CHALLENGES DRIVE LOCAL COUNTRY SINGER, SONGWRITER TO NASHVILLE

Stac Underwood thought her debut country music single was about someone she knew. Two weeks later she found out that "Go West Young Man (And I'll Go East)" could also be applied to her own life.

Regardless of who she was singing about, the 24-year-old Cape Girardeau country music artist knew she tapped into the core of a real-life experience. "That's what country music is all about," Underwood said.

"I find most of the lyrics and ideas for my songs somewhere in my own gut or my own heart," Underwood said. "Sometimes it will be an experience a friend of mine goes through. Other times it will be taken from my life."

"Go West Young Man" is about a relationship that just isn't working. "The woman tells her boyfriend to go away and get it out of his system so that when he returns they can start all over again," Underwood said.

Nolan Capps, who is the executive producer for Stace (pronounced Stace) Underwood's debut single, has just released several hundred tapes to radio stations in the Midwest.

Capps said he should find out what disc jockeys think of his newest client in about a month. "We got her signed by the 21st Century Record label in Nasvhville because we think Stace has what it takes to make it in the country music industry," Capps said. "Her single "Go West" is an exciting song that exhibits Stac's talent. There's a lot of excitement about the release, `I'll Still be Lovin' You,' as well," Capps said.

Although the Cape Girardeau Central High graduate and former Southeast Missouri State student appears to be a relative newcomer to the music industry, she has paid her dues behind the scenes and in Europe.

Her songs have reached No. 14 in Costa Brava, Spain. In Denmark she was listed at No. 3. "It sounds strange that somebody could do better in Europe than here first, but that's the way it works out usually," she said.

She has performed at the Marble Hill Opry Company, the Li'l Ole Opry and Country Music Hall in Missouri. Stac Underwood has also performed in the Western Room and Barbar's in world-famous Printer's Alley in Nashville.

She has also done a considerable amount of work writing lyrics for other artists and is involved in a unique project that should test her ability as a composer.

"I'm writing rhythm and blues lyrics to music that has already been written and recorded by someone I've never even talked to," Underwood said. "We've only corresponded by letter."

Underwood said she usually composes lyrics first and then applies them to music. The rhythm and blues project calls for the reverse. "It's a challenge, but I've never been afraid of challenges," Underwood said. "That just makes me want to excel even more."

She has concentrated on topics she feels audiences are interested in. "You have to know what audiences want to listen to," she said. "You write from the heart, but you also pay attention to what's going on in the lives of people around you."

Underwood isn't sitting back to see how her debut single fares with radio stations. She is busy writing more lyrics for herself and other artists. "I try to write something every day," she said. "It's a good way to stay disciplined and make sure that you're producing something all the time."

Stac and her father, Ron, have teamed up to form their own publishing business, which is called Footwork Music. They are working with a few country music artists to develop songs that are popular.

"Female stars in country music are coming out with sassy I'm-on-top tunes," Underwood said. "I kind of like that to be my style. Kind of sultry and up-tempo."

She prides herself on her ability to prepare for a performance on short notice. She keeps a full repertoire of songs on hand. "I guess I'm like a Boy Scout: I'm always prepared," she said. "Once you get a reputation in music, you have to keep going with it or else you'll get left behind."

Underwood started out singing gospel music. She is involved locally with a music ministry at area churches and has participated the past two years in the Freedom Celebration Musical. The musical has taken place each year at the First General Baptist Church.

She plans to move to Franklin, Tenn., which is about 20 miles south of Nashville with her fiance in December. "Nashville is where it's at as far as country music," she said. "I really believe country music is getting bigger and bigger every day and will eventually take over the air waves by the end of the decade."