Courtesy

After giving a career in theater and comedy a shot in New York City and Austin, Texas-born Sunny Sweeney returned to her artistic home: country music.

Sweeney made the switch in 2004, and has been on a roll since. She released her first album, Heartbreakers Hall of Fame, in 2007. Her signature twang garnered her the title, 2008 newcomer of the year at the Gruene with Envy Awards. She spoke with 210SA before her Aug. 29 show at Floores Country Store.

To pursue music, you had to learn to play the guitar fairly recently, right?

August of 2004.

Was learning to play the instrument as an adult difficult?

Not really. I got a guitar two weeks before my first gig. So, I just kind of picked it up really fast.

Do you think it was more difficult to break into the Texas country circuit as a woman?

There’s definitely less of us. You can look at it either way. It makes you stick out either in a bad way or a good way. ..... I’m not going to pull the girl card and be like, “Oh, my god, it’s so hard being a girl.” But it is different ..... especially in the Texas music scene. ..... It’s male-dominated. It could be a good thing. I look at it like that. I’m one of a few girls rather than one of a million guys.

Are any of the songs off Heartbreaker’s particularly close to your heart?

“East Texas Pines.”..... It’s just fun and upbeat.

On the album, you’ve mixed originals with covers such as “16th Avenue,” which was previously performed by Lacy J. Dalton. How do you decide which songs you’re going to cover?

May the best song win. ..... It sounds funny. It’s just very truthful. I always think the best song, I don’t care if I wrote it or you wrote it or whatever.

You’ve also got a cover of Jim Lauderdale’s “Please Be San Antone” on there. We have to ask what made you pick this song?

It’s a great song. ..... Literally, the first time I heard it I said, “I’m going to record that.” Some songs like that stick out immediately.

Will you be singing “Please Be San Antone” when you come this way?

Oh, yeah.

Jennifer Lloyd | 210SA