“Classy, sassy, and a little smart-assy,” Alyssa Micaela’s superpower has always been leading with authenticity. But after years in Nashville’s music industry, her forthcoming album, The Hard Way (out 4/28), chronicles a true shift in the focus of her art, and her hopes for its outcome. “This album started because I finally got to a point where I quit seeking approval from the music industry, and I quit recording songs I felt would impress a label.” From that mindset comes an 11-song project that offers unabashedly honest, earnest storytelling, told from a soul truly at peace with the direction of her career… and life.

“I started writing songs I wanted to write… I had to really think, ‘what do I want to say?’ It took me three years to make, and although we did it ‘the hard way,’ we did it the right way, and I’m ready for the world to hear it.” 

Though music is now a way of life for the Odessa, Texas native, Micaela’s start in performing wasn’t by choice. “When I was in elementary school, I was painfully shy… My mom enrolled me in an after-school music program as a way to get me out of my shell.” The parental prodding didn’t stop there. “As I adjusted to performing with a group, my mom pushed me to try out for a solo—so I did. My music teacher at the time, Mrs. Keefer, was a  huge inspiration—and a big reason I sing today.” 

From there, the up-and-coming starlet’s voice naturally matured and slid into the country music world—a place she’s always felt she was meant to be. A chance encounter with hit songwriter Liz Rose via a family friend further set Micaela’s destiny in motion. “I remember feeling like Liz Rose wanting to meet with me was such a God thing. I was only 15 and didn’t know anything about writing songs yet. She said to me, ‘I have teenage girls reach out to me all the time, but for some reason I just knew I needed to meet you.’”  That meeting inspired a mentorship and, furthermore, a friendship—one that led to Micaela’s ultimate move to Nashville. “When I graduated from high school, I was torn… should I move to Austin and go to college, or take the chance and move to Nashville? Liz and I went and floated the river, and by the end of it, we decided I should move to Nashville after finishing school. But after my freshman year all I could think about was Nashville, and that’s when I knew I was ready to make my move.”

Shortly after moving to Nashville, Micaela officially signed with Liz Rose Music publishing, opening up a world of co-writing most girls only dream of—and doors many would have to kick down otherwise. “I met Liz when I was 15… I’m now 30. She’s stood by me this entire time. She’s the reason I’ve done all of this.” 

Spending the past seven years writing on Music Row, Micaela has evolved and grown immensely, mastering the art of siphoning life’s circumstances and experiences into potent and powerful (and oftentimes fun) lyricism, leaving the listener feeling they’ve been let in on a part of her others aren’t privy to. “When people listen to my music—whether they know more or they don’t—I want them to think, ‘damn, that girl seems really cool, I wanna be friends with her. I’d like to get a beer with her.’”

Enlisting the help of those that know her best, including fellow songwriters Lauren McLamb, Tori Tullier, and Chris Rafetto, she embarked on her next project—which, at the time, was an EP with a planned release of 2020. “Thank God we didn’t release these songs too early as an EP. The more I continued to write, the more I realized what I really was working toward was my debut album. There’s not a song on this project I hesitated over recording. Every single one is true to me and who I am, and the whole album tells my story.” From the upbeat, textured album opener and title track “The Hard Way,” to the piano driven, introspective closer “Jealous of the Birds,” the album chronicles an artist that’s found herself living the life she’s always dreamed of, and on her own terms.

“Saying I’m proud of this album is an understatement. This album is an evolution of my life and love story. It’s me.”