watch Amanda Shires on The Pinfield Sessions Here
It’s another unforgettable moment inside The Pinfield Sessions at The SoCal Sound, and this time GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Amanda Shires joins Matt Pinfield to talk about her new album Nobody’s Girl. The conversation flows like an intimate catch-up between two lifelong music lovers — touching on her Texas roots, her journey toward independence, and the strength it takes to rebuild through art.
Finding Freedom in Nobody’s Girl
Nobody’s Girl marks the eight studio album for Amanda Shires and it feels like both a renewal and a declaration. Shires tapped long time collaborator Lawrence Rothmen (who also produced Take It Like a Man) This record is deeply personal – a reflection of identity, resilience, and self-ownership.
“You know, for a long time, I was part of a partnership, and I was a wife and, side man. And it's a kind of a declaration that I belong to my own self.” Amanda goes on to explain “Now, it's not really meant to be a lonely title. Yeah, I belong to myself now.”
This album has been labeled a “divorce album” however Shires describes Nobody’s Girl as an album about the aftermath – the emotions and what comes after heartbreak, when you can find your grounding again. “I was just selfishly writing for myself,” she explained. “I used it to get through the lowest feelings of my life and as a way to start rebuilding.”
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Roots in Lubbock and Mineral Wells, Texas
Amanda Shires split her childhood between Lubbock and Mineral Hills, Texas. This is where her dad bought her a $60 pawn-shop fiddle while shopping for a hunting knife- a decision that would change her life forever.
“We weren’t a family of any means,” Shires said. “But I convinced him that I needed it, and he made me swear I’d learn to play.”
Matt Pinfield – our fellow music historian and story teller – recalled his own fasciation with Buddy Holly and the rich musical legacy from Lubbock. Shires smiled, describing the Buddy Holly Museum and nearby Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico: “You’ve got to visit,” she urged.
The Highwomen and the Power of Representation
Amanda shires has been championing women in music, and while in 2016 driving and flipping through country radio and noticed something glaringly absent – women’s voices. “I hear maybe three songs in 50, and one of them was a group of people that had a woman in the group” she recalled “I stared calling radio stations and recording the conversations”
Frustration led to art, and art lead to change. The idea came to her to form The Highwomen , and all-female supergroup featuring Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and Natalie Hemby.
“I thought, well, what’s the worst that could happen?” Shires said. “I wanted to create something that my daughter could see herself in.” The group’s name, a nod to the legendary Highwaymen, became both tribute and transformation — rewriting the narrative for women in country music.
Motherhood, Touring, and a New Chapter
After taking a break from touring in 2023, Shires is back on the road, performing as a solo artist and mother. “It’s my first time touring as a non-partnered person since 2000-and-forever,” she said with a grin. “I don’t have to report to anybody but myself, and that’s fun and interesting.”
Her 10-year-old daughter has grown up surrounded by music — from the tour bus to soundcheck — and Shires takes pride in modeling strength and balance. “When I’m home, I’m completely hers,” she said. “But I want her to see that mothers can do this. We can work, travel, and still have meaningful relationships.”
Her own mother, a retired doctor and nurse, often joins her on the road — helping with merchandise and emergencies alike. “She’s great in a crisis,” Shires laughed. “So, if something happened, she's really good at figuring out how to put stitches on or call the 911.”
A Return to The SoCal Sound
As the interview wrapped, Amanda Shires reflected on her return to The SoCal Sound studio: “Every time it’s different and wonderful. You all always make me sound good,” she said, giving a nod to Matt Blake and Tristan Dolce behind the glass.
Amanda performed songs from Nobodys Girl:
For Matt Pinfield, it was more than a conversation — it was a celebration of artistry, authenticity, and the enduring spirit of musicians who find themselves through their songs.
Amanda Shires Nobody's Girl is streaming everywhere and available on vinyl lp from ATO Records
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- · Filmed & Edited & Photographed by Matt Blake
- · Audio by Tristan Dolce
- · Host: Matt Pinfield
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