← Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Classic Replay with Country Music Singer Songwriter Cyndi Thomson
00:33:56
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- [00:00]
Cindy Thompson
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:04]
Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
Every music lover has that moment you hear or read something that stops you in your tracks. A forgotten B side, an offhand comment in an interview. A connection. Nobody else noticed that. Curiosity. That's where Claude comes in. Clod is AI for people who don't stop at the surface. It helps you explore the real stories behind the music, not with quick answers, but by working through the discovery with you. Make matching your level of curiosity. Try Claude for free at Claude AI Buzz Lexus believes in the importance of standards One of my standards I never want to be late. I always want to show up on time. For Lexus, the standard is simple Experience. Amazing. Their benchmarks aren't stats or specs, they're feelings. Exhilaration, joy that sens your car was designed just for you. Machines built to make you feel more human. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing. Experience. Amazing at your Lexus dealer This episode is brought to you by 20th Century Studios New Film Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere don't miss the movie. Critics are raving as the real deal. An intelligent, deliberate paced journey into the soul of an artist. Scott Cooper Chapter of the Academy Award winning movie Crazy Hard brings you the story of the most pivotal chapter in the life of an icon. Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere Only in theaters Friday this episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to a concert, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. When I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I get eight times points on all the purchases I make through Chase Travel and even access to one of a kind experiences like music festivals and sports events. And that's not even mentioning how the card gets me into the Sapphire Lounge by the club at select airports nationwide. No matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover more@chase.com Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply.
- [02:33]
Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
Limu Cable and Doug Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.
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Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
Uh, limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.
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Cindy Thompson
Cut the camera.
- [02:54]
Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
They see us.
- [02:55]
Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
Only pay for what you need@liberty mutual.com.
- [02:57]
Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Very unwritten.
- [03:01]
Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
By Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates.
- [03:02]
Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
Excludes Massachusetts Taking a walk so many.
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Cindy Thompson
Things influence me and Songwriters in general, I think just moments we might see in real life happening in front of us or, you know, I just know myself pretty well and I. I know if I'm singing a song to you or writing a song, I want you to believe me.
- [03:23]
Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
Welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast hosted by BuzzKnight. Buzz speaks with musicians and songwriters of all genres about their passion for their work and their newest projects. Today we step into a new chapter with country singer songwriter Cindy Thompson as she returns to the spotlight, bringing her signature heartfelt storytelling and soulful vocals to a brand new project. On this episode with Cindy, she opens up about her journey and gives us an exclusive look at her highly anticipated ep, Acres of Diamonds. Join Buzz Night now for an intimate conversation with Cindy Thompson. Rediscovering old treasures, embracing new beginnings, and celebrating the acres of Diamonds right now on the Taking a Walk podcast.
- [04:08]
Buzz Knight
Cindy Thompson, thanks for being on the Taking a Walk podcast.
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Cindy Thompson
Thanks for having me.
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Buzz Knight
So since we call this, this little podcast Taking a Walk, I want to ask you first if you could take a walk with somebody. I'll make it very suspenseful. If you could take a walk with somebody, living or dead, they could be involved with music. They don't have to be. Who would you take a walk with and where would you take a walk with them? That wasn't that suspenseful, was it?
- [04:40]
Cindy Thompson
It sounded kind of cool. I felt it. Wow. Okay. You know, I might take a walk with my great grandfather. I never got to meet him, but we have this amazing photograph in our house and he's so handsome. And he came from Scotland. He was a pastor and he came from Scotland to become a preacher here. And he just looks really cool and I just love to pick his brain.
- [05:14]
Buzz Knight
Oh, that's so special. I could, I could visualize the, the cool look, you know, the picture.
- [05:19]
Cindy Thompson
Yes. He's so good looking and I'm like, you know, he just. I don't know. I don't know what we would talk about. I'm sure all kinds of things that. He's so intriguing to me. Every time I see that picture, I'm like, just want to know him. But I don't, sir.
