 Americana five-piece No Coward Soul recently released their debut album, The Almanac, a 13 track project inspired by both urban folk tales of the vibrant streets of South London and a childhood among the epic landscapes and beauty of the Alaskan woods. Here, lead singer-songwriter Brad Schmauss answers his Essential 8 and shares the story behind the album's title, his Triple H formula, songwriting inspiration, and more! Is there a story behind your album’s title? The Almanac. I’ve had a poem of the same name that I use in Sound Checks and we decided to record it over the top of this hot mess when our Producer, Jamie Evans, was trying get Jules to play with a cello bow. That now opens the second half of the album. Also, I grew up in Alaska but my parents are from Minnesota, farm country and farmers need their almanacs. I can remember reading the poor Richards Almanac growing up, it was a great miscellany of corn growing tips, odd facts, and weather predictions. Seeing a lightning storm roll across the prairie towards you is the most organic cocktail of fear, connection, and excitement you’ll ever need. Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did? Well…I came upon a formula, the Triple H: Heart Hips Head. We want em all on this. As we got closer to the studio, some of the chat was along the lines of ‘Yeh, but we need more hips on this!’ I started off a singer songwriter and played at places where people weren’t allowed to talk when you played. That honed my lyrics but Christ we want folks to drink and feel and move! We wanted to make an album in the classic mold of the Seventies where bands took you on a real journey and left you physically, spiritually, and emotionally spent! Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? I don’t have one method, it’s all about being ready when that lightning finally arrives, and then managing to grab enough to tell people about the scars it left. You seen those guys that survive lightning strikes? I once sat next to a guy at an Ice Cream Parlour, Fairbanks Alaska one time, had a ten minute conversation with him, then he turned all the way towards me and the other side of his face and head was stripped off. ‘Sorry pal, you look a little startled, I got caught by a stick of lightning once..’ Scars. Sometimes though things come as a collage, so the ingredient list might look like: 3 Dog Night, 10 mile Run, bumper sticker, Kanye, Dad’s joke, Woody Guthrie. If a song doesn’t finish itself quickly, I keep it around me and see who or what responds. Then I bring it to the band and they frown or smile and we’re away!  Courtesy: Evans Above PR When/where do you do your best writing?
Generally, when I have a beat and not much time. I wrote this song scarecrow based on Dr Dre’s ‘Still Dre’. Decided I needed to play it live that night and everything happened really fast- these prairie images, the chords, the isolation I was feeling and sadness around my Step-Dad, within 20 minutes I’d written this dance song thing about Death and a vengeful DJ God. It was the first time I let go of trying lyrically and let the music and the subconscious work. Writing for me is like walking up on a wild animal- be bold you never look it in the eye. What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? We had a bizarre gig a couple years ago on a bill with a Reggae band and sound man. At the time, we we were a 3 piece kinda folk harmony thing- An Alaskan, Scotsman, Welsh Woman, and a cajon. Mid way through the sound check, the sound man starts angrily shouting ‘more bass man!’ So we went out and got our bass player Jules the next day! What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out? Play every day, Write every day, be silent every day. Steal from your influences, but Christ don’t compare yourself to them or you’ll never finish a song. Which song of yours gets the best crowd response? Recently it’s been ‘Death n Texas’. It’s a hips track and a party bringer. We were aiming for something between the Beach Boys and Stax- we missed and landed on a song we’re really proud of! Is there a recent release you cannot stop listening to? I love what Sturgill Simpson is doing with country music lyrically. Metamodern Sounds has blown the doors off the whole genre! Also been watching this live clip of John Moreland doing ‘You Don’t Care Enough For Me to Cry’, one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. Website/Facebook/Twitter
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