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When we last chatted with Nora Collins just over a year ago, the up-and-coming Milwaukee country performer was prepping 17 – indeed, 17 – Summerfest sets scattered between the now defunct KNE New Music Stage and the Tiki Hut, plus shows at Wisconsin State Fair, Country Thunder, Riverfront Rendezvous and Mile of Music.

And somehow, a year later, things haven’t gotten any less crazy for Collins.

In 2016 alone, the singer-songwriter has signed a publishing and artist development deal with MV2 Entertainment in Nashville, moved down to Music City herself, flown across the country to places like Texas and L.A. to perform private shows and pitch songs to film and TV music supervisors (you heard it here first; don’t be surprised if you happen to hear her handiwork later this summer and fall) and put together a new EP. And, of course, it all comes full circle another 14 sets at Summerfest this year between the Tiki Hut and a gig at the U.S. Cellular Stage at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6.

In between all of that excitement, Collins found the time to chat with us about her crazy last 365 days, life in Nashville and the state of country music.

OnMilwaukee: So does this MV2 deal mean you’re writing songs for other musicians, or are you still mainly writing songs for yourself?

Nora Collins: I am writing for all genres, all different artists but also for myself. The main thing has been recently writing for myself because we’re trying to get an EP done. But also I’ve been doing a lot of stuff for film and TV. I’ve been writing with a lot of really cool track guys where their strength is in producing; they build these really cool tracks and then I write to them. They’re not country at all; they’re very pop or very dark-sounding, stuff that would be really good for film and TV placements.

I actually just got back from L.A. a couple of weeks ago. We went out to a film and TV expo where you had to be invited to go, so I got to meet with music supervisors and play them my songs that are in the vein for film and TV, and get feedback. Some people took some songs, so it’s been really cool.

What’s it like, as a mainly country artist, to be writing for different genres, or is there no difference?

I think it’s more of a mindset thing. Writing pop, I find it a lot easier than writing a country song because it’s just a lot of repetition. The topics can be more broad; you don’t have to be so specific, whereas in country music, it’s all about telling a story.

It’s all about the specificity, when your story seems to be coming from a real place.

Exactly. So that makes it harder to write country music because you have to fill in all those details. With pop stuff – especially for film and TV – you can be very general, which makes it very easy and fun. It needs to apply to a lot of situations. 

You were also talking about writing stuff for a new album or EP. That’s out now?

It’s done! It’s got seven songs, and this release is only available like a physical copy right now. I wanted something special this year with my friends here in Wisconsin, so this is seven songs only available at my shows this summer, and then, toward the end of August, with MV2 Entertainment, we’re going to release it digitally the top four songs. So I’m really looking to my friends and fans here in Wisconsin this summer to touch base with me and let me know what their favorite songs are.

It’s something really special for everybody who’s supported me so far here. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am now, so I’m just very grateful to everybody who’s supported my music so far, and I wanted to have something special for everybody. And I’m glad I could do that.

How’s the move to Nashville been so far?

Nashville’s been great. I signed my deal in early March and then I moved in April, and since moving, I haven’t been in Nashville a whole lot. But it’s been wonderful to be there and be in it, writing everyday or recording everyday. Every day, I’m doing something that’s helping me grow as a person and as a musician and as a songwriter. It’s just been so much fun. This is my first time being away from home, so it’s nice to come back for a little bit and see my family and everyone here, but it’s been awesome living in Nashville.

Being there, it feels like there’s music in every bar, every night.

Yeah, there’s not a venue that doesn’t have live music. And that’s great; it’s always fun to hear other people and go to support friends. The thing is, though, in Nashville, you don’t get paid to play those kinds of venues. That’s something I’m very grateful for, being from Milwaukee and playing here for five years and playing these shows this summer: You can make a living just playing venues here in Milwaukee. That’s been something that’s been an adjustment in Nashville.

But also, the kinds of shows that I’m playing in Nashville are writer rounds. I’m up on stage with three writers, and you each get to play three or four songs; we go in a circle, and I really enjoy playing those.

Last time I talked to you, I believe you were prepping for something like 10 or 15 sets for Summerfest. What was that like, playing so much in such a short period of time?

I mean, Summerfest is my favorite time of the year. I love playing Summerfest, and I love playing the Tiki Hut. That’s where most of my sets are. It’s just so fun; there’s such a cool vibe and feel to everything over at the Tiki Hut. It’s just a beautiful setting, and people are always so kind and encouraging, and they want to come up and meet you. So I don’t really get worn out during Summerfest. I played two sets a day, but they’re only hour-sets each. I’m used to playing four-hour gigs, so that’s nothing. (laughs) An hour, I can handle.

All the artists over at the Tiki Hut support one another. We don’t get paid to play at the Tiki Hut, so we help each other out by carrying the tip bucket around for each other. It’s just a very friendly environment; everybody supports one another, and that’s always wonderful to see, because some people can be very competitive.

Do you have any particular Summerfest memories, either as a performer or as a spectator, that stick out?

Well, a couple of years ago – I think it was two summers ago – I performed on the Uline Warehouse stage, and that night, David Nail was the headliner. And I’m a big David Nail fan, so I was invited to watch from the sound booth, which is on the side of the stage. So I got to watch the entire show, like, he was right there. That was a really cool experience for me.

But my first time playing at Summerfest – I think this is actually my fifth or sixth year, which is crazy because I’m 22 – I was a junior in high school, going into my senior year, and I was in a CBS 58 contest or something, singing their theme song. I was the runner-up I think, so I got to play on the classic rock stage. That was a long time ago, but I just remember being so excited, and my whole family came. It was just a lot of fun.

There were rumblings in the country world over the last year or so about women in country music and the male-dominated, bro country aspect of the genre. Is it still like that? And is there a way to improve that?

The thing is that the majority of the audience that listens to and buys country music is women ages 17 through, like 34, so it’s mostly women listening, and women love hot guys singing country music.

I mean, it’s definitely still a little bro country, I think. Industry people have been very good about trying to promote women in country. There’s the CMT Women in Country Tour that goes on and some other shows like that, promoting women in country music. I think it’s coming back around, though. I think you’re starting to hear a little bit more women on country radio. I don’t think I have anything that I think needs to happen for a change to be made; I think it’ll just kind of come around, just like trends do. I mean, in the ’90s, you had all of these strong women in country music that were dominating: Reba, Trisha Yearwood, Shania Twain. I wish I had the answer; if I did, that’d be great! (laughs)