Photographer Jess Draper.
Over the years here at the magazine, we’ve been lucky enough to make some great friends along the way! If you’re a regular reader, you’ll probably have noticed that a few artists pop up from time to time — the ones we’ve chatted with on and off as they tour, release new music, and continue their journeys. They’ve become part of our extended Rock The Joint Magazine family, and it’s always a real pleasure to catch up with them again. As we move toward the back-end of October and dig out the witches hat for Halloween, what could be better than an interview with one of those rising names in the new wave of British country music?
As background press on Amy-Jo, her press release background tells us that she “is a singer and multi-instrumentalist whose lyrical sophistication and dexterity belie her years. A veteran and winner of countless talent contests as a teen, she has performed alongside artists such as Scouting for Girls, Stooshe and Rick Astley, as well as Fratellis, Alexander O’Neil, The Vamps, Professor Green and Pixie Lott. Her track “Coming Close” was co-written with Grant Black (Van Morrison, Craig David, Run DMC, Sarah Brightman, Olly Murs). Amy Jo has also written with John Beck (Corinne Bailey Rae, Tamsin Archer) and Tim Hutton (Ian Brown, Prodigy). With (a)cute serendipity, one of these co-writers – John Beck – co-wrote Corinne Bailey Rae’s Put “Your Records On,” a track Amy Jo performed whilst winning one of her numerous talent contests, earning £1000 for her chosen charity in the process.
Amy-Jo has been on the road recently, and planning her debut album. We couldn’t resist saying hello and catching up with her at the end of the tour for her thoughts about life on the road, making music and meeting friends old and new.
Photographer Molly Edwards
“Friends We Meet Along the Way” has become something of a signature idea for you — a celebration of community through music. Now that you’re on Round 2 of the tour, have you noticed how the ‘friends’ part of that title has evolved? Are new faces joining the family, or do you see familiar ones coming back for more?
Amy-Jo: In the early days of forming a music career, you’re playing festivals and support slots and charity events and the list goes on and on…Quite quickly, the other artists on the bill become not just your peers, but your friends. Some are from your hometown, some are from the other side of the country, and some dip in and out of music. You start to form strong bonds with these artists. I noticed that ever more frequently, I was being invited to play for my friends’ shows. Following a few of those experiences, I thought to myself, ‘wouldn’t it be cool to create a whole tour around this concept?’. Hence, the ‘Friends you Meet Along the Way Tour’ was born. It felt important to me to highlight the incredible talent in the UK. This tour provided the perfect opportunity to do just that. People were paying to see all of us perform, not just ‘Amy Jo’. The audience left the room reciting a catchy hook written by my friend. Many audience members purchased merchandise from all of the artists on the bill, not just mine. I loved that! Each night, I had the pleasure of witnessing fantastic talent, alongside my audience. Round two of the tour was a continuation of that concept, although we added new cities, new venues and even new friends! The full tour encompassed 9 dates, 9 venues, 20 friends and around 350 audience members. I will cherish the memories forever!
Two of the team (Roy and Hazel) caught an early live show of yours in London when you were still a student, they noted you creating a really personal atmosphere — almost like a conversation rather than a performance. Have any unexpected or funny moments happened on this tour that remind you why the stage is where you belong?
Amy-Jo: I’d love to provide you with a ‘funny’ moment but it’s more of an unexpected one. I’ve been battling an awful flu throughout the entire tour. Ironic, isn’t it? I’d managed to ward off bugs and colds all year, then one week before the tour, I came down with the most dreadful illness. Each night I was dealing with something different. One day it was a sore throat. The next it was a cough. The day after that was a stuffed nose. I felt like I couldn’t catch a break! However, I really surprised myself with my perseverance. Despite the setback, I promised myself that I would deliver every single night, especially given that people had come from far and wide and paid good money for the show. I guess I wanted to prove to myself that I can do difficult things. In spite of my illness, I found the whole experience deeply fulfilling. I thought to myself, if the flu didn’t derail my happiness during the tour, I’m in the right industry.
You’ve always brought a storyteller’s heart to your songs — and your latest releases show more wit and playfulness. Have you been working on new material while on the road, or are you too tired with the travel and demands of being on the road?
Amy-Jo: Thank you for noticing that. Luckily the tour wasn’t too demanding as I only had five dates booked in. Whilst I am playing many other shows alongside the tour, I have found it to be manageable (at the moment, at least!). In fact, I spent all of September recording my debut album; which is not too far from completion. Dedicating myself to a singular goal for that month really moved the project along. I plan to do the same throughout November. I find that a career in music is all about juggling many plates and wearing many hats. That being said, I really don’t mind it. I’m not a creature of habit. I’m more of a free-spirited soul. I like being able to dip into different tasks and engage different sides of my brain.
Photographer Jack Green
We last talked about how you were balancing academia and music, and you’d just finished your MA (as well as being an ex-Head Girl, I was never that good lol). Now that you’re fully immersed in music, do you ever miss that other world, or does songwriting scratch that intellectual itch in a different way?
Amy-Jo: This is a brilliant question. It’s a thought that permeates my brain daily. I have always been a believer that you can have everything you want, just not at the same time. I had always wanted to pursue higher education and a music career was also a huge dream of mine. There are a number of other dreams I intend to pursue later in life, but I realise that they will happen at the right time for me. I decided to focus entirely on music when I graduated from London School of Economics at the tail end of 2024. My love for current affairs, History and Politics can be pursued further at any time, but I knew that music required more from me at this very moment. I don’t want to do anything by halves and I had a decision to make. I don’t regret that decision because my degree taught me so much, across many disciplines. It sounds odd but learning about current affairs aided my songwriting. I could understand other perspectives more easily, I could understand myself more clearly, and writing essays requires similar skills to songwriting. Both essays and songs usually have a beginning, a middle and an end! Whilst I do often need to ‘scratch the intellectual itch’, I have found creative ways to do so. For instance, I’m working on a top-secret project that does exactly that. All will become apparent soon!
You’ve developed a confident stage look — that cool blend of country and urban edge. Has touring shaped that aesthetic further? Are there any artists or eras that inspire your onstage style right now?
Amy-Jo: My sense of style is eclectic, I will say that! Thank you for your comments on my style. I love being able to express myself through my clothes. Most of my life, I’ve done my own thing. I’m not into following trends (although, I have had my moments!). I am so much more comfortable with myself these days. I have always loved long, lacy dresses, but I also gravitate towards jackets and boots and big, chunky jewellery. I’m somewhat of a paradox in many senses. With the set design for this tour, I wanted the ambience to reflect the personal nature of my music. Fairy lights were in abundance and I gravitated towards warm, earthy tones. Amidst this backdrop, my tour outfits were inspired by bohemian styles, as well as beachy, effortless looks (I am from Morecambe Bay, after all). In terms of my inspirations right now, I’m hugely inspired by Kacey Musgraves and Ella Langley as they both embody that boho, free spirit. However, I continue to be inspired by a range of aesthetics, especially country and western, and more vintage looks.
The touring life means late nights, travel, and the occasional chaos. What’s one small ritual or comfort that keeps you grounded on the road – listening to a certain song before you go on, eating a packet of Jelly Babies?
Amy-Jo: I will be honest, I do struggle with the sudden change in sleep quality! I love a good nap and a solid 8 hours in bed (don’t we all!). Unfortunately, I’ve been getting to sleep at around 2am every night on this tour. That might sound like rock and roll, but it’s just because the pack down takes so long. I’m at the stage in my career where it just isn’t feasible to hire technical crew. Basically, myself and my guitarist are responsible for packing down all the equipment. That can be tiresome and demoralizing, especially when you’re tired from the show you just performed. Similarly, I prioritize eating whole foods and fueling my body for performances. However, once you are out on the road, service station and convenience food impedes that goal significantly! Eating dinner at 9pm can also take a toll. Not to mention, you are often choosing your outfit from your suitcase and taking make up off in the car. I’m aware that many workers in many industries face these exact challenges, so I am not alone here. I think for me, the love of the job gets you through. There is nothing that fulfils me more than seeing so many of the same faces at each show. I want to make them proud. I want to give them a good show. I love catching up with them and they make all of the sacrifices totally worth it. I also realize just how lucky I am. I get to play my own music all over the country. What an honor!
We often talk about how the music industry’s landscape keeps changing, especially for independent artists. Do you feel it’s becoming easier or harder to cut through the noise and find your audience today?
Amy-Jo: Again, such an insightful question! I think about this a lot. In some ways, the barrier to entry has lessened, and technology has made it so that anyone can record their music to a high level. Similarly, if you have a phone, you can easily share content and brand yourself in ways that were once the sole responsibility of record labels. These changes are very impactful because artists have gained autonomy over their art and message. Additionally, it has levelled out the playing field. It means that artists from more disadvantaged backgrounds don’t have to fight the financial hurdles that were once so firmly in place. I think those changes are welcomed by all. Personally, I am thrilled that people from all walks of life can more easily express themselves and their talent. On the other hand, the industry is becoming more and more saturated. It can be difficult to stand out when so many artists are competing for audiences’ time and attention. Over the years, I’ve learned to reframe my version of success. I think it’s much more important to find your tribe, even if that means forming a smaller community. There is room for everyone, and I love that audiences have the power to actively choose their favourite artists. Essentially, I am prioritising quality, nowadays, and letting the quantity take care of itself.
Finally, looking ahead — when the curtain falls on Round 2, what’s next for Amy Jo? Any creative surprises or collaborations you can tease for us?
Amy-Jo: I’m currently gearing up for an album release which is very exciting. Don’t get me wrong, producing a full body of work has been challenging, but totally rewarding. Given that I spent most of 2025 writing, recording and playing live, I plan to focus the majority of 2026 on content creation for the album. That probably sounds tedious but I’m extremely thrilled about it. You spend so much time pouring your heart and soul into the music. Because of that, I want to give the visuals equal time and attention. For instance, I’ll be devoting a significant portion of the year to curating visual media, such as lyric videos for each song, music videos, reels, social media posts and live recorded performances…the list goes on! I’d like to savour each song, you know. I’m sure as 2026 progresses, more live shows will be added to the calendar, and I’m already thinking about album number two!
And that concluded our chat!
Whether she’s fighting off the flu mid-tour, lighting up the stage with fairy lights, or crafting the next big hook in the studio, Amy-Jo does it all with style, smarts, and a whole lot of heart. She’s one of those artists who remind us exactly why we love doing what we do — because some friendships really do start with a great tune and a good chat. We’ll be cheering her on all the way to that debut album drop!
And we hope you liked the feature, dear reader! If you did, please check out the other pages of the magazine; we have many great features, merchandise pages, shops, editorials and even a poetry page. Content is free here, but we work hard for you, and to support the magazine, please show your appreciation on the support button below and buy me a coffee!
You can stream music from Amy-Jo here
By Lorraine Foley
