For millions of listeners, Lanie Gardner first arrived through a voice they couldn’t ignore, but the years since her viral breakthrough have been about something deeper: discovering exactly who she wants to be as an artist. With Faded Polaroids (Deluxe) marking the close of one chapter and the beginning of another, the North Carolina singer-songwriter is trusting her instincts more than ever, embracing the influences that shaped her and refusing to let expectations define her sound. The Country Note caught up with Gardner to talk about the experiences behind the music, finding her identity beyond a viral moment, the artists and mentors who have shaped her journey, and where she hopes this next chapter will take her.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
LANIE: I’m Lanie Gardner. I’m a singer-songwriter from the Appalachia of North Carolina. I grew up on all sorts of music. I loved it all. I think many genres have shaped the kind of artist I am today and the kind of music I make.
CN: Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
LANIE: Originally, Miranda Lambert was my biggest influence from writing and singing styles. I also loved Blackberry Smoke, Rihanna, and Stevie Nicks have been huge influences personally and sonically, as well. I’ve always gravitated toward artists with very distinct voices and unique qualities. Lately, Aurora and Imogen Heap have been super inspiring.
CN: Can you take us through your songwriting process?
LANIE: It changes every time. Sometimes I walk in with a title or a line, and other times it starts with a feeling. I try not to force it too much. I want the song to tell us where it needs to go. The wind might blow a certain way and it could inspire an idea. It just comes when it comes.
CN: Faded Polaroids (Deluxe) feels like a closing chapter before you move into a new era. When you look back at the woman who made the original album, how is she different from the artist and person you are today?
LANIE: The original album captured me while I was still living through a lot of those mid twenties experiences. The deluxe reveals more of the woman I became after them—the one carrying the lessons and wisdom they left behind.
CN: You were introduced to millions of people through your viral cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” Did the speed of that moment ever make it harder to figure out who Lanie Gardner was as an artist outside of that viral success?
LANIE: I think so. I was introduced to the world through someone else’s song before I had the chance to introduce myself through my own. All of a sudden, I was expected to choose a genre and “write for radio,” and I’d never really put myself in a box before. I wanted to write for myself and for people like me. The years since have been about figuring out exactly what I want to say and how I want to say it.
CN: You worked closely with Kristian Bush on the three new songs for the deluxe edition. What did he bring out of you creatively that might not have surfaced otherwise?
LANIE: Kristian really let me protect the world I was already building. We stayed completely locked in on the vision, and he gave me the confidence to trust my instincts instead of overthinking them. He’s been a creative for a long time and is so incredibly talented, and I was blessed to have his touch on these three songs. They truly blossomed in his hands. He amplified the importance of having someone truly believe not just in you, but in your art.
CN: “Say It Sober” explores loving someone who is emotionally unavailable and recognizing when it is finally time to let go. Was that an easy song for you to write, or did you need some distance from the experience before you could put it into music?
LANIE: Most of the time, I write about experiences I’ve lived through. This song was inspired by multiple people I’ve experienced emotional unavailability with. Alcohol was a blessing and a curse—it let people open up, but also made them forget. I think distance helped me finally put those experiences into words. Sometimes you don’t fully understand what you lived through until you’re far enough away from it to see it clearly.
CN: Nashville can come with a lot of expectations about what a Country artist should sound and look like. As you move into this next chapter, how much are you thinking about those expectations versus simply following your own instincts?
LANIE: Less than ever. I respect country music deeply, but I think the best thing I can do for it is to be honest—bring my own influences and experiences into it instead of trying to fit someone else’s idea of what I should be. I appreciate the gatekeepers to a point— country isn’t just a genre, it’s a way of life. I’ve lived that life, and I sing honestly about it. Some of my music may not sound like a traditional “country song,” but there’s more to an artist than the sound of their music. What really connects us to fans is who we are and where we come from.
CN: You recently joined Zac Brown Band onstage for “Rhiannon,” another Fleetwood Mac song, and you’re currently touring with Luke Bryan before joining Jordan Davis and Ty Myers for select dates. What are you learning from being around artists at different stages of their careers?
LANIE: Every artist does it differently, which has been really freeing to see. More than anything, I’ve learned to know who you are, take care of your people, and build a live show that feels like your own. I’ve also learned I’m not alone in this industry. Zac Brown has been a mentor and a hand that helps other artists up, always reminding me to protect my authenticity through the noise. Luke has been a light in that way, too. One night, I even watched him sing with my family for hours, and without knowing it, he reminded me why I fell in love with music—and how it connects people who don’t know each other from Adam.
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
LANIE: Miranda Lambert. No question.
CN: What was your first concert you ever attended?
LANIE: It was a Miranda Lambert concert when I was in my early teens with my mom. It was a really special memory, just the two of us. I can’t remember who was opening for whom, but Dierks Bentley also played that night. I was a huge fan of them both. I bought a hat that was later chewed up by the dog. I still kept it though. I actually got to tell Miranda that I had been at that concert in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it was really cool that she remembered it. That was definitely a full-circle moment.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
LANIE: I don’t know… probably absent-minded, haha. I spend a lot of time in my own world—or at least not entirely in the real one. I daydream a lot.
CN: What else can fans look forward to this year?
LANIE: A lot of change, honestly. I feel like I’m stepping into a new chapter creatively, and I’m excited for people to take the journey with me. There’s more music, more shows, and hopefully a few surprise artist collabs along the way. We truly won’t know til we get there and that makes it exciting for me too!
For more on Lanie, see https://www.laniegardnermusic.com/
Listen to Faded Polaroids here.