 Jamie McLean. Photo by John Ewing.
Jamie McLean Band - Jamie McLean (guitar and vocals), Brian Griffin (drums) and Ben Mars (bass) - is gearing up to release their long awaited new album One and Only on February 23rd. Recorded at the famed Sound Emporium and produced by Ken Coomer (Wilco), One and Only captures the band’s strongest songwriting to date on eleven tracks that incorporate New Orleans soul, Delta blues, middle America roots, and New York City swagger. In advance of the album's release, McLean kindly took the time to answer his Essential 8 and talk all things songwriting, his favorite venue, and much more!
With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect? There were a couple of songs that I brought to the studio with me for One and Only that were solid and finished but something was missing. When I sat down in the studio with producer Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo) he asked me to play the songs and when we finished he gave me some simple directions. "Sing It" was one that we've done as a band for years in a bluesy shuffle style. He asked me "What would it sound like if Keith Richards wrote this?"Literally a minute later I had the riff and groove for the new version and I love it! A similar thing happened with "Yesterdays Champagne." Originally it was written in an upbeat country type feel. He asked me to try a different rhythm with it and immediately I had the new version which reminds me of 461 Ocean Boulevard era Eric Clapton. It's amazing what can happen when you look at something with just a slightly different perspective. When/where do you do your best writing? Writing songs is always such an elusive and mysterious process. Generally, I do most of my writing when I'm completely alone. I've written on my couch in Brooklyn, on tour buses and in hotel rooms, and on vacations but the best stuff comes when it's quiet and uninterrupted. When I'm alone I feel free enough to just let it all out. I can really work through that process of creating something from nothing. I"m not afraid to scream weird vocal parts or try silly lyrics. It usually starts with some guitar strumming and a chord pattern followed by some vocal ideas. Once I have a melody that feels good I let the lyrics flow unconsciously. At first, sounds are almost more important than actual words. I certainly chip away at the stone and shape the themes but it's amazing what happens when you just get out of your own way and let things happen naturally. Do you write about real things that have happened to you or are you a storyteller? Which is easier? I definitely do a bit of both. Recently I've been able to let my guard down even more and really sing what is in my heart and on my mind. I've found that the more honest I can be with myself and with the lyrics the more they resonate and the more impact they have. Probably a good life lesson as well. I always loved the old songwriting style of creating a character and building a story around amazing fictional characters. Bob Dylan is a master of that. Our new song "Starting Gun" has a bit of that to it. I love those songs and would love to write more of them but lately, I've been most moved by something that is real and honest and true. What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? It was unspoken advice. When I joined the Dirty Dozen Brass Band I was young and had been practicing a lot. I came into the band and played a lot of fast lines and lots of notes. It was probably a symptom of being young and hungry and eager coupled with having some facility at my disposal. One night I took a long firey solo with tons of notes and I felt pretty excited about what I had done. The saxophone player came on next and played a killing solo with just one note. He got the crowd worked up into a frenzy with one note. I quickly realized that one note played with feeling and passion always trumps a thousand notes that don't have the soul and feeling to back it up. Years later the bassist for Widespread Panic came up to me and said, "Man, you've gotten some soul in your playing." I guess it rubbed off a bit.
What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Don't stop. Don't give up. If you feel it, sing it. If you hear it, play it. Not everyone will like what you do but as long as you believe in it and yourself you are a success. Have fun with it and don't worry too much about all the exterior noise because it will be fleeting and your thing will always be your thing. Don't let anyone take it away from you. What do you love most about being on the road? The interaction with the fans. There is something so special about playing music and seeing the fans getting into it. Anytime the dance floor is bumping it feels like a success to me. To see the fans singing along and having a ball and forgetting all the everyday drama for an hour or two is such a special shared experience. I really feed off of them and I hope they feed off of us as well. It's always amazing to hear their stories after the show. Their favorite songs may be the songs I've forgotten about or thought were throw aways. Their favorite shows may have been the nights I wasn't feeling well. It's so interesting to share in the mystery of the music together. I also love seeing new cities and visiting favorite spots. I feel so lucky to wake up in new and exciting places. It's always inspiring to try and catch the vibe of a new city and incorporate it in the music or the lyrics or a groove. What’s your favorite venue and why? Anytime I'm playing outside is an amazing experience. Places like Red Rocks or New Orleans Jazz Fest or Telluride Bluegrass are such inspiring places to play. To look up and see the clouds in a perfect blue sky or to watch the sun set behind a 14,000 ft mountain while you're playing music is unlike anything I've experienced. There have been a few times on stage where I"ve felt like I"m floating and a lot of those times have been on outdoor stages where I can soak up my surroundings and get out of my head. Is there anyone else who you would you love to collaborate with? I feel so lucky to have already worked with so many amazing talents. Playing with Aaron Neville has been such a pleasure. I pinch myself every night that I"m on stage with him. To have worked with Elvis Costello and Norah Jones and Gregg Allman is all such a blessing. I've always said that Stevie Wonder would be at the top of my list of people to work with. His songwriting and singing and vibe are all so legendary. Website Insta Purchase
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