Posted at: 7:20 pm on Jan 06, 2010 | Filed under:
InterviewsSaving the Setlist has a four-part interview with Andrew, and the fourth bit covers the songwriting process:
These days I find I write best when I have something in mind, some sort of project. Where the song is going to be heard helps me know what I’m trying to write. Is it a song for me? I’ve got four records I’d love to make soon, which one is it for? Does it belong in a story arc, is there some scene this needs to fit? Stuff like that. Once I know what I’m writing I can sit down at 9 am, answer my email, make my phone calls, turn off my phone and write til lunch. Also, deadlines don’t hurt!
I wish my process was more romantic, sexier, but it’s really just working. I find I’m rarely inspired when I’m watching TV, but daily inspired when I sit down and just start writing.
It sounds to me like Andy has hit the groove that Elliott Smith had—constantly writing, constantly recording, constantly improving; I remember reading the 33 1/3 series on Elliott’s XO and coming across so many people talking about how he just worked and worked at his craft. To quote Alexander Pope:
True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learn’d to dance.
‘Tis not enough no harshness gives offense;
The sound must seem an echo to the sense.
– An Essay on Criticism, II, l. 162
We’ve seen this in multiple versions of the same song, how songs have had verses change over time.
[Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this interview set are on StSL as well. And yes, I did pull out my copy of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations while writing this post.]
Posted at: 7:38 am on Dec 04, 2009 | Filed under:
PromotionWe announced it here two days ago, and today, with stunning speed, it becomes a reality: Choosing Sides is available for purchase in the Rabbit Room store.
You can choose the CD for $12, or MP3 downloads for $9.
Choosing Sides contains nine tracks, some of which will be familiar to those who have heard Andy play them in concerts over the past year:
- I’m On Your Side
- She Finds A Way
- Swing Wide The Glimmering Gates
- The Arms of Love
- Waiting
- Rest
- Without You
- I Thank God For You
- What I Know Now
There’s also a rumor that Andy will have the discs along for sale on the BtLOG tour this month, so if you’re lucky enough to get to see him there, buy one! (Lincoln, NE tonight!)
Once I get my hands on a copy of the CD I’ll get the Song Vault updated with lyrics and supporting info.
Got any guesses as to what that might be?
Posted at: 6:17 pm on Apr 06, 2009 | Filed under:
Site NewsActually, I do know the answer to this one. 
You know how Andy’s page loads have been awfully slow of late? Well, Andy decided to let us host his site. But … suffice it to say that … things haven’t exactly gone well.
Now I think I have a handle what’s going on … but hang tight and we’ll get it back to right soon!
Big, big kudos go out to Geof Morris for providing an absolutely fantastic bootleg of Andy’s Monday night show at The Rutledge.
Andy does some new stuff (Four Horses, I’m On Your Side), some old stuff (White Dove, Santa Barbara), some rare stuff (New Mexico – never heard him do that one live before!) and some really old stuff (a fantastic bluesy version of I Miss Those Days that simply must be heard). Oh yeah, and there’s a two-minute guitar solo on Hold The Light.
Just to give you a little taste, here’s “I Miss Those Days”:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
If you want to download the whole thing, head on over to indieriver.net.