Episodi
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We're starting with the end in our conversation with Kasey Anderson. On the pod, we've covered a lot of firsts; debut album, origin stories and the beginnings. Ever since I (lizzie) have known Kasey, his social media bio has been "gradually retiring songwriter." I'm always teasing him about "What does that mean? When are you going to retire?" Officially, this latest album, 'To the Places We Lived,' is Kasey's "last album." I want to put that in very heavy quotes because I hate to imagine a world where a great songwriter friend of mine is not making records. I think his insistence on this album as the last one has more to do with saying goodbye to parts of the music industry that he wants to release and ways of being in the world that he doesn't want to engage with anymore. What do we need to let go of? What do we need to release? That's the place where this album begins.
We talk about Kasey's whole songwriting career. The moment where he went surprise viral for one of his political songs, "The Dangerous Ones." We talk about his time being incarcerated and what that taught him about himself, what it taught him about the world, what it taught him about white supremacy. We talk about his family. We talk about his sobriety and his work in helping others get clean and stay clean, and what staying clean means in a holistic and gentle sense. The songs on this album are mournful, literate, and very, very fun. My favorite is "Back to Nashville;" it's a rock and blues song. Kasey is the type of artist who can write a really contemplative song about self reflection or grief or loss, and then a blues rocker that makes you want to shake your ass in the next second.
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Editorâs note: For this episode, we invited our friend Mark Erelli to interview Chuck Prophet. The two are familiar with each other's work through songwriting together for Mark's latest album Lay Your Darkness Down (2023). We're thrilled to welcome Mark back as guest host!
Chuck Prophet has been a mainstay on the indie and Americana music scenes since the 1980s, before either designation was a common part of the rock ânâ roll lexicon. Through his guitar work in the seminal psychedelic desert rock band Green On Red, musical collaborations with Kelly Willis, Kim Richey, and Warren Zevon, and a string of over a dozen solo records, Prophet has carved out a respected niche in rock music history with his âCalifornia Noirâ sound. Itâs a streak he probably could have kept riding for the rest of his career, if not for his sudden diagnosis with lymphoma a couple years ago. During his treatment and eventual recovery from cancer, Prophet found solace in his record collectionâin particular the vibrant rhythms and danceable energy of Cumbia. He eventually sought out a favorite local band in the genre to jam, and then formally collaborate on Wake The Dead, Prophetâs first new solo album in four years. The project blends his longtime band The Mission Express with members of the Cumbia outfit Quiensave, and the result is equal parts familiar and fresh.
I have firsthand knowledge of Prophetâs freewheeling collaborative process, having worked with him and his longtime songwriting partner Klipschutz on a song for my 2020 album Blindsided. I once taught with Chuck at a folk festival songwriting school, and was relieved to be able to play before him at the instructor open mic, because no one wants to follow Chuck Prophet. His musical catalog is so deep and broad that itâs both inspiringâŠand a bit overwhelming. It was a joy to re-connect with him for a wide-ranging conversation about his new album, that also touched upon his sense of humor, guitar playing techniques, surfing culture, and even his favorite Bob Seger song.
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Oh how I've longed to talk to Liv Greene. Every once in a while you come across a young artist that seems older and wiser than her 26 years. Liv's been giving me that impression since I met her in 2019 when she was at Club Passim waiting tables and breaking hearts on the stage at just 21 years. Ok enough about being young. Liv's been writing, studying music and going to music camps since she was 12. Arguably she's been studying music all her life with her Americana loving parents who were filling the house with the sounds of Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris and Shawn Colvin, to name a few women In music in heavy rotation at the Greene house. Being the only of her friends that liked that kind of music, Liv attended many DC-area concerts with her mom, taking in the magic of live music at a very tender age. Speaking of tenderness, that's what Liv Greene is all about and she digs into it in our conversation. She started writing and playing shortly after she was inspired by a Taylor Swift concert. From there, she took off on the instrument and even sought out music education in camps like Miles of Music in New Hampshire. It was at that camp as well as the arts academy Interlochen High School, where she started meeting peers with similar interests. She found herself living for summers with her music camp friends. Prior to her senior year at Interlochen, Liv was a closeted queer at her all girls Catholic school mostly writing fictionalized stories into her songs because she could not deal with who she was.
