MAMADEAR consists of band members Parker Bradway, Kelly Tillotson, and Daniel Wilson, and we got to interview all three of them! This harmony-driver group of singers has a specific term for their sound, check it out below, I think its cool way to describe it.
What’s your favorite kind of sandwich?
Chick-fil-A sandwich for sure! Spicy chicken sandwich to be exact 😉 -Parker
The Beatles or Elvis? Why?
The Beatles. Is there a more influential band around? Also, they have so many cool and different harmony lines, which is cool for us to dig into. Also, probably some of the best songwriting in history. -Dan
Lyrics to live by?
“And when you figure out love is all that matters after all, it sure makes everything else seem so small.” It’s from the song “So Small” by Carrie Underwood. We love the writers who wrote that song with her (Luke Laird and Hillary Lindsey), and it’s such a good message for life! We all get caught up in the craziness of things, but this song always reminds us what’s important. There’s a version of the “worktape” for this song on Spotify that is just as good as the recorded version. Hearing their stripped down version from the day they wrote the song is pretty special. -Kelly
“Desert Island” album?
That is so tough. First thought that came to our mind was Continuum by John Mayer. -Dan
What country music artists do you listen to the most?
All time it’s got to be George Strait. You just can’t beat it. Currently, though, I listen to a lot of Dierks and Eric Church. -Parker
How would you describe your “sound”?
In short, we call it “porch music!” We want it to be harmony driven country music based in our roots on the front porch. We want it to feel nostalgic of country music’s past but still groove and hit like today’s music. -Parker
Where do you see your musical career in 5 years?
We would love to be touring around the world and continuing to record more music! Getting the opportunity to write songs and share them with people is just the coolest feeling. We love the way music is such a channel to connect us to people. We have so many people in our life who we wouldn’t know if it hadn’t been for the way that music brought us together! -Kelly
Are there any instruments you don’t play but wish you did? Why?
Hammered Dulcimer…but don’t we all want to be a little more like Dolly Parton. -Dan
What was the best advice you have received?
I used to work for a woman named Beth Laird, who runs a publishing company in Nashville called Creative Nation. She always said that when people told her “no,” it just gave her more fuel to go ahead and accomplish the thing they said she couldn’t do. I always loved that because it taught me a lot about perseverance, and not listening to criticism. It never hurts to handle hardship with a little sass and strength! Life as musicians can be difficult at times, so we’re always encouraged by our mentors and our friends who push us to keep pursuing the things we believe in! -Kelly
What advice would you give to yourself at the start of your musical career?
Don’t be afraid to fall flat on your face being yourself in your artistry. Chasing trends never works. Also, only partner with folks who you believe get what you do and believe in it whole heartedly. -Dan
Where does most of your inspiration come from?
Mostly from conversations with friends and people you meet. Also, from things we read. We are always reading lots of fiction, or just the local newspaper. People will literally speak out lyrics if you are attuned and listening. -Dan
What do you consider to be your biggest achievement in your career so far?
Any sort of accolade–whether a huge opening slot or a big industry shoutout–is amazing and a huge honor, but really the “achievements” that are most special to us are when someone comes up to us after the show to tell us a specific story of how one of our songs has touched a part of their lives. That’s what we do this whole thing for, so whenever we hear stories about what our music has meant to people, that takes the cake! – Parker
What’s on the horizon for you that you would like to share?
We have just released two singles, “Lost Cause” and “Steal Away,” and we are releasing a third in October! We’ve gotten a great response from the first two singles, and we are REALLY excited for people to hear the third song! It’s called “A Better Cigarette,” and it’s been amazing to see the way people respond when we perform it. It’s one of those story songs that everyone can relate to in some way. We are also continuing to tour and opening for one of our favorite artists, Josh Turner, in October! -Kelly
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