With their unique mix of blues and country influences Wallin-Jison are back with new acoustic album "Definitely Blue" a creative seven track outing that is both interesting and engaging. Here, member Christian Wallin talks about the project, songwriting, Pistol Annies, and more.

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
The very last song that was written for this album was a song called "Definitely Blue". It had a somewhat similar vibe as another track, so at the last minute we decided to drop the song, but keep the title. It seemed to fit the mood of the album.

Please share the story behind your album’s artwork.
It's an illustration I did of things that just very loosely relates to the themes of the songs. I didn't want it to be too specific, just something that would spark the imagination.

Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did?
We never put more than seven songs on any of our albums, because when you produce, mix and master your own music like we do, with 10 or 12 songs the mixing process can really start to drag on and it's easy to lose your focus on the overall feel of the album. So we rather make shorter albums and put them out more frequently.  But shorter albums also mean that selecting the songs is harder and there are always a lot of songs that doesn't make the cut. This time we really wanted to showcase the different sides to our music, so there are softer country songs, like "Move Around The Room" which we knew was going to be the first song, and "Sixth Sense" which is the first real slow song we have done in a while. Then there are songs like "You're A Different Person Now" and "My Buddy's Wife (What Kind Of Friend Are You?) which are much more raw and bluesy. "End of The Month" and "You Never Cared" are somewhere in the middle, but have a lot of banjo on them, so that makes for an interesting mix.  

"It's the kind of real deal twang and dirt Americana record that we started the Americana radio format for back in the mid 90's.” - Brad Paul co-founder of Americana Music Association

For Robbie Walden, it's all about the songwriting - and the strength of his is front and center on his upcoming album, When The Rooster Crows. Due February 15th, the live to tape project is a reflection of Robbie's personal life over the last 5 years from divorce, bitterness, and self-destruction to finding happiness, peace, and true, honest love.  In advance of the release, Walden answered his e8 and spoke about the album's artwork, inspiration, eating healthy on the road, and more.

Please share the story behind your album’s artwork.
I have always wanted to draw my own album artwork, as I have drawn most of my life, and love it! With this being such a personal album and concept album, I decided this was the time to do so. So I have drawn the entire album artwork.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
This is an extremely personal album, a musical reflection of the last 5 years—a diary so to speak. From divorce, bitterness, and self-destruction to finding happiness, peace, and true honest love; track 8, “When the Rooster Crows”, is the turning point in the story and the album. From turmoil and heartache, we strip it all down, take a deep breath, and realize each day is a new beginning, and everything is going to be okay... when the rooster crows” 

When/where do you do your best writing?
Alone, when I have time to think, or while I am watching something on TV.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
All the above. More often from a first person and personal experience.