1 00:00:15,436 --> 00:00:22,636 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hey there, it's justin Richmond. Today we have a 2 00:00:22,676 --> 00:00:27,556 Speaker 1: special Broken Record Holiday episode with Nashville singer songwriter Amanda Shires. 3 00:00:27,996 --> 00:00:31,076 Speaker 1: We're gonna start things off with an exclusive acoustic performance 4 00:00:31,156 --> 00:00:33,996 Speaker 1: of her new song home to Me, from the album 5 00:00:34,036 --> 00:00:40,196 Speaker 1: for Christmas. You said there's a song the runway, I 6 00:00:40,676 --> 00:00:49,236 Speaker 1: song the wings. I saved everywhere and nothing will bring 7 00:00:52,116 --> 00:01:10,716 Speaker 1: you to me, to me, to me, adol wand it's 8 00:01:10,796 --> 00:01:17,836 Speaker 1: new cold to walk. I keep looking for you, but 9 00:01:18,076 --> 00:01:29,436 Speaker 1: I'm disfrosted. You should come home to me. Whoa to me? 10 00:01:34,236 --> 00:01:54,276 Speaker 1: To me? Please come on, come on. I'm tired of 11 00:01:54,316 --> 00:02:01,436 Speaker 1: the moon and keep in mind company. I'm tired of 12 00:02:01,836 --> 00:02:09,476 Speaker 1: the dark and a night full of brittle stars. Should 13 00:02:09,516 --> 00:02:20,956 Speaker 1: come home to me? Hoh to me, Ho to me, 14 00:02:27,116 --> 00:02:44,436 Speaker 1: he please come home, come home. You wonder w gueed, 15 00:02:45,796 --> 00:02:52,076 Speaker 1: I wonder what you see. I wonder what you're thinking, 16 00:02:53,196 --> 00:03:01,076 Speaker 1: and if you'll ever be come in home to me, 17 00:03:02,676 --> 00:03:17,756 Speaker 1: Home to me, Ho to me, come in home to me, 18 00:03:19,316 --> 00:03:46,716 Speaker 1: Ho to me, to please come home come home. That 19 00:03:46,836 --> 00:03:50,356 Speaker 1: was Amanda Shires singing home to Me. Shire's new holiday 20 00:03:50,356 --> 00:03:53,316 Speaker 1: album for Christmas Isn't meant to make you feel merry 21 00:03:53,356 --> 00:03:57,436 Speaker 1: and bright Instead, It's an acknowledgment of the complicated feelings 22 00:03:57,436 --> 00:04:01,676 Speaker 1: that a lot of us have around the holidays, like disappointment, longing, 23 00:04:02,156 --> 00:04:05,276 Speaker 1: and maybe even a little bit of lust. In addition 24 00:04:05,316 --> 00:04:08,476 Speaker 1: to her solo career, Amanda Shire's plays fiddle and sings 25 00:04:08,476 --> 00:04:11,556 Speaker 1: in her husband Jason Isabel's band, the four hundred Unit. 26 00:04:12,436 --> 00:04:15,436 Speaker 1: She's also a founding member of the female country supergroup 27 00:04:15,636 --> 00:04:18,756 Speaker 1: The High Woman with Brandy Carlisle. But wait before she 28 00:04:18,836 --> 00:04:21,196 Speaker 1: hit a big and Nashville. With all of that, Shires 29 00:04:21,196 --> 00:04:24,956 Speaker 1: played fiddle with the Texas Playboys, the legendary Western swing 30 00:04:24,996 --> 00:04:27,556 Speaker 1: band started by Bob Wills that she joined when she 31 00:04:27,596 --> 00:04:31,556 Speaker 1: was just twelve years old. On today's episode, Bruce Headlam 32 00:04:31,636 --> 00:04:34,276 Speaker 1: talks to Amanda Shires about what inspired her to write 33 00:04:34,316 --> 00:04:38,436 Speaker 1: a non traditional Christmas album. Shires also explains how finding 34 00:04:38,476 --> 00:04:42,276 Speaker 1: out that her grandfather served decades in Alcatraz raised a 35 00:04:42,356 --> 00:04:45,876 Speaker 1: ton of questions about her family's history, and she recalls 36 00:04:45,876 --> 00:04:48,956 Speaker 1: what happened the time she discovered Jason Isabel ripped off 37 00:04:49,036 --> 00:04:55,716 Speaker 1: one of her lyrics. This is broken record liner notes 38 00:04:55,756 --> 00:05:03,956 Speaker 1: for the digital age. I'm justin Richmondon. Here's Bruce Headlam 39 