Vocally, you really fired off both barrels with this album. I sense a new-found confidence, and dare I say it, contentment. Could you comment on these…

I’ve been touring a LOT the past couple of years and that has really honed my vocal skills. But also, see my answers to your question regarding why I feel “special” about this album. It all goes into the pot.

There’s also signs of regret Eileen, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard any singer apologise so passionately (”I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”) on a record. Could you tell me about this song…

Yeah, I lost my mind a little in that vocal performance (on ‘All These Pretty Things’). It’s hard for me to listen to, actually. So exposing… I’d rather not talk in too much detail about this song. Some people choose not to be “public people” and I don’t feel I have the right to put them out there just because I’m a songwriter. In short, I hit a point of desperation and exasperation and I made some bad (and good) choices. Everybody fucks up and very few people intentionally hurt anyone else. I really believe that. So, this song: apologies, explanations, and hopefully, forgiveness all around.

I imagine being where you are now is like living in a musical community where people understand where you’re coming from and going to. Or is this romanticism on my part? The reason I mention it is that certainly in and around London, no such thing exists…

No, Nashville is, pretty much, Disneyland for musicians. There is live music all day, every day (well, from around 10 am) until 2 am. Great players, talented people… Studios, publishing companies and record companies on an historic street actually named “Music Row”. Having said all that, a lot of the live work depends on tips and tourism - not the most reliable income flow in this economy. It’s a good place if you want to write commercial country music - not something I’m very interested in but I appreciate it as a skilled craft. With regard to being “understood”, yeah, it’s a bit different than other places. When I lived in Boston (and London) and people would ask me what I did for a living, I would answer “I’m a musician, you know, a songwriter…” and the response was often an “ahhh” accompanied by the slow nod. Basically, they hear “yeah, I’m a bum”. Or I would then be grilled on album sales and/or how many famous people I know before they could decide whether to take me seriously or not. I had a nice experience my first couple of days here. I went to open a local bank account. On the application form, there was a list of occupations. And on that list: “Songwriter”. I felt like Steve Martin in The Jerk when he discovered his name in the phone book.

What were your aims and objectives with this record, and how close are you to achieving them?

My objective is always to make an album that will live forever in the annals of music history as an example to all others of everything every album should be. That usually gets whittled down to - can we get the final mixes to the mastering studio on time?

Seriously, when the record starts to come together, I always get excited and start to think that maybe this will be the one that will crack through the (rather low) glass ceiling that has always been over me. I know I make good records - I word really hard at it - but there are a lot of good records. Even though I remain proud of my whole body of work, I’d still like to have at least that ONE song that puts me on the books for good. Of course, if I got one, I’d want another. I’d love to hear people covering my songs, playing them at their weddings and using them for their X Factor auditions. Unfortunately, I just don’t write the kind of songs that attract that kind of attention. I’m very grateful, however, for the quiet devotion my albums do get. A lot of hard working folks never achieve even that.

But, always the dreamer, I’m still very attached to the phrase, “could be the one”.

How about radio airplay? For example, do the same problems exist over there as they do here, and I understand that public and college radio are much stronger in the States. Has it, will it, work better for you in this respect?

Yeah, how about it? Yes, the same problems do exist here. Basically, radio plays the same 10 tracks, hundreds of times per day by artists with the PR budget to make that happen. Nothing new there. College radio - it’s not really the same fertile breeding ground it once was and, in any case, not sure they would be interested in what I have to offer. Basically, it seems college kids like to listen to, well, college kids. Or recently graduated college kids. I don’t blame them. The good news is that terrestrial radio, much like record lables, doesn’t have the stranglehold it used to either. There’s internet radio, podcasts, blogs, Youtube, message boards - all kinds of of ways to get the music out there for people to stumble over it. Of course, now you have to hire a Digital Media Marketing person to promote your music out there on the web…same as it ever was…but it really can take on a life of its own and spread. So, maybe, for this record…could be the one.

Which of the songs on the album will you take to the grave (your favourites)? And why? Perhaps your band members have favourites too…

I’m very partial to Silver Ladle. I love Josh Hedley’s voice and I think the blend we get with our voices is rare and special. Rich’s pedal steel and tipple parts are also very beautiful and moving. We just got an atmosphere on that song that you can’t really plan. That’s one of my songs that I listen to and feel, call me goofy, proud to say I wrote (some of my songs I can’t listen to at all without putting my hands over my face…). I’m also very proud of ‘Sad Ride Home.’ I think it’s really different. And it says exactly what I wanted to say.

When will you be back here playing your record? We’d love to have back in Wrexham. Check out this link: http://shakenstir.co.uk/cfc1/

Interested?

Sure, I’d love to come play. Maybe I can finally crack that college radio barrier. I went to college! (if memory serves). And I love being involved with community run set-ups like this because the people that work there are always doing it for the love - not money- so they work harder and more passionately.

Finally Eileen, what great music am I missing out on at the moment (remember I’ve got your’s), and that’s blowing you away?

Well, I don’t exactly have my finger on the pulse - there is so much out there which is readily available, old and new, that I find myself discovering “new music” from 50 years ago, and “new music” from last week. For example, I’ve been listening to a lot of Lynn Anderson lately. I’ve always liked her voice but I now I love her voice and her songs. You should listen to Joshua Hedley’s debut EP, GREEN EYES. He’s got a special voice too and is hitting his stride as a songwriter.

Thanks for your time Eileen, many congratulations on your superb record, can’t wait to hear the next one… Take care and hope to see you next year.

Thank you, Tony! I really appreciate your review. It’s very flattering and I hope we’re worthy. We’ve posted it on all our pages and anywhere else we can think of. I’ll be sticking it up on my Mom’s refrigerator when I get home this week for Christmas.

Happy holidays!

Eileen
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