- [05:34]
Buzz Knight
That's nice. It's amazing the array of answers that, that we get with the question. We get everybody from Johann Sebastian Bach to fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers. It goes all over the place. It really does.
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Cindy Thompson
Well, if I had a lot of time to think about it, I'd probably pick not, not, not pick my great grandfather. But, you know, there are so many people that I'm intrigued by. And stories and so it's a good question.
- [06:05]
Buzz Knight
Well, thank you. Thank you for. For that answer. And we're going to talk about the. The brand new music. Certainly get into that Acres of diamonds and a pretty amazing sound and. And cast of collaborators. So we'll get in the midst of. Of that conversation. But I do want to start at the beginning with you and talk about some of your earliest memories of music that certainly have shaped you to this day.
- [06:39]
Cindy Thompson
You know, my favorite memories are always getting in the car with my dad, and he would always have the oldies station playing. He was a big. You know, my parents weren't musical, that they loved music. My mom played the piano a little bit from time to time, like hymns and things. My dad listened to oldies and we just, I don't know so much great music. And it was just constantly on in his car. Even if we were talking or whatever, it was just kind of playing in the background. But then we turn it up and listen and so. And then my sisters were older than me. I was kind of the baby of four and kind of an afterthought, although my mom said she was done having kids, and my dad was like, I just want one more. And it wasn't to have a boy, they swear. But anyway, my sisters had their own, you know, loves of music. One loved jazz, like Manhattan Transfer was always playing. One liked urban music and one just like popular music. And so I really had, you know, amazing, you know, intro to music. It was always kind of playing somewhere in the house. All different kinds, so.
- [07:55]
Buzz Knight
And that was in the Nashville area?
- [07:57]
Cindy Thompson
No, I'm originally from South Georgia, so I grew up in Tifton, Georgia. And yes, it was just a small town, and that's where I'm from.
- [08:08]
Buzz Knight
Probably knew everybody's name there. I'm thinking.
- [08:10]
Cindy Thompson
Yes. Yeah, you do. You do. It's gotten bigger now, but yeah.
- [08:15]
Buzz Knight
And was there a moment, you know, being impacted by that music that you just described, that, you know, you first knew that you were going to make a career around music?
- [08:29]
Cindy Thompson
You know, I didn't until I was around 12 years old.
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Buzz Knight
Oh, that old.
- [08:35]
Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
Geez, yeah.
- [08:36]
Cindy Thompson
So old. Well, you know, you know, some. You'll hear these stories of kids that suck sung their whole lives. And mine is a little bit different in that I came out of middle school out of this really bad bullying situation. And so it really, I think, created this part of me that just wanted to be quiet, kind of disappear and not be seen. So it was kind of solidified in a way. And I got into marching band in junior high school. My sister had a clarinet. I thought she was really cool. And I was a terrible clarinet player, and I was the last chair, and I was just so bad. But I got in the marching band thinking I could be a part of something really big so that it wasn't just me, right? But I. Because of music, I wanted to do something. And one afternoon, the choir teacher came in and said, is Cindy Thompson in here? And I didn't want to raise my hand right away because I didn't want to be seen or heard or noticed. But I went with her outside the classroom, and she said, listen, I heard that you could sing. And I was like, I don't know if I can sing. She had heard about me, I think, through a couple solos I'd done at church in our youth group, you know. But my bully went to my church, so I didn't ever want to sing, you know, because she was a good singer. I mean, it was just this whole thing. So she took me in her choir class, put me in front of the piano. All the students were sitting there, and she began to play scales. They were really easy. They got really hard. And I just sang them all back to her. And she said, I don't care what you do at that clarinet. This is your classroom. This is where you're going to be. So she was the first person to ever say to my parents, she's a star. There's really something special about her. And I find it ironic because I was so withdrawn and so shy and quiet, but she heard something in my voice, and I'm so grateful to her for that, because it was really what. That was the catalyst in turning this whole thing around. And. And after that, it was really seeing. You asked me if there was a moment one Saturday morning around this season of my life, I saw Trisha Wood singing She's In Love with a Boy on tv. And it stopped me in my tracks. I was like, I don't know what that is, but that's what I want to do. And I want to be her friend. And, you know, she was from Georgia. It was just perfect timing. On that Saturday morning.
