Jamie Rafferty is an artist whose songwriting is rooted in honest storytelling, vivid characters and a deep connection to place. Following the release of his debut single ‘Back At 25’, Jamie returns with ‘So I Can Let Her Go’,  a beautifully crafted Americana-tinged track written during his first trip to Nashville.

Ahead of the release of his debut EP ‘Detached Observations’ on 4th September, Jamie talks about the inspiration behind the song, the influence of his Scottish upbringing, the artists who shaped him, and his ambitions for the future.

Q: You’ve just released the second single from your upcoming EP, tell us about “So I Can Let Her Go” and the meaning behind it?

A: I wrote “So I Can Let Her Go” on my first trip to Nashville and it was the first time I met and wrote with Elliott Blaufuss. I came up with the original verse melody the night before flying out. The lyrics and melody just came from nowhere and I didn't think much of it until the session a couple of days later, so it was the freshest thing in my head to work on with Elliott.

I like to think of this song as the opposite of “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. Dolly begged Jolene not to take her man, but this song is someone begging someone else to take their woman away from them so they can begin to move on.

Q: The new single has a more Americana sound to it than your debut single “Back At 25” — tell us what was the musical inspiration behind it and did writing it in Nashville have a big impact?

A: Yeah, being in Nashville was really the main inspiration behind the song. Obviously it’s known for its songwriting and country music, so some of my favourite writers have had huge connections to the city. John Prine, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton are some of them, and they could all write songs that told stories and took you on a bit of a journey, so I really wanted to try and lean into that with this song.

Q: You were brought up in Scotland, which has a huge music scene — how did growing up in Croy, Scotland impact your songwriting?

A: It’s a small village, so with that comes a slightly different mentality and outlook on things. I think there’s a sense of belonging that comes from it as well. All of this definitely finds a way into the songs, probably more than I’m aware of.

Q: Which artists inspired you to start writing, singing and performing?

A: Like most people who pick up a guitar in the UK, Oasis are usually at the top of the list for being inspired to do so, and I’m no different. I was only 11 when they split up, but seeing Noel Gallagher on his first solo tour when I was 14 was definitely the biggest moment for me.

Since then there are so many other artists like Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer as well. I think they are my big three.

Q: Tell us about your debut EP ‘Detached Observations’ that’s coming out on 4th September and the creative process behind it.

A: This EP has been written and recorded over the course of three or four years in a few very different places. I think because it was recorded over a period of years, it allowed me to not get caught up in any one specific style or genre and has given the EP a bit of an eclectic feel, but one that still ties together well.

My writing and taste have changed slightly over this period as well, which adds to that. All of this allowed the whole project to naturally come together.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve had?

A: To get out and play music as much as possible. I’ve learned so much from being in front of every kind of audience you can think of. You don’t realise how valuable that experience is until you really need it, and that moment when you need it definitely comes.

Q: What would you like to achieve by the end of 2026?

A: To sell out my tour in September would be really nice. I’ve never been on a headline tour before, so to do that off the back of my debut EP would be unreal.

Q: If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

A: This is always a hard one to answer because I have so many I’d like to record with. It genuinely changes every day. Today I would have to say Zach Bryan — his collaborations on his albums are always brilliant.

Q: Summarise your music in three words.

A: Storytelling, melodic, indie-rock.

Q: Where can we come and see you play live?

A: My tour in September will take me to the following cities:

10 Sep — The Waiting Room, London
11 Sep — YES, Manchester
12 Sep — The Garage Attic, Glasgow

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.