Editor’s note: Q&A has been edited for length or clarity.

iHC: Do you have a favorite part about “Keep It Safe,” or a favorite lyric that stands out to you the most?

Caroline Jones: …We really tried to go 90s with (the production) and tip our hat to some of those 90s women that we love. In terms of a lyric, gosh, I have a lot of favorite parts. But I think my favorite lyric is probably, ‘this love story's never been told.’ Just the idea that when you're falling in love, you have to remember, I'm writing this story, I'm the author of this chapter, and so it's my job to write that in the way that I want to be. …I also love, ‘you don't wanna miss the magic, it's so rare to have it.’ Because I think when you're falling in love, it's such an exciting, indescribable feeling that sometimes you forget. How many times in your life do you really get to fall in love, and you forget to enjoy it because you're so busy thinking, ‘does this person like me? Is this the one?’

iHC: For people who might not be familiar with your music yet, how would you describe what your sound and what your style is like? What can listeners expect from your new single and your upcoming album?

CJ: That's a really good question. I have a lot of different influences, but I would say I'm pretty country-pop. My primary influence is the fact that I play a bunch of different instruments…so I'm always thinking about the music that I make from a musical standpoint, from an instrumental standpoint, and from a production standpoint being a player and a producer. And also, Alyssa's a producer and a player as well. So, this song's very musical. I would say my sound is country-pop, but with a very authentic twist of musicianship, and a lot of thought behind the instrumentation. It kind of has that rootsy twist to it.

iHC: Your current single, “Come In (But Don’t Make Yourself Comfortable),” has gotten really popular, including on TikTok. How would you say your new music might be similar or different from what we’ve heard so far?

CJ: I think it's just an evolution. ‘Come In’ is a very sassy, stomper of a song and I'm so proud of that. I would say this next music is a continuation of that cleverness and that sass and that…instrumental kind of complexity and high fine nature to the production. But I have a lot of different influences. …It, too [Jones’ forthcoming record], kind of runs the gamut, and it's definitely my best work yet.

iHC: What were some of your biggest inspirations in creating this album?

CJ: That's a really good question. I'm always trying to fuse seemingly disparate artists. I mean, I have artists that range in all different genres. Probably my biggest heroes are Vince Gill and Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, these are guys in country who played lead instruments and were musicians as well as producers…songwriters and singers, and that's what I try to model myself after. And obviously Zac Brown, my other boss, is that way, too. And so I model myself after those guys who are in the musicianship, and that craft. But I also love Coldplay. I love this band called The War on Drugs. I love some new pop stuff. I love Lizzie McAlpine, I love singer-songwriters, so I'm always trying to fuse all those elements. I think they naturally find their way into my music.

iHC: Of course, many fans also know you now that you’ve officially joined Zac Brown Band! You’ve played with them before (including on the “Out In The Middle Tour”), but what has it been like to become an official member of the band?

CJ: It’s been such a joy and an honor for me, Kelly. It's a dream. I always say it's a dream that I never would've thought to have dreamed. I obviously opened for them, and I really owe the career that I have to Zac. I owe it to touring, and Zac was the first person to take me on tour. You know, he opened the door for me to tour with Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and the Eagles, and all these incredible superstar heroes and mentors that I've gotten to open up for. And then, to actually be invited into the Zac Brown Band, into their inner circle, onto their stage, it's just the honor of my career so far... It's kind of like the best of all worlds. You know, it's really the dream scenario to be a sideman in a band of Zac Brown Band's caliber and to soak up that knowledge, that experience, that musicianship, that mentorship. I mean, they're all like older brothers to me at this point. And then, to be able to continue to push myself as an artist, to challenge myself to write and sing and play and produce the music that's in my heart, you know, that I'm compelled to make. It's the dream scenario. It really is. And I'm so lucky and I love what I do, so the busier I am happier I am.

iHC: You’re about to hit the road on Zac Brown Band’s “From The Fire Tour,” in addition to headlining C2C: Country To Country and other performances (with the group and solo). What are some of the things you’re looking forward to most about kicking off tour dates?

CJ: It's so exciting. This will be my third tour as an official member of their band. …And I'm really eager to especially go to Europe and Australia. That is gonna be so incredible. What an amazing experience and opportunity, and opportunity to connect with the fans over there. And I'm also playing my own sets on those festivals as well as playing the Zac Brown Band. And then, add into the mix that I'm half Australian — my mom is Australian — so I get to go to the motherland, the literal motherland, for the first time in like 20 years. And I'm just so excited.

iHC: What are some of your favorite parts about getting to perform live, especially after working so hard on your music in the studio? What’s it like to finally share that with the fans in person?

CJ: It's so special, and I would say it's really — it’s what everything else is for, you know? …It means the world and it means even more to be selling out dates of my own now, slowly, in clubs and headlining venues for the first time. I mean, I've been dreaming of that for years. …(It’s) extremely exciting for me and for the team that believes so much in me.

Songwriters for Southwest Florida