Country singer-songwriter Margo Price was born in Illinois in 1983 and studied dance and theatre at Northern Illinois University. For years, she was a fixture of the Nashville music scene, waiting tables and doing odd jobs while playing in various bands, before releasing her debut album, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, in 2016. In 2018, she was nominated for a best new artist Grammy and in 2022 published the memoir Maybe We’ll Make It. Her fourth album, Strays, was released last year and she tours the UK and Ireland from 26 January (Gorilla, Manchester) to 30 January (Koko, London).
1. Film
Killers of the Flower Moon (dir Martin Scorsese, 2023)
I recently read David Grann’s book: it’s one of the saddest true stories I’ve ever read and something more people should know about. Martin Scorsese’s film was brilliant. It’s about the Osage nation, a tribe of Native Americans living in 1920s Oklahoma who became the wealthiest people in the US, which attracted some pretty evil people. Lily Gladstone plays the lead and her performance was breathtaking. Fun fact: they asked me to audition for the role of Robert De Niro’s wife. I didn’t get it, obviously, but it was fun to be included.
2. Hobby
The dulcimer
I started playing the dulcimer about a year ago and it’s been so fun. I started finding information online, figuring out chords, and I had one lesson, then I had the audacity to take this thing on tour with me and play it in front of people. It only has three strings and is actually quite easy to pick a melody out on. I see why Joni Mitchell would travel with one: it’s small and lightweight, easier than lugging a guitar through an airport. I hope it inspires people over 40 to pick up a new instrument.
3. Podcast
The host, Dan Harris, was a news anchor but got out of the media after having a panic attack and struggling with substances. He describes himself as a “fidgety sceptic” but it’s a Buddhist-leaning podcast: he interviews the Dalai Lama, monks, nuns and guests such as Esther Perel and La Sarmiento. He speaks to people who have been through some pretty terrible things and lived to tell about it, which gives me perspective. He seems like an honest person and has a dark, dry sense of humour.
4. Memoir
Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You by Lucinda Williams
I’m a disciple of Lucinda Williams. For me, she’s one of the greatest songwriters of our time. I listened to the audiobook because I love Lucinda’s voice – I could hear her talk all day. I loved how upfront she was about her childhood, not having her mom in her life. It was an inspiring story because she did not reach the peak of her fame until she was 51. As women, we have this preconceived notion that it’s all downhill after 30, so this made me have some wind in my sails and think that maybe I’m just getting started.
5. Restaurant
I enjoy spending time at this restaurant, bar and vinyl listening room. My friend Sean Brock, who is a phenomenal chef and was a friend of Anthony Bourdain’s, has really changed the restaurant game in this town. They have a great menu – they do a prime rib that they cut at the table – and wonderful mocktails. There is also an incredible sound system: recently they did a Willie Nelson night and a Dolly Parton dance party. They have these old speakers that were used to mix the Highwaymen’s last album – it’s a really cool little piece of Nashville history.
6. App
I was having a really hard time sleeping: my body can be tired but it can be difficult for me to find stillness at the end of the night, so about six months ago I started using this app for sleep meditations. I just put in headphones and listen to a 10 to 20-minute meditation and it helps shut my mind down. It has definitely improved my sleep. I also enjoy the self-compassion meditations because I am my own worst critic. They keep me down to earth and off my phone, doom-scrolling at night.
