 Courtesy of the Artist With influences ranging from Mississippi John Hurt and Taj Mahal to progressive musicians like Charlie Parr and Jack White, Eric Long’s music is timeless folk steeped in some of America’s earliest musical roots. Releasing October 19th, his new album, A Long Way From Home, expresses much, connecting with the listener on songs of love, loneliness, and home. Here, Long answers his Essential 8 where he talks about the album, songwriting, his professional bucket list item, and more. Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you? I’ve always wanted a musical mentor. Maybe I still will someday. With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect? Hey Now Baby took me a really long time to write. The lyrics came quickly but it took a long time for my fingers to catch up to the melody that I was hearing in my head. Buying a resonator guitar helped in the process of finishing the song because I always head it on resonator but never had one of my own to develop the song with. Is there a story behind your album’s title? The line comes from the 1st track on the album “Pennsylvania on My Mind.” I think it has a lot to do with being torn from living on the east coast in Pennsylvania where I grew up and living in California where I live now. When/where do you do your best writing? I tend to have the best ideas in the morning but to come up with the best music/melodies late at night to it tends to be one of the two.  Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
I think I tend to gravitate towards great stories, whether mine or someone I’ve met. Most of the songs on the record are about real people. All of them in a way. What are your “must have” albums for the road? Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of old outlaw country. Specifically Honky Tonk Heroes by Waylon Jennings. I’ve also listened to For Everyman by Jackson Browne a lot lately. What has been your biggest success? I had the pleasure of opening for Guy Davis, Doug Macleod, and Fantastic Negrito at Biscuits and Blues on three occasions that were all pretty special. Which song of yours gets the best crowd response? Pennsylvania on My Mind, Hey Now Baby, and Happy. Is drinking at gigs a positive or a negative? A positive. Do you have a favorite thing to do on a day off? Read a good book next to a big river. Is there a recent release you cannot stop listening to? I really like the new material from Hiss Golden Messenger and JP Harris. Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off? I’d love to play a show in every state and to tour from San Francisco across the states to my home town York Pennsylvania. Website - www.ericlongofficial .com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/eric longmusic Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soulandbone/
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