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So Brown recently sat down with VENTS Magazine to talk about their powerful new single “All Roads”. Interview is below.
What’s the story behind “All Roads”?
The song started coming to me many years ago. I could feel that it was a powerful song, but it took me a while to discern the exact chords. Then for a while, I was only playing it on guitar because I didn’t have a piano in my apartment, but that version always felt lacking. One of the first things I did in the upstate house was buy that piano, a dark, rich Charles Walter upright, and then on it the song finally felt right. When I realized I needed to let go of upstate, I made the video as a way to capture all of it- the piano, in that room with its great acoustics, my morning walk seeing the horses, and going to the old church…so the video is a farewell love letter to upstate.
How has spending time in nature influenced your music?
Spending time in nature taught me how to listen. For example, at the end of the video, when there is my drawing of the house, I realized I wanted to record nature sounds to have in the background. Seemed simple, right? But I quickly realized nature sounds different at night versus during the day. It sounds different walking by a tree with lots of crows talking or if the wind moves all the branches. So I ended up with like 20 totally different verses of nature sounds. I finally went with the one from 2 am, but that experience showed me that every single experience is unique. And if I transferred that into a studio, then every microphone is unique, whether it’s positioned in a corner or in the center of the room. Every piano, every guitar; how do I match the right sound for each song? It’s almost a zen overload of taking in all the variations, but it leads to such rich possibilities.
What artists or musical experiences have shaped your sound the most?
Elliott Smith is one of the big ones for me. And John Lennon was a foundational one from when I was young. But also, American music, southern music like Delta blues, and the music of rebels like grunge. And I spent so much time in the classical world, as a pianist and in orchestras, that that’s an influence as well- Ravel, Stravinsky.
What does the message of “All Roads” mean to you?
I spent so much of my life being separate from people- as a kid being outcast due to my gender non-conformity, then later not relating to the modern world…All Roads is letting all of that go, all ideas of being different, and embracing love and connection to all.
What was it like filming the song live in one take?
Well, it’s more pressure than typical “punch in to edit” scenarios. It took a few takes to get it right. Also, it was different each time. I started off being too dramatic. This take was actually a little faster than some of the others, but I think it worked for the pacing of the video. I like the human imperfection that happens in live takes- like, I actually changed the words at the end without realizing it! The part about “sun on my skin”. It was like, “oops, well, I guess that’s how it goes now”. Keeps things interesting!
Why did you want to include personal memories and places in the video?
I mean, if I’m gonna make meaning of my life and the places and people I love, it sort of has to be personal. What else is there? I want to make the art that only I can make. That was part of why I left the classical world- lots of people can play a Chopin Ballade, for example. But no one other than me can write these songs, so I honor that, I celebrate that, I make it personal.
You’ve described music as spiritual. How does that influence your songwriting?
Yes, music is spiritual. There have been times when I was in a dark place, but when the music came on, it helped me and gave me fortitude to get through. The spiritual is what interests me, whether it’s Jimi Hendrix talking about how we are here on this third stone from the sun with beautiful mountains, or how to navigate human relationships. Why are we here? What is meaningful? What beauty moves me to want to sing about it? This is what ends up in my songs.
What can listeners expect from your album Point Legere?
Point Legere is a very Southern album. And Deep South, rural. Sometimes people will say to me, “oh Southern like bluegrass?” And I say, “No, bluegrass is mountain music of Tennessee; this is much further South, the sound of bayous and the coast.” It has a lot of Delta blues influence, like Skip James, but also country. There are some interesting instruments and arrangements- French horn, bass clarinet…and also some great special guests like Norah Jones and Tony Scherr. I would say it’s haunting and beautiful, like Alabama.
You’ve described this release as a new beginning. What are you looking forward to most?
Connecting with people. I have spent so much time alone, often in the woods, that getting out and interacting with people, audiences, just feels so great. So, shows everywhere!
Do you have plans for live shows or new music, and is there anything else you’d like fans to know?
Yes to both! I’m booking shows right now, so holler if you’d like me to come to your town; I like to go where I’m wanted! And I have lots of new music too. We have so much incredible musical history here in the US- blues, Fender, Elvis…it’s exciting to be part of that legacy and to keep the party going!
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