Claudia Buckley's father Jimmy is the first person she plays new music for.
The young country music star admitted that it took a while to develop her own sound while making it in the industry.
She added that when you’re working for yourself and you’re your own boss, it’s your responsibility to make sure everyone gets paid and everybody is happy.
Read more: Claudia Buckley on being a 'self-confessed workaholic' and balancing life between Galway and Tyrone
Read more: Jimmy Buckley met wife Clarice on Ryanair flight - he opens up about family life with three kids
Claudia told RSVP Country: "I always send my music over to him and he will reply when he has time. He’s so busy.
"He’ll always be honest with what he thinks. I’m always conscious about playing my new stuff for people, I want it to be perfect before anyone else hears it.
"He’ll tell me if it wasn’t my best and equally he’ll say if he loves it. I need that honesty."
Her dad Jimmy is one third of The Three Amigos, working with Patrick Feeney and Robert Mizzell, and she does something similar with other acts herself.
She said: "I’m doing a show at the minute called A Night at the Opry with Johnny Brady and John Hogan. It’s enjoyable to work on that alongside my own stuff.
"We’re touring into next year and moving onto even bigger venues. It’s nice to have a break from your own tours and music and to work with other people.
"We hope to bring it to Scotland and England."
Claudia likes the company and the camaraderie of collaborating with others.
She said: "No matter where we go I’m always seen as the baby of the group, I’m only 26. I’m working with guys who are older than me and I’m most likely always the only woman.
"Everyone has different opinions, but I’ve been doing this for long enough and I know when to sit back and listen and take it all in.
"When you’re working for yourself and you’re your own boss, it’s your responsibility to make sure everyone gets paid and everybody is happy. That comes with a lot of responsibility and pressure.
"You’re not just thinking about the fans coming in that night, which should be your only concern, you’re thinking about the band, the sound man and the venue promoters.
"Working with Johnny and John on the Opry show is a release because I’m sharing the stage with them."
Claudia deals with the pressure of having a band and having to pay people by taking it on the chin.
She said: "You have to trust that you’re trying your best and, thankfully, I've got amazing people working in my band with me.
"The lads are almost like family and it’s like having five dads on stage. They look after me and they cut me some slack if we’re under pressure.
"They understand I’m trying my best. My dad always tells me to ease up on myself because I’m trying my very best. You can forget to look afterwards.
"I’ll always be happy once the people coming in the door are happy."
Claudia loves all types of music, but country will always be her favourite.
She said: "As a singer, I will try to sing anything and I listen to lots of different types of music. But the sound I identify most with is country.
"It doesn’t matter if you gave me a Celine Dion song, it would still sound country if I was performing it. It’s the sound I grew up listening to.
"I can’t get away from it, and I don’t want to get away from it. I’m very comfortable with my sound and what I do"
Is it hard to get radio play these days? "I send out my music to all of the country music stations and I think I’ve built up a very particular style of music.
"My sound is very traditional, and you’re bound to hear a steel guitar, a fiddle and layered harmonies. The DJs know what they’re getting from me when I send them music.
"I’ve built up a good rapport with them and they always give my music a chance. I’ll keep sending my tracks in."
For Claudia, she doesn't want to release something that isn’t up to speed.
She said: "Definitely! I’m my own toughest critic and I’m hard on myself. I don’t want it to be perfect for me, I want it to be perfect for my fans.
"I want to make sure what I’m putting out there is stuff they like. They will feel I’m listening to them and they know I am adhering to what they want."
Claudia comes from Galway and she is very proud of her countryside upbringing.
She said: "I’m as country as they come. I’m a country girl at heart and I always will be. You can take the girl out of the country… My mam and dad have raised me with great manners. I’m shy, but I’m friendly."
Claudia’s new album In Between Dances is available to buy and stream now
Her new single Walkin’, Talkin’, Cryin’, Barely Beatin’ Broken Heart is on sale now
Read the full interview with Claudia Buckley and see all of the fabulous pictures in this issue of RSVP Country - on shelves now
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