Katrina Parker channels her North Carolina roots on her upcoming project, Stars, out Sept. 6. A former Season 2 contestant on The Voice, Parker showcases exactly why she made it into the top 8 with ethereal vocals and uplifting lyrics on the stripped down “Don’t Give It Up,” which Billboard premieres exclusively today (Aug. 19).
“I wrote this for a friend who was going through a hard time -- but after hearing it, he pointed out that it was probably more applicable to my situation, that I should take my own lyrics to heart,” Parker tells Billboard. “So I guess on a subconscious level, I wrote this to encourage myself to keep writing and singing and doing this difficult but necessary thing, that it wasn’t too late.”
Parker penned the song alone, as with every other track on her upcoming release except her cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” Stars was produced by 3 Theory Music’s Josh D Doyle and Emily Herndon. Parker says the album itself has been about reconnecting with the essential spark that made her want to pursue a career in music: “Making music with my heart rather than my head."