She attended and graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music and released her debut album (produced by Isa Burke) right in time for the pandemic in May of 2020. Shortly after that, she moved to Nashville and has spent the last several years on an intense path of self-discovery. Liv found her community, came out, wrote and self-produced her new album, Deep Feeler. On this album, you can hear the growth she's experienced and you can hear Liv thriving in her corner of the Nashville Music scene that includes the indie folk music scene. We talk about all of this including what it means to have a neurodivergent brain, music production, the roller skating community and her favorite Taurus personality traits.
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The Oregon-bred indie folk music outfit Blind Pilot goes on a deep spiritual journal on their new album In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain (produced by Josh Kaufman). The music inspiration for frontman Israel Nebeker lay in his songwriting process. After struggling with writing for years (this is the first Blind Pilot album in 8 years), he set aside the songs he *had* been working (which will be included on a new solo record in 2025). Nebeker gave himself a month to write an album's worth of songs to present to the band. He demoed the songs and headed out for a trip centered around spiritual growth in Norway.
Searching for ancestral connections, Israel sought out the SamĂ culture and community (a semi-nomadic Scandinavian people), in which he has roots. He participated in a SamĂ shamanic journey exploring indigenous spirituality. A SĂĄmi shaman took him on a drum journey and invited him to listen for ancestors and visions. He had a vision where his ancestors were beckoning him to a path that led straight to a mountain, which was clearly his family legacy and origin. Back in the studio with the band, he relistened to his songs and was very surprised to realize that the album was about his ancestors. The connection that the rest of the band felt in delivering the music is palpable. The special emotional dynamic that always exists on a Blind Pilot is supercharged on the new album In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain.
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Amy Helm has had one of the most fascinating lives that any person can have. As you might have guessed from her famous last name, she comes from roots music royalty. Amy Helm is the daughter of Levon Helm, the beloved late drummer for the incredible groundbreaking Canadian American group The Band. She also continues to run and uphold the musical legacy of The Barn, a music venue and recording studio built by her dad and Garth Hudson and served as Levon Helm Studios.
In her own career, she has created a new lineage of musical tradition, family, great songwriting, poetry, and a feminine power that emanates off of her. We're talking about her new album, Silver City, but we're also talking about songwriting process and creative writing through letters to women in her life. We're talking about grief, writing about addiction and recovery with Mary Gauthier. We're talking about single parenthood. We're talking about family. We're talking about being on the road. We're talking about how our bodies change over time and how that makes us different as a vocalist and as an artist. Amy Helm generously dives into the emotional storytelling of her new album and the female empowerment she's felt throughout her career and life.
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Looking back at her wildly successful and always adventurous career up to this point, it feels inevitable that Lisa Loeb was always going to be a songwriter and have a music career. But young Lisa probably could have done any creative job well. She grew up surrounded by music, yes, but she also had a passion for theater, and got her degree in comparative literature. It was her theater, voice acting and film side hustles that led Lisa to her first big break. Lisaâs friend Ethan Hawke shared her song âStayâ with Ben Stiller, who included the song in the soundtrack for the film âReality Bites.â âStayâ was a massive hit, and Lisa was the first-ever artist to have a #1 hit on the Billboard charts without a recording contract.
The second act of Loebâs career is the main focus of our conversation. This chapter in the book of Lisa Loeb is all about⊠childrenâs music! As her latest album, âThatâs What Itâs All About,â demonstrates, Loeb has managed to keep playfulness and curiosity at the center of her life well into adulthood. She has figured out the delicate balance of making music for kids that adults can relate to as well. Happy memories of music from her own childhood, as well as nods to her elders, make this new record a sonic storybook that listeners of all ages will enjoy.
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The names Bruce Molsky and Darol Anger have come up more often than not when talking to fiddlers on Basic Folk. The pair have single handedly mentored hundreds of our favorites in fiddle music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Darol's online music school, music camps, festivals and more. Darol and Bruce joined us on the occasion of their newest folk music collab: their new album Lockdown Breakdown. Folk music has often been associate with nerdiness, so we get right into their nerdy roots with Bruce's love of fountain pens, his background in mechanical engineering and all facts about American roots music, Bluegrass music and fiddle music you can stand.
They each talk about their origins: Bruce in the Bronx and Darol in Northern California, which eventually led him to co-founding the David Grisman Quintet. We discuss the social aspect of the old time and bluegrass music world and how that has translated into the way they each approach socializing. They discuss the thousands of fiddle lessons they've given younger players and why they like to mentor younger generations. And of course, the album, which was recorded live in a Nashville studio in just a few days. They talk about what the energy was like in the room for all their live takes during the session. It was a pleasure to speak with these two very funny, very influential musicians! They are doing incredible and important work!
