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27 October 2010
Darrell Scott isn't your ordinary singer-songwriter. Not only does his latest record, a double album titled A Crooked Roadfeature the Kentucky-born singer playing all the instruments on all the songs – there's twenty of them to be exact – he also found the time to join Robert Plant's Band of Joy for their recent release.
Interview by Maurice Hope
Hi Darrell. You certainly keep yourself busy. How do you manage so many different projects?
I usually have a few going on, and I will play with them till I find the one that feels like it wants to be finished. Lets me know it is the one that does.
How do you see the difference in the Nashville songwriting-community between now and when you first came to the city? Do you get more freedom today?
I feel it was always left to the artist to do what they wanted to do and I feel that is the definition of an artist. Sometimes, record companies can get in the way or artist's opinions of what they have to do to become famous, whatever. But, I think when it comes down to it an artist should follow their own vision and pull. Do what they want to and need to do. Go follow their heart.
When you set out to record A Crooked Road was it your intention to play all of the instruments?
Yes, it was. I had wanted to do that ever since I was 16 and had my first four-track recorder. To add parts as I went along. So finally I did it.
How do you decide what goes on a song and what doesn't?
The way I decide is when I hear playback. When I hear it I realise maybe I could try this or this and it is by trying the other things that I can find out whether it works or not. If it doesn't improve or if it violates the original intention of lets say guitar and vocal that I know is right, if an overdub offends that then I just erase it. That is how I work. I start with something I know does work with just the song, and I will try different things. But never, hopefully offending the original just the bare song.
Do the new sounds sometimes take time to settle?
I trust myself. So, when I hear something and I don't like it I won't talk myself into hearing any differently. If I know it is not right then I stick to my original thoughts. I make my decisions quickly. Since I love music and have been a listener for a long time and learn to trust my listening ability and think it sharp. When I listen to playbacks I know right away if it works. I don't wrestle with it but go onto other things, move on to the next thing.
You seem to include a lot of your own life in these songs. Do you find it can be healing process where loss and broken relationships are involved?
I am still doing that. That is part of the process for me. I go to songwriting to process what is going on in my world in my life. It is a healing thing, and the good news is after all the process whatever the subject is I may have a song at the end of it. It maybe captures what I have learned from the process or at least be part of the process and I do that in songs. It is my job, and that is what an artist and a writer are supposed to do. Use them selves as what it is like to be here on earth.
You've worked and toured with some amazing people over the years, from Tim O'Brien to Steve Earle and Guy Clark. Do you ever feel that you might lack the time to work on your own music?
Yes, from time to time, but what I am busy with now is my own stuff. There was a couple of years I was with Tim, Steve Earle and Guy Clark but in my mind I was always on the road doing my own work and they just settled around it. Do my own music, but sometimes like including like I am now with Robert Plant and his Band Of Joy I do surround myself some pretty cool things and music to play other than strictly my own. So I am having a great time doing that with Robert.
But you also miss having more time on your own?
Yeah, I do crave the time alone. The good news is with the travel that I am doing now there is plenty of time to be alone even though it is not at my home. You know in the streets of London or on tour because we don't hit it really, really hard so there will be sometimes full days where I don't have to report to anywhere. Those are the days when I can hone in and be myself. Those are great days. There are less of those days when I am at home in the States because I travel so much. So I get it best the quiet time, the alone time when I am on the road.
Tell me about working with Buddy Miller. He's also in Band of Joy. Why do you think people just want Buddy in their band?
Buddy Miller is a great player and people want him in their group. People like to have him play on their records all that kind of stuff or produce. So, it is a multi-faceted thing. Working on my own things and working on other people's stuff or in this case travelling around with this troop. I like the buffet style myself!
Are you working on any new projects?
I already have two started and have another idea what will probably come up and trump the others. I am still deciding on that and tend do things organically so I don't have to rush a decision on it. I will figure it out when I am supposed to know.
Darrell Scott's A Crooked Road is out now on Full Light Records. For more, go to Darrellscott.com