00:05:04,156 --> 00:05:07,676 Speaker 1: with Amanda Shires. First of all Nanda Shires. Thank you 40 00:05:07,716 --> 00:05:10,756 Speaker 1: so much for doing this, for having me. People who 41 00:05:10,796 --> 00:05:14,956 Speaker 1: know your music, which is moody and very evocative, might 42 00:05:14,996 --> 00:05:17,076 Speaker 1: be surprised that you had a Christmas album out. I 43 00:05:17,156 --> 00:05:19,396 Speaker 1: was surprised you had a Christmas album out. So tell 44 00:05:19,436 --> 00:05:22,676 Speaker 1: me what the thinking was going into this. I'm surprised 45 00:05:22,716 --> 00:05:25,036 Speaker 1: to have a Christmas record. Out of all the things 46 00:05:25,076 --> 00:05:27,276 Speaker 1: I had never thought I would do, it was a 47 00:05:27,356 --> 00:05:31,476 Speaker 1: Christmas record. But I think the catalyst for it all 48 00:05:31,636 --> 00:05:34,916 Speaker 1: was just going into this year knowing that Christmas is 49 00:05:34,956 --> 00:05:38,316 Speaker 1: going to probably resume to some sort of sense of 50 00:05:38,436 --> 00:05:42,716 Speaker 1: normalcy as opposed to last year. Last year, I was 51 00:05:42,756 --> 00:05:45,236 Speaker 1: really happy not hearing all the Christmas jams and going 52 00:05:45,276 --> 00:05:47,996 Speaker 1: out shopping and all that. You know. That's not to 53 00:05:48,036 --> 00:05:51,076 Speaker 1: say I didn't miss a lot of stuff about normal holidays. 54 00:05:51,116 --> 00:05:53,796 Speaker 1: So that was what started at all, as like that 55 00:05:53,796 --> 00:05:55,596 Speaker 1: that might be a good song idea in there, and 56 00:05:55,756 --> 00:05:58,396 Speaker 1: I started writing one song, and then I wrote ten, 57 00:05:58,516 --> 00:06:01,076 Speaker 1: and then I covered one. Now, when you were growing up, 58 00:06:01,356 --> 00:06:04,036 Speaker 1: I think most people had like a favorite holiday album. 59 00:06:04,116 --> 00:06:05,916 Speaker 1: Did you have a holiday album at home that you 60 00:06:05,916 --> 00:06:08,476 Speaker 1: were thinking of when you did this? I really liked that. 61 00:06:08,596 --> 00:06:12,716 Speaker 1: Vince Giraldi I really liked that one in Bura Lives, 62 00:06:12,796 --> 00:06:15,156 Speaker 1: you know, and my mom listened to a lot of 63 00:06:15,516 --> 00:06:18,956 Speaker 1: like Pavarotti and what are those folks names? Those Irish 64 00:06:18,956 --> 00:06:23,876 Speaker 1: folks that sing Christmas songs? They're like operatic, Yes that 65 00:06:24,316 --> 00:06:28,516 Speaker 1: you did it the chieftains, Yes, because she's you know, 66 00:06:28,716 --> 00:06:32,236 Speaker 1: Irish and she was Irish. Your mom. Well, we just 67 00:06:32,316 --> 00:06:35,316 Speaker 1: found out actually that we don't know what we are 68 00:06:35,356 --> 00:06:38,516 Speaker 1: because my granddad turns out, was in Alcatraz and nobody 69 00:06:38,596 --> 00:06:41,276 Speaker 1: knew it till after he died, so we don't really 70 00:06:41,276 --> 00:06:42,996 Speaker 1: know where he was from. In the end, he was 71 00:06:43,036 --> 00:06:46,196 Speaker 1: incarcerated in Alcatraz, yeah, for twenty five years, one of 72 00:06:46,196 --> 00:06:48,316 Speaker 1: the first two hundred. But when he got out, this 73 00:06:48,476 --> 00:06:51,956 Speaker 1: when he started a family with my grandmother. But nobody 74 00:06:52,076 --> 00:06:55,036 Speaker 1: knew any of this, this stuff about Alcatraz and all 75 00:06:55,116 --> 00:06:58,836 Speaker 1: this until our merchandise guy gave me a family tree, 76 00:06:59,596 --> 00:07:03,796 Speaker 1: like a complete one because his uncle is what are 77 00:07:03,796 --> 00:07:06,716 Speaker 1: those genealogists types, And I was looking through it and 78 00:07:06,756 --> 00:07:08,396 Speaker 1: I was like, that