Why a Love Song?
During these profoundly turbulent times, I released a simple Americana love ballad called “Love Ain’t Easy,” with a “super-soft” hook line: “I’m so glad that I love you.” I’m not known for optimistic love songs – an average of one per decade. So why now, when the country is burning with pain and division?
Of the two songs slated for release leading up to the unleashing of The Beast is Back, “Love Ain’t Easy” was to be the casual follow-up to the much more intense, challenging, “Thoughts & Prayers.” Then came a pandemic, followed by a relapse of my country’s most grievous original sin of racism.
The thing about promotion is that it exhausts emotional resources. A DIY music career is a young person’s sport, when you have emotional resources to spare. It’s fun in the early days, when you’re reaching for the brass ring – the photo-shoots, the mailers, posters, appearances, and interviews with questions like, “Who are your influences?” But older, you lose your energy for it. You've put bands together and watched them fall apart. You’ve been through marriage, relocation, divorce, real estate, recovery, the death of loved-ones. You’ve helped raise children, and you’ve mentored your neighbors’ kids. You’ve held on to your oldest friendships and your family with all your might. Life has brought an ocean of change to your art, your craft, and your business. The important things in life become embedded into the process. HYPE is the least of your concerns.
And now a pandemic. And now protests in the streets.
Nevertheless, one must attend to the work at hand in one’s chosen field of endeavor. And that family I just mentioned; they're counting on you to do it well. So you press on.
The plan was to come out of the gate with the most deadly serious song I have ever written, “Thoughts & Prayers.” An excruciating “issue song.” But, for the moment, it’s the wrong issue. Real as it is, crucial as it is, and dear as it is, a month ago was not its time.
Artists are releasing music all over the place right now, and feeling sheepish about it. Commercially famous artists seem to be graciously dialing it down. On social media, you sense them wafting the limelight away, passing the baton around, gushing with gratitude and collegial appreciation. Those of us without laurels to rest on; we ask ourselves a good question as we push forward: Are we offering of ourselves? Or are we expecting something -- from the biz, from the audience, from those who support us abundantly? Are we giving, or just scrambling for our share in a zero-sum game?
“Thoughts & Prayers,” seemed "too extra." So under the good counsel of my team -- producer Tyler Fortier (Last Year’s Man) my partner & graphic designer Katie Parentice, my publicist Public Display PR, and longtime friend/keyboardist Michael Walker (Mexican Gunfight) – I decided to turn down the heat and gather a message closer to the hearth. After all, the pandemic was squeezing us into quarantine anyway, right? That’s how the "Love Ain't Easy," featuring Halie Loren's comforting voice, became the first single. It was a humble reset button, summoning strength from things strong and true at home.
I call such pieces “domestic songs.” Small stories with immediate, intimate concerns. They draw me inward to safe places of known quantity, with comforting answers, and temporary relief from daunting questions. They don’t always grab the grand spotlight, but sometimes, they are needed more than ever.
Now comes the tough stuff.
“Thoughts & Prayers” comes out this weekend.
Then, a true protest side-project called “A Song About This” with Producers Tyler Fortier & Ehren Ebbage.
Then comes the album's opening cut, called “Song About Singing,” about releasing the tension from fighting the good fight.
There is a lot of work to be done, in the home and in the community.
Thank you so much for every encouraging word and gesture.
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