Sugar & The Hi-Lows On Touring Europe, ‘High Roller’, And Holding Nothing Back – Interview

Retro rock-‘n’-rollers with a taste for country soul, Sugar & The Hi-Lows have been enjoying a fruitful year. They released their sophomore album ‘High Roller’ last June and in November accompanied Kacey Musgraves on her European tour, following a string of US appearances. Comprised of singer-songwriters Amy Stroup and Trent Dabbs, I had to chance to chat with Amy via email recently, about the European tour, the album, and how the duo slots in with their individual solo work.

So you just came back from a UK and European tour with Kacey Musgraves – what was that like, and what was your favorite night of the whole tour?

Everything felt new, because we were playing and traveling to such gorgeous spots. The tour itself was incredible, fans were incredible and super responsive. All the shows were great, but I’d have to say hands down the best show was Royal Albert Hall. It took the cake.

When Kacey played the Royal Albert Hall, she mentioned how scary it was to continue the tour after the Paris attacks. Did you feel the same way, and were you unsure about whether you wanted to continue following the attacks?

I think Kacey said it well when she said, ‘There was a new feeling of fear…’ It just made us all realize how fortunate we are to be able to travel the world and play music. I think that fear is no reason to stop. “They” would win if we cancelled our tour… terror and fear is what they want us to feel. We have to continue to create art and perform it live.

Let’s talk about the album. How would you say it differs (or doesn’t) from your first record?

The common denominator is that Trent and I co-wrote all the songs on both records. Our debut record, ‘Sugar + The Hi-Lows’ was made in less than a month or so. All the songs were written quickly, sometimes writing two songs in one day. (I’ve got you Covered and Show and Tell were written in the same session.) It was definitely a stream of conscious, follow the feel record. And I loved it. Our new album, ‘High Roller’ we decided to take our time. We over-wrote for it in hopes that we could choose and distill which 10-12 songs we felt said what we wanted. We also held ourselves to a higher standard in production too, leaning on Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton) in the mixing portion to really take the sonic value up, and hopefully position us nearer to our heroes.

The opening track is ‘Bees Left The Trees,’ and there’s a lot that listeners can read into the lyrics, including commentary on Music Row. What would you say the song really means?

This song for me is a nod at all the rebels in country & rock music in Nashville. It’s about the people that stuck to their guns in hard circumstances and held an independent spirit. We mention ‘Jack, Johnny & Emmylou…’ Emmylou lost her record deal and then instead of packing up and calling it quits she made ‘Wrecking Ball’ which was an amazing record. Johnny Cash put the infamous middle finger billboard up on music row, after being dissed by the row. Our song is a nod at some of our favorites that took risks, and still made great records whether or not they were accepted by the business suits on music row.

Tell me about ‘Can We Just Be Adults.’ It’s quite a kiss-off – was that written about someone in particular?

Nashville is a town that I sometimes call ‘Never Never Land.’ There is definitely a Peter Pan mentality about it. This can be good and bad. It’s good when you are in the mood to have fun, but then sometimes when adult conversations have to be had, it can get complicated. I won’t mention any names here, but I’ve definitely been frustrated at times with tough conversations with people who refuse to grow up. At the same time, I’m sure I’ve been the Peter Pan kid at times.

One of the tracks that stands out the most for me is ‘Right Time To Tell You.’ It’s so beautiful, and sounds like it came from a really vulnerable place. What inspired that?

That song was definitely a tender one. We wrote it during one of the tours with Ingrid Michaelson. I don’t remember exactly what Trent’s perspective was, but it was definitely a personal one for me. I think I find myself in the in-between a lot in life like the song talks about. The tension of saying something maybe hard to someone you love or holding your tongue. You get stuck in the say something and potential risk rejection and making it awkward, or just carry on and seeing how things play out. That’s where I was personally when I wrote the song with someone, I was totally stuck.

The band started accidentally at a co-write and has become a labor of love. Would you ever let it take over to prioritize over your solo work, or does it need to be a side project for it to truly work?

I think Sugar and The Hi-Lows is a great live band feel for me. I have tons of fun being apart of the band and seeing where it goes. I love being in the songwriter process. I will always chase writing good songs and then putting a hat on it being ‘Sugar, Amy, or another project.’

You’re very energetic performers – how did you develop your live show?

If I don’t feel something no one else will either. Reckless abandonment is a personal motto for performing aka Hold Nothing back … It was instilled when I ran cross country and track in high school. I was always encouraged by my coaches in Texas to hold nothing back. It has carried through to me on the stage and life in general. I love ‘going for it’ and seeing what can happen.

Are you writing for the next band project, or are you just focusing on getting the music out to more people right now?

Both. We are always writing, but we are seeing this project through as far as it will go. I write 2-3 times a week and then we have been touring mostly on the weekends with Kacey.

What’s coming up for both of you in regards solo work?

I am working on writing a new solo record. I’m in the early phase, collecting ideas, reading books, getting inspired by new sounds.

If somebody asked you to describe Sugar & The Hi-Lows, what would you say?

It’s throw back / modern / written with love. It takes you through the mellow and the high’s of life.