SONGWRITER OF THE WEEK!!! Kelli Rae Powell

SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR SONGWRITERS by Kelli Rae Powell

1. What makes you write?
I write because I can't shut up.

2. Who is the greatest unknown influence on your music?
My Grandma Donna.

3. What is your most closeted, secret, guilty and humiliating musical pleasure?
Justin Timberlake. He's on my ipod. Right. Now. The thing that's embarrassing about that is that I'm just getting excited about pop songs that were popular 5 years ago. Have you heard that Bringing Sexy Back, song? It's awesome. Oh, you heard it 5 years ago? Great. When discussing pop culture with me, you should assume that I'm aware of about as much as your oldest and least cool Aunt. Probably less.

4. What established artist made you want to write songs, and why? I genuinely wanted to be Dolly Parton when I grew up. Let's face it. I still do. When I learned she wrote her songs and actually wrote songs that other people sang, too, it awed me. I wanted to be like her, so I practiced writing songs. My first song was called "I Want To Fly Forever." I wrote it in the 3rd grade. I will never ever show that song to Dolly Parton.

5. Advice for just-starting songwriters on establishing yourself as a woman in the industry? I am not established in the industry, so I could actually use some advice, myself.

6. Why country? Townes Van Zandt said it the best: Three chords and the truth.

7. Favorite backwoods expression. My Grandma used to say, "Now, isn't that as common as an old brown shoe?" I need to work that into a song.

www.kelliraepowell.com