While 2017's Stargazer continues to gather momentum, Jesse Terry returns on March 30th with an all new recording, Natural. Produced by Josh Kaler in East Nashville, Natural is a sparse, acoustic collection which features appearances from some of the singer-songwriter's friends and favorites including Dar Williams, Kim Richey, Cary Ann Hearst (Shovels & Rope), Liz Longley, Annie Clements, Sarah Darling and Erin Rae. In advance of the release, Terry very graciously answered his Essential 8 and talked the emotional story behind Natural, trusting your voice, Waffle House, and more.
What’s the story behind your album’s title? I was going through such a profound loss when I wrote the title track “Natural.” We’ve all been there before – or we’ll all be there at some point in our lives. When you’re going through a loss that just feels so surreal and unnatural. That’s where the title came from. I just remember thinking that the feeling of loss would never feel natural or justified. And the hardest losses never do. We lost our beloved road dog Jackson in December so suddenly and we miss him every single day. We’ve since rescued this beautiful new lab mix named Harrison (after George of course) and we’re completely in love with this little guy. But it doesn’t erase the loss of Jackson or replace him. The positive thing is, we’ve realized how much Jackson taught us about life and love. We feel very fortunate that we cherished every day with him. We miss him dearly but we don’t have any regrets. And I think that’s all you can wish for. Life seems to be all about the roller coaster ride and cherishing every moment. Why did you chose to anchor the album with the songs you did? Well, they all had a certain contemplative and dreamy quality that I dug and connected to. The songs felt like they belonged on an album together. We recorded these last two records, Stargazer and Natural, back to back - And I worked with the same producer and team, so we were able to look at this big batch of songs and really think about where they fit. There are some songs that I loved, that we didn’t think fit on either album, so we saved those tunes for something in the future. Great songs are the key to everything, but I still love the idea of a cohesive album that evokes a certain emotion and vibe. Something you can put on a turntable and play start to finish. There is hopefully a real ebb and flow, but I also hope there is a thread that runs through the entire record. It was really exciting to explore a different side of myself on Natural, right before recording Stargazer, which I think is a completely different album. Of course the biggest thread that runs through the entire Natural album are these stunning female harmony vocals. I love the relationship and counterpoint between the male and female voices and the different emotions that can create. Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? Everywhere really. My antennae are always up and I’m always listening for a beautiful phrase or watching for a unique image… or looking for an interesting billboard… or waiting for a certain scent in the air that takes me back to childhood. I write all of that stuff down as soon as it hits me and I keep those pages close to me. Sometimes the words lead to another title or idea. Or sometimes they directly connect to something I’m going through on that particular day. I had that Stargazer title lying around for years and I couldn’t write it until I found the melody it fit with. And the emotion it fit with. I also record every melody or chord progression that I think has the potential to be magical, whether it comes to me at sound-check or in the middle of the night. It’s real important to get it recorded right away on the phone. So I’m almost always inspired when I’m writing, because I never feel like I’m staring at a blank canvas. There is always something to say. If I had any complaint, it would be that I don’t have enough time to write. But hey, I’m not digging ditches either. 
When/where do you do your best writing? Either with my family in New Zealand or at my apartment in New England. Those are places where the world can get so quiet. There is such solitude and beauty in both places and I’m surrounded by people that unconditionally love and support me. The music flows out of me when I have that kind of situation. Oh and I need lots and lots of good coffee! What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? Trust your voice and be yourself. Open up your heart and your mouth and see what comes out naturally. You might be the biggest Springsteen fan in the world (and I’m a pretty huge one) but you might have been given a voice that is more reminiscent of James Taylor or Paul McCartney. The worst thing to me is when an artist is clearly not being themself. There’s no way to convey truth when you’re doing that. And I can say that because I was guilty of that flaw myself when I was starting out. Now I know I’m being myself and finding my own way. Some folks will love it and some folks won’t, but it’s authentic and I believe that’s the thing that will carry me and sustain me. And I feel like I’m just scratching the surface now. It takes a while for most artists to feel open and to stop being so hard on themselves. We’re a sensitive bunch that has to go through a lot of rejection and criticism. It’s actually a good thing and a humbling thing, but it is a delicate balance between being a vulnerable artist while also developing a tough skin. I have to say, these days if someone passes on me or gives me a mediocre review, it just fuels me. I want to prove them wrong. So that becomes a positive thing. I don’t need them to motivate me to get better. I already want to get better with every show and with every record and with every note. It’s just further motivation and fuel. What’s your favorite food on the road? That’s a tough one! I must admit, my wife and I have a real affinity for Waffle House when we’re in the south. It’s the cheapest date going and the coffee ain’t bad. You start to look forward to different places in different regions of the country. When we’re in the Northeast I look forward to Starbucks and Dunkin. When we start getting into the Mid-Atlantic we start looking for Wa-Wa’s. And then you begin to enter Sheetz and Waffle House territory down south. I guess the common denominator here is COFFEE. That’s a food right? When we do have time to explore a cool town, we always look for the best brunch place in the area or the coolest indie coffee shop. But usually time is a big factor when touring. It’s pretty rare to have extra time, unless it’s a total day off. What’s the most frustrating thing about being on the road? Really just the loss of precious time. I’m the only driver in my car, unless I’m in the UK or in a country like New Zealand where folks drive on the left, so I drive a lot. I mean a lot. My wife is a kiwi and doesn’t drive on the right side yet, so sometimes I feel like I’m missing opportunities to write, to explore or to sleep! I do love the open road though and I’ve got a great situation, touring most of the time with my wife Jess and our new pup Harrison, who absolutely loves the road. Maybe someday I’ll have a full-time driver. And I’m sure when that happens I’ll inevitably be longing for these days when it was just me and my perfect trio, jammed into the car and listening to the Beatles 24/7. These are the good ole’ days and I do love this journey. I do my best to always remember that when I’m tired and on some epic drive across the country. Which song of yours gets the best crowd response? My song Noise always seems to affect an audience. I’d say that Stargazer is also having that impact on people. It’s great to feel that emotion and energy floating in the room when you finish singing that last note. There’s a fleeting moment of silence and clarity there, right before the applause starts. That moment can tell you a lot. And it’s great to hear the reactions at the merch table after the show. That’s why you do this whole thing. I wrote Noise a while ago with my great friend Michael Logen and re-recorded it for the Natural album (it was also on my debut record The Runner). When I found out that Dar Williams was going to sing on two of the tracks, I knew that I had to record it again and hear her voice on the song. I’m so glad we did that. But yeah, there is something about those two songs. I really connect with both of them on such a deep level, even after singing them so many times. I don’t really connect to them at a rehearsal, but a live audience changes everything. That’s what it’s all about, feeding off of that energy and connecting to other human beings - Feeling that unity and togetherness. When everything is right at a performance there is nothing in the world quite like it. It’s a beautiful drug. Website/Facebook/Twitter/Purchase
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