It was during this time that McCarley met producer/writer/keyboardist Jamie Kenney and the two began recording the songs that would become her debut album, Love, Save the Empty.

[citation needed] In 2008, McCarley performed at the annual SXSW Music Festival where she was discovered by Universal Republic Records.

[citation needed] Love, Save the Empty, was released digitally on December 30, 2008 via iTunes, debuting #86 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart.

McCarley spent 2009 on the road with various musicians including Brett Dennen,[8] James Morrison,[9] Paolo Nutini[10] and Mat Kearney.

[citation needed] Near the top of the list of McCarley's favorite artists are names like Fiona Apple, Patty Griffin and Greg Laswell (the latter of whom co-wrote "Bobblehead").