Intro
Karree j Phillips is a Canadian singer/songwriter from Natural Northern Beautiful B.C. off the Alaska Highway.
She now resides in Nashville, TN on her cattle and horse ranch in the pristine hills of Tennessee.
Karree toured with Opry Star Del Reeves and performed with Highway 101, Boy Howdy and Jack Green. Opened for Tanya Tucker and Chapel Hart at the Energetic County Fair in Fort St. John, BC.
Karree was a contestant on the brand new TV Series, Nashville’s Best of 3.
Her self penned current single, “Alaska Highway” was featured on the TV series “Roadtrippin the Alcan, “on KTUU TV channel 2 in Anchorage, Alaska celebrating the famed Alaska Highway’s 75th Anniversary in 2017.
Her single,” Right Turn” co-written with hit maker Gerald Smith (“What Part of No Don’t You Understand” Lori Morgan) went No. 1 on the Independent charts.
As an artist, she’s had a No. 1 hit in Denmark, “Dog on the Dash” produced by Noro Wilson which earned 13 tours to Europe. Her latest tour Oct. 2023.
Her current CD, Red Wine and Blue Jean Girl is charting and available on all streaming platforms.
She enjoys the craft of writing with fellow hit co-writers: Cyndi Torres (Lonesome Dove-Garth Brooks), Kent Maxon (From Where I’m Sitting-Gary Allen), Billy Lee (The One-Gary Allen) Scott Barrier, Joseph Wandass IV, Dallas Remington (top 20 Billboard charted Artist),Norm McDonald, Antoinette Olsen, Shelly Riff , Jeff Randall, Dave Lenahan whom they penned, Ain’t Easy Bein Country on her current CD and top 10 duet, Startin Now, Tom Lenartz, Allen Webb, Johnathan Johnson and Ben Potter to name a few.
Living and loving the music.
We caught up with Karree to get to know her more better and talk about her latest music
Enjoy the Inteview
Questions
Hi Karree, welcome to Fanbase Music Magazine, can you tell us what is your first musical memory and how you got into music?
First musical memory was singing in talent shows for the Peace Arts Music festivals in my hometown of Fort St. John BC, for best music performance, poetry reading and acrobatic dance which I won 4 years consecutively and I was awarded the grand aggregate award a huge silver cup which I still have and treasure.
I would use the mud room bench for a stage for the elementary students who asked me to sing while we waited in the warmth to go inside the school with our clean inside shoes. I loved to perform and win over the audience.
My mom heard I had a singing voice and encouraged me to sing. I found an old cassette tape of a little girl singing a Johnny Cash song, Fesh and bud, I was 3 singing Flesh and Blood. I loved to sing, and music made me happy. Fort St John is the music capital of the North so there was music around bonfires, branding roundups, rodeos and local clubs.
I started singing at 12 in the Red Barn bar and café with local bands, a local hang 2 miles from home in the frontier North where horses were hitched outside.
How would you describe your genre and sound?
Country blues with a traditional flare. But I have musical theatre background so have a full vocal range with powerhouse vocals.
Who are some of your influences and would you say those musicians you look up influence the music you are making today?
Barbara Striesand, Tina Turner, Ann Murray, Julie Andrews, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Martina McBride. Yes, their powerhouse vocals shaped my vocal path.
You are a solo musician but can you tell us how you play live or record music, do you play with other musicians?
When I play live, I play acoustic sets with my guitar but on European Tours I play with a full band as well. I love playing with lead guitar players that enhance the sound and make it fuller and compliment my vocals. Not drown it out with too many loud licks.
How would you describe your writing process?
Love writing with cowriters that bring their talents to the table with musicality and clever words. The process is so fulfilling and enhances the song.
I start with an idea or hook and build from there. Sometimes the words come first and sometimes the music first. The music must complement the lyrics and make them soar to bring the message home.
Okay let’s talk about your music, I want to talk about your song ‘It Ain’t Easy Being Country’, first of all the music video and scenery in the video is awesome, where was the video shot and can you also tell us what the song is about?
My music video on YouTube, It Ain’t Easy Bein Country, was filmed by Ben Potter at my ranch in Tennessee named Honky Tonk Holler. My Tennessee Walking Horse, Coca Lina is State Champion for Saddle Horse Pleasure which I won a silver buckle. I’m riding her on the hills at the ranch. Yes, the scenery is stunning I love living here, its good for the soul.
This song went No1 on the EACM chart, co-written with Dave Lenahan and describes the life of a working ranch. It’s a great life but it’s filled with work and just when you think the day is done something else will break or the cows may get out, or the tractor won’t run.
This lifestyle is filled with work from morning to night. A beautiful well-maintained ranch takes hours of effort and labor of love hence It Ain’t Easy Being Country. It’s how I live every day. And I wouldn’t change it.
Ren and Andi C. Renfree recorded the track and added harmonies on the chorus in Nashville TN.
Who else worked on the track and where was the track recorded?
Age Gets Better with Wine was cowritten with Tom Lenartz and tells the story of that instead of whining about life’s problems and getting older have a glass of wine, my flavor is red. Lots of clever lyrics and the audience loves it. I usually get a glass of wine from a fan after so it’s a win win. Life is a little easier with a glass of wine.
Tom came up with the idea and I loved it. It wrote itself and the upbeat rhythm adds to the playful lyrics and fun of the song. Getting older isn’t easy so some wine eases the aches and pains.
John Willis recorded it with his amazing talents a Nashville Session guitarist whose recorded with Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Tim Mc Graw, Faith Hill, Taylor Swift to name a few at his studio Willisoundz. The sound is fresh and fun and full of little ear catching nuances.
Can you tell us what music you have coming out next?
I have a brand-new single out called, Love’s Got A lot, a rocky bluesy song that showcases my vocal abilities. Recorded at the Podyum. It’s streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.
I have a new duet coming out on February 14, 2026, with Dave Lenahan, co-writer, called Wildflowers
A beautiful folksy love song loving the simple things in a field of flowers. Beautiful tracks were recorded at the Podyum by Shawn Pody.
I’ve joined the International Western Music Association that taps into my ranching lifestyle with lyrics that describe ranching. I’ll have new songs coming out in that genre, called Show Pony and Unbridled on their radio stations.
How would you describe a live performance of yours?
My live performance is energetic and engages the audience. If I don’t get the audience involved, I’m not doing my job. I’m called a firecracker on stage. I have a big powerful voice with a large range to hit the power notes. I love the stage, and it becomes one with me. I play guitar and dance around and talk to the audience. It’s a show.
If you had advice for up and coming musicians, what would it be?
My advice for up-and-coming musicians is stay true to who you are. Believe in your music, live it and own it. Tell your story with honesty and the audience will connect. Don’t be something you are not as you won’t’ be happy and the audience will feel it too.
Thank you for doing this inteview, do you have any last messages for your readers?
I was told once as long as you love what you are doing you are loving life and living it. You’ll be happy. Meaning of success.
Thanks Duzzy for the interview. Love to come your way sometime looks beautiful. Hope to hear from your fans.
Website is Karreephillips.com
Facebook: karreephillips@facebook
Instagram: karreephillips@instagram
Spotify: karreejphillips
Apple music: karreejphillips