can't be real. Is that real? 79 00:07:08,436 --> 00:07:11,876 Speaker 1: And then we hired a private investigator and it turns 80 00:07:11,876 --> 00:07:14,476 Speaker 1: out it's true. That's amazing. Can you tell us what 81 00:07:14,556 --> 00:07:17,796 Speaker 1: he was in for Yeah, he was a young man 82 00:07:18,316 --> 00:07:23,236 Speaker 1: that was a career criminal, car thiefs, and you know 83 00:07:23,316 --> 00:07:26,356 Speaker 1: how the money used to be in the post offices. Yeah, 84 00:07:26,996 --> 00:07:29,876 Speaker 1: so he held up a post office and he took 85 00:07:29,996 --> 00:07:37,476 Speaker 1: the postmaster's child and why hostage, and nothing happened to 86 00:07:37,516 --> 00:07:40,476 Speaker 1: them but except for obviously some kind of trauma. But yeah, 87 00:07:40,516 --> 00:07:44,116 Speaker 1: when he got caught. After that, he went to Alcatraz. 88 00:07:44,876 --> 00:07:47,396 Speaker 1: Did you know your grandfather when I was young. I 89 00:07:47,436 --> 00:07:49,796 Speaker 1: did for a little while, and he passed away. He 90 00:07:49,596 --> 00:07:52,636 Speaker 1: was he was quite old at that point. But yeah, 91 00:07:52,676 --> 00:07:54,996 Speaker 1: I think that's gonna shed some light on a lot 92 00:07:54,996 --> 00:07:59,196 Speaker 1: of different things in my life. Probably well when you 93 00:07:59,276 --> 00:08:03,836 Speaker 1: do your Christmas and Alcatraz album exactly, So there's elements 94 00:08:03,876 --> 00:08:06,996 Speaker 1: to that in my Christmas records. You know, people go 95 00:08:07,036 --> 00:08:10,116 Speaker 1: to prison. You know John Prine had a Christmas in prison, 96 00:08:10,276 --> 00:08:13,436 Speaker 1: that's right. Yeah, so you're gonna play some songs for us, 97 00:08:13,476 --> 00:08:16,476 Speaker 1: So tell me first about Home to Me. Home to 98 00:08:16,596 --> 00:08:20,876 Speaker 1: Me captures a feeling of wishing folks were around that 99 00:08:21,316 --> 00:08:24,956 Speaker 1: aren't well at Christmas time or any other time, and 100 00:08:25,156 --> 00:08:27,236 Speaker 1: I think that that's feelings we all have around the 101 00:08:27,236 --> 00:08:31,116 Speaker 1: holiday season. In any season, it's kind of a desperate 102 00:08:31,636 --> 00:08:36,196 Speaker 1: plea for reconciliation. I guess was that your feeling last 103 00:08:36,276 --> 00:08:40,396 Speaker 1: year with Christmas when you were isolated. I feel that 104 00:08:40,436 --> 00:08:43,516 Speaker 1: way about different people in it that come in and 105 00:08:43,516 --> 00:08:45,876 Speaker 1: out of my life, and then different family members. And 106 00:08:46,356 --> 00:08:48,156 Speaker 1: I kind of wrote it in a way where I 107 00:08:48,196 --> 00:08:52,716 Speaker 1: was trying to apply it to different types of relationships 108 00:08:52,716 --> 00:08:55,676 Speaker 1: that I've had, but mostly it's like a love relationship. 109 00:08:56,036 --> 00:08:57,956 Speaker 1: When I think about it, pretty hard, I just like 110 00:08:58,036 --> 00:09:01,276 Speaker 1: to mask all my true feelings with you know, other feelings. 111 00:09:02,156 --> 00:09:05,236 Speaker 1: Feelings are complicated because to me, I thought it was 112 00:09:05,236 --> 00:09:08,516 Speaker 1: a romantic song or a song about a romantic relationship, 113 00:09:08,556 --> 00:09:11,476 Speaker 1: but really you were talking about something else. I'm talking 114 00:09:11,516 --> 00:09:14,316 Speaker 1: about that. But I don't want the folks that feel 115 00:09:14,356 --> 00:09:16,756 Speaker 1: moved by the song and wish that it was their 116 00:09:16,796 --> 00:09:19,516 Speaker 1: own father or somebody to feel way laid in the 117 00:09:19,556 --> 00:09:22,796 Speaker 1: outcome of finding out that it is like a wanting 118 00:09:22,956 --> 00:09:26,236 Speaker 1: a love relationship. But I guess I should trust my audience. 