- [10:59]
Buzz Knight
Were you looking ahead at some of the questions I prepared? Because. No, I'm teasing you. Because. Because the reality is that I was next going to ask you about your musical heroes. So you mentioned Trisha, who's a great one. Were there others that really had a profound impact just on, you know, kind of giving you that further creative spark?
- [11:22]
Cindy Thompson
Yes, there were. I mean, because of all the music that was in my house, you know, and I was also a young teenager, so, you know, your friends kind of influence your musical tastes and, you know, listen to popular radio. And at the time, this was Whitney Houston. Debbie Gibson was huge because she was so young. And it made it feel like I can do that too. If that. If someone that young can sing, I have that chance. Because back then, there was no the Voice or American Idol. It was truly just a dream, you know, to, To. To be in a tiny little town wishing to be this country singer. But, yeah, I would say Whitney Houston the most. I just loved so much of what she did, and, I don't know, she was a big influence.
- [12:12]
Buzz Knight
So your songs really have this incredible emotional honesty. Where do you find that inspiration over your career and still for your lyrics?
- [12:24]
Cindy Thompson
Oh, I don't. I don't know. You know, sometimes I'm driving down the road and I'll think of something and think, well, that would be a really good title. Or, you know, I think so many things influence me and songwriters in general. I think just moments we might see in real life happening in front of us or, you know, I just know myself pretty well and I. I know if I'm singing a song to you or writing a song, I want you to believe me. You know, I. I don't want to sing something that's just. It's just really important. And so, you know, I'm just inspired sometimes through reading, sometimes movies and just. Sometimes just a phrase that I hear. And then, you know, you get together with a collaborator and they bring what they have to the table and it just becomes a story. I like to tell stories and I like to. You know, one thing that I do when I write a lot is I can actually see the, like, music video sometimes playing out or as if it's a movie. Like, what would be the thing that we would say? What would the next thing be that would happen? That would make sense. And so inspiration for me, though, just comes from all over the place.
- [13:36]
Buzz Knight
Do you dream in Technicolor?
- [13:38]
Cindy Thompson
Sometimes? I do dream a lot. There are seasons I'll dream every night. And yes, they're very vivid. They're very movie like and very, very detailed and long. I'm surprised I'm not tired the next morning. It's not all the time, but fairly often, sometimes.
- [13:57]
Buzz Knight
Yeah. Is there a place or a routine that you feel sparks your creativity?
- [14:04]
Cindy Thompson
I wish I could say yes. I think back when I was a younger writer without a family, you know, just kind of that first go around you know, I was writing every day, five days a week, sometimes, you know, two different rights a day. And it was just being at the publishing company, you know, being in. In the space where writers were in rooms, you could hear the music coming out of them. And just that world of Nashville at that time was so great. And now it's so interesting because I have two children, I'm, you know, married, and I have a jewelry company. Things that I really am pulled in so many different directions. And so now it's just, you know, making sure I plan to write with someone, like getting it on the books and then, you know, preparing in some sort of way before I go. But, no, I don't have a routine because my life is so busy that it's not the same as it was back then, you know, so I've had to really learn to pull into the parking lot, walk into the writer's room and focus. And, you know, obviously I keep notes, I keep ideas in my phone for those moments that I get inspired. But no, I really don't have, like, this routine that I do.
- [15:20]
Buzz Knight
Just keep it that way then. If it's working right.
- [15:23]
Cindy Thompson
Right.
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Buzz Knight
We don't want to disrupt it. Your debut single, what I really meant to say was a big, big hit. Tell us about that time in your life and about that moment with that. Great.
