In just a few short years Cristina Lynn has become a mainstay of the Huntsville music scene. Her brand of country is powerful and uplifting. The Madison resident has always been a singer. She grew up singing a capella in Church. As an adult, she began writing songs and then taught herself guitar. Cristina became a mother and a nurse, but never let go of her dreams to sing. In 2004 she made the gutsy decision to become a full-time singer/songwriter. Two CD’s and an untold number of gigs later (including high profile one’s like The Bluebird Café and The Nashville Palace), more people than ever are paying attention to this country music artist.
Cristina Lynn’s most recent CD, From All Sides, includes a variety of musical styles from classic country, to blues, as well as ballads. From All Sides features several original songs and a song she later discovered was co-written by Gretchen Wilson.
Cristina is known for her live performances. She plays gigs on a regular basis at Huntsville venues such as Humphrey’s and The Furniture Factory, to name a couple. Cristina also performs at large events such as Panoply, Whistlestop, and Concerts in the Park. Her fans have grown quite fond of her great voice and unique songs. Does the new face of country music reside right here in the Tennessee Valley? Cristina Lynn’s fans think so. I had the pleasure of sitting down with her and asking a few questions.
How did you become Cristina Lynn, Singer/Songwriter/Musician?
After singing my whole life, I became a nurse and worked as an RN, then worked as a pharmaceutical rep for a while. Finally, my husband looked at me and said we are going to be old and grey and we are never going to know. He said you have this voice that folks need to hear. And so the journey began. I started writing. I sat down at my Mom and Dad’s table not long after Daddy died and penned The One and then Don’t Blink and several other songs thereafter.
Cristina, what is your first musical memory?
You know, it would have to be just sitting in church and singing the old gospel tunes. I figured out early on that I could sing. I grew up Church of Christ and you can definitely tell when a capella music is on or if it’s off. So, it would definitely be sitting in the old church pew singing Amazing Grace, I’ll Fly Away, and Just A Closer Walk With Me.
What prompted you to pick up the guitar?
I had so many melodies running through my head when I was writing. I had to depend on someone else to help me. I am very much a girl who will take control and do it myself. I had a friend who gave me an old Yamaha that tore my fingers up. A couple Christmases after I fought with that thing for a while, never fully committing because it hurt so bad, Kevin (Cristina’s husband) gave me my Eric Clapton Martin. I learned D, C, and G and took off. I learned the beauty of the capo and the beauty of being able to write a song by myself.
Can you tell us who your musical idols are?
As a singer, the person I always look to, to feel her passion is Patsy Cline. As a writer, it would have to be good old Hank Sr. Love, love, love them both!
Cristina, one of my favorite songs from your CD From All Sides is House On Wheels. Please tell me about the writing of that song?
My husband and I were celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary. We had gotten a cabin up on Monte Sano Mountain. The first couple of days of our anniversary trip we went to Nashville and just hung out and had fun on Broadway. Then we went to the cabin and started talking about collaborating and doing some writing together. He said, I have this idea of this young girl growing up singing and writing but she didn’t know she was writing about her life until the end of the song when she is riding around in her house on wheels. That’s the story of the song. She grew up in a trailer very poor writing about the hard knocks of life. The next thing she knew, she realized the trailer park was what helped make her and that house on wheels helped her deliver the message.
I think that song resonates with a many of us who grew up not so wealthy. It hits home with a lot of folks.
Absolutely, it does. When he told me she grew up in a trailer and the twist at the end is that she is rolling around realizing that it really wasn’t so bad. I loved the concept. You know, I didn’t grow up in a trailer and I didn’t date a boy named Tommy. But definitely, I didn’t grow up a rich girl. I’m one of those girls that everything I have, I have worked for it. That has definitely taught me to appreciate the wonderful things in life.
Recently, a song you wrote was featured in a musical. How did this come about?
Bob Baker who is over at Renaissance Theatre approached me after I had done a Country Cabaret that featured me and my music in November. He told me about his play Standing By Tammy Wynette (standingbytammywynette.com) And he said, you know I have an idea for a song. Would you consider? I told him anytime I walk into a co-writing session, I like to figure where the other person is coming from. He shared the story of Donna Chapel, his niece, and then he shared his whole idea of what Standing By Tammy Wynette was going to be like. Then he sent me the lyrics and I helped him finish it up. It’s called I Wanna Sing like Tammy. Basically, we used Tammy Wynette but it could have easily been others. When I heard Patsy Cline years ago as a little girl. Oh My Gosh, to sing like that and to move people and to feel every word like she felt every word talks to a lot of girls out there today. It could just have easily been I Wanna Sing Like Patsy or I Wanna Sing Like Loretta. Or even today it could be I Wanna Sing Like Faith Hill. It’s all about embracing that person and the parts of their music that move you.
