Essential 8: Tom Galloway

Courtesy of the Artist

Born in Georgia, raised in Texas, and currently calling Nashville home, Tom Galloway combines roots, folk, bluegrass, classic country and rock to form a truly original blend of storytelling. Developing his craft for years, Galloway recently released Cross Currents, an eight song project featuring melodic hooks and captivating lyrics. Here, he answers his Essential 8 and talks musical mentors, songwriting, Rodney Crowell, and more.

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
My musical mentors have been everyone I've shared the stage with or written with.  Playing live you can listen, respond, and build off each other, and then go home and expand on what you learned from those moments.  Something I've learned since moving to Nashville is the importance of co-writers.  All the songs on the record were written alone, however now when I sit down to work on a song I can envision everyone I've written with around me sharing their thoughts, and kind of seeing the songs through their eyes. The more experiences with other writers, the more diverse and enriched you can become at the craft.

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
I wrote most of these songs at our cabin up in North Georgia between my move from Athens to Nashville. It's hard not to be affected by the Appalachian country writing up there, definitely my favorite place to write. The sound of the nearby river was always running low in the background and that was the initial inspiration for the title. I was also reflecting on the currents pulling me to Nashville during that transitional time.  The album has loss and redemption and the cross relationship between dark and light. "Poorhouse of Sin," probably the darkest tune, is followed by "Lean into the Light," which is probably the most positive song, yet they're both beautiful to me in different ways. The crossing of genres became interesting because I set out for a singer-songwriter Americana album, but there are a lot of different sounds going on with some interesting sections and driving rhythms.  

When/where do you do your best writing?
I do my best writing on my own, just away from everything. There can be so many distractions, it's best for me to find a spot where I can just get super focused, once I can really tap into that zone it's the best feeling ever. 

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Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination? 
I find inspiration at random, I really hate to force anything, but I'm always trying to soak up potential lines through dialogue, books, movies, dreams, and when I hear something that clicks for me I'll write it out and go from there. Sometimes just thinking or journaling about something going on in my life can develop into some cathartic lyrics. Rodney Crowell said, "As a songwriter, everything that happens helps you. If you learn from it."
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What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
A lot of folks strive to embody a trending sound. I believe there's nothing wrong with that, especially if that's the kind of music you love.  But some of the best advice I've had is to write from that authentic place that is only you. Inspiration comes from everywhere, but you have to harness a distinct sound that rings true for you, regardless of what may be considered the right sound at the time. 

Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
I grew up being a huge fan of Saturday Night Live, it's such a cultural institution, and every time I would see the musical guests I would think wow, they made it, they are playing in the biggest city in the country, hanging out with the cast on a Saturday night in front of a national audience...live! That would be the ultimate joy for me. 

Who would you love to collaborate with?
Rodney Crowell has been a big career template for me in terms of a diverse and hard working songwriter and performer.  He has played and collaborated with several bands, he writes for himself, but also writes well for others, and has had a very long career.  I would love to collaborate just to pick his brain and learn his process. Also, to record a song produced by T Bone Burnett would be a dream.

Do you have a favorite gift from a fan?
One time after a show I was loading out and passed a table with an empty beer glass and underneath the glass someone had slid a sketch drawing of me playing that evening on the back of their receipt, never saw the artist, but I thought it was so mysterious and well done so I snagged it and framed it.

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