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Editorâs note: Basic Folk is pleased to introduce our listeners to one of our favorite podcasts by sharing an episode in our feed!
Do you ever find yourself watching, reading, or listening to something truly amazing and wondering, âHow did they do it?â. That's why we wanted to share an episode of American Masters: Creative Spark, the award-winning podcast from PBS.
American Masters: Creative Spark shares the creative journeys of artists and legends across disciplines. Recently, host Joe Skinner sat down with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jewel to discuss her latest project The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel, which integrates music, behavioral health concepts, and visual arts into an immersive experience centered around the "three spheres" philosophy. The episode dives deep into Jewel's personal life and career, recounting her journey navigating a traumatic childhood and channeling its challenges into better understanding herself.
Needless to say, American Masters: Creative Spark is the perfect companion podcast to Basic Folk. So make sure to follow American Masters: Creative Spark on your favorite podcast app.
You can learn more about âThe Portal: An Art Experienceâ here: https://crystalbridges.org/news-room/jewel-presents-immersive-art-experience-at-crystal-bridges-museum-of-american-art/
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Welcome to another edition of Folk Debate Club, our occasional debate series! To discuss Ambition vs Acceptance, we welcome our panel: music journalist Kim Ruehl, Basic Folk boss Cindy Howes, and yours truly Lizzie No. We would like to extend a very warm welcome to our special guests singer-songwriter Michaela Anne & producer Aaron Shafer-Haiss, also hosts of The Other 22 Hours podcast. In our lively conversation we work through thoughts and feelings about the definition of ambition: a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. We take the approach from a music industry and folk music perspective
It is no surprise that capitalism gets rung right out as a reason that ambition goes wrong for artists. As Kim says "âArt âis âlike âthe ânervous âsystem âof âhumanity" and mixing creation with ambition-gone-wrong is a dangerous game that a lot (most?) professional musicians play with at some point in their careers. This episode has everything: navigating our way out of toxic work environments, messy reactions to unpopular yet important political stances and how to not throw away the people who disagree with you. Listen along and enjoy the ride.
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In our episode with Wisconsin-born, New England based Jeffrey Foucault, we had a handful of questions for the singer-songwriter about his background: coffee, the midwest and Mark Twain wisdom. Then we talked about Billy Conway for more than an hour. Conway was Foucault's long-time partner in music, drummer and best friend who died from cancer in 2021. He was a rock and roll roots legend in Boston with his tenure in Morphine and Treat Her Right. He was like a holy man, known for his creative, curious and infectious spirit where even people who met him only one time (myself included) were quite taken and inspired by his presence. The loss of Billy Conway hit the music community hard. In 2023, a tribute album showcasing the songwriting of Conway recorded by some of his closest friends (Chris Smither, Foucault, Kris Delmhorst, Billy's wife Laurie Sargent) was released. And now, with his latest album release, Jeff's given us a working wake for his friend Billy, The Universal Fire.
We talked about what was going on with Jeff when he met and started working with Billy in 2013. What state of mind made this spectacular friendship and collaboration completely click. How conscious Jeff has been about his reaction to Conway's death and processing grief when it comes to being an example for his teenage daughter (who is also getting into folk music and live performance- hi Hazel!). We also dig into the new album, The Universal Fire. He paralleled the loss of Billy Conway with a different type of loss: the 2008 fire at the Universal Studios lot in California that destroyed master tapes of hugely influential American recordings. And finally, a check in on how Jeffrey's humanness is faring in the high-tech world in the year 2024.
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Throughout his music career, singer-songwriter Amos Lee has cultivated a large female fanbase and also owes a lot of his early start to Norah Jones (a female!). He's about to hit the road co-headlining with folk music and queer icons, The Indigo Girls. In our conversation, he talks about the atmosphere he's going for in concert and it's not a very bro-centered vibe. His latest album Transmissions further proves his case with a gorgeous sonic palette that includes country music, indie folk, folk rock and acoustic music sounds. Recorded with his longtime band in a studio in rural Marlboro, NY, the songs came out as warm as the reclaimed church wood it was built out of.
Amos dives into topics like how he feels about kids, to his work with cancer patients, to the benefits of caring for your mental health and music. He touches on anxiety and overstimulation (mostly prompted by my anxiety!) and overcoming adversity. He also talks about being a mentor for the Black Opry residency at WXPN in his town of Philadelphia and explains what a Hoagiemouth is. Amaze and delight at the wonderful Amos Lee.
