꩜ Door At The Top Of Your Head ꩜

Correspondence 50

Sing What You Feel☟

If you feel like singing a song
And you want other people to sing along
Then just sing what you feel
Don't let anyone say it's wrong
-Wilco, ‘What Light’

Prior to performing/recording under my own name, I never sang in any project I was involved in. I never even considered the option. In the solitude of my own home I’d sing softly to myself while parsing out new songs, but somewhere along the way relegated myself to merely ‘guitarist.’ I quickly built a narrative that any musical contribution I offered would not involve my voice. It took years for me to tell myself a a new story. I can’t pinpoint the moment this began to change, but the following helped along the way:

-Really paying attention to what I enjoyed about singers I admired. Phrasing, timing and saying a lot with a little being some of the most important (re: Willie Nelson singing ‘behind the beat,’ Bill Callahan’s delivery on ‘The Sing,’ or Jack Adkins speak-singing on ‘American Sunset’)

-Identifying a register I felt comfortable in - I do a lot of interviews with musicians. Most writers can’t stand the transcription process, but hearing myself back during these conversations actually allowed me to appreciate the tone and timbre of my voice. This was kind of the first step towards some self-love and identifying with my baritone range.

-Starting before I was ready. This is a lesson my wife (go read/subscribe to her newsletter) taught me. When I made my first EP in 2019, I was not ready to try singing. I came very close to keeping the songs all instrumental, but decided to give it a go. I definitely DO NOT love how they came out, but looking back am so happy I gave myself permission to begin to see my voice as another instrument I could use to color my songs.

-Hearing other people be vulnerable about their journey - over the years my bud Steve Gunn has spoken openly about how long it took him to get comfortable singing both live and on record. I consider Steve to have an absolutely beautiful voice, and am so appreciative of him sharing his story. Thank you Steve. Go buy his records!

It is not uncommon now for people to come up to me to tell me how much they enjoyed or connected with my singing after a show. At times it’s hard to believe as it’s still a part of my practice I feel the most self-conscious about. I am beyond grateful for every opportunity I have to sing, to use my breath, vocal chords, and brain to produce sound that allows me leave an imprint on a song. I have so much to learn and am excited to stay on this path. Next step - singing with others! See below for my first crack at it.

Flowers on the Highway ~ Live☟

When I first moved to Portland I interviewed Michael Hurley for a series focusing on the best record stores across America. Here's what Doc Snock had to say about Mississippi Records:

"This place is thrills, chills and high adventure basically. Big on the blues and the international ethnic grooves. Oddballs and rarities are waiting to surprise the astute hipster on any given day, and there's no day off."

Last weekend I had the honor of performing inside the shop. It was a beautiful night of community and deep listening. A truly DIY affair and a wonderful reprieve from your standard bar/club show. Here’s a clip of ‘Flowers on the Highway’ featuring Mat Peluso on pedal-steel and Merle Law on vocals. Long live Mississippi Records.

One Month Out ~ Texas Tour☟

My co-headline Texas run with Cactus Lee starts in one month! GASSED UP to be joined by Garrett T Capps on all shows. Tickets on sale now. Come on if you’re comin.’

Headcleaner ~ Feb ‘24☟

Your subscriber only playlist for February has landed. Enjoy.

Reading, Watching, Listening To☟

Reading:
Willie, Waylon, and the Boys: How Nashville Outsiders Changed Country Music Forever - Brian Fairbanks

Watching:
SLY LIVES (Hulu)

Listening:
Ryan Sambol - Friend of The Show
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - The Purple Bird
Brown Spirits - Cosmic Seeds