Terra Renae wanted a polite way to say “F U.” The result was “Ignite Me,” a song powered by the sort of spite she’s happy to admit can be motivating. It’s a useful introduction to the Louisville artist’s second album, Every Part of Me, where she gives herself permission to be a little less guarded and a lot less concerned with how she might be perceived.
That freedom took some getting used to. Coming from a professional background in medicine, Terra would question whether a lyric was too bold or too risqué. On this record, she stopped letting those doubts have the final say. Across seven tracks blending soul-pop, R&B and darker pop sounds, she explores confidence, vulnerability and the pleasure of moving on. “Best Revenge” leaves someone else’s opinion behind, while “Slightly Faded” survived plenty of second thoughts because the writing felt too natural to abandon. The perfectionist is still very much in the room, though.
Terra laughs about the internal struggle between analysing every tiny production detail and simply turning up the speakers. Touring with mentor Macy Gray helped loosen that grip. Performing night after night, including across Europe, taught her how much happens beyond hitting the right notes: the audience needs to feel you’re there with them.
In her 18 Questions interview with 1883, Terra talks about letting the provocative lyrics stay, learning when to put the work down, and why becoming more open doesn’t mean she’s dropped her guard entirely. New friends may still face a background check and a 90-day probationary period.
1. What’s the first thing you usually do when you wake up in the morning?
Coffee first thing, before my eyes even adjust to light, is a non-negotiable. It’s become more of a ritual at this point in my life. I love starting the day slow, before the sun comes up, quiet and in the dark. It’s my “me” time.
2. What’s one thing you can’t live without right now?
My headphones. I spend so much time listening to unfinished songs, new ideas, and tiny production changes that they’ve practically become an extension of me. Sometimes I forget that music is supposed to be enjoyed without analyzing every little detail.
3. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Don’t forget to live.” One of my mentors, dear friends, and co-writers, Lauren Christy, once told me, “In order to write, you must live. So don’t forget to live.”
That really stayed with me. It’s so easy to get caught up in constantly doing more, creating more, and trying to be more, especially in the music industry. I loved this piece of advice because it served as a reminder to stay present and enjoy being a human with experiences. And she’s absolutely right. The best inspiration comes from LIVING.
4. If you could have dinner with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Elton John. I’ve always admired how he can be completely larger than life while writing songs that feel incredibly intimate. I’d love to hear his stories about songwriting, fashion, fame, and everything in between. Although I’d probably spend half the dinner asking about his outfits.
5. What’s a song you wish you had written yourself?
“The Scientist” by Coldplay. This is a song I could never and will never get sick of. It still evokes so much emotion within me after two decades of listening to it. It is beautifully written both lyrically and sonically. It doesn’t beg for your attention, yet it finds a way of grabbing you and doesn’t let go. That song has resonated with me across so many chapters of my life. That song is exactly what music is supposed to be, healing and therapy.
6. When you’re not making music, what’s your favourite way to completely switch off?
A good meal, a jalapeño margarita or espresso martini, yoga and absolutely no conversation about the “to-do” list. I love music, but sometimes I need a few hours where nobody asks me what I think of a mix, a new beat, or a song concept.
7. What’s a place you’ve visited that completely changed your perspective?
Eastern Europe really stayed with me. Growing up in Kentucky, surrounded by rolling bluegrass fields and horse farms, the architecture, landscapes, and cuisine across the ocean felt like an entirely different world. But what struck me most while touring through places like Latvia and Lithuania was how deeply people connected with the music, even though we came from completely different backgrounds. It reminded me how much we have in common emotionally, regardless of the language we speak, where we grew up, or even what high school we went to. Music has this incredible way of making all those differences feel completely irrelevant.
8. If you could go back and tell your younger self one thing before releasing your first record, what would it be?
Don’t spend so much time being haunted by the past and worrying about the future that you miss what’s happening right in front of you. Give yourself permission to enjoy the moment. One day, you’ll look back and realize those were the moments you were working so hard for all along. Maybe I’ll write a song about this.
9. You’ve said you’re no longer trying to fit in. What’s something you allowed onto Every Part of Me that you would have talked yourself out of on your debut?
Probably being a little more provocative. I used to worry about how certain lyrics might be perceived, especially coming from a professional background in medicine. There was always this little voice asking whether something was too bold or too risqué.
