Essential 8: Jeremy Dion

Courtesy of the Artist

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Jeremy Dion has been playing music since he was seven, and writing songs since he first picked up a guitar at the age of 18. Tinged with bluegrass, folk, and rock’n’roll, the songs Dion composes have the sound of hope and heartbreak, a loving distillation of the experiences we’ve all known at one time or another. On November 9th, Dion released his latest album, More Lately, and here answers his Essential 8 where he talks about the album, his favorite venues, and much more!

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
I took the name from one of the songs on the album, the song that best represents the album as a whole. It’s a song that was written in the midst of a major transition, ending a marriage, coming out of the closet, and continuing to parent a daughter.  And now, I find myself at the age of 44, in a committed partnership and continuing to parent my now 12-year old daughter, feeling much More myself Lately.

With Evangeline, what was the “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect? 
During the writing of the song, that moment came when the word “gasoline” fell into place in the chorus. That word wasn’t in the phrase I was first using, but after working with it a bit and “gasoline” presented itself as an option, it couldn’t have been more perfect. I love the rhythm of  the word and the way it sings, let alone the meaning. And the meaning, juxtaposed with the “water,” said precisely what I was trying to convey in this song. 

During the studio recording of the song, I knew we had it right once I heard the Eric Moon on the accordion. His touch is perfect, and the reedy voice of the accordion adds a perfectly plaintive and soulful quality to the song. It’s my favorite song on the album.

What’s your favorite venue and why?
I love playing the Soiled Dove in Denver, and The Triple Door in Seattle for similar reasons. Both are venues that offer dinner and drinks as concert-goers sit at candle-lit tables. And despite the inherent bustle that comes with that type of place, the audiences are always quiet, engaged, attentive, and appreciative. Plus in Denver, the front of the stage at the Soiled Dove is semi-circular, and the experience of performing while feeling more enveloped by the audience makes it more intimate. Both have excellent sound systems as well.

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​What’s your dream venue and why?
Again, I go with two for similar reason. Red Rocks and The Gorge in Washington State. I grew up near Seattle but have lived in Colorado close to 20 years, so my allegiance is forever split. But both of those venues are amazing for their obvious geographical majesty, and they’re also special to me because I have seen some of my favorite all-time concerts at each. I dream of standing on those stages regularly.

Who would you love to collaborate with?
Too many to count. But I would love to do some songwriting with my favorite writer, Gregory Alan Isakov, another Boulder local. I also want to open shows for Darrell Scott, Glen Phillips, Brandi Carlile, and so many more. And I wish Alison Krauss would cover one of my bluegrass songs.

What has been your biggest success?
I have opened shows for a few of my idols, played some incredible venues, released three albums, and met many fantastic people along the way. But my highest achievement is probably singing the National Anthem solo before a Colorado Rockies game. That had been a dream of mine since I was little, and it was magical to see it come true.   

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
A combination, for sure. Since I spend my days working as a licensed therapist, I spend countless hours hearing about people’s lives, their struggles, their triumphs, their fears, and their relationships. Those things certainly find their way into my writing. But many times I start out thinking I am writing a song about someone else’s situation, and it almost always evolves in a way that makes it autobiographical. I may start writing about a particular idea that one of my clients presented, but the song ends up representing my thoughts and feelings about that subject. Sometimes I do write songs about specific topics, people, or situations. But more often I think my songwriting is simply my way of communicating what it’s like to be me. They say, “This is what it feels like, this is what it sounds like, and this is what I think about all of that,” all set to some chords and a melody. 

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
I used to sing with my eyes closed most of the time when I performed, partly out of nervousness and partly to stay within myself while I played and sang. But years ago, a fan and fellow musician encouraged me to open my eyes more and connect with the audience. That was solid advice, and I took it to heart. I was surprised at how difficult it was at first, especially if I pushed myself to even make eye contact with someone in the audience while playing and singing. That can be really intense, for them too, I presume. These days I find it easy and natural to keep my eyes open most of the time, and I am grateful for the advice I received all those years ago.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
I have many hobbies, covering most of the Colorado requirements. I fly fish, paddle board, hike and bike and run and snowboard. But my favorite thing to do on a day off is usually just be with my family, and our dog Bernie.

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