MusicRowPics: Leigh Nash

Leigh Nash performs for MusicRow staffers.

Leigh Nash‘s sweet voice is familiar to anyone who grew up on the music of Sixpence None The Richer. As lead singer for the group, Nash’s voice was a staple on pop radio in the late ’90s with songs like “Kiss Me” and “There She Goes.” Now, 16 years after her first radio prominence, Nash has released a batch of songs inspired by her love of traditional country music.

Nash’s first independent country album, The State I’m In, released in September. The 12-track project was produced by The Raconteurs member Brendan Benson.

“I’ve talked about making this record for 20 years. It took every minute of the last 20 years to complete, but it’s worth it,” said the singer. She recalled growing up in Texas, and learning from the music of artists such as Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline.

Nash visited the MusicRow offices to give a three-song acoustic snippet of the album. She offered renditions of ”Cool Heart,” “Tell Me Now, Tennessee,” and “Somebody’s Yesterday,” a co-write with longtime radio personality and songwriter Gerry House.

“We wrote this after driving home from Texas. I’ve been here 19 years, and I moved from Texas when I was 19, so I’m at that point where I’ve spent as much time here as I did in Texas,” said Nash, explaining how the drive to Texas to Tennessee inspired the song “Tell Me Now, Tennessee.”

Sixpence parted ways in 2004, after which Nash released a series of solo albums, including 2006’s pop collection Blue on Blue, 2007’s Fauxliage, and 2011’s Hymns and Sacred Songs. Nash will showcase songs from the new project during her show at Nashville’s City Winery on Oct. 14.

Leigh Nash with MusicRow staffers.