Stacy Antonel, the artist formerly known as Ginger Cowgirl, has recently independently released a new LP titled “Always the Outsider.” Moving her musical dial a tad from Country to Americana, it’s a record packed full of exquisite and emotional singing and songwriting layered over some of the loveliest musical arrangements Music City has heard this year.

Like me, Stacy loves the sweet sound of the pedal steel and you can hear Doug Pettibone play his heart out on the record’s first single, and my personal favorite, Planetary Heartache. (Message to Stacy: Steel guitar is also my musical medicine, and I can even tell you where the great Lloyd Green eats lunch every day!)

Thanks, Stacy, for this fine record and for visiting 11 Questions. I can’t wait to hear these songs live and I’ve already added you to my AmericanaFest schedule (Riverside Revival on September 14). Before that, you can see Stacy on August 20 at 10am for Von Elrod’s Beer Hall & Kitchen’s “Bluegrass Brunch.”

Where are you from originally, when did you move to Nashville and why?

I’m from San Diego, CA, and I moved to Nashville in October of 2017. In San Diego, I was singing professionally in cover bands, but there wasn’t much of a scene for original music in the Americana/Country vein. I knew I wanted to pursue being my own artist, and I had to make a drastic change to force myself out of my comfort zone.

What are the first and the last records you bought, and where did you buy them? Were they CD, vinyl or digital?

The first record I bought was Ace of Base’s The Sign on CD. The last record is Nathan Kalish’s Songs for Nobody, also a CD.

First and last live concerts that you’ve seen?

My first concert was Jewel. My last concert was Erinn Peet Lukes five nights in a row because we went on tour together!

Whose star should be added to the Music City Walk of Fame? 

Charley Pride and Lloyd Green, one of the best steel players of all time. Together they made one of my favorite albums, Live at Panther Hall.

Where do you go in Nashville for coffee and pizza?

I spend a lot of time at Retrograde on Dickerson, although Crema on Hermitage is a close second. Five Points Pizza was my late-night pizza spot pre-pandemic, but I work at East Nashville Beer Works these days, so I eat a ton of their pizza.

What’s your favorite record to ever come out of Nashville?

Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde.

Where’s the best place to eat late night after a show?

Duke’s. Which is delicious, but Nashville really needs some more late-night options.

The Bluebird calls and asks you to host an “In the Round.” Pick three local songwriters to join you.

Erinn Peet Lukes, Nick Crook, and Rochelle Riser.

What are your favorite music venues to play in town?

The Bowery Vault, Dee’s and The 5 Spot.

Name a musician who you’d like to see move here.

Phoebe Bridgers.

Finally, what’s in your musical future?

Touring, touring, and more touring! It’s basically all I want to do. I’m in California in June, Colorado in July, and North Carolina in August. Between tours, I also need to schedule some downtime to write a new record.