Aliza Ford is a Country Singer, songwriter, and musician from Fort Worth, Texas. This is his second appearance on my blog. He was first featured in March 2020. Since then, he has had a song, 'On The Bright Side' on Texas radio and he formed his first real Country Music Band.
Alan Mercer: Aliza, you have actually had some career growth this past difficult year. That’s not easy to do.
Aliza Ford: Yes, I got a band now and I have a song on the charts. My song, ‘On The Bright Side’ made it to 69 before the charts stopped at the end of the year. Jim Nash has been pushing it out.
AM: Tell me about Jim Nash helping you.
AF: He’s in the music scene. He’s a Radio DJ for Shooter 92.9 FM in the Waco area and he’s a promoter.
AM: Had you been wanting to get with him?
AF: Yes, I had, but he cost a pretty penny, so we saved up money and got some investors. So, we have one song. It’s a risk, but it does get my name out there and gets the DJs familiar with my name and music. I’m investing in myself.
AM: So, tell me about your new band.
AF: I actually have Earl Walden as a drummer and Cody Lane on bass, and Jimmy Walden on lead guitar. Jimmy and Earl are brothers. Then, I have Dickie Wood on steel guitar. 2022 is going to be booked up. We’re doing it big.
AM: You’ve been booked the whole end of 2021 too.
AF: It was. I was surprised this was my busiest year. After a year of Covid, everybody wanted live music. That helped me out a lot. 2020 shut everybody done, but the little guys like me really got affected.
AM: The whole thing was devastating, but you survived.
AF: I made the most of the time by finding my band members and do a little writing, although I’ve had a little writers block lately.
AM: That happens, but luckily you have a bunch of great songs you have already written.
AF: I have to be inspired to write. I don’t like pushing songs out. Most of the songs I write, just come out. Then, they flow perfectly on my guitar and paper.
AM: Are you co-writing as well?
AF: I do co-write with a friend of mine, Greg Haws. We’ve written a few songs together. He has a song called, ‘Build A Room’ that’s about having relationship problems and he wants to build a room in the back of a bar because he feels welcome there all the time. (Laughter) It’s a Country song for sure.
AM: I’m looking forward to you returning to the recording studio.
AF: My drummer is good friends with Aaron Tippin. He even looks like him. That’s how they became friends. He was at an Aaron Tippin show and Aaron mentioned his twin was in the audience and then at the end of the show when Aaron was meeting people, they met, and they clicked. So, that’s a connection, right there. We are discussing going to Tennessee and recording in his studio. I might even get to sing with Aaron Tippin. That would be really cool.
AM: I’m sure with all your recent experience you will impress.
AF: If that’s my opportunity I’m going to do whatever I have to.
AM: What do you think is the most important lesson you have learned in your live performance skills?
AF: Just to give it my all every time. It doesn’t matter if there’s nobody there or one person or a thousand. Always give it your best because you don’t know who’s out there, even if you’re nothing more than background music. I used to get real down about it, thinking nobody is clapping to background music, but at the end of the day, it’s what I love to do. I’d rather do that than anything else.
AM: I think you are maturing.
AF: Yes, it’s the name of the game. You must pay your dues for sure. I started this when I was twenty, so I’ve been at it for six years. I’ve never been full time though and I never had a band until just now. Well, I did have a band for a short period of time, and I was opening shows at the Haltom Theater, but that fell through. It’s always a rollercoaster ride, but it’s really what I want to do. I can’t stop.
AM: I know you’ve met a lot of your peers this past year. Are you enjoying that?
AF: I am enjoying it a lot. I’ve met a lot of people and I have a lot of friends. I’ve been getting out and going to other people’s shows. It’s fun and it helps me to get out and see what they do. I feed off of that and get more ideas. It’s awesome seeing other people do what I do. We all share the same passion and I like that.
