SJ McDonald

In the artist’s words: Describe one of your earliest musical memories in detail. Oh my!!! I remember sitting beside my Grandma at her upright piano... she knew how to read music but I didn't yet (I was probably 6 or 7). She'd play something and I'd listen and play it back by ear. I started piano lessons shortly after! What are your top 3 all-time favorite albums on Apple Music, and why? Why did you choose these three albums in particular? Brandy Clark, 12 Stories Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts Cody Johnson, Human: The Double Album Some Hearts was the first album I burned through... it is my direct line to 2000s country nostalgia. 12 Stories is big inspiration for my writing. Each song is raw and real, never holding back. I want to write like that. Human: Country gold. Find a song of yours on Apple Music that you love and tell us what makes it special. Tell us why you chose this song. “Apple” Apple is a song for my mamma, who is an angel on earth that I want to be more like everyday! It had a wild recording journey.. we did a funky country version before finding the right sound. I'm SO glad we went with a bluegrass-inspired arrangement! What’s one of the most memorable moments in your career so far? In 2021 I got to sing on a 20-foot Nashville themed float in the St Louis Americas Birthday Parade, LIVE ON TELEVISION. Talk about nervous... they had me so high in the air I felt like a skyscraper. Is there anything left on your bucket list as an artist or band? OH YES. Playing The Grand Ole Opry, having a song on the radio, touring on a bus, playing at the NFR, singing with Cody Johnson, putting out a bluegrass album just for fun...