- [15:38]
Cindy Thompson
Sure, sure. I was in love with this boy. He played baseball, and I met him in Georgia. And, you know, just. I think we dated so long. Seven years. We broke up on an awful lot through that seven years. But it was really. That first whole record is really written around that relationship because that was the one that meant the most. And then being young and growing up in Georgia. But that particular song, what I really meant to say, I wrote because we had broken up. It was final. It was done. We were not playing the games anymore. And his dream was always to be this sculpture artist. He was a baseball player, but he came from artists, and he really had this idea that was different. No one had done it. And I just really believed in him, and I wanted that for him, just like he wanted for me to be a singer. So that didn't happen within the span of our relationship. He did start making art, but not the big gallery opening, like, to have a real place where you could hang your art. And so we broke up, and I found out not too long after that that he got his first gallery opening. So I was struggling with what to do, and I just decided, who cares? I drove down to Georgia and went to see this art opening. And he didn't know I was, you know, coming in at that time. Like, he didn't know I was coming in the room. I think he knew I was going to be there. But I came in and I saw him just walking around the room talking about his art. Everything he had dreamed about, everything that I had dreamed for him was happening. And I was so proud of him because we were really good friends, too. And I remember seeing him, we made eye contact, and I just told him, I'm proud of you. This is amazing. And I ended up leaving. Not too long after that, I walked out the door. It was very busy that night for him. And out in the street, it was like a movie. The street lights were shining down perfectly lit street in Atlanta, in this particular area of Atlanta. And I hear him calling my name in the street.
- [17:50]
Buzz Knight
Wow.
- [17:50]
Cindy Thompson
He's left this gallery openings out in the street. And he's like, don't leave. And I'm like, I have to go. And I'm really proud of you. And so I left and, you know, the next day went back to Nashville, and I got a notebook, like a notepad out, and I wrote what I really meant to say at the top of the paper. Because what I really wanted to say was, I still love you. I still feel all these feelings, but the right thing to do was for me to go because we weren't meant to be together. And I took that into my co write and we wrote what I really meant to say.
- [18:32]
Buzz Knight
Wow, what a great story. There you go, dreaming and visualizing in Technicolor again.
- [18:37]
Cindy Thompson
I know, it's so great.
- [18:40]
Buzz Knight
Would you ever consider scoring. Scoring a movie or. Or. Or being in the movie itself?
- [18:48]
Cindy Thompson
Oh, yes, we. We've talked about that. You know, I've never. I've had some people recently talk to me about, would you want to do some acting or. And yes, if it made sense. You know, I don't want to, like, be terrible and, you know, so who knows? I mean, it's. It's on the bucket list. Maybe.
- [19:08]
Buzz Knight
Cindy, be terrible. I don't think those two words exist for you.
- [19:13]
Cindy Thompson
You are very. And you know, I've never done. I did some acting in high school on the school plays, so we'll see.
- [19:21]
Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
We'll be right back with more of the Taking a Walk podcast. Welcome back to the Taking a Walk podcast.
- [19:32]
Buzz Knight
So you did step away from the spotlight at one point. And what motivated that decision? Was that really a life sort of, you know, balance and kind of reassessing moment?
- [19:46]
Cindy Thompson
Yes, absolutely. You know, artists don't really know what that life is like until they just jump into it, right? You don't get like a crash course or boot camp. And for me, it happened really fast. You know, just the. The life. It turned into a dream come true. I don't want to paint this picture that. That I had a bad experience at the label or, you know, that I was mistreated or anything like that. It truly. Everything was beautiful. It was like from the outside looking in especially, it's like this is exactly what you would want to happen as an artist. Like, you want your song to go number one that you wrote. You want to be able to open for a trish yard, which I did. You know, Alan Jackson, you. All of it was lining up perfectly. And I would say a year into it, I started having major panic attacks and I didn't know what they were. And so it scared me because I thought, what is this? I'm very peaceful person. I have a great faith that I rely on and I pray a lot. And for whatever reason, I felt very lonely and I felt. I can't describe it to you, but I was having panic attacks and night terrors and a lot of anxiety. And, you know, back then, nobody was talking about those things. And I felt like if I brought it up, I kept it a secret for a while, that it would look as if I didn't want to work hard or that I didn't appreciate my opportunity. So I just kept kind of trucking along. I had a doctor that would kind of monitor my heart weekly because it was like crazy, beating out of control and. And I kept doing the work. You know, I. And I loved singing. I loved the fans. I loved just getting to. To meet people and hear, you know, their stories about how my song had affected their life. And there was so much beauty in that. But there's also this other side to fame, and it's really unnatural to be famous, first of all, but you can do that well. And for me, at the time, I just couldn't find the balance. And I felt like the best answer was to, like, self preservation. You know, I couldn't really look at the. The meetings that we were having with businesses or companies to partner with them. Like this projected career that was on the table we were having meetings about, and I couldn't look at that and make this decision. I really had to say, if you are doing something that you love to do and you're meant to do it, you're gifted in that area and you feel like you are falling apart at the Seams doing that job right at that second, I think it's okay to step back and go, what's going on? You know? And so that's what I did. I just laid it down. I always knew I would sing again. I didn't know what that would look like, but I just felt like for me, it was just saving something that really mattered.