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Maya, Nina and Lyle de Vitry's life, beginning in Lancaster PA, has been music and family, music festivals with old-time music, songwriting and folk music. The de Vitry siblings (including sister Monica, currently teaching art in Western Mass) grew up amongst music and nature in their rural home and even had a family band called Old-Time Liberation Front. Many jams around the campfire, music lessons and encouragement from their parents lead all three siblings to careers surrounding indie folk music (and jazz! thank you, Nina). All three have released albums in the past year: Maya's new album âThe Only Momentâ is her fourth record in only six years of performing solo in her post Stray Birds career. Lyle JUST released his debut album, âDoor Within a Dream,â while simultaneously working alongside other banjo makers at the Pisgah Banjo Company, his current day job. Nina's excellent debut "What You Feel is Real" came out last year, but she's been busy playing on the Noah Kahan tour as "the utility player". Nina's singing harmonies and playing fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar and 12-string guitar while finding creative inspiration from the energy of the crowds and her new found musician siblings in Noah's band.
In our special conversation with the de Vitry sibs, we talk about how they feel about each other's creative process, songwriter process and musician inspiration. They get into how being at all these music festivals and jams as kids bonded them together. We learn about made-up words that their family uses to this day: stay tuned to find out what a butchabee and a taffy bub is. Also they each talk about how disconnected they feel from the mainstream (Nina had never heard of Noah Kahan's music until she was asked to audition for his band). Also Lyle gets into how being around three sisters, female musicians and female songwriters has impacted him and his musicality. And don't miss a very special de Vitry "Which One" lightning round wrapping up one of the most special singer-songwriter interviews we've done on Basic Folk.
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Editorâs note: Basic Folk is pleased to introduce our listeners to one of our favorite podcasts by sharing an episode in our feed! The âOther â22 âhours, âhosted âby âsinger/songwriter Michaela âAnn âand âproducer âAaron Shafer-Haisse, talks to fellow musicians âabout âthe helpful âtools âand âroutines the use âto âstay âcreative, âinspired, âand âsane âwhile ânavigating âa âcareer âbuilt âon âtheir âart. âThe âthing âI âlike âabout âthis âpodcast âis âthat âthese âconversations âare âbetween âmusicians. âThey're âvery âreal. The âmusicians âshare âinsights âthat âgo âbeyond normal âbio âquestions. They âtalk âabout âthings âthat âcan âactually âtranslate âinto ânon âmusicians' âlives. âThey âdive âin âdeep âright âfrom âthe âstart. âI âcame âacross âthis âpodcast when âthey âinterviewed âLeyla âMcCalla âand âwas âblown âaway âby âthat âconversation. âSome âother âfavorites âhave âbeen âWilliam âPrince, âGretchen âPeters. âToday âwe're âgoing âto âshare âtheir âconversation âwith âMary âChapin âCarpenter. âI âhope âyou âenjoy âand âsubscribe âand âfollow âand âsupport âAaron âand âMichaela âon âThe âOther â22 âhours.
Episode SummaryMary Chapin Carpenter is an 18x Grammy nominated, 5x Grammy winning, 6x platinum-selling singer-songwriter with over 16 albums and decades of touring so far in her career. We talk with Mary Chapin about her songwriting process, including her need for solitude and her practice of "song walking," we talk about how she still faces rejection even with all of her accolades and commercial success, how common and easy it is to personalize mistreatment from people in power (and how to combat that), and much more on this very candid final episode of Season 1.
Episode NotesMary Chapin Carpenter is an 18x Grammy nominated, 5x Grammy winning, 6x platinum-selling singer-songwriter with over 16 albums and decades of touring so far in her career. We talk with Mary Chapin about her songwriting process, including her need for solitude and her practice of "song walking," we talk about how she still faces rejection even with all of her accolades and commercial success, how common and easy it is to personalize mistreatment from people in power (and how to combat that), and much more on this very candid final episode of Season 1.
Get more access, including exclusive content, advance knowledge of our guests and the ability to have them answer your questions, special workshops, and more by becoming a member of our Patreon, at this link.
Links:
Mary Chapin CarpenterCarl SandburgTaylor Swift Eras TourSteve PoltzEp 43 - Gretchen PetersEp 22 - Group Text (Erin Rae, Caroline Spence, Kelsey Waldon & Michaela Anne)Kelly ClarksonEp 16 - Rodney CrowellRose CousinsClick here to watch this conversation on YouTube.
