Beau Jennings
Beau Jennings talks about his song-writing process, Randy Newman, and why Jameson is one damn fine drink.
After releasing his first solo effort, Holy Tulsa Thunder earlier this month, alt-country songwriter Beau Jennings is getting ready to tour. This week he takes the time to talk with us about his home state of Oklahoma, how much he loves The Hold Steady, and where he falls on the beer vs. whiskey debate.
Heave: So you're from Oklahoma, you recently moved to Brooklyn, but returned to Oklahoma to record Holy Tulsa Thunder, which incorporates New York pop and country melodies -- was it a conscious effort to combine sounds from both locations?
BJ: No, there wasn't a conscious effort in terms of bridging any kind of gap. There was a conscious effort to make the songs more immediate and more aggressive. Aggressive for me, at least.
Heave: A lot of critics mention Bruce Springsteen when describing your music, and I am even reminded of Lou Reed on certain parts of Holy Tulsa Thunder. Who were you listening to while writing and recording?
BJ: I do listen to Springsteen, but I've never owned a Lou Reed record, he's someone who's catalog I know I need to be more familiar with. I try to listen to good songwriters more than anything. If I remember right I'd been listening to lots of Randy Newman and The Band when I was writing the album.
Heave: I've heard you say before that your solo work allows you to write and record music that wouldn't fit with your other band, Cheyenne. What kind of differences are you speaking of?
BJ: Well, I think when I first announced I was releasing a solo record I needed to explain why, since I knew the sounds wouldn't be terribly different. Basically, Cheyenne adopted a songwriting process for the next record that focuses on us writing as a group. In the past I'd usually write the songs and bring them to the group for them to learn. The songs Cheyenne has been writing for the new album after The Whale are different enough from the songs on my solo record to warrant the name change. I don't know if that's confusing but that's the idea.
Heave: Despite being a solo effort, Holy Tulsa Thunder has a talented band backing it. What's your writing process like for solo work? Is the whole band involved from the start, or do you bring them in later?
BJ: I brought the songs in pre-written and the guys learned and/or wrote parts, much like Cheyenne used to work. I really tried to make it clear to them, however, that even though the record would be under my own name I wanted it to benefit from their contributions. That reminds me of another reason I had for wanting to have the solo career. I wanted to have the option of collaborating with lots of different musicians and letting them influence my songs without having to worry about that changing the dynamic of Cheyenne. Having my cake and eating it, I guess.
Heave: I've heard that the entire album was recorded live on the floor--is that true? If so, what was that experience like? Does it make it easier to translate the album to a live show?
BJ: All the instrumentation, save for an acoustic guitar overdub, was done live in the tracking room. I had to record my vocals separately, I'm sad to admit. Except on “The Opolis” -- that one was completely 100% live in the studio. The experience was wonderful, we were able to track the whole record in 5 days and we had time to spare. And as for the live show, yes, it absolutely takes the guesswork out of "what parts of the album do we want to have in the show and what parts will we need to cut out or try to replicate?" Cheyenne has run into that problem in the past and so it was nice to realize from the outset that I wanted to make a record that could be played live. And since the instrumentation was fairly minimal you always have the option of expanding on it at the show, instead of the usual problem of having to cut back.
Heave: A lot of the record focuses on the demise of a small amusement park in Oklahoma, but it seems like that sense of loss and nostalgia permeates the album and could be applied to other things (like independent record sellers, for example). Is this the type of thing you see more in New York or in Oklahoma?
BJ: To be honest, I have no idea. If the idea can be applied to other situations, then that is ideal to me; to me, it means the song(s) had some validity, some universality to it.
Heave: What do you think people lose in an industry that pushes independent sellers out of the picture? Does that only effect the consumer, or do independent bands and artists feel an effect as well?
BJ: Everyone feels the effect. Or I think they do. I can't say I've ever sold enough records to feel the difference either way. As far as the old Best Buy vs. Independent Stores goes, I'd like to think that the market could sort itself out after a while. It's fun to get the new Coldplay for $7.99 or whatever at Best Buy, but if they don't also carry Bee Thousand then maybe I'll get both in one trip and just go to my local store. Wait, that is a horrible example. I'm no economist, I'm sorry.
Heave: Favorite movie and album from the first half of 2008?
BJ: Man, good question. I was super excited about Indiana Jones, and while I enjoyed it I can't remember much about and don't plan to watch it again anytime soon. I suppose The Dark Knight will be up there when I get around to seeing it. As far as albums go, I couldn't wait for The Hold Steady's new record and it didn't disappoint.
Heave: Settle a debate around the Heave office: what's the best drink to have while listening to your record, whiskey or beer?
BJ: You guys have an office? Kidding. Uh, if you're in New York then beer because you can get my absolute favorite, it’s brewed by Six Point Brewery and it’s called Sweet Action. Anywhere else in the country and Jameson is a safe bet.
Heave: Do you have any plans to tour Chicago? When you come, do you have a specific place that you like to eat or get drinks? (If not, we'll give you some suggestions).
BJ: We do indeed plan on being there in October. I'm afraid I haven't been "out" enough in Chicago to say my favorite place to get something to drink, but I do remember Ann Sathers as having out-of-this-world breakfast. Is that place still around?
Posted by Ryan Peters on Jul 28, 2008 @ 8:03 am