This time, I stopped letting that voice make all the decisions. Not every song needs to be polite, and not every side of me needs to fit someone’s expectations.
10. The album makes room for versions of you that don’t always agree with each other. Which two sides of yourself had the biggest argument while you were making it?
The perfectionist and the girl who just wants to have fun! One of them wants to analyze every lyric, every vocal, and every tiny production detail. The other one wants to turn up the speakers, dance around the room, and release the song already.
Unfortunately, the perfectionist usually gets the final word. We’re working on that.
11. “Wild Again” opens the record. What does being wild mean to you now, and when did you last feel it outside a recording studio?
Being wild means being completely uninhibited, unfiltered, and free to be yourself. I feel that on stage, dancing at home, and on the occasional Saturday night out with my friends and/or husband 🙂
12. “Best Revenge” is a bold title. When you wrote it, was there someone you hoped would hear it, or someone you were finally ready to stop thinking about?
I think we’ve all had moments when we secretly wanted someone to see how well we’re doing without them.
But the more I worked on that song, the more I realized that the best revenge isn’t really about the other person at all. It’s reaching a point where their opinion no longer has any influence over your happiness. It’s a celebration of moving on with your life.
Although I won’t pretend there’s never been a tiny part of me that hoped a certain person or persons might hear it 😉
13. With “Manifest It,” where do you draw the line between believing in yourself and putting pressure on yourself to make everything happen?
That’s a difficult line for me because I’m naturally a Type A person. I love setting goals, writing them in my color-coded planner, and working toward something. But I’ve also learned that you can become so obsessed with the next milestone that you forget to enjoy what’s happening right now.
Manifesting is about believing it’s possible and then doing the work to get closer to that goal. It shouldn’t mean punishing yourself every time life doesn’t follow your schedule.
14. Desire has a place on this album alongside healing and vulnerability. What did writing “Ignite Me” let you say that you might struggle to say directly to someone?
I laugh when I describe “Ignite Me” as the polite way of saying “F U.” I intentionally wanted a classy, sassy, but polite “F U” song and that’s exactly what we created. It’s a motivational song fueled by a little spite, which we can all relate to.
15. You’ve described this as your most honest work. Was there a lyric you nearly changed because someone who knows you would understand exactly what it meant?
The entirety of “Slightly Faded” was continuously re-reviewed. We knew it was such a controversial topic, but we had so much fun writing it we just couldn’t ignore the ease of the flow. The words just worked. Sometimes you just have to let the art be the art.
16. After years of working with Macy Gray, what have you learned from her that you only understood once you were standing in front of an audience yourself?
You can rehearse endlessly, which we certainly did before our tour, and get every note right, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve connected with anyone. When you’re onstage, people respond to the energy and honesty you bring into the room, not just how perfectly you sing a song.
I think I only fully understood what Macy was trying to teach me once I started experiencing that connection myself. That was a big reason she encouraged us to join her on an extended European tour. She knew there were things I could never learn in a rehearsal room. You have to get out there, meet your audience, feel their energy, and learn how to connect with them.
Sometimes a great performance isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. And I’ve learned that becoming road-tested is a real thing! There’s a confidence you develop from performing night after night that no amount of rehearsing can give you.
17. You worked with several accomplished writers and producers on this record. Can you remember a moment when you had to stand your ground because an idea sounded good but didn’t sound like you?
I am always open to new ideas and trying something unexpected out. We’ve experimented a lot in the studio with my voice, lyrics, and sounds. There is a ton of collaboration to get to the final version of the song, and even more consideration when it comes to removing something I can’t stand completely behind. I am very grateful to have a team that is respectful of my wishes and what I want to represent. I try to stick to my gut, and if something doesn’t feel right, I just don’t do it.
18. Every Part of Me ends with its title track. What’s one part of yourself you’re still learning to accept, even after making an album about embracing all of them?
Probably the part of me that still has a hard time letting my guard down. Over the years, I’ve gotten pretty good at protecting myself. Maybe a little too good.
I’m learning that embracing every part of myself also means accepting the parts that are a little scared to be vulnerable. Opening myself up doesn’t always mean I’m setting myself up to get hurt. Sometimes people really do have good intentions. Although my guard still insists on a background check, three references, and a 90-day probationary period before we can be friends.
Every Part of Me is out now, follow via @terra.renae