Social Media:
The Other 22 Hours InstagramMichaela Anne InstagramAaron Shafer-Haiss InstagramAll music written, performed, and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.
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Sometimes it strikes me just how much power can emanate from a creative mind. Speaking with Denitia was one of those times. When the indie music artist comes across an unfamiliar musical concept, she goes âsponge modeâ until she understands it. Then she seamlessly integrates it into her artistic vocabulary. This relentless curiosity and sense of play can be heard across Denitiaâs catalog, from her early work as half of the New York indie R&B duo denitia & sene to her breakthrough country album, âHighways.â Her fluency with multiple genres gives her a refreshing approach to record-making, sound, and fashion alike.
Since moving to Nashville and pivoting from R&B to indie country, Denitia has been grabbing audiencesâ attention with her gorgeous voice and catchy-as-hell cool girl indie songwriting. Denitia was selected for the CMT Next Women of Country class of 2024, and her forthcoming album, âSunset Drive,â delivers on the hype. Denitia and her longtime songwriting partner, Brad Allen Williams, have painted classic country landscapes against which tales of escape from the ordinary are told with longing and warmth. The new record is something of a full-circle moment for the Texas-born artist, and a showcase for her prodigious talents as a vocalist. Lizzie No leads the conversation in our singer-songwriter interview with Denitia where she offers music industry insights, vocal warm-up techniques and music marketing strategies. Also, we definitely dig into FASHION: from her New York streetwear days to thrifting vintage clothes in Nashville.
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Anna Tivel and Jeffrey Martin have both released new albums in the past year that have knocked us right over. Living Thing is the most recent Anna Tivel singer-songwriter record and Thank God We Left the Garden being the Jeffrey Martin new album. Of all the singer-songwriter interviews and musician conversations we've done over the course of the pod, these two kooks have been a popular pair on this Basic Folk podcast. Their singer-songwriter inspiration, musician life stories and music career development have been a fascinating journey. Jeffrey being a former high school teacher and Anna spending her formative years intensely playing the fiddle before moving to Portland at the age of 18.
In our conversation, Anna and Jeffrey speak to several hot topics like "do you write about your neighbors," "how's your physical body at processing stress" and "what is the point of your newsletter." We dig right into it in true folk music podcasts fashion and these two are not holding back. If you are looking for some top notch singer-songwriter advice, music collaboration ideas and the latest in folk music trends... it remains to be seen whether you will find that here. What you will find are two very deep and thoughtful musicians sharing what goes on in their lives and hearts and in their designated work spaces. Spoiler alert: Anna's office has five massive paper mache eyeballs.
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The world of Austin's Matt the Electrician, aka Matt Sever, is quirky and sincere. Sever is known for his work ethic and vibrant presence in the Austin Texas music scene. Before music was full-time, Matt worked as an actual electrician in between folk music gigs and open mics. He found people were drawn to his skills in the trade, so he decided to make it part of his musical moniker. After self-releasing 11 studio albums and a couple of live sets, the name remains even though he has not been a professional electrician for a long time. In this episode, Matt discusses his new album release, "The Ocean Knocked Me Down," and shares insights into his songwriting process and the unique creative writing techniques that keep his music fresh. We learn about his experiences with the independent music community, performing live, and the joys of music discovery in the 90s through alternative music magazines like Puncture Magazine.
Matt also opens up about the evolving landscape of music marketing strategies, reflecting on his journey from traditional methods to the more creative approach he employs today. For instance, Matt's been conducting fake interviews on his social media between himself and Spotify, Facebook and Rolling Stone that are hilarious. Also he reminisces about the excitement of finding new music back in the day and talks about his favorite snacks, like carnitas tacos and the benefits of black coffee, that clearly fuel his creativity.
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Originally from Devon, the English singer-songwriter John Smith got his start playing bars and clubs in Liverpool, both with his own songs and as a side player for artists like Lianne La Havas, Lisa Hannigan and David Gray. Growing up with folk music and guitar music influences from Eric Clapton to Maria Callas to Nick Drake, Johnâs sensitivity as a player is one of the cornerstones of his music, especially when it comes to his live music. It's earned him a passionate fanbase ever since his first EP release in 2009. I (lizzie) got to witness the connection he shares with audiences on a recent month-long tour around the UK. Everywhere we went, audience members had stories of how important Johnâs songs were to them, and guitar nerds flocked to have a look at his pedal board.
