BCMA Horizon Artist of the Year, Robyn Red, has had an unforgettable twelve months in the industry. From playing the OVO Hydro in Glasgow to performing Main Stage at Buckle and Boots Festival, Robyn Red is making sure people know her music (and her hats).

Ahead of her Main Stage slot at Buckle and Boots Festival, Manchester, Robyn Red joined Building Our Own Nashville to talk about her achievements so far and what’s coming next for her this year.

First question, I need to know…who is Luke Jackson?

(She giggles.) So, whenever I wrote this song, the name just came into my head. I did not have a clue – I didn’t know if there was a person called Luke Jackson…nothing. I was singing it a lot at gigs, and I got this Instagram follow from Luke Jackson and he’s a singer songwriter and he’s – I think he’s touring – but he’s alive, he’s still well, he’s not six feet underground. But yeah, I was writing this song, and I didn’t have a clue who Luke Jackson was and then I got a little follow request from this musician.

Was he like, ‘heard you’ve been tearing my name down’?

He didn’t message (we laugh).

It’s very, sort of, Goodbye Earl – The Chicks, like female empowering. What was going through your head when you were writing it?

I heard Ashley McBryde – Martha Divine and that’s how I got the wee stabby chords and everything and that’s how it all came about.

Well, my next question was who are you taking inspiration from at the minute?

Luke Combs got me into country music – I was sitting in the back of my best friend’s dad’s car and I got to listen to Ashley McBryde and Rae Lynn as well. But right now, I’m really loving Lainey Wilson. I saw her up in Glasgow and oh my goodness! She was amazing. She’s so energetic.

What are your thoughts on the UK country scene vs US country scene. I feel like we’re it’s baby cousin at the minute – what do you think needs to happen and what are you hoping to bring to that?

Country music is about telling stories, and everyone has their own stories so I think as long as all the UK country artists keep on telling all their own stories, they’ll be able to join the American country scene. Country music is all about the roots so as long as we keep to our roots then I think that we’ll be fine.

New music! Have you got new music coming this year?

I think we’re putting the finishing touches onto a new single so I’ve got a couple more singles in the pipeline coming out. I don’t know if I can tell you when! But it will be soon.

Are we looking at a summer anthem?

It’s not an anthem, it’s kind of a ballad. ‘Luke Jackson’, ‘When the Sun Sets’, ‘Like a Bullet’ was all kind of up-tempo so I thought let’s just bring it down and release a ballad.

Out of your music, what is your favourite song to perform?

Ooh I don’t know. Either ‘When the Sun Sets’ because I get to hear my lyrics sung back to me – even if I do need to teach them first (she laughs). Or there is a song I wrote about one of my best friends sitting on a toilet and being sick into a bathtub after a night out so that’s a really good story to tell – it’s quite a good song as well!

What was the hardest song to write?

It’s kind of sad. I lost my gran back in 2020. You know how – I don’t know if you know, but whenever you’re a songwriter you get lots of different versions of a song, lots of different ways of putting the story, so I’ve got hundreds of lyrics for this one song that I can’t really get to writing. I feel like I need to get someone in to try and spew all the words onto a page and then give it to them and they can sort it out.

What would you say has been your best career moment so far?

I’m not sure. This last year has been absolutely crazy. The very first bit last year was playing C2C – it was only up in Glasgow, and it was only one of the wee small stages…

Don’t you put those ‘onlys’ in there – you played C2C!

Yeah, I know, and I still played the Hydro! So, it started off with that and then Country on the Clyde as well, and then I played Buckle and Boots, but it was the Paddock Stage. This year I’ve moved up to the Main Stage with the full band. And yeah, I was mainly down here more than I was back home in Scotland. Lots of support slots as well.

Career moment you’d like to forget, or wish hadn’t happened?

Not really, no. I think everything happens for a reason.

You’ve not like slipped and fell in front of someone?

Not yet! (touch wood)

Where can we see you this year?

Just announced: I’ve got a gig up in Glasgow, I’m headlining King Tut’s Summer Nights on the 18th July – full band – so I’m really looking forward to that. I’ve got Small Town Big Music and I’m supporting Kezia Gill and Tenille Arts. That’s September 7th. I’m not supporting them but I’m doing the After Party so I’m looking forward to that because that’s big names…

Will you get to hang out with them?

I’m sure my mum will wiggle her way in there!

Robyn Red – is Red your name or Red the image?

Red is the image. It’s my favourite colour and it always has been. I used to go to dancing and all my outfits used to be red. The reason why I wear the hat is it’s the Red Hat Society and they support women – support them in their dreams and everything like that.

Robyn Red played the Main Stage on Sunday at Buckle and Boots Festival, her powerful voice and fun songs drawing in a big crowd to see her brilliant performance.