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Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago usually involved teenaged dreams of escaping the cookie cutter lifestyle for something bigger and essentially better. Some people succeed in dodging their parents’ footsteps and making their own luck as a musician or artist, while others remain stuck in high school drama and pleased with familiarity. Daphne Willis grew up in my hometown and has been grinding the music industry since I was lonely fresh meat at Fremd High School. Willis certainly falls into the former category of Fremd alum since her career as female musician has amplified since graduation.

Like most aspiring singer/songwriters, Willis fights tooth and nail to compose music that not only demonstrates her personality but also highlights her capabilities as a musician and her unwillingness to remain stagnant. Her latest album Because I Can traces the personal journey Willis has undergone to fulfill her musical ambitions and emphasizes the growth she has experienced throughout her career.

After a prideful parade and rainbow festivities, Veoba caught up with Willis before her home base performance at Schuba’s. We discussed the music scene in Nashville, the ins and outs of co-writing, and the importance of having a quality song rather than some pop garbage. Check out the interview below.

So what have you been up to as far as your music and life is concerned?

Well, I moved to Nashville in December, so there’s that. I released my second record with Vanguard Records this year, so there’s that. I’ve been doing a lot of co-writing in Nashville and I’ve been writing and touring like crazy. I’ve been doing full band here and in Nashville, but when were on the road we do an acoustic trio thing that’s pretty interesting. It’s a different configuration so a different kind of sound and setup, different style songs and music. It’s cool to be able to go back and forth from an electric vibe to something like house shows. It’s been pretty nuts. I haven’t had a whole lot of time off, but it’s great.

What prompted the move to Nashville?

Touring. It’s easier to tour South and it’s more centrally located so I can kinda go anywhere and everywhere as opposed to being more limited. It’s just much easier and there’s more access to markets.

Which do you prefer the more acoustic type shows or the full band setup?

If we are well rehearsed, I prefer to do the full band thing. But more often than not when I do the full band thing we are kinda runnin’ and gunnin’. We came into town today, had to get my drummer his drums and kill time before sound check. I’m lucky that I play with a very talented group of fine fellows- and they’re all very good looking too- but I prefer the electric and the horns, definitely the revved up stuff because you can always take it down a notch in that setting, you can always bust into an acoustic song. Whereas if you’re in an acoustic setting, you’re kinda stuck on that playing field. At the same time I like the challenge of building dynamics when you only have the acoustic instruments, and we can do house concerts, which I really like because they’re more intimate. They kinda both have their ups and downs. I guess they both have their ups because there’s not anything down about it.

So where do you draw influence for your music?

I think that I focus a lot on the songwriting, and the general foundation of everything I do is just having great songs. I’ve been co-writing and really working on honing that as a craft, as a thing. Having really awesome songs that speak to people and that people connect with is the most important thing you can possibly do as a musician, especially nowadays because so many people put music out there so your content is almost competing with other peoples’ content. It’s crazy. Just basically having that song, no matter what instrument is playing it, what configuration you have, the song. That’s the most important thing.

What else is going on in the life of Daphne Willis?

I do a lot of work with charities too. So I do a lot of fundraisers and organize those with different organizations. I work with To Write Love On Her Arms, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, National Children’s Cancer Association. There’s a couple smaller organizations in Florida like Alaqua Animal Refugee.

Do you have a favorite place to play or a favorite area?

You can’t beat home base. I love playing in Chicago it’s awesome. I like playing in New York City, kind of. The whole parking thing is always such a cluster fuck though. I’m excited to play in Philadelphia, I’ve never played in Philly. Chicago is definitely my favorite place to play just because I get to see everybody. Especially now that I don’t live here anymore, when I come here I get to see everybody for the most part.

Who are you co-writing with in Nashville? And how does that work?

There’s a lot of co-writing going on in Nashville, so people get together and write songs. The cool thing about co-writing is it could be like, you meet somebody and they’re like “oh yeah we should write.” So you get together and write and it’s a totally random acquaintance. Or somebody would say “I know someone you should write with,” so it’s almost like a blind date. You show up and write with a random person. Then after a while you find people you like to write with and that you drive well with. So now I have my go-tos that I know when I’m in town I get together with and we’re gonna leave with good songs. I write with country people, I write with folk people. The songwriters in Nashville are mostly folk, but my melodies are more pop.

Ever come across artists that are difficult to work with?

Sure, yeah. There have been people that I don’t want to work with again, and I’m sure there are people that have worked with me that don’t wanna work again. It’s never anything negative, it’s just not the right vibe.