Becky Buller for Got Country
- You were born and raised in Minnesota. Did you move to Tennessee to pursue a career in music?
I went to East Tennessee State University in 1997 to study bluegrass music. The music career just naturally followed my time at school.
2. What inspired you to start playing fiddle and at what age did you start performing live?
I really started playing fiddle so I could sing in my parents’ bluegrass band. They told me that was how a bluegrass band worked…everybody played something. They didn’t have a fiddle at the time. I feel like the fiddle chose me. I was about 9 years old when I started taking violin lessons and probably 11 or 12 when I joined their band.
3. You made history as the first female to win Fiddle Player of the Year and both instrumental and vocal categories at the 2016 IBMA’s. How did that move your career forward?
It certainly opened doors and window for me! As part of the First Ladies Of Bluegrass (Alison Brown, Missy Raines, Sierra Hull, Molly Tuttle and myself—all the first women to win in our respective instrumental categories at the IBMA awards) I’ve gotten to perform at the 2019 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the Country Music Hall Of Fame, the 2019 Newport Folk Festival and as part of the back up band for Steve Martin during his comedy show tour with Martin Short in Florida this past January.
4. What is your favorite song to play live from your most recent album, Distance and Time?
“More Heart, Less Attack”. I love the way we rocked up this NEEDTOBREATHE cover and I love that the lyrics encourage us all to be peacemakers.
5. What was the writing process like for Distance and Time? Did you write all of the tracks specifically for this record or did you dig up some old songs?
I write a lot, of which I pitch quite a few to other artists. I always stash away some for myself as well. I wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 13 tracks on this album. I mentioned our NEEDTOBREATHE cover; we also covered Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” with just clawhammer banjo, dobro and voice. To my knowledge, it’s the first time this song has been played on a clawhammer banjo.
As for my original songs on the album, they range from songs I began writing in college (“I Dream In Technicolor”) to right up to the week before we recorded (“Inglewood Upon Stratford”).
6. You recently topped the Billboard Bluegrass Album Chart with Distance and Time. That is quite an impressive accomplishment. What other accolades do you hope to achieve surrounding the new record?
It’ll be interesting to see how far this album can go, especially since we had to release it during the pandemic and I’m unable to tour to support it. I’m grateful to all the folks who have bought in through my website.
7. What is your dream venue to play?
I would love to get to do my own show at The Ryman.
8. Who is you dream duet partner?
James Taylor.
9. Any plans of hitting the road again in 2021?
Yes! Just as soon as we can! Right now the gigs start back up in June. We’re doing livestream events in the meantime.
10. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I love caroling! We plan to sing to our neighbors again this year.
11. Last but not least, since we are Got Country, what song from the new record do you think Country fans would enjoy the most?
“You Come Around”, which I co-wrote with John Pennell and Jeff Hyde. Sixteen-year-old me is still flipping out that I got to sing this as a duet with Ronnie Bowman. Check it out!
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