Q&A: Jessey Adams on “Old Appalachia,” Life on the Road and Carrying Country Traditions Forward
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
AT JUST 20 YEARS OLD, outlaw country singer-songwriter Jessey Adams is already living like a seasoned road warrior. With over 300 live shows performed in the past two years, multiple songwriting competition wins and more than 1 million TikTok views on her breakout single “Old Appalachia,” she’s proving herself as one of country music’s most exciting new voices.
Blending acoustic grit, soaring fiddle lines and anthemic choruses, Adams’ music bridges the timeless storytelling traditions of country with the restless spirit of a modern drifter. Her songs are deeply personal yet universally resonant, whether she’s honoring family roots in “Good Blood” (now up for three Josie Music Award nominations) or penning a love letter to the mountains that shaped her in “Old Appalachia.”
With a packed touring schedule for 2025 - including over 100 dates across festivals, theaters, and radio showcases - Adams is carving out her own lane in a genre steeped in tradition. We sat down with Jessey to talk about the heart behind “Old Appalachia,” what life on the road has taught her and how she’s finding her voice as a rising force in country music.
LUNA: “Old Appalachia” feels both deeply personal and universally inviting. Can you walk us through the moment or memory that sparked the first lines of that song?
ADAMS: I had just spent over a month playing shows around western North Carolina and began to miss that area immediately as I left. On the drive north for shows in Michigan, what became the chorus of “Old Appalachia” played over and over in my head. The rest of the song came easily as I began to miss those mountains more every day.
LUNA: You’ve called this track your “love letter” to Appalachia. How has the region shaped you not just as an artist, but as a person?
ADAMS: When I was 18, I left Michigan and decided to pursue music on the road. North Carolina was the first state I was able to get shows in. Beyond the shows themselves, everyone I met treated me like family. They wanted to do everything they could to cheer me on and support my career.
The people were not the only source of comfort though. I love being outside and hiking—I spent almost every morning on a different trail. I started averaging over 5 miles a day simply because of how much I loved the way I felt in the mountains.
LUNA: Performing over 300 shows in just two years is a staggering pace. How has life on the road changed the way you write, perform, or even see yourself?
ADAMS: I go crazy staying in one spot. I love to explore new places, meet new people, and constantly be in motion. When I'm on the road, I find myself smiling for no reason and I have significantly more energy both physically and mentally.
Every region has a different sound musically, even within the same genre. As I go from place to place, I feel like I pick up on the way each area creates music, and it feeds into my own sound.
LUNA: You’ve won multiple songwriting competitions in a short span. What do you think gives your songs that edge—what makes them resonate with judges and audiences alike?
ADAMS: My songs don't come from routine. I have a lot of trouble choosing a specific time to sit down and write music. Most of my songs are written while I'm in motion—hiking, running, or driving.
My favorite songs have been written while I’m stressed and just need to express emotion. I find it easier to put what I’m feeling into lyrics with a melody rather than just speaking.
LUNA: TikTok has played a huge role in “Old Appalachia” reaching over a million views. How do you balance the fast-paced world of social media with the slower, more soulful process of songwriting?
ADAMS: The music always comes first. Social media is just the way of the world right now to get people to hear it. Platforms like TikTok are extremely helpful in getting music to a larger audience, but the songwriting and live shows will always be the priority for me.
LUNA: Country music often carries strong storytelling traditions. Which artists or writers have most influenced the way you tell your own stories?
ADAMS: Reba McEntire has always been one of my favorites. Her songs spin a story that makes you want to listen until the end and then repeat it three more times.
I’ve also been heavily influenced by Jason Isbell lately—not just his incredible music, but the way he talks about stripping down layers of himself to write.
LUNA: Touring across so many different places, what’s one moment from the past year that you’ll never forget?
ADAMS: I played a show at Mountain Village Resort in Stanley, Idaho that was one of the most incredible shows I’ve played to date. Not only did I have a breathtaking view of the mountains, but the crowd was amazing. People showed up knowing my music already and danced all night on the hardwood floors. The energy was so high that the venue manager and I decided to keep the show going for an extra hour.
LUNA: You’re up for three major nominations at the Josie Music Awards this fall. What do those recognitions mean to you at this stage in your career?
ADAMS: It always feels good to receive recognition for something you put your soul into. One of my songs, “Good Blood,” is up for Female Country Song of the Year. That song holds a lot of personal meaning for me—it was written about my Papa and the values he taught me growing up.
Having it up for an award is amazing in itself, but my Papa will be attending the award show, which makes it even more special.
LUNA: In a genre steeped in tradition, you’re carving out your own lane as both a “road warrior” and “country outlaw.” How do you see your music pushing the boundaries while honoring the roots?
ADAMS: Although many songs nowadays focus on hometowns and family, country music has a long history of drifters. My music wouldn’t have any depth if I wasn’t traveling as much as I do.
My raising will always be a huge part of who I am, and that’s reflected in multiple songs—but my soul is on the road.
LUNA: Looking ahead to your upcoming EP, what can listeners expect—both sonically and emotionally—that they haven’t heard from you yet?
ADAMS: Many of my earlier songs tell stories about other people. I’ve started to let my guard down a bit and write lyrics with deeper personal meanings. A lot of my upcoming music deals with my own mind.
