Singer/songwriter, author, and podcaster Tia McGraff has had quite the busy 2022. She’s released her latest EP With Love, has given us a few singles from it including “Go Your Own Way” and the title track, reemerged post pandemic to play the famed Bluebird Café, and more! We had the chance to check in with Tia and talk about the overall message of hope, peace, and love that she’s trying to spread with her new EP release, why “Clockwork” is one of her favorites from it, her Jake’s Place Songs and Tails podcast and the book that inspired it Jake The Road Dawg…and much, much more!

(Interview by: Jeffrey Kurtis)

1) You latest EP With Love is out now! For those who may not have heard it yet, can you tell them a little bit about it. 

My EP With Love is my post pandemic release. The seven songs were carefully written/selected/produced to send the message of hope and peace in this world of uncertainty and flux.

2) Just two weeks ago, you released a music video for the title track of the EP, “With Love.” Why did you feel that this was a perfect song to release going into the 2022 holiday season?

This is the season of hope and love. We’re winding down 2022 and a year that has been filled with war, chaos, and people reinventing their lives. The message “the world keeps spinning ‘round the sun, with love,” is what I hope to share with everyone over the holidays. I hope 2023 to be a brighter and more peaceful year.

3) Being as though the song is the title track, how do you feel that it embodies the spirit of the EP more so than any other song on the project?

“With Love” sums up the entirety of the EP. There are different aspects of love....romantic love, universal love, spiritual love, and self-love. “With Love” says it all.

4) This release, follows “Go Your Own Way.” What similar characteristics, but also what differences, do you feel the listeners will see most between the two tracks? 

“Go Your Own Way” was written from the perspective of a parent advising their child to be who they are. Go your own way and don’t let others bully or intimidate you. The kind of unconditional love that is perfect, really.

5) Looking over the 7 songs on the EP, which one stands out as your personal favorite and why?

“Clockwork” is the most effortless and enchanting song that Tommy and I have written to date. Tommy had created this beautiful melodic hook that inspired my lyrical vision for the song. We actually wrote the entire song in an hour while walking the dogs to the bird sanctuary.

6) 2022 was a big year for you in many ways, one of which was getting back to playing live shows after the pandemic. What was that experience like when you played your first round back at the famed Bluebird Café here in Nashville?

Playing the Bluebird Café on any occasion is a dream come true for songwriters. I’m a small-town girl from Canada who moved to Nashville with a dream of performing at the Bluebird Café. Now to go back after the pandemic, when we weren’t sure if we’d ever be performing live music again and sitting on stage with class hit writers was magical. Did I mention we even had friends and family from Canada in the audience that night?

7) You’re so much more than just a songwriter and artist…you’re also a podcaster. Tell us about your Jake's Place Songs and Tails podcast?

“Jake’s Place” was inspired by my book, Jake The Road Dawg and was started during the pandemic. Tommy and I had been discussing starting our own podcast show. When we were home, wanting to reach our audience, we decided now was the perfect time. Our hearts are passionate about animal rescue, and we decided to tie music and dogs together. It works beautifully and is a total joy to produce and record.

8) You mentioned that you authored Jake The Road Dawg.  Will you dive into that a bit more for us? Plot, inspirations for it, etc.

Tommy and I adopted Jake from the Animal Shelter in Nashville when we were living there. He was distraught, broken, and it took a lot of love to bring our Husky out of his shell. But when he began traveling with us on the road to gigs, he lit up! In fact, Jake began to sit with us on stage. He even had fans writing him letters. This inspired me to write my book for children of all ages about finding the song in your heart, letting yourself be crazy beautiful. I have included three songs in the book and now we’ve created an event that we take into libraries and schools. It’s beautiful.

9) The book, as you said is for all ages of children, and it has not only resonated with children and adults alike but has also helped raise funds and awareness for your local chapter of The Dolly Parton Imagination Library. What does that incredible organization mean to you and why did you have to be involved with it in your book?

Dolly Parton is one of my heroes! She is an amazing artist and human that is an inspiration to women, and I am blessed to be able to support our local chapter of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library through my book sales and fundraising events.

10) What one piece of advice can you offer to someone who is just starting out and trying to break into the music industry?

Don’t be a people pleaser. Stay true to yourself and others will love you for that!

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