- [23:05]
Buzz Knight
I'm so glad you mentioned, you know, there was a period in the world that, you know, wasn't as easy to talk about those things and be public about it or just make that decision. It's now it's, it's. It's different, I think, but it still is something that's often in the shadows. And the fact that you confronted it and are still talking about it must now lead you to a greater appreciation of life balance, doesn't it?
- [23:41]
Cindy Thompson
Yes, absolutely. And. And to be able to have another dream of mine come true, which was to be a stay at home mom. I wanted to have a family like my mom did, and I'm so grateful that I got to do that. And it really taught me a lot. And in coming back and choosing to sing again and do it this, this way, I don't know, for me, it's just. There's such a richness to it that I don't think would have been there had I not walked away.
- [24:12]
Buzz Knight
Behind you, I see some beautiful jewelry. It must have something to do with this little venture called the Hay Bell Company. Tell us about how that became a reality and. And how it's then become this wave of popularity among some really cool people.
- [24:36]
Cindy Thompson
Well, I feel like I fell from the skies very divine. You know, at the time, I wasn't singing yet. This is about four years ago. And I was like, I just want to be creative. And I didn't know what that was, you know? Yes, I had written some songs and that kind of thing, but I just wanted something. I don't know, I wanted something for myself. And I was just trying to process it all and think about, like, what is that? And I was being very prayerful about it, like, okay, God, like, I want something. I want something to do, you know, So I don't really have a lot of jewelry. I wasn't a big jewelry wearer of things, you know, I didn't even. As an artist, I didn't even wear a lot of necklaces. Like, I was just really, I don't know, minimal. And I went to the beach one summer with my family four years ago, just for a little week, little getaway. And I see These earrings hanging in this shop. And I was like, I think I'm gonna make jewelry. And my husband was like, okay. So I got home and I went to some local antique stores and just kind of grabbed pieces that were broken and discarded and kind of just one of the, like, one offs, maybe a pair of earrings, but they weren't a pair anymore because one was missing. And I just came home and started creating things at my dining room table, thinking it was a hobby. And within two weeks, it was on the red carpet at the CMA Awards, which I think is interesting. And it didn't come through a music contact. It came through a friend who knew Hannah Billingsley, you know, Shay Mooney's wife. And she called me, and I drove to her house and took the jewelry that I had, and none of it matched her dresses. And so I said, I can make you something. And so I went home that night and dug in this box and made these star earrings that ended up being at the red carpet. She was photographed because they were doing well. They're always doing well. But this pet particular CMA Awards, they had gotten a lot of nominations. And so she was just everywhere. She was on the tv, every, like, tv, like, it was crazy sitting in her seat, and you could just see my earrings. And it was a little hard because I was so proud of Hay Bell. I couldn't believe that that happened. But I also was sad because I wasn't sitting there, and I had to really think about that. Like, what is that? Pay attention. What does that mean? And I think that was the first. The catalyst in, okay, I think God's prepping my heart for maybe what's coming. But I just kept making the jewelry and the stylists and the artist kept calling. And it's really just one of a kind pieces. I do have an everyday line that's, you know, not one of a kind, but most of my pieces. What I love about what I do is that, you know, I just get to be creative all the time with whatever I find all over the world. I shop all over the world, and I just put these things together, and it's so fun.
