Rascal Flatts Do Radio Rewind

Rascal Flatts met with the Nashville media this week to introduce their new single, “Rewind.”  The song is the first single from a new album that will be released later this year.  The guys spent most of last year working on the new music, and were seeking to “reinvent” themselves.  During this 20 minute press conference, the guys talk about the new music and their summer tour with Sheryl Crow:

So let’s start talking about the music.  For the last album, you went out to California, so what did you different on this album? (Gary) We kind of did everything different on this album.  We used several different producers, and we produced a few on our own.  I think we kinda went outside the Rascal Flatts box, we cut some songs we might not have cut before, but we really wanted to have fun.  I think Rewind is a great way to debut the new album that drops in June.  So were thrilled to have this music out, and can’t wait for everyone to hear it.

What was it about this song “Rewind” that made you pick it as the first single?  (Joe Don) We have a lot of songwriting friends, but this time was different.  We had songs coming from everywhere.  Jay went out and pounded the pavement, and that’s where this song came from.  (Jay) I don’t enjoy listening with a bias, I don’t care who wrote it as long as it’s a hit.  We felt like it was a good way to bridge the gap from familiar Rascal Flatts and a new era Rascal Flatts.  We do what we do, and we’re known for our harmony, but we want to be introduced to a new generation of fans.  I feel like what we were able to do in the studio, it’s definitely a fresh approach, and a good statement to make out of the box for the record.

Talk about the summer tour with Sheryl Crow: (Jay) We’re very excited about that, we’ve been a fan of Sheryl’s for a long time, and she’s a wonderfully talented person.  We’re going to try and do some things together in the show, we’ll figure that out when we rehearse, and see what comes out.  As far as an artist, she’s been one of my favorites for years, it’s gonna be nice to be around her, so hopefully we can jump on her bus and write a few tunes with her.

You’ve been away for a little while, so what’s changed since your last album?  (Jay) I think songwriting has changed, and the direction of country radio has changed.  So what we’ve tried to do is find songs that fit us, but also fit country radio right now.  It took us a long time to get to this point, almost a year, and find what this project was, and it’s been a labor of love, but it was worth it, because we were able to surprise ourselves with what we’ve been able to do differently on this project.  Working with new people has made us be excited again about making music. (Gary) With us being songwriters, we like to write differently too.  We get songs that sound like things we’ve already done, but what we wanted were songs that went in a different direction. (Jay) When you listen to Rewind, you hear the difference in the song.  The verses are really sparse, and Gary is singing in a lower register, rather than singing over big thick tracks.

Listen to “Rewind”

Tags: rascal flatts

Category: VIDEO