In 2024, acclaimed Loudoun music producer Todd Wright invited several renowned singers, songwriters and musicians to record five original songs in four unique Loudoun venues: a winery, a distillery, a church and a horse barn. We asked Emma Rowley, Jon Carrol and Terri B!, performers on “I Still Believe in You,” which was recorded at the John Wesley Church in Waterford, about the project and what they love about Loudoun. Songs of Loudoun is available on all major streaming services.
LoCo Favorites
What is your favorite place to eat in Loudoun?
Emma: La Villa Roma in Leesburg. The restaurant has been making my favorite cheese pizza for as long as I can remember.
Jon: There are great dining rooms all over. Blue Ridge Grill. I dig Shoe’s Cup & Cork these days. Dolce & Ciabatta is a cool bakery on Catoctin Circle.
Favorite place for a craft beverage?
Emma: Night Shift in Leesburg. I ask the bartenders to make me something from the flavors I like, and they always knock it out of the park.
Jon: I’m not a drinker but I’ll attest that The Barns at Hamilton Station is a great venue in which to play music.
Best hidden gem in Loudoun?
Emma: Todd Wright and his incredible home recording studio. Though he is so well known, he operates on a level that I think most are not truly aware of unless they work with him.
Jon: I love hiking Bazil Newman Riverfront Park in Lansdowne.
What's a must-see place for an out-of-town visitor?
Terri B! John Wesley Church in Waterford. The farms around there are also breathtaking.
Favorite event in Loudoun to go to?
Emma: Crossroads Music Festival. It’s a multi-day event featuring local, national and international acts. In 2024, Howard Jones headlined the final evening at Tally Ho.
What's a fun fact to share about Loudoun?
Emma: Loudoun has grown so much and yet at the same time it feels like nothing has changed. It’s done an amazing job at expanding yet holding on to its quaint charm.
Jon: The county motto is "I Byde My Time." That must mean something, I suppose.
What is your all-time favorite song?
Jon: Please don't! In the big bag though is Bob Dylan’s “Tight Connection to My Heart” and “Song of Bernadette” by Leonard Cohen.
Who is your all-time favorite artist?
Terri B! I love so many different styles of music, but I would say Tracy Chapman, James Taylor, Whitney Houston, the fabulous Thunderbirds and Teddy Pendergrass are on the list.
Emma: Elvis Presley is one of my greatest inspirations. His voice was a staple of my childhood and still influences the way I sing today.
Sounds of Loudoun
How did you get involved in the Sounds of Loudoun project?
Emma: I currently live in Nashville, but I come from Loudoun and I work closely with Todd who kindly invited me to participate.
Jon: Through Todd. I'm so lucky to be in his astoundingly wide orbit and proud to be his bud. I love writing and hanging out with him.
John Wesley Church is a historic Black church. How did you choose it as a venue?
Terri B! Todd and his team chose it. It was a very emotional venue for me as a Black woman. Loudoun has so much rich history.
Emma: It holds significant value to the Waterford community and Loudoun as a whole. To create music in such a sacred space was an unforgettable experience.
What was the experience like?
Jon: The rooms, the air, the smell – it all hummed with history. It was magical and moving.
You wrote the song together - how long did it take?
Emma: How most great songs come together – quickly. They have a way of just pouring out naturally.
What is the song about?
Terri B! Faith and endurance.
Emma: The song is about perseverance and faith. Both are such universal experiences and writing about them in such a special place was incredible. It felt very symbolic.