- [27:43]
Buzz Knight
You make it. So matter of fact.
- [27:47]
Cindy Thompson
I mean, it kind of is. I mean, even my husband, like, I did my own website, I take the pictures, I did my own logo. Like, for me, from a business standpoint, it really felt good to sit in my jewelry room, this little space I have, and listen to podcasts on how I built that, you know, that podcast, like, listening to Kendra Scott talk about jewelry, listening to oh, gosh. The Spanx founder Sarah Blakely talking about how she started Spanx and hearing these crazy stories of people that failed, that failed, that failed, you know, and then they just stuck with it. So I. All the while I'm doing this, thinking I'm crazy. I'm listening to these people say, don't give up, don't give up, don't give up. And I haven't. It's the little engine that could, but I'm really proud of it. And my husband, like I was saying earlier, he would come in here and he'd go, I can't believe you're doing this. It's really good. I'm like, I know. It's interesting, isn't it? Because I. I'd never done anything like that, so. I don't know. It's just finding. I always say to people, just be open to new adventures in life. Life doesn't have to be empty and stagnant and broken. You can really, you know, carefully be adventurous and, you know, not give up on dreaming. And I'm living proof. I'm in my 40s and starting all over with this crazy thing.
- [29:15]
Buzz Knight
Following your heart. Yeah, following your heart and just being passionate about it. Right?
- [29:20]
Cindy Thompson
Yes.
- [29:21]
Buzz Knight
Yeah. Which now.
- [29:22]
Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
Okay.
- [29:23]
Buzz Knight
I'm sorry it took so long. Brings us to Acres of Diamonds. Congratulations on.
- [29:29]
Cindy Thompson
Thank you.
- [29:30]
Buzz Knight
The. The.
- [29:30]
Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
The.
- [29:31]
Buzz Knight
The upcoming EP or new music. Five More Minutes is the single. Talk about some of the work behind that, some of the collaborators and what folks can expect to hear.
- [29:46]
Cindy Thompson
Well, acres of Diamonds is the title of the new EP we have coming out May 23rd, and, you know, it is a labor of love. You know, we had a lot of songs to choose from, and we just all kind of. My team came together and said, these are the ones. Acres of Diamonds is the title cut because it's about what I've been building outside of the music industry. This simple life, to me, that is full of diamonds. You know, my kids are the acreage, and they are the diamonds, and that's what we've built, my husband and I, this life. So I thought that was important for the listener to know. Hey, this is where I've been. Five More Minutes is the latest single, and it's really just about. Not something where you look back and regret that you weren't present in a moment, but just a favorite moment. That, gosh, if I could just go back for five more minutes, it'd be so fun. Like, one of the lines in the song is, riding my pink Huffy bike. My daddy got me this Amazing pink Huffy bike. And I loved it. And I rode it every day barefoot all over the place. And sometimes I'll look outside and see kids riding their bikes. And I think, oh, I wish I could just do that again for five more minutes, you know, like that. So it's just a song to. To just kind of maybe just hopefully make us all more aware of the places and times in front of us that we can be really present, you know, And. And so it's. It's one of my favorites. And then we have this big song coming out. It's a song called Black Celica. My daughter was like, what is that? And I'm like, it's a car. That was really cool back in the day, but I wrote it with Ashley Monroe and Nikki Reeves. And Ashley, I was like, why don't you sing on it? You know, why don't you. Let's. Let's feature you on this song. Because she's magnificent. Like, her voice is stunning. It's. I called it like a beautiful butterfly the other day. You know, it. It knows where to land. It knows how to surround the lead. Like, she just has her place in this track, and I'm so proud of it. Paul Sykes did it for us. So that is something that's really exciting to me that we got to. To do that together. And in fact, Black Silica is kind of based off of that boy, that baseball player that I dated back, and with what I really meant to say. So we kind of put all of our minds together and had our own little contribution to the song that meant something to us, and so that's exciting. And then I did a cover of a Harry Styles song, Fallen. We had a list of covers, and I was like, what do we do? I listen to all kinds of music. And I was like, I just love that song. So that kind of became the one that we decided on. I just love the lyrics of that song. Like, I love the intimacy and the pain. I love pain. Like, I love the love song kind of pain, right? So it just worked. It's a Cindy song, and then a song called so glad you're mine I wrote a while back about, I've been married 23 years. And it's kind of a song about just really solidifying being in love, even this far into it. Like, I just love the idea of telling this love song, telling this story. So I'm proud of it. You know, it's. Again, a lot of people have worked really hard, my team has worked really hard on helping bring this to Life. Because. Because we're independent, we're doing it a different way. And so it feels good, and I'm excited.
