Libby Johnston On the Making Of “Ingram Road”
How did you come up with the idea?
One of my mum’s favourite Taylor Swift songs is “The Best Day” so I’ve always had the idea of surprising her with a song written about her in a similar style to Fearless era Taylor. Thankfully the timing couldn’t have been more perfect as once I had finished writing, May was still a few months away so I was able to get the song produced, engineered, mixed, mastered and released by Mother’s Day.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for "Ingram Road" to life?
The beat is made by Wolfgang Pander. He created all the tracks for my self-titled EP and I’m a big fan of his work. I’ve been collaborating with Santino Cardinale (co-producer, mixing and mastering engineer) since the very beginning of my songwriting endeavours, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his talent and work ethic. He takes every note I have and runs with it, and the fact of the matter is my songs would be nothing without his craftsmanship.
Is there a particular message or theme you hope listeners take away from this song?
This is a song for Mother’s Day but I hope those who don’t have a positive relationship with their mother or parents can hear this song and think about a person in their lives who has shown them unfailing kindness and unconditional love. This is a song of gratitude, growth, reflection and nostalgia for a simpler time. I hope it brings listeners home - wherever that might be for them.
What motivates you as an artist?
Music is my favourite thing in the world. It’s where I go when I’m at my happiest and when I’m at my lowest. I never thought I’d write my own music because I never thought I was worthy of having my perspective published but my friends empowered me and liberated me from my own limitations. I’m motivated by the idea that maybe one day someone can listen to my music and feel the way I do when I listen to my favourite artists.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a musician, and how did you overcome them?
I definitely suffer from imposter syndrome and my inner critic can often hinder my creativity as I’m too obsessed with perfection. I overcome the negative self-talk by speaking it out loud so I can put things into perspective. Talking with loved ones is also really important for me when attempting to overcome challenges as I value their opinion more than the voices in my head.
