Big City Cowgirl writes, sings, and performs country music. She is New York lawyer, Sondra Toscano, who has a predilection for country music. She told us that she values all types of music, though, and has a vast background of influences, such as Johnny Cash, Scandal, Tom Petty, Rick Springfield, The DelLords, and Brad Paisley. She also told us that her raspy voice, with its natural vibrato, has helped to give a little edge to her singing. She is straightforward when she talks about her love of music and her desire to connect with people through song. We sat down with her to talk with her about her latest single, “(There Ain’t Nothin’ Like) Love On The Open Road” and some other stuff too.
Why did you select this song as your current single?
I’ve been writing a whole bunch of tunes, as I always do, but summer is almost here and everyone is getting in that mood – fun, flirtatious, and frisky. You can smell the excitement of picnics, pool parties, beachin’ it, barbecues, and just being out in the sun and able to do all those things that we can’t when we’re cooped up in the colder months. I thought this song was perfect for a release at this time of year. I hope that people turn it up in their rides and take off on the open road.
What was the writing process for the song?
For this song, I started coming up with lyrics and a melody in my head on the train while commuting, and then went home and started working on the music. As the music came along, more of the lyrics and melody fleshed themselves out. I played it over and over again – nightly – until it was to the point where I wanted to record it into my iPhone – then I sent it to my producer. By the time I put it in my iPhone, my 5 year old knew the words. In a nutshell, I drove my daughter and my dogs crazy because they were there every night with me. My dogs will typically sit around me while I’m playing, and listen intently. This time – one of them, Cocoa, was actually trying to lay her head on my left arm and put her paw on my wrist. So I knew, for sure, this was the next release.
What does this song’s lyric mean to you?
It means don’t take life so seriously. It means don’t forget to stop and smell the sunflowers. It means all work and no play makes people very stressed. It’s like that saying about when a person gets to the pearly gates, that they will never say “if only I had spent more time at work.” The lyrics are meant to tell people to enjoy life and one of the ways to enjoy life is get into your vehicle and go – anywhere – but, for the love of God, add some carefree to your recipe for life.
What would it be like to see you in person performing this song?
I would hope it would be an exhilarating experience. When I perform, I truly feel the songs and I tend to throw myself around a little bit. I would hope that, through my performance, I could capture the lighthearted pleasure of the open road on a clear day and the thrill of being on that road with someone you love.
Could your fans summarize who you are as an artist by this song?
I think I am a fairly complex musical artist. I write songs with all sorts of vibes to them. Although I think they all adhere to a certain personal style, there is a vast difference amongst them. This song has a positive, happy feeling to it, and I suppose that summarizes how I try to be as a person – because every day is a blessing – but who I am as an artist – not by a longshot.
Is there a video planned and or completed and, if so, what was the idea behind the video?
There is a video!!! It’s coming out soon so get ready everyone! It should be out by the end of the month. We’ve got band footage, road footage, acting footage, and zany footage. We’ve even got a metaphor – the road as our lives. The idea behind the video was to shoot a fun video that would leave a happy feeling with folks. My video producers, Mike & Hillary Epstein, and I brainstormed ideas. We were able to enlist some really great people to be in the video – Urban Rodeo of Long Island with guest bass player, Bobby Trombley, and my amazing fiddle player, Sophie. We also have some local actors from Long Island, Tara & Jason Swicicki, Matthew Castello and Samatha O’Donnell who are starring in it. I can’t wait for the finished product.
Do you feel that being from Long Island is a detriment to the fact that you are a country music artist?
I have to tell you that a lot of outstanding music has come from Long Islanders. To name a few, you’ve got Billy Joel, Eddie Money, LLCoolJ, the Stray Cats, and Pat Benatar. In fact, Pat Benatar was raised in Brooklyn then moved to Long Island, just like me. Even though her music was popular in decades ago, she is timeless, and that’s just kind of what I want for my music. I want people to be able to play it years from now and still appreciate its relevance. But you’re right – I can’t think of any hugely popular country music artist who has come from Long Island, but that doesn’t mean that Long Island won’t sprout a few. So, no, I don’t think it will be a problem for me.
One last question, what is your motivation behind your music?
Everything and nothing. An idea will literally just come to me, or more typically, I will hear someone talking about something that is happening to them. Most of my songs are about the experiences of others I know. But I can be inspired by a beautiful day, or something my daughter says, or a bird on a tree branch.
Social Media:
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