- [33:20]
Buzz Knight
I love the independent aspect of it. I love more and more that artists are able to be independent in their thinking and their strategy with it. I think one of the beautiful things about what's happening with, maybe by necessity in some cases, but in general, that artists can have the confidence to be independent. I think that's really cool.
- [33:44]
Cindy Thompson
It is. It's scary. You know, it's scary at first because I had come back from just the time frame where it was only a record deal, and then radio. When I jump back into this, it's like, the sky's the limit. You can do it any way you want to do it. And I'm like, well, I need some structure. Like, what I need. I need parameters. I'm not designed that way. And so I just found an amazing manager, and she's a believer. She's a champion, and she's. She's just amazing. And. And we just started building this, like, learning about how to do it independently, and it's. It's been really hard and really beautiful, and we have learned a lot. I feel like sometimes we laugh. I'm like, we've accomplished a lot in our little, you know, almost two years of doing this together, like. But I'm very excited about what's to come. And the good thing about independence, too, is just the freedom to pivot when we need to if we want to. Also, I get to just go pick up my son from school until he's driving. Officially, she can do the same for her daughter. We just kind of, hey, I'm out at three. I gotta go to some baseball games. You know, there's just. There's a beauty of it now that it's getting busier. It's getting busier. But we both agreed that we'd put the things that mattered most in. In first, you know, and it's family.
- [35:16]
Buzz Knight
Will you be taken. Taken to the road a bit?
- [35:19]
Cindy Thompson
I absolutely want to go on the road. I mean, I. My hope is to, you know, be a part of some sort of tour at some point. We have a few shows coming up, one in the fall that's being solidified now in Georgia. But ultimately, I'd love to be back just on some sort of tour. It's so fun to do that, and, you know, so we'll see what lies ahead.
- [35:43]
Buzz Knight
You have such a great attitude with it all. It's so, you know, authentic and empowering and inspiring, and the music is really awesome as well.
- [35:57]
Cindy Thompson
Thank you so much. Well, I know I try to. I'm not always as positive. There are days that are hard, you know, in all aspects of life. I think we all go through moments where we're like, does is this the right thing to do? And you know, you just have to backtrack and think of how it all fell into place. I can't deny the open doors, you know, that it's just been really divine and really beautiful.
- [36:22]
Buzz Knight
Well, Cindy Thompson, congratulations on everything. I'm so grateful that you came on Taking a Walk and I know our audience, including me, are rooting for you and this exciting next chapter of your life.
- [36:37]
Cindy Thompson
Thank you so much. I've loved talking with you.
- [36:40]
Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcast.
- [36:59]
Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
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Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
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- [39:20]
Podcast Sponsor/Ad Voice
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- [39:23]
Cindy Thompson
Cut the camera.
- [39:23]
Podcast Narrator/Host Intro
They see us.
- [39:24]
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- [39:31]
Buzz Knight
Excludes Massachusetts.
- [39:32]
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- [39:56]
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- [39:58]
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- [40:03]
Cindy Thompson
An I Heart podcast.