For the first time since her debut album in 2014, MacKenzie Porter has a new collection of music ready for country music fans. And it all starts now!

Porter has been a busy woman over the last five years, with small screen fans watching her acting on high profile shows Travelers and Hell On Wheels. But that’s not all she’s been up to. With a record deal signed to Big Loud, MacKenzie Porter has been writing, recording, and prepping to release new music. That preparation starts paying off today with the release of her first two singles from her upcoming 2019 album.

Note: Season three of Travelers comes to Netflix on December 14, 2018.

About You, and Drive Thru mark a new beginning for Porter. A new chapter. And an opportunity for her to show country music fans that she never went away, she was just getting ready to shine.

We caught up with MacKenzie Porter on the phone earlier this week to talk about her new music, the work she’s been putting in to get it ready, and more. We also took the opportunity to play a round of 5 Quick Questions at the end of our call.

Boots & Hearts 2013

The heavy lifting on her new music started this summer. Filming for Travelers wrapped on July 5 in Vancouver, and after a few days with her family in Alberta, she went home to Nashville to get to work again. That work included more writing (on top of the writing she’d already done) and studio time to make this new project a reality. It also meant that it was time to make a concerted effort to shift her focus to music.

Note: MacKenzie did tell us that she hopes to continue her acting career, but right now she wants to and feels she needs to, concentrate on music.

It was easy to hear the pride and excitement in MacKenzie’s voice as we talked about About You and Drive Thru. The tracks are part one of a release plan that will see two more songs scheduled for release in February, two more a short while after that, and probably one more multi-track release leading up to her full album. It’s a strategy that she believes will keep fans invested in the process, allowing them to dive into two songs at a time and keep them excited for more, instead of dropping an entire album and then having the excitement fade away.

The downside is that we don’t get eight or 10 songs today to listen to. The upside is that we know there’s more coming, and we’re already excited for it.

We talked about the sound that she and her team were aiming for with her new music, and MacKenzie told us that she wanted to provide something that could bridge her two fan communities. Her music fans know her as a country artist and are familiar with Rodeo (2015), Circles (her 2015 duet with Chris Lane), and songs like If You Ask Me To, Anywhere For You, and Never Gonna Let You. Fans of her work as Marcy (Travelers) and Naomi (Hell On Wheels), may not be as familiar. So, to help bring those fans into the circle, the Big Loud team and MacKenzie brought pop and modern country influences to the table. It makes for a really fun listen (on the first two tracks, we’re just as in the dark as you are with the rest), and it is still country music right alongside so many more great releases coming out of Nashville.

via Facebook

While we were talking, we also went back to 2013 and the last Q&A we did with MacKenzie. In that chat, we asked about social media, and the then 23-year-old indie artist and emerging actor told us she loved it. She said then, “I do like social medias because of the instant feedback and interaction. I try to keep fans up to date with what I’m doing and try to show them who I am and what I’m passionate about.”. We asked her again this week how she feels about social media and she had the same feelings. Anyone following her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram can see that MacKenzie is showing off the behind-the-scenes magic, promoting her work, and keeping everyone updated on what’s coming. She told us that she sees her social media channels as a great tool and a direct line of communication to her fans. She wants to be the one that shares news and announcements, and this is how she can do that.

Note: Follow MacKenzie Porter on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

I also asked MacKenzie about the five years between our interviews, and what the biggest change has been for her. She said, with very little hesitation, that moving to Nashville was the #1 thing that she did.

Being in Music City, surrounded by like-minded artists and songwriters, accomplished pros, and hungry talent, has given her the opportunity to push herself and grow. She told us about feeling ready to roll with new music the moment she signed with Big Loud but being coached to keep writing, to work her way up the ladder and hone her craft. The results can and will continue to be seen in the new music.

It’s a big move from Medicine Hat, AB to Nashville, TN (nearly 1,900 miles if you’re counting), and while MacKenzie still says that her parents place will always be home, Nashville has been exactly where she needs to be and has felt comfortable as she grows and learns and moves forward in her life and career.

One of the most memorable moments in our call with MacKenzie came when we were just talking about music and country and the changes in the genre. She said, (and we agree, 100%) that Good Music Is Good Music. She offered up names like Drake, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, and Justin Bieber, and said that when they release a song that works, it works. It doesn’t matter what the label is; it’s just good music. And she wants to make good music too.

With the release of the first two songs as a member of the Big Loud family, and her re-entry into the world of country music, MacKenzie Porter has done it. This is good music. It’s fun, hooky, highly singable, and we can’t wait to see how her fans react to them.

Now if you didn’t do it already at the top of the post (and even if you did), hit play on About You and Drive Thru and check out MacKenzie’s round of 5 Quick Questions. Enjoy!

5 Quick Questions with MacKenzie Porter

Q1. If you’re on a long drive and have to choose an album to listen to all the way through, which do you choose?

MP. Off the top of her head, MacKenzie went with Kacey Musgraves’ 2018 CMA Album of the Year, Golden Hour.

Q2. Do you have a dream duet partner?

MP. The first name that came to MacKenzie was Dolly Parton. A legend and a dream partner if there ever was one.

Q3. Is there a venue that sits at the top of your “I really want to play there someday” list?

MP. Madison Square Gardens in New York City.

Q4. Do you have a dream vacation?

MP. Next on her vacay to do list is Africa, a place she hasn’t yet been but really wants to visit soon!

Q5. Is there an artist that you think people should be paying more attention to?

MP. MacKenzie gave us two names.
1) Julia Michaels, who she thinks is an emerging superstar and an underrated songwriter, not getting as much recognition in the public as she deserves.
2) Tenille Townes, whose latest single, Somebody’s Daughter has received a lot of attention and should be the start of something big.

Thank you again to MacKenzie for taking the time to talk with us. We’re excited to hear from new music from her soon, and can’t wait to see where her dual careers take her in the near and distant futures!

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Joshua Murray

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