The cool thing about it is they are taking the play to Red Bay Alabama where there is a Tammy Wynette museum. They’re talking to some folks in Nashville about bringing it up there to a dinner club. And they are bringing it back to The Renaissance because there was such a demand for the play. The girls did a great job. The musicians were great. It was pretty darn cool. You know I have to tell, that was the first time I’ve heard one of my songs sung by someone else. It was a lot of fun to just sit there and listen to Shirelle’s (SP?) interpretation. She did a great job!
What in your record collection might surprise your fans?
We have a lot of AC/DC (laughs). I have seen AC/DC four times in concert with my sweet husband. At the last one we decided we were getting a little too old. We listen to a lot of rock n roll.
How do you feel about modern country music and direction it seems to be taking?
I feel that country music right now is very unsure of where it wants to go. The cool things I have always loved about country are that there was always a story to tell and it wasn’t necessarily about what someone looked like. It was the story. And I do love modern country but I feel that it has lost a lot of its charm. That is what saddens me. When the musicians came in to help me with From All Sides, they asked me what I was looking for. I said you know for it to sell it has to have some of today’s feel. But, I want it to have some of those old licks to also bring people back to what country is supposed to be. I do listen to modern country and I like it. But, so much of it is pop and really doesn’t tell a story anymore.
What is your approach to songwriting?
I go with whatever moves me. I may see a person and there is a characteristic in them that needs to be written about. I may see an article or something on the television. Typically, it starts with some type of idea. Then, the melody begins in my head because that is the way I’ve always written. I sit down with my computer and I sit down with my guitar and I just start trying to make the two mesh. Maybe some people do have a formula for it. I really don’t. The big thing I say all the time is you make every moment count and to me every moment has a song in it.
Can you tell me about songwriting with your husband?
It’s a lot of fun. We both look at things differently. He is a technical writer by trade and he wants everything to be to the point. I’m the creative brain type so I just let it flow. We wrote The Next Goodbye together. He came to me and said I have an idea and he started trying to tell me about it. And I said, well that makes no sense to me. So, he wrote the poem. I then took the poem and re-wrote it into a song and now it’s the first track on the CD.
One of your songs was co-written by Gretchen Wilson. How did that come about?
Chuck Rutenberg and I were playing When It Ain’t Raining out and I had been told that Victoria Banks was the writer for that song. When I recorded it for the CD, I called to make sure I was going to be paying the appropriate publisher and they told me that I would need to get in touch with Gretchen Wilson’s publisher because she was the co-writer. So, that was pretty darn cool!
What is the best advice you could give a young singer that is just starting?
Define who you are and just get out there and do it. Nobody is going to get out there and do it for you. I have had a lot of people be good to me and give me advice. But, I am where I am today because of my blood, sweat, and tears. It is a hard industry to work in but there are people out there willing to support someone who is willing to work hard. The sky can be your limit.
Please tell us what is on the horizon for fans of your music.This year is going to be a really cool year! I’m hoping to do two CD’s. I plan to do an original CD and a Christmas CD. I’m really excited about working with Heals (Health Establishment at Local Schools Inc.) and their Dancing With The Stars. So, they’re going to get to see me work hard and become a dancer for at least one night. This year I’m really wanting to branch out Keith. I was talking to some folks last week about some possibilities in New York and last night I talked with a guy about doing some stuff in Chicago. I am going to play more often in Tennessee. I would love to play more in Atlanta. And, branching out is going to pull me more from Huntsville. But, Huntsville is where I started and it will always be my roots. Huntsville is where I will always call home.
CD’s
From All Sides (2009) – available at T. Shepard’s Music, The Fret Shop, all Railroad Bazaars, or directly from Cristina Lynn at any of her gigs.
What’s Next (2007) – available online at CD Baby
Upcoming gigs
Friday, April 1 — (7 PM) – Songwriter Round Valley Hill Country Club – Huntsville, AL
Sunday, April 3 — (8 PM show) – BlueBird Cafe – Nashville, TN
Friday, April 8 — (7 – 8:30 PM) – BBQ Caboose – Lynchburg, TN
Saturday, April 16 — (7 – 9 PM) – Daily Brew – Decatur, AL
Saturday, April 23 — (4 PM) – Fredrick’s Equipment – Ticket’s available at 256-751-3555 – Priceville, AL
Cristina’s Blog
www.cristinalynnblog.com
On Face Book
http://www.facebook.com/clynnfans
Very nice article about a very talented and hard working girl who remains humble and honest in her endeavor. Proud to have her as a friend and mentor.