Grace West, the runner-up of The Voice Season 23, is experiencing a dream come true with her debut single, “90’s Country Song,” featuring country music legend Pam Tillis.
West first captured the spotlight with a standout performance of Pam Tillis’ 1991 hit “Maybe It Was Memphis,” which earned her a spot on Team Blake. So when the time came to find a collaborator for her first single, which pays homage to ’90s country hits like Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” and The Chicks’ “Wide Open Spaces,” Tillis was the natural choice.
Taking a chance, the 20-year-old singer reached out to the country veteran with a message. “It was a shot in the dark, but to my surprise, Pam not only read my message but responded!”
Waking up to that notification was surreal for West. “Before I knew it, we were sharing ideas for the vocals back and forth!” she says, noting the nerve-wracking but rewarding experience.
Tillis, now 66, explains why she agreed to the collaboration: “First of all, I love supporting young artists, especially young female artists, because it seems to be an uphill battle for them these days,” “Plus, I really love singing harmonies.”
For West, working with Tillis, whose song “Maybe It Was Memphis” opened many doors for her, was a surreal experience. “Pam has been incredibly gracious and kind to me,” she says. “She is such a genuine, incredible person I never thought I’d get the chance to meet, let alone work with! I have been a fan and have looked up to her for such a long time. Getting the opportunity to make music with her is something I couldn’t have dreamed of.”
Being in the studio with Tillis, who lent her voice to “90’s Country Song,” was an absolute treat for West. “Pam is truly a class act,” . “She has this amazing ability to come up with ideas on the fly, and her professionalism and grace are incredibly inspiring. The whole thing was a once-in-a-lifetime learning moment, being able to see how someone with so much experience and success works and goes through the process of creating.”
“90’s Country Song,” produced by Seth Mosley and co-written by Mosley, Jenn Schott, and J. T. Harding, marks a significant milestone for West as she steps into the country music scene.
