeavor, yet when you release a song or an album or an EP, you share the music with so many people. How does this make you feel, and is it ever difficult to share songs widely like that? What kind of feedback do you get from fans who have connected with the music or had a song impact them in a deep and meaningful way?
Honestly, for me, I love sharing these personal moments and feelings with my fans. It makes me proud to look back and say, “I went through this heartache and made something really beautiful out of it.” That is my favorite thing about songwriting; to take something painful and turn it into art. Seeing my fans’ response to my music fills me with more joy than I can put into words. To know that my music is making them feel less alone and more understood makes all the tough days worth it.
What was the most exciting thing to happen for you in 2024? What are you most looking forward to in 2025?
Going on tour this summer was by far my favorite part of 2024. It was amazing to get to meet fans in person and share new music with them on the road. The thing I am looking forward to most in 2025 is definitely my next few singles. I am proud of the music I have written, and I am eager to share it with the world.
Speaking of touring, got any tour plans? Where can fans see you on the road?
My tour schedule for 2025 is currently TBD, so updates to come!
