 Credit: Cale Glendening
Raw and reflective, Reuben Bidez's upcoming EP, Something to Say, holds a mirror to the machines that make the world tick. Throughout the six tracks, it's clear that Bidez has not only found his voice, but is not afraid of expressing it - something he does beautifully via transporting, emotive vocals, compelling lyricism, and memorable melodies. Here, Bidez answers his Essential 8 where he touches on processing experiences through songwriting and shares advice from Thad Cockrell, as well as his favorite road food, must have albums, and more.
Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? I've found that I use writing as a way of processing my experiences. I don't think I've ever written a song that I truly loved that didn't come out of some personal experience. This is why I believe meeting new people and traveling to new places is so important to develop as a songwriter. Get out of your bubble! What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? Thad Cockrell encouraged me to not be so precious with every song. He said that being precious holds back the song from becoming what it really needs to become. Like a child that you coddle for too long. It's hard though when parts of yourself are in each song. But, as Thad reassured me, there will always be more songs. What’s your favorite/”go-to” food on the road? If I'm in the southeast, I alternate between Chick-fil-A and Zaxbys. I'm from the south, so I'm a sucker for fried chicken. If I'm in the west, I always look for the closest In-And-Out burger. People sometimes hate on it saying it's nothing special, but I've never had a bad burger from them. Also, it's what I ate almost exclusively while I recorded Something To Say in Dallas, TX.
What are your “must have” albums for the road?
Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss to listen to when the scenery is beautiful. Anything Billy Idol and ZZ Top when you need to make some time. Their songs have the perfect tempo for the highway. Damn The Torpedos by Petty, Currents by Tame Impala, and Augustana's self-titled album are excellent front to back. What’s the most frustrating thing about being on the road? Waking up early the day after a late show. haha! Which song of yours gets the best crowd response? Definitely "Intruder." It's a dark, brooding song off my last EP Turning To Wine. There's a lot of dynamics to it and the 12-string really plays a huge part. Is drinking at gigs a positive or a negative? I have a strict no drinking before the show policy. But that's because my shows require a lot of vocal control and focus. So I've found it's best to refrain before the show. What someone does after the show is fine, but on the road it can catch up with you night after night. Everything in moderation. Including moderation. Is there anyone you would love to collaborate with? If I could go back and work with George Harrison, that would be a dream. I love collaborating with great guitarists. They think differently than I do since I focus more on vocal melody. But alas, he is gone. Living, I would love to work with Robert Plant. I feel like I could learn a ton from him. His delivery and emotion are superb. And I could always use a good dose of rock n' roll in my life! Watch the video for "What You Really Wanted" feat. Molly Parden HERE Website/Facebook/Twitter/Insta
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