This Album Changed My Life: Anita Spring on ‘Traveller’ by Chris Stapleton

Growing up in a musical family, singer-songwriter and producer Anita Spring has always been surrounded by music. She began performing at a young age, and secured her first professional theatre role at age 12. After a life changing trip to the USA in 2017, Anita began writing songs on her return and went back to Nashville in 2018 on a songwriting trip. In 2020, she released two songs This Ain’t Pretty and Still a Child, both of which made the top 10 of the AMRAP Regional Airplay Charts. Her latest single, Midnight Train is about venturing on a journey of self-discovery, finding your place in the world and loving every moment of it.

To get to know Anita Spring a little better, we’ve asked her to tell us about an album that has changed her life.

When I first heard this record, I was in Nashville.  It was only brand new at that time and it instantly blew me away, what a voice! Chris is insanely soulful. You feel it in your bones when you hear him on this album and his song writing reminds me of old school songs, and takes me back to my childhood and watching Mum and Dad on stage.  It also takes me back to being in Memphis and watching and hearing such great country and blues musicians.

On Traveller, songs like Whiskey And You take me away to sitting by a fireplace in winter.  They are melodic and really bring you in – it feels like Chris is having a conversation with just you. His talented wife also features on this record, the stand out song is More Of You.  I’m always impressed by great backing vocalists that mesmerise just as much as the lead vocalist, and her voice complements Chris's voice so perfectly – it's magic to listen to. 

I've listened to this record over and over again. The record really got in my head and changed my perception of what I believed country music to be and it inspired me to approach my song writing differently. I now always try to reference past musical influences in the lyrics I write and it's thanks to this record. You'll find my titles, for example, Midnight Train is for the appreciation of the great song Midnight Train To Georgia. It's my little way of recognising my great musical influences from the past. Appreciating vocal performances and song writing has always been a massive part of my life. When I hear songs like the ones on Traveller, I get all nostalgic and it soothes me somehow.

I really love this record ... think I might listen to it a few more times tonight.

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