Singer and songwriter, Carri McMullan went against the odds as a single mother who independently created, completed and is successfully marketing her own EP RUBY IN THE ROUGH . Carri is known in the Louisville area for live performances with her band, The UnXpected, and selling her CD’s.
— Your CD’s are selling well, how does it feel to have completely and independently made and marketed your own EP?
The struggle of the independent artist is real, but after 17 years, this single mom of two children, one being special needs, is very excited as well as proud of accomplishing such a vision as this independent R&B album entitled RUBY IN THE ROUGH, its been difficult keeping all aspects of the project organized and protected from other artists that might steal ideas and so on. Not one dime of anyone else’s money was used to make this dream a reality, its was all me, and I’m very honored that the response has been positive, even the men love this album, its the story of my life!
— was it harder or easier than you expected in retrospect anything you would have done differently?
The independent music creativity mode is easy for me. God places gifts inside vessels, and we are to use those gifts. He made me a siren, I embrace this gift, it helps me express my honesty, but with honesty comes hardships, it makes one vulnerable, opening us up to critique, and invasion of privacy, but, even though it’s been extremely long in the making, and extremely difficult to finance by myself with no help from area drug dealers sack money like it often works, I’m proud to say I owe nobody any pay out. I did it alone. Small stack after small stack, its not easy, but when it’s hard, it’s appreciated more!
— I know you made the video while you were working on the CD, you’ve been really busy for awhile with all this, was it fun making the video?
Actually, I hated making the video. I’ve been featured in many videos starring Young May Bishop, Don Ko, CEO Boogie and more, but honestly, I hate all of them (laughs). I crack up at myself on film, its not that I think I’m ugly, it’s just I’m usually in control of all aspects of my creativity, so it robs the fun of the visual, and I break out into critique mode with backdrop settings and such. I have used many of my friends and affiliates– including an ex drummer of mine as the male lead– while his girlfriend was there the entire time, so I did my best to not bust out laughing during filming. I’m very shy and silly-hearted, so making videos is strange still, I feel like I’m being fake when I’m trying to look glamorous. I just like to be me, real.
–what do you have coming up in 2016 we can look forward to?
2016 is yet another musical year for me. I’m excited that 2 of my songs off RUBY IN THE ROUGH has been selected to be featured in an independent film entitled Screened, from Nightwalk Productions, out of California, so that’s been a confidence booster! My new single I just finished recording is already being requested by area radio, and the crowds in the clubs always are supportive of new single ME & MY G! My band The UnXpected are focused and see the potential in my artistic vision and I might add, we kills on stage, and the RUBY LIVE EXPERIENCE is now available for booking, across country, we will entertain the crowds with blue-eyed soul unlike you have ever seen or heard! It’s a blessing to have passion, zeal, pain, happiness, and the gift to put that into song and party with it! Book us @ [email protected] or contact me on my Facebook page under Carri McMullan. You can see footage of Miss Carri and Band on YouTube under Carri McMullan. Don’t forget to order your copy of the breakout hit independent blue eyed soul/ R&B album RUBY IN THE ROUGH …. 16 SONGS ONLY $10!
