Exclusive Q&A: Rodney Atkins Scores Success with 'Take a Back Road'

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Rodney Atkins may be on more music fans’ personal play lists now that the title track of his fourth studio album “Take a Back Road,” has become his sixth No. 1 hit, but don’t think of him as anything like an overnight success.

The East Tennessee native signed with Curb Records in 1997 but didn’t really catch listeners’ ears until his 2006 album If You’re Going Through Hell. Atkins said what helped him turn the musical corner was taking a long look at his beliefs and defining exactly what songs he could write and sing from the heart.

Wonder if that worked? Consider that the album’s title track and the song “Watching You” both zoomed to the top of the charts. As he prepares for the October 4 release of his album and a supporting tour, Atkins took time to talk with OurStage about the title track, the album and just what he hopes his fans take away from his music.

OS: Congratulations on your new single “Take a Back Road” hitting No. 1! You must be so thrilled.

RA: To be honest, you get so caught up in the grind and the business and then suddenly it just hits you and you’re on your knees, so humble. I’m so humbled that I’m here and have a chance to do this. I’m just so very grateful. I don’t know why I’m doing this interview because I’m honestly speechless. Thank you for wanting to talk to me!

OS: When you approached writing and recording this album, what did you hope to achieve?

RA: When we started working on the If You’re Going Through Hell album [that was released in 2006], I lived about 100 miles from Music Row so I was constantly going back and forth. So I wouldn’t have to do the commute, I got [basic recording equipment] on eBay and set it up in the pantry, a little closet at our house.

I was working one day and my wife [Tammy Jo Atkins] and some of her friends were out on the front porch¦and I had them come in and sing [a background vocal] “It is what I love about the south, about the south, about the south.” It was recording those songs in that way that got me and really affected me and lifted me. They actually say more than you realize.

So my answer is that when we made the If You’re Going Through Hell album, we were not trying to fit in and follow a trend. We were basically following our hearts. That’s what made me want to go back to that place, to sing songs and write songs that really, really touch people. [I wanted] songs that would stick with you and lift people up.”

OS: What was it about the “Take a Back Road,” that made you want to record the title track of this album?

RA: [The songwriters Rhett Akins and Luke Laird] both told me that when they wrote it, they were in the office with a little recorder and just did an elaborate work tape. They used a basic drum machine and it was just funky. They sent me an Mp3 as I was taking off on the road. I was listening to it on the way to the airport and I couldn’t wait for the plane to get to 10,000 feet so I could turn on my electronic device and listen to it again and again and again and again.

A lot of people say the song is about escapism. I don’t think it is about escapism; I think it is about coming into yourself and being good with that and feeling good about who you are and just relaxing and not getting caught up in stress. It’s not about escaping.

OS: The video for the song has certainly generated a lot of buzz. It had to be great to work with Andy Tennant, who of course is the man behind the movies Sweet Home Alabama, Hitch and so many other great movies.

I was honored that Andy wanted to do this. He was probably in the biggest music video of all time [as a dancer]¦ in Grease. And, of course, everyone knows all the movies he’s made.

He heard “Take a Back Road” it just washed over him and he just wanted to do this. When you sing songs every night over and over and over and they take you to a place, a feeling, consistently you know there is more to the song than lyrics and music.

OS: Do you Google yourself to read reviews and fan comments about your work?

RA: I made that mistake one time before, because I was excited. I was Googling [a]review of [one of my songs] and it got shredded. That just about broke my heart. It got to me. I don’t know why I would do that [again], because I really believe in [my] songs.

OS: You still might know that a lot of people are talking about how you’re not wearing your trademark ball cap in a shot or two in that video.

RA: You know, you have an album come out and you have to have pictures for it. The next thing you know, it’s all about the ball cap. No, no, no. This is about the music.

It’s about the songs. When I did the photo shoot for the album, [at one point in the photos] I was soaking wet. I wanted to wash all the BS and make up and everything you can hide behind away because this is all about the music. I don’t want to make a big announcement about it, but that’s what it’s about.

It’s that feeling of working out the challenges of making an album a this level. I’ve had some success but I’m not Mr. Media, everywhere you look I’m there saying “Hey! Hey! Hey! Look at me!’ I believe I have to record songs that are real and different and touch people and make a difference to them. I don’t have to stand there and tell you how country I am.

Find out more about Atkins’ music, his concerts and other projects on his Web site.