Originally from Houston and now based in Nashville, Lou Ridley makes country music with a distinctly Southern point of view — sharp-edged, feminine and unwilling to make itself smaller.
As both an artist and songwriter, Ridley has been building a world around songs that move between heartbreak, defiance and the mythology of the modern American West. Releases including “Hoedown,” “Little Black Thong” and “Red Clay” have shown different sides of that world, while her visual identity has become nearly as recognizable as the music itself.
Her latest single, “American Girl,” turns its attention towards womanhood, power and what it means to move through contemporary America. “To be an American girl is to be a woman acutely aware that your mere existence is a threat to an extremely weak system that displays abuse of power in an effort to maintain control they will surely lose anyway… and soon,” Ridley says. “God forbid this world be run by people with emotional intelligence.”
It arrives as Ridley continues work towards an upcoming album exploring love, loss, rebirth and her own interpretation of the outlaw woman.
For Good Hours, we spoke with Ridley about Houston’s lasting influence, writing across perspectives, creative freedom and the different parts of herself finding their way into the music.
Lou Ridley on Houston, creative freedom and refusing to stay in one lane
You’re a Houston native making your name in Nashville. How much of that city is still in your sound?
I feel like any Texan knows our roots are deep. It exists in most things I do. The Houston music scene is so diverse, and I’m forever influenced by it!
The quote you gave us about “American Girl” is a lot — about being “a threat to an extremely weak system.” Where did that come from?
The patriarchy is on its last leg and sets everyone up to fail, not just women. A system that thrives on capitalism and oppression is bound and due to fail. And it needs to. Most humans are innately good, and keeping us in survival mode isn’t going to stick long-term. The consensus of being fed up is palpable.
You’ve written outside cuts for Bryan Andrews and Atlus. Does that side of your writing feel different from what ends up on a Lou Ridley record?
I don’t know that it feels different — for Atlus, I came into the session with the idea because I was going through the beginning stages of a breakup.
For someone like Bryan, I feel like I have the space to be angry in a way that isn’t received well when coming from a woman in our genre. Bryan makes room for us in a way that I’m incredibly grateful for. He is brave and unafraid.
Your catalog swings hard — the boot-stomping “Hoedown,” the sharp-tongued “Little Black Thong,” the haunting “Red Clay.” Is that range intentional, or just how you write?
Haha, I love that. Swings hard. All of these songs are the different parts of my psyche. All true artists are flexible; we shift, we adapt; we conduit. The biggest artists in the world ALL blend genres. “Sticking to a lane” is a corny industry idea. No one should tone down their complexity.
You’ve built a cult following largely off your visuals. What can people expect from the “American Girl” video on the 19th?
Without giving too much away, they can expect visually what I commit to lyrically.
Your upcoming album is being described as exploring love, loss, rebirth and the myth of the modern outlaw woman. What does that record want to say that the singles haven’t yet?
I think individually, the singles touch on parts of the theme. Sort of like a puzzle; I think only once it’s out will the full world be immersive. Or at least I hope so! The next single is soft and sweet, a side I do think I skipped over showing for a while. But we are here now!!
You were named one of Nashville’s Top 25 Artists to Watch in 2024, and you’ve got fans in artists like Maren Morris. Has that changed how you write, or just who’s listening?
What’s shifted my writing is therapy. Growing up. Just life over the last few years… and the people I’ve found that truly let me explore my artistry. Maren paved the way for women like me; the essence of what we’re both champions of has always been there for both of us.
It’s a commitment of mine, to myself, to leave the performative creation in the past. I once made everything from a place of wondering how I’d be perceived or trying to control it, and I was miserable… and unsuccessful! True creative freedom is not giving a fuck while caring deeply. I wish it for all of us. 😀
FAQ
Where is Lou Ridley from?
Lou Ridley is originally from Houston, Texas, and is now based in Nashville.
What is Lou Ridley’s latest single?
Her latest single is “American Girl,” which addresses womanhood, power and her perspective on contemporary American culture.
Who has Lou Ridley written songs for?
Ridley has discussed writing outside cuts for artists including Bryan Andrews and Atlus.
What is Lou Ridley’s upcoming album about?
Ridley describes the singles as pieces of a wider world touching on love, loss, rebirth and the idea of the modern outlaw woman.