119 00:09:26,756 --> 00:09:30,996 Speaker 1: It reminded me this song that holiday songs can be 120 00:09:31,156 --> 00:09:34,756 Speaker 1: actually the saddest songs. It seemed to me the flip 121 00:09:34,796 --> 00:09:38,356 Speaker 1: side of that old song I'll be Home for Christmas right, 122 00:09:38,596 --> 00:09:40,636 Speaker 1: which was a big wartime song. This seemed like from 123 00:09:40,676 --> 00:09:43,716 Speaker 1: the other end, like come home. It is that for sure. 124 00:09:43,756 --> 00:09:45,996 Speaker 1: I mean, I'll just start being honest about it. Who cares. 125 00:09:46,036 --> 00:09:49,276 Speaker 1: It's like, you know, you want somebody in your life 126 00:09:49,396 --> 00:09:52,796 Speaker 1: and it's just not going right, and it sucks worse 127 00:09:52,796 --> 00:09:57,876 Speaker 1: around Christmas. Yeah, things suck words around Christmas. Yeah, let's 128 00:09:57,956 --> 00:10:00,476 Speaker 1: go back a bit. You grew up in Texas and 129 00:10:00,556 --> 00:10:02,036 Speaker 1: you grew up Is it true you grew up near 130 00:10:02,236 --> 00:10:06,556 Speaker 1: Mineral Wells. I was born in Mineral Wells, population eight 131 00:10:06,876 --> 00:10:10,156 Speaker 1: and my dad and my gran parents and stuff still 132 00:10:10,156 --> 00:10:12,676 Speaker 1: live out there. And then when my dad and mom 133 00:10:12,716 --> 00:10:15,996 Speaker 1: split up, I lived with my mom in Kansas City 134 00:10:16,036 --> 00:10:18,556 Speaker 1: and then love it because where she finally settled down. 135 00:10:18,876 --> 00:10:20,996 Speaker 1: I don't know Texas very well. I've been there a 136 00:10:21,036 --> 00:10:24,036 Speaker 1: few times. I only knew Mineral Wells from the Tom 137 00:10:24,076 --> 00:10:26,676 Speaker 1: Russell song. I didn't know it was a real place. 138 00:10:26,996 --> 00:10:29,316 Speaker 1: It's a real place. I have a song called Mineral 139 00:10:29,356 --> 00:10:33,836 Speaker 1: Wells too. Okay, this is embarrassing because I totally missed that. Listen. 140 00:10:33,916 --> 00:10:35,516 Speaker 1: I have a little bit embarrassed that I tried to 141 00:10:35,556 --> 00:10:37,996 Speaker 1: lie off my feelings on a Christmas song a minute ago. 142 00:10:38,076 --> 00:10:42,116 Speaker 1: So even well, we're gonna get deeper into your feelings. 143 00:10:42,116 --> 00:10:44,716 Speaker 1: Don't worry. Oh good, okay. I have to ask you 144 00:10:44,796 --> 00:10:47,116 Speaker 1: because a lot of people compare your voice to Dolly 145 00:10:47,156 --> 00:10:50,236 Speaker 1: Parton's voice, and that's of course a compliment. When did 146 00:10:50,236 --> 00:10:54,636 Speaker 1: you first meet Dolly Parton? I met her at OURCA 147 00:10:54,756 --> 00:11:00,036 Speaker 1: studio A for rehearsals for the Highwomen Newport Show. Now 148 00:11:00,116 --> 00:11:03,196 Speaker 1: what was that like? I mean, I asked your assistant 149 00:11:03,236 --> 00:11:06,116 Speaker 1: the day before, I said, what do you think Dolly 150 00:11:06,156 --> 00:11:08,556 Speaker 1: Parton would like me to wear? Because I really want 151 00:11:08,556 --> 00:11:12,716 Speaker 1: to make it good depression. She said probably leather and lace, 152 00:11:13,316 --> 00:11:14,836 Speaker 1: and so at home and the next stay I put 153 00:11:14,836 --> 00:11:17,076 Speaker 1: on leather and lace, and sure enough it worked. I waited. 