Getting to know Annika Catharina

Annika Catharina recently released (in October) a new single, Better Hands, following her You and Me EP released early in May 2025. Annika is a Canadian artist, and she combined her talents and stories with Parker Graye, Zach McPhee, Brettyn Rose, and Amanda Couture to complete the You and Me EP. As you could guess, each song is a reflection or a story in Annika’s past of a lost love needing closure and relationships that hold deep-rooted memories. I spoke with Annika about the EP release mid-summer and some of the details surrounding the songs.  “No matter how much you love a song, you’re hoping it hits other people the same”.

Annika Catharina, Laura Zeke Photography

Diving into the title track, we talked about You and Me first. Annika originally made a demo of the song while playing her guitar before collaborating with Parker Graye, Daniel Bottyan, and Garrett Ward. Annika said she sat on the song for quite a while before making it the EP's title track. You and Me tells the story of unforgettable love and moving on from it once it has ended. You and Me was released as the final track of the EP, the fastest song of the 5 to write and possibly the most personal.

What if I was released in late January and was the first big release for Annika Catharina. It is a solid, heartfelt country song, written with Brettyn Ritchot, Daniel Bottyan, Garrett Ward, and Parker Graye. What if I expanded her music reach. Annika said she enjoys playing What If I in her live set and loves the feedback it has brought her.

Annika has learned to trust her intuition and confidence, explaining the importance of “doing me and continue to be yourself,” and not shy away or get too comfortable in who you are in the moment, because you need to continually “learn and grow with each new release, stay fresh and enjoy the process”.

You And Me-Track List

You And Me

Bandit

What If I

Dishonest

Love And Hate

Annika talked about the story of a terrible accident she had as a young adult that completely changed her life and her perspective. While on a trip in Thailand, she was riding on a motorized scooter that seemed poorly maintained, and she crashed. Annika endured many surgeries, including facial and dental reconstruction. At the time, she anticipated it to be career-ending. Instead, she dug deeper and began a social media profile, publicizing herself, songs, and talents. Her voice wasn’t quieted; on the contrary, she became stronger for it. Confidently explaining “everything that has happened, brought me to who am I now.”

Thank you, Annika, for chatting with me In a Country Minute, it was a pleasure, congrats on the releases!

Keep up with Annika Catharina through the links below

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

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YouTube

Rachel Holt, a strong summer release, "How Dare Me"

Rachel Holt, Courtesy of Adkins Entertainment

A couple of months ago, I spoke with Rachel Holt about her summer projects and her recent release, How Dare Me. Rachel is a talented, up-and-coming singer and songwriter from Milan, Indiana, which boasts as home to

the Hoosiers movie set. After graduating from high school, Rachel moved to Nashville to pursue her music career. Coming from a bluegrass musical family, she has shifted slightly from her roots, expanding her talents to country music. Rachel grabbed the attention and now the guidance of singer, songwriter, and producer Chris Wallin. Chris Wallin is well known for hit songs with Toby Keith, Trace Adkins, and Kenny Chesney. When she performs near her hometown, her family members often support as her band.

How Dare Me debuted at the end of May and was written by Andy Skib, Dan Tyminski, and Tom Finchum, with production by Chris Wallin. The song conveys a message of empowerment, focusing on taking ownership of one's mistakes and engaging in self-reflection.

Rachel Holt Instagram

Rachel Holt TikTok

Thank you, Rachel, for your time chatting about your music and upcoming plans, In A Country Minute.

Off The Record Live Acoustic by Charly Reynolds

Charly Reynolds released a stripped-down version of her 2024 Off The Record album, Live Acoustic (Off The Record Live Acoustic), in March. Every two weeks, a song was released from the reimagined album. Charly admitted that during the overlap of promoting each song, it became somewhat mind-boggling. We agreed that the hard part of promoting music is keeping track of what is coming up versus what is already out.

The album was recorded in one day, expecting that recording it all in one day would be the easiest way to complete it. Halfway through, Charly realized it was a lot to accomplish in that short time frame, but her team completed the project as planned, and on most songs, it took only one or two takes. Reimagining the Off the Record Album in this way highlighted details in each song, bringing them to a deeper level.

Track List

Another Man Will

Off The Record

People Think

Shade of Blue

Love You Long

Freedom Ain't Free

Visiting Hours

Hurt People Hurt

Word on The Street

Somebody in Love

I Will Survive

Blame It On My Boots

Seventeen

Charly Reynolds enjoys playing in smaller venues, such as coffee shops and dive bars. She said she likes to give her audience a more intimate experience. Off The Record Live Acoustic gives you the feeling that you are sitting in a front row seat at those intimate shows. Charly has been touring with her friend, Belles Music, which she admitted makes traveling seem like a friend adventure as much as a working tour. Her fall tour is taking her to Europe before returning and heading to Texas. Follow her on her socials and website buttoned below to keep up.

Charly Reynolds Instagram

Charly Reynolds TikTok

Charly Reynolds Facebook

Kimberly Reynolds Weir and Charly Reynolds, courtesy of AristoMedia

Charly shared a surprise with me that has since been released.

Charly and her mom, Kimberly, sang a duet of Super Trouper by ABBA from the Mama Mia soundtrack.

Charly showed off her mom's skills as a drama teacher by also having her play a part in the music video.

Charly still had to remind her mom to relax, not pay attention to the cameras, and to just have fun. Being fans of the movie and its soundtrack inspired them to perform it, allowing them to enjoy that musical experience together.

Thank you, Charly Reynolds, for your time and for sharing your music with me In A Country Minute, it was a pleasure to talk to you!