Beyond his musicianship, Johnâs music is imbued with an earnestness that invites listeners to look around and feel gratitude: for nature (especially the vistas of rural England), for the wisdom that memory can provide, and for the people close to us. Johnâs latest album, âThe Living Kind,â is a meditation on how delicate love and life can be, but also how enduring. It also showcases the creative partnership between Smith and his longtime friend and roots music industry icon Joe Henry. One of the albumâs highlights is âMilestones,â in which John reflects on how parenthood has changed his perspective on the artistâs life.
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Editor's note: For this episode, we invited our friend Dawn Landes to interview Peggy Seeger. Dawn was the perfect choice to interview the feminist folk icon. She recently joined us on a special episode with Aoife O'Donovan to discuss their feminist-themed new albums. We're thrilled to welcome Dawn back as guest host!
I canât believe it took me 40 years to come across Peggy Seegerâs music. Iâm a little mad about this honestly, and have been trying to make up for lost time by diving deep into her songs and her story. Iâve been a fan of her older brother, Pete Seeger since I was a kid but didnât realize the depth of talent and reach in the Seeger family âŠthey are truly Folk Royalty! Peggy Seeger is the daughter of a celebrated modernist composer and a musicologist who grew up with people like Alan Lomax and Elizabeth Cotten hanging out in her family home. At 89 years old sheâs released 24 solo recordings and been a part of over a hundred more. Sheâs built her career on wit, incredible musicianship and unflappable activism.
On this episode of Basic Folk, I am honored to talk with Peggy Seeger about her beginnings in feminism, her decades-long partnership with Scottish singer Ewan MacColl, the creation of the BBC Radio Ballads, the importance of hope and her dream tattoos! She even sang us a song from memory that I doubt she had sung in many years. Peggy is a repository of traditional songs and continues to tour and play music with her family as sheâs done throughout her whole life. Although she claims that she doesnât write anthems, Seegerâs songs have become synonymous with womenâs rights and environmental activism. Coming from a woman who once sang her defense in a courtroom, we should all take Peggyâs adviceâŠâSomething wrong? Make a song!â
--- Dawn Landes
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Folk music singer Ana Egge's 13th album Sharing in the Spirit came out of the musician one song at a time. She didn't even think about moving onto a new song before the writing and production of each song was complete. Working with her friend and collaborator Lorenzo Wolff, the songwriting process and music production plan was to just work on a handful of songs. Their creative collaboration manifested an entire record's worth of indie folk, acoustic music and new folk music. The record includes eight originals and two covers: one by the Biloxi songwriter Ted Hawkins and one by Irish musician Sinead O'Connor.
Ana gives a huge songwriting credit to her dreams, which started getting more and more intense when she began her sobriety journey four years ago. Since then, she's recorded her dreams, especially those with music segments and full songs, on her voice memos app. We go through the new album track by track, addressing themes in the songs like not sleeping through the revolution, the importance of telling the truth, feelings on mortality and how are we gonna feel when Bob Dylan dies. Also: Ana was the VERY first guest on Basic Folk! I can't go back and listen to myself four years ago, but I encourage you to check it out and then dive into her great new album.
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Chris Smither has been Peter Mulvey's mentor since back in 1993, when the young Mulvey opened for the already seasoned Smither. The blues and folk legend liked what he heard and enjoyed the similarities in creativity and quirks and he took that young man on the road with him. Their musical partnership has crossed paths and outlasted the digital age, the pandemic, parenthood and the indictment of a former president. Along the way each has worked to influence their best habits and life lessons on the other and as far as mentor-mentee relationships go, this one is for the history books. Also there are nods to David 'Goody' Goodrich, Jeffrey Foucault, Kris Delmhorst and the woman behind it all: Carol Young (aka Smither's long-time manager, aka his wife).
In this rare joint interview, we address the important questions: like why do they delight in calling each other by their last names? Smither shares that he was first called by his last name in Paris when he was in school. They debate who has the better hometown: Milwaukee or New Orleans. Actually it's not so much a debate as a reflection on New Orleans music, since that is clearly the better spot to grow up a musician. Mulvey reflects on their musical differences citing some of his main inspirations to be Kendrick Lamar and Ani DiFranco versus Smither's affinity for Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. We break down how each feels about fatherhood and try to get Smither to spill his secret to longevity. Spoiler alert: it's not from remaining still. Chris Smither's 20th album All About the Bones is out now. Peter Mulvey's latest is the acoustic retrospective More Notes From Elsewhere.
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