154 00:11:17,116 --> 00:11:19,916 Speaker 1: I got there early, and she came in and we 155 00:11:20,036 --> 00:11:21,916 Speaker 1: talked about our leather and lace a lot, and it 156 00:11:21,956 --> 00:11:25,636 Speaker 1: was magical and terrifying. I mean, watching her work is 157 00:11:26,516 --> 00:11:30,116 Speaker 1: an incredible thing. We'll be right back with more from 158 00:11:30,116 --> 00:11:36,876 Speaker 1: Amanda Shires. After a quick break. We're back with Bruce 159 00:11:36,956 --> 00:11:41,396 Speaker 1: Hudlam and Amanda Shires. So was there music in your 160 00:11:41,436 --> 00:11:43,876 Speaker 1: family growing up? Was there always music around the house. 161 00:11:44,196 --> 00:11:47,156 Speaker 1: There was music in my mom's house and then at 162 00:11:47,196 --> 00:11:51,476 Speaker 1: my granddad's and dads. They do wholesale greenhouse stuff. Where 163 00:11:51,476 --> 00:11:53,916 Speaker 1: you grow plants and stuff for your nurseries. So there 164 00:11:53,956 --> 00:11:56,676 Speaker 1: was music playing on the radio and stuff there, and 165 00:11:56,716 --> 00:11:58,916 Speaker 1: then in the pecan orchards, it was just turning the 166 00:11:58,996 --> 00:12:01,116 Speaker 1: tractor radio as loud as you could get it. But 167 00:12:02,396 --> 00:12:06,436 Speaker 1: my grandfather that I was very close to Garland, he 168 00:12:06,796 --> 00:12:11,156 Speaker 1: wasn't of the generation, and I don't think they thought 169 00:12:11,196 --> 00:12:13,476 Speaker 1: that playing music was going to get you anywhere because 170 00:12:13,476 --> 00:12:15,276 Speaker 1: he had a guitar, but it was just in his closet. 171 00:12:15,876 --> 00:12:18,956 Speaker 1: And then you started with violin. Is that what's that 172 00:12:19,076 --> 00:12:22,556 Speaker 1: your first? Yeah, violin? I got that violin and I 173 00:12:22,596 --> 00:12:26,636 Speaker 1: started playing in school. And then I met Frankie McCord 174 00:12:26,796 --> 00:12:30,516 Speaker 1: from the Texas Playboys and started to learning my ear 175 00:12:30,596 --> 00:12:33,956 Speaker 1: from him on his porch and was going to quit violin, 176 00:12:34,116 --> 00:12:36,436 Speaker 1: and then my mom said, how about you do violin 177 00:12:36,796 --> 00:12:41,036 Speaker 1: and we could parallel that with the fiddle, And I said, 178 00:12:41,116 --> 00:12:43,436 Speaker 1: that sounds like a sweet deal. What was it like 179 00:12:43,516 --> 00:12:46,036 Speaker 1: to sit on his porch and learn those old Texas 180 00:12:46,036 --> 00:12:49,756 Speaker 1: Playboy songs? Because that's some that's very high end fiddling. 181 00:12:49,796 --> 00:12:53,476 Speaker 1: That's a lot of jazz, all that Western swing stuff 182 00:12:53,556 --> 00:12:57,036 Speaker 1: is really it's pretty accomplished. I was what they call 183 00:12:57,316 --> 00:12:59,996 Speaker 1: ate up with it. It was my joy not just 184 00:13:00,036 --> 00:13:02,116 Speaker 1: to hang out with him and listen to him talk 185 00:13:02,156 --> 00:13:06,556 Speaker 1: and sing, but to learn and then even go deeper 186 00:13:06,676 --> 00:13:09,796 Speaker 1: like he learned fro him the first recorded fiddler Robertson, 187 00:13:10,396 --> 00:13:12,996 Speaker 1: and learned songs that predate the Will's Band and stuff 188 00:13:13,036 --> 00:13:14,476 Speaker 1: like that. I don't know if there's a lot of 189 00:13:14,516 --> 00:13:17,276 Speaker 1: audio of them, but I've got tapes and CDs and 190 00:13:17,356 --> 00:13:22,156 Speaker 1: stuff full of the stuff, and I just somehow I 191 00:13:22,196 --> 00:13:24,236 Speaker 1: don't know why. Well, I do know why. I've always 192 00:13:24,236 --> 00:13:27,636 Speaker 1: been good at making friends with old folks, and I 193 00:13:27,676 --> 00:13:31,196 Speaker 1: really prefer it because they they're decisive and they're setting 194 00:13:31,196 --> 00:13:35,356 Speaker 1: their ways and direct. You know. It's so I do 195 00:13:35,476 --> 00:13:39,236 Speaker 1: well in that situation. And then the music, it just 196 00:13:39,276 --> 00:13:41,796 