Liddy Clark Brings New Life To Her Song ‘Hit & Run’

After turning heads with her emotional song “Shot Down (Stand Up)” in 2018, Liddy Clark is preparing to release a new EP, and she’s giving fans a taste of what’s to come with a reimagined version of her previous single, “Hit & Run.”

The re-released track, which follows Clark’s hard-country anthem, “Friendly Fire,” shows her taking more of a pop direction in comparison to her earlier releases. Like her previous cuts, though, “Hit & Run” finds Clark maintaining a commitment to writing storylines that fit in the same vein as traditional country songs.

“With every song that I put out, I’m trying to create a unique message,” Clark told Country Now. “I’m trying to put together another puzzle piece of who I am as a singer, songwriter and artist.”

Clark’s latest offering comes after many years of hard work and dedication. Born in Texas and raised in Florida, she began playing guitar at the tender age of 12. She has since shared the stage with some of country music’s biggest stars including, Chris Stapleton, Sara Evans, Jake Owen and Scotty McCreery.

Clark caught up with Country Now to chat about the reimagined “Hit & Run,” her songwriting and her plans for the future.

Read on for our exclusive Q&A with Liddy Clark.

Melinda Lorge: Why did you decide to re-release “Hit & Run”?

Liddy Clark: I recently started working on a new full-length project with a new producer named Mark Siegel. While working on these new songs, I wanted to incorporate “Hit & Run” into the mix. This is also the version we want to use for the upcoming music video.

Lorge: Can we expect “Hit & Run” to be featured on your upcoming EP?

Clark: I believe so! We’re still working out the final details, but an EP is definitely coming next year. I would love for this version of “Hit & Run” to be on it.

Lorge: Why did you choose this reimagined version as the follow up to “Friendly Fire”?

Clark: Both “Friendly Fire” and “Hit & Run” are important tracks to highlight my songwriting journey – “Hit & Run,” being one of my older favorite tracks and “Friendly Fire,” being one of the first solely written songs I’ve completed. I wanted to release “Hit & Run” again not necessarily to erase the original version of “Hit & Run,” but to signify the next chapter musically that I’ll be heading toward next year.

Lorge: You mentioned solely writing “Friendly Fire.” Is it easier for you to write alone or with other co-writers? 

Clark: I learned how to write songs by co-writing first, and then I transitioned into writing songs by myself. I was writing songs with my vocal coach at age 13, but “Friendly Fire” is one of the first songs I’ve written by myself. At this point, I do about 50/50 co-writing and then also solo writing. I do like the solo writing because I can take my time with it, and figure out exactly what I want to say.

Lorge: Speaking of “Friendly Fire.” Can you tell us the inspiration behind that song?

Clark: I was driving home, and I found out that somebody I had been close with for a while, like a few years, had been talking about me behind my back and had been spreading false information. They were still being nice to me to my face and pretending like everything was fine. I was immediately, completely, turned off by this. And, as soon as I came home, I got the idea for “Friendly Fire,” and I wrote it in 30 minutes because I was very, very motivated.

Lorge: Before your two recent singles, you released “Shot Down (Stand Up)” in response to the tragic Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting. That song shares an incredibly powerful message lyrically. Why was it important for you to be that voice?

Clark: I wanted to put it out, and I wanted to have other people hear it. I don’t know if there is ever going to be a song as special to me as “Shot Down (Stand Up).” I think it’s important that people stand up for what they believe in. I think it’s important that people don’t just stand on the sidelines because they’re afraid of saying something, or don’t want to turn people off. If you don’t say anything and sit on the sidelines, that’s not a good use of your platform, but that is my personal opinion. I want to be someone who uses their platform to speak out about issues and injustices that I believe are happening in the United States currently.

Lorge: Let’s switch gears. You’re currently going to school in California. How do you find a balance between school and music?

Clark: I’m a junior at USC (University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music) right now, and it’s insane. It’s like, full-time student, full-time artist and a part-time job. It’s a lot. I like planning and scheduling things into my calendar to know exactly what I’m going to be doing each day. That’s helpful because I’m able to flip a switch in my brain from being a student to being an artist. I’m studying music business, and a lot of my friends who are in the program have similar things happening with them. Everyone is involved with things outside of school so it’s good to be around people who are just as passionate about the topics that I care about.

Lorge: How were you introduced to music, and what made you want to pursue music full-time?

Clark: I started when I was 7. I moved from Texas to Florida because my dad got a job, but my entire family was in Texas. My grandpa was doing a genealogy project, and she found out that we were very distantly related to Pocahontas. Me, being a 7-year-old, who was completely obsessed with Disney movies, was so amazed by the fact. So, I decided I wanted to sing “Colors Of The Wind” at my school talent show. I did that and ended up winning a second-grade award. I started taking vocal lessons and doing musical theatre after that, and then I learned guitar. So it just snowballed into what it is now.

Lorge: Do you plan on moving to Nashville after college?

Clark: It’s funny because I was just in Nashville. I flew in during the morning, and I flew out at night. I’m pretty used to the long flights at this point. I spend a lot of time in Nashville, and in the future, after graduation, I do plan on moving to Nashville. Something I’m going to miss incredibly about California is all of the street taco stands! There’s just nothing like it. It’s so good. I really want to bring my dog with me when I move to Nashville, I was there this summer with my dog, and I think that was good for me. Dogs are very therapeutic.

Lorge: What are some benchmarks or goals you’re planning to reach in the next few years? 

Clark: Hopefully, I’ll be reaching these goals, but you can’t just will it into the future. If I could, I would (laughs). But, some of the things I do want to accomplish over the next few years include putting out a full-length album, continue putting out stuff on social media, and eventually, go on tour and visit more cities. I love traveling and meeting new people. I’ll be going back into the studio soon, and getting into the groove of producing new songs, and getting those recorded. In 2020 my new music video and single will be out.

For more with Liddy Clark, visit her official website.