It’s been a whirlwind year touring with Zac Brown Band, Jimmy Buffett, and Tim McGraw & Faith Hill for country-pop singer Caroline Jones, who will be performing on Tuesday, July 31st at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett.  These country giants have become close mentors to Jones and “shared the biggest lessons she’s learned on the road”.  KDHamptons chats with Jones about this wildly exciting time.

KDHamptons: You’re currently on tour with Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band, and opened for Tim McGraw & Faith Hill last month. What has it been like to be on the road with so many great artists?

Caroline Jones: I feel very honored and grateful to share the stage with my heroes. I have studied them not only as artists, but as business people and human beings, and the artists I have had the privilege of sharing stages with are top quality on every front. I learn SO much from every show about connecting with audiences and conducting oneself with authenticity and grace both onstage and off.

KDHamptons: On your full-length album Bare Feet, you wrote every song, performed almost every instrument, and co-produced with Ric Wake. Describe your songwriting process. Do you have a routine when it comes to creating music?

Caroline Jones: Typically a song will be born of a lyrical or melodic idea or instrumental riff. Once a song is fleshed out lyrically and melodically, the production process begins — a process of layering instruments, textures, different melodies, supporting harmonies. It’s a creative, non-linear process — sometimes ecstatic, sometimes slightly maddening — but incredibly rewarding when a song is finished and feels cohesive and complete as an arrangement. I have pop, country, singer-songwriter and electronic influences, and blending those elements is a joyful challenge for me both as a songwriter and producer.

KDHamptons: Billboard ranked you #2 on their “15 Country Artists to Watch in 2018” and Rolling Stone named you one of the “10 Country Artists You Need to Know.” What’s on your schedule for the rest of the year?

Caroline Jones: My focus for the remainder of the year is to continue connecting with and building new fans on tour. I’ll be touring with Jimmy Buffett & The Eagles, Zac Brown Band and OneRepublic, and Kip Moore. I have this beautiful and precious opportunity to play very big stages in front of new fans.

KDHamptons: You signed with Jimmy Buffet’s Mailboat Records distribution company this past March. How did you first connect with Jimmy?

Caroline Jones: Jimmy’s management invited me to open the Trying to Reason Hurricane Relief Concert that Jimmy put together last November featuring Jimmy, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and Jake Owen. Just to open the show was a real honor, but I also had the privilege of singing several duets with Jimmy that night. We really hit it off, and he has been a friend, supporter, and mentor to me ever since.

KDHamptons: We’re excited to see you play solo at The Stephen Talkhouse on Tuesday, July 31. Is this your first time performing in the Hamptons? What can we expect to hear at the show? Do you have any favorite places to visit in the Hamptons?

Caroline Jones: I taped an acoustic special for Sirius XM at The Stephen Talkhouse several years ago, so this show will be my second time playing the venue. It’s an iconic room with so much rich musical history. I will have my full band as well as my acoustic guitar and banjo, so fans can expect the full range of production, some special covers of my favorite songs, and songs from my album “Bare Feet”. My favorite place to visit in the Hamptons is, of course, the ocean! The ocean has some magical effect on my soul. It’s where I feel most creative and most free.