Speaker 1: spoke to me. So I did that. And you know, 197 00:13:41,996 --> 00:13:45,596 Speaker 1: instrumental music is the way I used to express myself 198 00:13:45,836 --> 00:13:48,476 Speaker 1: back then, because I didn't really have a vocabulary for 199 00:13:48,836 --> 00:13:51,676 Speaker 1: expression as a ten or twelve year old with very 200 00:13:51,676 --> 00:13:54,276 Speaker 1: little frontal lobe development. Do you remember the first couple 201 00:13:54,276 --> 00:13:56,796 Speaker 1: of songs you learned. The first Bob Wills song I 202 00:13:56,796 --> 00:14:00,196 Speaker 1: ever learned was Spanish two step, and that is the 203 00:14:00,276 --> 00:14:02,076 Speaker 1: day I was told my mom I was going to 204 00:14:02,156 --> 00:14:03,996 Speaker 1: quit playing the violin. She's like, we're going to just 205 00:14:04,156 --> 00:14:07,716 Speaker 1: do both. And then you joined the Texas Playboys for 206 00:14:07,756 --> 00:14:10,796 Speaker 1: a while. How old were you? Twelve? I would go 207 00:14:10,876 --> 00:14:14,596 Speaker 1: in and out in between school and when they needed me. 208 00:14:14,676 --> 00:14:17,516 Speaker 1: You know, they didn't play a whole whole lot, but 209 00:14:18,036 --> 00:14:20,796 Speaker 1: it was enough where I felt like a member of 210 00:14:20,836 --> 00:14:23,956 Speaker 1: a band, and we had scheduling and logistics and stuff. 211 00:14:24,396 --> 00:14:26,756 Speaker 1: It wasn't like when you think of touring artists now, 212 00:14:27,396 --> 00:14:31,156 Speaker 1: but a lot of that was they needed somebody to 213 00:14:31,196 --> 00:14:33,676 Speaker 1: play that low third part and I was willing to 214 00:14:33,716 --> 00:14:36,876 Speaker 1: do it. And I don't think I really had an 215 00:14:36,876 --> 00:14:38,916 Speaker 1: ego about any of the music or anything. I was 216 00:14:38,916 --> 00:14:40,756 Speaker 1: just happy to be there. My stuff worked and I 217 00:14:40,796 --> 00:14:44,076 Speaker 1: showed up on time and we all got along well. 218 00:14:44,156 --> 00:14:47,156 Speaker 1: And eventually they started teaching me how to improvise, and 219 00:14:47,236 --> 00:14:49,476 Speaker 1: that was a whole new bag of worms. How did 220 00:14:49,476 --> 00:14:51,836 Speaker 1: they teach you that? In my mind, it's like throw 221 00:14:51,876 --> 00:14:54,716 Speaker 1: your kid into the swimming pool. They'll eventually swim. They'd 222 00:14:54,716 --> 00:14:57,276 Speaker 1: take their solos, you know, all night long, and they're like, 223 00:14:57,316 --> 00:14:59,036 Speaker 1: at some point we're going to point out your're gonna 224 00:14:59,076 --> 00:15:02,396 Speaker 1: do your solo. And I'm thinking, okay, well, this could 225 00:15:02,396 --> 00:15:04,196 Speaker 1: go a lot of different ways. But they're my friends. 226 00:15:04,276 --> 00:15:07,836 Speaker 1: They'll catch me if I fall, and I did. I fell, 227 00:15:07,876 --> 00:15:10,036 Speaker 1: and I failed a whole whole lot. But they kept 228 00:15:10,116 --> 00:15:12,636 Speaker 1: making me do it, not making me giving me the 229 00:15:12,716 --> 00:15:14,996 Speaker 1: chance to do it. Like we play a song like 230 00:15:15,076 --> 00:15:18,796 Speaker 1: old fashioned love, you know, some easy, easy changes and 231 00:15:19,916 --> 00:15:22,076 Speaker 1: all right, a mandature turn and I'd have to go 232 00:15:22,196 --> 00:15:25,036 Speaker 1: step up like I was taking a major solo. Then 233 00:15:25,076 --> 00:15:27,276 Speaker 1: you learned really quickly that way, you know, were you 234 00:15:27,316 --> 00:15:30,836 Speaker 1: listening to records as well of violin players to try 235 00:15:30,876 --> 00:15:34,316 Speaker 1: and get ideas. I didn't think about getting ideas from 236 00:15:34,356 --> 00:15:40,316 