Music Minute: Nicolle Galyon - Second Wife

 

Nicolle Galyon, an award-winning songwriter with 10 No. 1s, has made a career writing about her hometown, heartbreak and strength, with a nostalgia that has surpassed her age; however, Galyon has reserved a privacy around a role she's played for the last 16 years: wife. Married to fellow hit songwriter (George Strait, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney) ) Rodney Clawson her entire adult life, Galyon releases a surprise EP aptly titled second wife this Friday, Oct. 13 on their 16th wedding anniversary.    SECOND WIFE   The six song EP was co-written by Galyon and Clawson over a long weekend at their farm, just outside of Nashville, and recorded with co-producers Jimmy Robbins and King Henry at the famed Sonic Ranch in Texas. The EP arrives 15 months after Galyon's critically acclaimed artist-debut, firstborn, dubbed “candid and vulnerable” by Forbes.    “second wife shows the side of me that is flawed, self-deprecating, understated, silly, and yet unconventionally traditional. The side of me that fell in love at 21. That's a side of me that I don't always show — the married one,” shares Galyon. “If firstborn was a memoir, second wife is more of a fun adventure in real time." Of the record, Galyon adds, “the thing about second wife is even the title itself is imperfect. That's probably my favorite thing about being one. The illusions (and delusions) I had as a firstborn were gone once I became one.”   The EP's provocative title, which Galyon calls “imperfect, honest and kind of irreverent,” invites listeners into Galyon and Clawson's world offering a glimpse into a life that is true to them. The EP opens with a one minute prelude titled “jo.” which finds Galyon expressing her gratitude to her mother-in-law, detailing all of the ways she helped shape Rodney. Swinging right into the upbeat, tongue-in-cheek “prenup.”, Galyon and Clawson poke fun at their lack of need for a prenup upon marriage with Clawson's vocals carrying the second verse and chorus. “the grain.” is an airy, piano-driven ballad that reminds listeners how different love stories can look as it nods to her home state of Kansas.   The second half of the EP opens with “rooms.”, a vulnerable confession chronicling how different walking into rooms together has evolved throughout their relationship. A metaphor for so many experiences in life, Galyon's anxieties are ultimately overshadowed by her unwavering desire to be with Clawson. “texas hold 'em.” brings the collection to a crescendo in energy, as Galyon shows a lighthearted version of herself, while belting the cheeky, romantic hit. Finally, second wife concludes with “under the rainbow.,” which serves as a poignant foreshadowing of her family's recent move back to her hometown of Sterling, Kan. – the very place that has been the focal point of the last two decades of her writing.   second wife will be released in full this Friday with six accompanying videos filmed at Sonic Ranch. For more information, visit www.nicollegalyon.com and stay up to date with Galyon on YouTube and Instagram.

ABOUT NICOLLE GALYON Nicolle Galyon is an award winning, multi-Platinum singer, songwriter and producer from Sterling, Kansas and one of Nashville's most successful and respected voices. Adding to her already triumphant career as a songwriter, Galyon released her long-awaited debut album, firstborn, on July 22, 2022 via her own label, Songs & Daughters. A striking personal statement, firstborn is Galyon's life story in song form and continues to receive widespread critical attention. Of the record, The Tennessean praises, “a star-making statement all her own that reckons with her humanity and humility in equal measure,” while Variety declares, “firstborn is not aimed at giving her a tenth No. 1 but at putting her own lyrical voice in the top position for the first time in her career.”    And now, on October 13 – her 16th wedding anniversary – Galyon will follow up her highly-revered debut with a six song EP titled second wife. Written by Galyon and her husband Rodney Clawson, second wife addresses some of the questions that were left in tension by the first collection about family, having it all and legacy. Two kids, countless career milestones and one big move back to Kansas later, second wife is a tongue-in-cheek, heartfelt and honest six song collection that allows listeners to take a journey on her “relationship record,” co-produced by King Henry and Jimmy Robbins.  Across her twenty-year career, Galyon has penned ten No.1 hits including Miranda Lambert's ACM Award-winning “Automatic,” which went on to win NSAI Song of the Year, as well as Dan + Shay's multi-platinum, ACM Award-winning “Tequila.” Additionally, Galyon has received Grammy and CMA Awards nominations, two CMA Triple Play Awards (presented to songwriters who pen three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period) and was honored by BMI as their 2019 Songwriter of the Year. In addition to her work as a songwriter and artist, Galyon founded the female-focused label and publishing house, Songs & Daughters, in 2019, which includes artists Hailey Whitters, Tiera Kennedy, Madison Kozak and Lauren Watkins. Galyon is heavily involved in the CMA Foundation's music education initiative, has served as an NSAI Board Member, a CMT Next Women of Country mentor and founded The Autobiography Scholarship to provide students of her alma mater Sterling High School with college scholarships. She was also named 2020 Kansan of the Year for her continued service and commitment to her home state, which includes partnering with SongFarm and Save The Music to install a recording studio in Sterling High School and others throughout the country.