Earlier this summer Pillbox Patti introduced her unique perspective, and tell it like it is – the good, the bad and the ugly – attitude to the world with the release of “Good People,” “ Young and Stupid ,” and most recently the autobiographical, “Suwannee.” Today she releases another chapter of her story with “Eat Pray Drugs.” The new track is another taste of her debut album, Florida, set for release via Monument Records on October 14.
Listen to “Eat Pray Drugs” HERE
Pre-Add/Pre-Save Florida HERE (Available October 14)
Pillbox Patti’s style is one Forbes has called “hypnotic” and “poignant” while stating “It's…honesty and authenticity that Hayford wants to share with listeners on her debut project.” Written by Hayford with Aaron Raitiere, Park Chisolm, Benjy Davis, and Connie Harrington, and produced by Chisolm, “Eat Pray Drugs” is brutally honest about the life Pillbox Patti led growing up in Florida with little money, resources, or options for extracurricular activities. It paints a clear image into a reality many live every day.
“I’m from a small town in Florida where there’s not a whole lot goin’ on," says Pillbox Patti. “Mostly casseroles, and Jesus, and getting’ high.…in other words, eat pray drugs. If I would’ve had the extra money to spend on decorative signs or kitchen towels when I lived in the little town I’m from, they would’ve all said eat pray drugs.”
On the track, she sings:
ONLY THREE THINGS TO DO AROUND HERE
AIN’T A HONEY HOLE OR A MOVIE THEATER
COUNTRY IS AS COUNTRY DOES
EAT – PRAY – DRUGS
HOSE CLAMP AND AN 80 MG
BAPTIST CHURCH AND A DAIRY QUEEN
WE JUST DOIN’ WHAT WE LOVE
EAT – PRAY – DRUGS
Pillbox Patti is the evolution of celebrated Nashville songwriter Nicolette Hayford. She has penned hits like “One Night Standards” and “Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega” for Ashely McBryde as well as songs for Lainey Wilson, William Michael Morgan and Chrissy Metz. In 2021 she was named MusicRow’s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year and nominated for ACM and CMA Song Of The Year Awards.
After years of writing for other artists, Hayford is finally stepping into the spotlight as an artist. The ten-year town put her into a box, so she ventured off with her tribe of writers and what has emerged is Pillbox Patti, allowing Hayford to say anything and everything she wants. The fresh, authentic take on growing up in her Country is crystallized through the lens of a Florida native delivering her youth and adulthood in an honest, spirited, not always pretty, package on her debut album Florida.
“Florida is a collection of my truths,” says Pillbox Patti. “it’s who I am and where I come from. It helped me heal. it helped me celebrate how far I’ve come, and I hope it brings some light to anybody out there in the dark corners of a small town, or anybody anywhere that needs to hear ‘I’ve been there too.’”
With Florida out October 14, stay tuned for details at pillboxpatti.com and follow along on social media @pillboxpatti for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
More About Pillbox Patti in Her Own Words:
I grew up in FL.
Sometimes with my dad.
Sometimes with my sister.
Sometimes with my mom.
Sometimes with my grandma.
Sometimes at a friend’s house.
Sometimes with just a stamp of my dad’s signature.
Sometimes people were on drugs.
Sometimes I was on drugs.
Sometimes people were selling drugs.
Sometimes I was selling drugs.
Sometimes people were getting’ the shit beat out of them.
Couple times I was one of them.
Sometimes the cops came.
Sometimes no one did.
Sometimes you gotta get out of where everyone else is stuck.
Couple times I did.
Sometimes you remember you have a dream.
Sometimes you gotta take the long way.
Sometimes one dream pays for another dream.
Sometimes shit actually works out.
I still do pretty much everything sometimes.