Speaker 1: anything as far as improvisation until later, because I didn't 237 00:15:40,356 --> 00:15:42,996 Speaker 1: know that that was a way to do it. But 238 00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:46,996 Speaker 1: during that time I was in order to go to school, 239 00:15:47,116 --> 00:15:49,996 Speaker 1: high school and junior high and all that and be 240 00:15:50,196 --> 00:15:53,196 Speaker 1: part of the kid culture I was in. I had 241 00:15:53,236 --> 00:15:56,796 Speaker 1: to also maintain what was on the pop radio, rap radio, 242 00:15:57,636 --> 00:16:00,956 Speaker 1: you know, the Tejato stations. But at home it was 243 00:16:00,996 --> 00:16:05,396 Speaker 1: strictly Bob Will's Tiffany transcriptions. That I listened to a 244 00:16:05,436 --> 00:16:10,316 Speaker 1: lot of the individual Texas Playboys is fiddle in records, 245 00:16:10,436 --> 00:16:13,396 Speaker 1: and then my favorite was Louie Tierney who played with 246 00:16:13,436 --> 00:16:16,276 Speaker 1: them a lot. So I'd go listen to that song 247 00:16:16,436 --> 00:16:18,716 Speaker 1: just to hear that part again, and I liked all 248 00:16:18,756 --> 00:16:23,236 Speaker 1: of them. And you're a very gritty violin player. It's sharp, 249 00:16:23,316 --> 00:16:25,476 Speaker 1: You've got a lot of bite to when you're playing. 250 00:16:25,556 --> 00:16:28,916 Speaker 1: Like I compare you to somebody like Alison Crows, who's 251 00:16:28,956 --> 00:16:31,476 Speaker 1: a very famous fiddler, but she's got a much sweeter sound. 252 00:16:31,556 --> 00:16:33,636 Speaker 1: You like that really is that kind of a Texas sound, 253 00:16:33,636 --> 00:16:38,076 Speaker 1: that harder sound. I think that's a sound that I've 254 00:16:38,196 --> 00:16:41,356 Speaker 1: kind of developed from listening to rock and roll in 255 00:16:41,436 --> 00:16:44,876 Speaker 1: fighting with guitars, and it's also got a lot of 256 00:16:45,476 --> 00:16:48,436 Speaker 1: what I have, which is an attitude. I also think 257 00:16:48,436 --> 00:16:50,796 Speaker 1: that you can do a lot with the texture of sounds, 258 00:16:50,876 --> 00:16:53,396 Speaker 1: because sometimes I do think it's appropriate to make your 259 00:16:53,476 --> 00:16:59,436 Speaker 1: violin whistle or go harmonic scrapy for whatever effect you're 260 00:16:59,436 --> 00:17:03,236 Speaker 1: trying to achieve. And then depending on who's producing those 261 00:17:03,236 --> 00:17:05,796 Speaker 1: types of things can be you know, affected in a 262 00:17:05,796 --> 00:17:09,236 Speaker 1: way that changes a complete landscape of a song. Sometimes, 263 00:17:09,556 --> 00:17:12,876 Speaker 1: like in that song Adjacent's if We're Vampires, there's some 264 00:17:12,956 --> 00:17:16,036 Speaker 1: of that going on. And then Traveling Alone was kind 265 00:17:16,036 --> 00:17:18,196 Speaker 1: of when I started playing with that idea and when 266 00:17:18,196 --> 00:17:21,796 Speaker 1: did the songwriting start? Because of the playboys, you were 267 00:17:21,796 --> 00:17:23,796 Speaker 1: on a bunch of albums. You were fiddling for a 268 00:17:23,796 --> 00:17:27,076 Speaker 1: lot of people. You're sort of a side player. When 269 00:17:27,076 --> 00:17:31,036 Speaker 1: did you start songwriting? I started, you know, I have 270 00:17:31,036 --> 00:17:34,596 Speaker 1: a little goofy poetry. But that would be after I 271 00:17:34,716 --> 00:17:38,156 Speaker 1: sang for the first time lead song. The first time 272 00:17:38,196 --> 00:17:40,716 Speaker 1: I sang a lead on a song was I had 273 00:17:40,716 --> 00:17:43,476 Speaker 1: to hold Leon Rausch of the Texas Playboy's hand to 274 00:17:43,596 --> 00:17:47,436 Speaker 1: sing that song. That sure would go good. That I 275 00:17:47,556 --> 00:17:49,676 Speaker 1: have pictures and we're just holding hands. I was so scared. 