Steve Haggard Interviews      Haggard CDs  Haggard Homepage

      The following are just a few of the interviews that Steve has given in recent years.

         This next one was conducted in Nashville by Vince Montgomery, and appeared
        in the Winter 1998/99 issue of Renegade Newsletter.

      You got back from Denmark three days ago, finished up a production project
        for another artist yesterday, you did a gig here in town last night, you leave
        for a tour of Germany in two days, you're busy writing songs for your fifth CD.
        How do you find the time to do everything ?

       Steve: Good question ! (Laughs.) Seriously, though, I like keeping busy.
         And also, being involved in a lot of different things makes life more
         interesting. With playing live, writing recording, producing other acts,
         working on a lot of overseas stuff, helping to run the record label and
         publishing company, I don't get bored, like I might if I did one thing
         all the time.

       You mentioned that you help run the record and publishing companies.
         I find it interesting that  a creative guy like yourself -- a very talented
         singer/songwriter/musician -- also knows all about the business side
         of the music business.

         Steve: Well, I just set out to play music, to sing, to write songs. I never
           intended to get into the business part of it... I always say I learned the
           business part strictly out of self-defense. I think that for any artist or
           musician, the more you know about how the business works, the more
           you can control your own destiny.

         Your company, Wild Oats Records, has been very successful, especially
           for an indie label. Why do you think that you've done so well in such a
           tough industry ?

         Steve: A lot of it has just been hard work and persistence, and taking
           the time to learn how the business really works. I think that too many
           independent artists and labels just never really learn the ins-and-outs
           of  the business. They wind up wasting money, making bad decisions and
           getting taken advantage of by some of the shady operators in the business.

         Your current CD, Make Your Move, has done very well. I know that Ed
           Morris, the country music critic for Billboard and the Nashville Scene,
           called it one of the year's best country CDs.

          Steve: Yeah, that was really, really helpful, because he's one of the most-
            respected & well-known music journalists. We've also been fortunate in
            getting Make Your Move licensed both in Europe and South America, so
            we've got foreign labels doing all of the manufacturing and promotion 
            and distribution overseas.

          You tour in Europe all the time, I know.

          Steve: Yeah, it's been around five times every year... I've been doing it
             since '91. It's great. I guess I've played in a dozen countries over there.

          You've also been producing other artists, and helping them to get their
            careers going. Tell me a little about that.

          Steve: I really like producing. I like going into the studio and helping
            to bring out the best in an artist. And not only musically... I work with
            them to come up with a good career gameplan, to help them actually
            get their music heard.

          Last, but not least, your new CD.

          Steve: I'll be recording it here in Nashville in the fall. Like my last couple
            of CDs, it'll probably be nine originals and two outside songs... Country,
            blues, all the usual stuff.

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