Erin Gibney is just like us. She loves rewatching her comfort shows (One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls and New Girl are personal faves), grabbing iced coffee, making a playlist for literally *every* mood (with at least one Taylor Swift song on it, ofc) and curling up with a good enemies-to-lovers read.

But besides being your newest Internet BFF, she's also the rising country-pop star that will definitely be taking over your Spotify playlists. Better yet, she's got tons of new music set to release this year—starting with her single "Exit Signs."

We sat down to chat with Erin about all of it, and you'll want to read on for the inside scoop...

Girls' Life: How did you first get into music?

Erin Gibney: Growing up, my dad was always playing the guitar. So when I was about 12 years old, I said, "You know what, I'm gonna give that a try. See how it goes for me." And the rest is history. I moved to Nashville right after high school, so I was 18 at the time, and I've been here ever since.

GL: Do you feel like your sound has changed over the years? How did you figure out which type of music you wanted to make?

Erin: I feel like I knew what kind of music I wanted to make, but I wasn't really making it, if you know what I mean. The pop-country sound has always been something that I wanted to do, but I don't feel like I was actually making that music. I was writing it, but then I would get into the studio, and I didn't really have the confidence to be like, "Wait a second. I kind of want this to be more 'poppy.'" And so my music was coming out really country. Then, as I got older, I realized that I know who I am and I know what kind of music I want to make. And then I grew into that confidence of saying, "OK, this is what I want to do."

GL: And what is your songwriting process usually like? What kinds of things are you usually inspired by?

Erin: There's this Nora Ephron quote I keep as the background of my phone that says, "Everything is copy." Everything that happens to me in my life, I don't know how to process it any other way than writing about it and putting it into music. That has always been my process. Something will happen in my life—whether I have a crush on a boy and he doesn't like me back, or I'm dating a guy for five years and we break up, or I have a fight with my friends and make new ones—and I'll put it in my journal. And then I'll visit it when I'm in a headspace to make music, and I'll take those words and create songs out of them.

GL: Speaking of songs—you have your new single "Exit Signs" coming out. Is there anything you can share with us about it?

Erin: I feel like I'm entering a new era. I recently went through a pretty big breakup, and it was the first time I actually had a real heartbreak, so there was a lot of pain in that. But there was also a lot of opportunity in it and a lot of beauty, in the fact that I could write about heartbreak and really feel it. So I wrote this song, "Exit Signs." It's the most special and closest song to my heart, because it's the first time in my life that I've written about a heartbreak that I have felt to my core. Every single word of that song is exactly how I felt. So it's something that I'm really, really proud of and excited to get out there.

GL: We're so excited to hear it! Any other new music you're working on?

Erin: For sure! I have two other songs I recorded, and I have been writing my tail off over these past few months, so I'm just trying to find something I really resonate with. I want to go into the studio—I'm in that process right now. I'm just focusing all of my efforts on this new music, especially on socials and in my daily life, pushing it and trying to get it to as many people as possible. I'm so proud to bring it into the world, so I just want to focus on making sure it reaches everyone that it resonates with.

GET TO KNOW ERIN

Current fashion must-haves: Chrome nails, anything Y2K

Biggest musical inspirations: Taylor Swift, Kelsea Ballerini

Dream fictional bestie: Brooke Davis from One Tree Hill

Place she *needs* to tour next: London

GL: What advice would you give to girls who might be reading this?

Erin: Oh gosh, I have a whole laundry list, but I'll talk specifically on music. This industry can be really difficult—on your confidence, financially, physically, mentally. So I think the most important thing I can tell them is just to stay true to yourself. You are a gift, you have a gift. If you just focus on honing that and doing what feels right for you and bringing music and art into the world that you feel like you are proud of, no one can take anything from you. Just block out all the noise and focus on what you love, because it's worth it.

Follow Erin on Instagram and TikTok @eringibney, and stream her new single "Exit Signs" rn!

All images: Steven Goth
Parts of this interview were edited or condensed for clarity.

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