Cece Coakley on Tennessee roots, touring, and being “Happy Adjacent”

SEPTEMBER 20TH 2023 | by EMMA SCHOORS

Photo by Neil Shukla

Cece Coakley’s sophomore EP, “Happy Adjacent,” captures the complexities of young adulthood, love, and the importance of becoming one’s own home.

The title track immediately “revealed itself as a standout,” and acted as a moment of clarity in an otherwise confusing phase of Coakley’s career. “I think it really encapsulates the emotion behind all these songs of feeling somewhere between happy or sad and confused on how to get all the way there, and was instantly the project name,” she says. “865” examines her complicated relationship with her hometown, and “My Friend” features Coakley’s favorite of the project’s lyrics: “You try to forget you can be on your own, and I love you most when you’re alone.”

We recently had the chance to sit down with Coakley to chat about her new EP, ongoing fall headlining tour, records she’s had on repeat, and more.

RAMBLE: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Cece! Before we get into your forthcoming EP and tour, we’d love to know some tracks or artists you’re currently spinning.

Cece: Thank y’all so much for having me, it is such a treat! Recently I can’t get enough of Billie Marten’s new record “Drop Cherries,” it is my go to listen right now. Every Andy Shauf album has also been on repeat because he is one of those songwriters I just keep coming back to feeling so inspired by. “90 in November” by Why Bonnie is a track I’ve also been loving lately. 

RAMBLE: Your fall tour begins Sep. 18 with support from Ethansroom and Caroline Culver! You’ve expressed that Ethan and Caroline are two of your favorite Nashville artists. How did the idea of touring together come up?

Cece: Ethan and Caroline are the best! Caroline was one of the first friends I met when I moved to Nashville a couple years ago, and she is one of those comfort people for me and her music makes me feel the same. I’ve known Ethan’s music longer than I’ve known him, and it's always such a treat to go from a fan to friends and get to appreciate someone from the sidelines like that. When it came time to pick support acts for tour it was a no brainer to ask some of my favorite artists who are also people I love to hang out with! 

RAMBLE: Happy Adjacent, your sophomore EP, is due for release on Sep. 15. When in the writing or recording process did you decide on the title?

Cece: “Happy Adjacent” was a song I wrote last winter that immediately revealed itself as a standout. The name rings so true for the phase I was in when I wrote these songs. The name “Happy Adjacent” felt new as an idea to me but also so relatable. I think it really encapsulates the emotion behind all these songs of feeling somewhere between happy or sad and confused on how to get all the way there and was instantly the project name. 

RAMBLE: You’ve described “865” as being about feeling stuck in a place, rather than a cycle or emotion. In what ways has your Tennessee roots influenced your sound and lyricism?

Cece: Growing up in Tennessee is a huge part of my identity in my music and in day to day life. I think growing up with country music is something I don’t take for granted, as those early country songs are some of the best songwriting inspirations and a great tool I’ve used in my writing. I think Tennessee also was a beautiful landscape to grow up in. My hometown, Knoxville, had a great teen indie music scene that made it super easy to get out there and try to sing and collaborate. Without those early open mics I sounded terrible at I don’t think I would be where I am today.

RAMBLE: What lyric from the EP best encapsulates this phase in your life and career?

Cece: A lyric from the project that has been a great reminder for this phase of life has been from a song called “My Friend:” “You try to forget you can be on your own, and I love you most when you’re alone.”  I wrote this song dealing with a period of isolation and feeling down on myself, and I wrote it as a reminder that I am my own best friend, aside from any career highs or lows all we have is ourself at the end of the day and that has to be enough.

RAMBLE: “Halfway” made its live debut long before arriving on streaming services. How has it been received by audiences so far?

Cece: “Halfway” has been one of my favorites to play live, because even before it was out on streaming I would teach people the hook of the chorus at shows and have them sing along, and that was also such a fun moment. People have told me that it has always stuck out as an earworm because of that which is always the highest compliment. 

RAMBLE: Which song from the EP was the most emotionally difficult to write, either because it brought up old wounds or opened new ones?

Cece: The title song “Happy Adjacent” had to be the easiest and hardest song to write. It came so natural in such a time of confusion about where my life was going, and who I was. I remember bringing the idea to the studio with my producer Jacob Munk, and he immediately understood where I was and helped me get to the conclusion that being close to happy is sometimes enough for the moment, and being happy adjacent is okay. This song picked me up when I was falling super far down, and will always be a special one for me. 

RAMBLE: What aspect of the Happy Adjacent tour are you most looking forward to?

Cece: I’m looking forward to hopping in the car with some of my best buds and seeing the world! The shows during tour are always such amazing memories, but usually the best moments happen in a Waffle House post show at 2am in the middle of nowhere when you're laughing so hard you're crying. I’m also looking forward to playing my first headline shows ever! I’ve opened up for so many artists, and I’m excited to see how different the vibe is when people are there to fully see you and know the songs. I cannot wait. 

Check out Cece’s new EP “Happy Adjacent” below & catch her on tour!