Vermont-based singer-songwriter Dave Richardson found music as a form of expression at an early age. A self-taught guitarist, Richardson was instantly drawn deep into the rich catalog of traditional and contemporary folk music; the instrumentation, the storytelling, the people, the history, and the use of music as a platform. Released on February 23rd, his debut album Carry Me Along finds Richardson beautifully weaving together those threads with a collection of originals and timeworn tunes, that are united by Richardson's incredibly familiar and comforting vocals. Here, Richardson kindly took the time to answer his Essential 8 and talk about the album, finding inspiration, Club Passim, and more.
Why did you choose to anchor 'Carry Me Along' with the songs you did? A LOT of listening and deliberation went into the album’s sequencing! I chose to start the album with “Squid,” this song sets the tone with a textured, atmospheric arrangement. It features lovely 3-part harmonies from Liv Baxter, Emily Mure, and Mali Obomsawin. The textured arrangement and harmonies are echoed on the last song, “Turtle Rock.” My hope is that listeners will hear “Turtle Rock” and want to dive back in with “Squid.” Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? I find ideas for my songs everywhere. Some are autobiographical or stories from people close to me. Sometimes I have a musical idea that inspires a story. For example, for my song "Rise and Play" (The Fox), I came up with a guitar part that was very driving and it reminded me of a critter running through the woods. I went with that and wrote a song about a night in the life of a fox. I also keep lists of interesting words, phrases that pop into my head, etc. Sometimes when I am writing and get stuck, I can dig into my lists and find inspiration to get me un-stuck. When/where do you do your best writing? I bought an 1850’s farmhouse in Vermont last year and it is a wonderful place to write. I have an office with a desk, but the living room couch is very comfy, and I have a back porch overlooking our flower garden that is magical in the summer. I have to set aside time to write; I am not the type of writer that can wait for inspiration to come. What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out? Don’t worry about whether you are good at it. Developing technical skills, songwriting skills, a stage persona…it all takes time and experience. Get out and play for other people as much as you can. Ask for feedback. Observe other musicians. My other piece of advice: play WITH other people. I have learned so much through bouncing ideas off of my songwriting friends, accompanying them on their songs, having them play with me on mine, and just getting together to jam. What’s your favorite venue and why? Club Passim in Cambridge, MA is hands down my favorite place to hear and play music. I have seen many of my folk heroes play there: Anais Mitchell, The Mammals, Ferron, Utah Phillips, Dan Bern…I could go on and on. Passim is so much more than a club though; it is a home for folk music. They run a music school where people of all abilities and all walks of life can learn from some of the Boston area’s best musicians. Their “Iguana Music Fund” awards approximately $40,000 a year to New England artists. Passim is a pillar of the folk community and I feel so lucky to be a part of that community. I am playing an album release show there on Monday March 12th and can’t wait! Which song of yours gets the best crowd response? I don’t know about the “best” crowd response but I love the experience of sharing a song that is very personal and specific that an audience really connects with. I wrote a song called “Traveling So Far” about my mother and her relationship with her dad. The story is very specific to her, but it seems to resonate with listening audiences and I often receive feedback from people after playing them that song. I am thankful to my mom for allowing me to share her story. I recorded it for my new album and two of my favorite voices, Emily Mure and Jefferson Hamer, sing harmony with me. Favorite (or first) concert you have ever attended? My first concert was Alanis Morrisette in 1996 at an arena at the University of New Hampshire. I was 11 and it blew my mind. I was completely obsessed with her CD Jagged Little Pill. She and her band were great, the crowd was enthusiastic, and it was louder than anything I had ever experienced. I loved it! Is there a recent release you cannot stop listening to? I am addicted to Aurora Birch’s album Brightness that came out in December. She is an excellent songwriter, her voice is so smooth, rich, and expressive, and her guitar style is really unique. The songs and their arrangements are so fully realized and innovatively presented. It’s like nothing I have heard before. Website IG Purchase
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |