Maggie Antone Showcases Musical Depth on ‘Rhinestoned’
Maggie Antone relishes her tranquil moments on the back porch of her Nashville home, where she savours a beer and enjoys the distant strains of music while watching her backyard grow. “I get to do it more than you would think,” Antone shares, noting that her downtime will soon be scarce as her career takes off. She’s at peace with this shift, embracing the wave of success that has followed her viral cover of Tyler Childers’ ‘Lady May’.
Antone’s rising star power was further solidified by her renditions of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and John Prine’s “Spanish Pipe Dream,” leading to a busy tour schedule with 49 Winchester, Marty Stuart, and Brent Cobb. Her debut album ‘Rhinestoned ‘has become a focal point of her career. “Rhinestoned is very much a concept album,” she explains. “It’s a story album. It’s about coping and sometimes not coping, even with the best of coping mechanisms. Side A is relatively upbeat and happy, and then side B is ‘rip my heart out, throw it on the ground’ type of thing.”
Image Courtesy: People
The album explores the theme of love, drawing inspiration from a brief relationship in 2023. “I would say it was definitely inspired by a very short little situationship that I had,” Antone reveals. “Most of the songs are based on things that happened to me, but I kind of just mashed them all together into one story that was more tangible, if that makes any sense.”
Antone’s relatable lyrics and emotional depth have resonated with her audience, as evidenced by a fan who confessed to listening to one of the album’s tracks over 500 times. Antone, though initially concerned, was deeply flattered by the fan’s devotion. “I was like, ‘Are you OK?!’ But I’m also so flattered, and I appreciate it. But also more importantly — how are you doing, because that’s a really sad song?'”
Performing live remains a highlight for Antone. “There’s nothing I love more on this planet than playing a live show,” she says. “There’s something about just playing in front of a crowd that knows your music. It feels really good to be around people that get you, feel you and relate to you.”
Antone’s new album ‘Rhinestoned’ not only showcases her evolution as an artist but also highlights her ability to connect deeply with her listeners through both upbeat tracks and heart-wrenching ballads. As she continues to make her mark, her dedication to her craft and her fans is evident in every note and lyric.
-Sushmita Sarkar