276 00:17:50,276 --> 00:17:52,916 Speaker 1: But then I started singing, and then started doing harmony 277 00:17:52,956 --> 00:17:56,556 Speaker 1: and trying to, you know, be available when somebody might 278 00:17:56,596 --> 00:18:00,356 Speaker 1: want harmony. Who were singing, you know, just expands your 279 00:18:01,356 --> 00:18:04,596 Speaker 1: work a little bit more, I guess. And I was playing. 280 00:18:04,596 --> 00:18:08,556 Speaker 1: I was playing fiddle playing with everybody singing. And I decided, 281 00:18:08,636 --> 00:18:11,756 Speaker 1: you know what would supplement my own income. I'm gonna 282 00:18:11,756 --> 00:18:13,876 Speaker 1: copy the Texas Playboys and I'm gonna make a little 283 00:18:13,876 --> 00:18:16,196 Speaker 1: fiddle in record. And so I made a little fiddle 284 00:18:16,236 --> 00:18:18,796 Speaker 1: in record, not an artist record. I just wanted to 285 00:18:18,836 --> 00:18:20,916 Speaker 1: set up on the stage and get a couple of 286 00:18:20,916 --> 00:18:24,316 Speaker 1: ten or fifteen dollars here and there got about nine 287 00:18:24,636 --> 00:18:27,356 Speaker 1: eight or nine fiddle tunes in and I thought people 288 00:18:27,436 --> 00:18:30,556 Speaker 1: might want to know like that I could sing in 289 00:18:30,596 --> 00:18:32,596 Speaker 1: case theyver want me to sing with them too. You know, 290 00:18:33,276 --> 00:18:36,396 Speaker 1: it's all very entrepreneurial in a way. Were you touring 291 00:18:36,396 --> 00:18:38,756 Speaker 1: in Texas at this time or were you up in Nashville, 292 00:18:38,876 --> 00:18:42,476 Speaker 1: Texas still, because I did just basically all my pre 293 00:18:42,676 --> 00:18:46,036 Speaker 1: artist career was in Texas. So I thought, well, I'm 294 00:18:46,036 --> 00:18:47,676 Speaker 1: gonna have to sing a song so people know I 295 00:18:47,716 --> 00:18:50,556 Speaker 1: could sing harmony and stuff. And I started thinking about 296 00:18:50,596 --> 00:18:53,076 Speaker 1: what song I was singing. Then I realized you had 297 00:18:53,076 --> 00:18:57,876 Speaker 1: to pay royalties. And then I thought, well, self, what 298 00:18:57,916 --> 00:19:00,716 Speaker 1: are we going to do? And so I've made up 299 00:19:00,756 --> 00:19:04,356 Speaker 1: two songs and I put them on there. Well, turns 300 00:19:04,356 --> 00:19:07,196 Speaker 1: out that record was done, and I found myself on 301 00:19:07,236 --> 00:19:10,916 Speaker 1: the road with Billy Joe Shaver, and one night I decided, 302 00:19:10,956 --> 00:19:12,876 Speaker 1: you know, there's enough room on that table. I'm gonna 303 00:19:12,876 --> 00:19:15,436 Speaker 1: set my CDs right there. That's what I'm gonna do. 304 00:19:15,516 --> 00:19:17,276 Speaker 1: And I set my CDs right there. I didn't ask 305 00:19:17,316 --> 00:19:22,076 Speaker 1: anybody didn't know you had to ask. And after the show, 306 00:19:22,356 --> 00:19:25,276 Speaker 1: he was signing some CDs and he said, is that 307 00:19:25,396 --> 00:19:28,476 Speaker 1: your record sitting up there with mind? And I said, yep, 308 00:19:28,876 --> 00:19:30,636 Speaker 1: and he said, I guess we'll have to listen to 309 00:19:30,676 --> 00:19:32,636 Speaker 1: that tomorrow. Huh. And I said, oh, you don't have 310 00:19:32,676 --> 00:19:33,756 Speaker 1: to listen to it. You could just have it and 311 00:19:33,756 --> 00:19:35,156 Speaker 1: listen to it on your own time. He's like, Nope, 312 00:19:35,156 --> 00:19:37,076 Speaker 1: we're gonna have to listen to it, and so he 313 00:19:37,156 --> 00:19:41,076 Speaker 1: put it on in the car and then we're listening 314 00:19:41,156 --> 00:19:44,756 Speaker 1: and there's no where. He's not saying anything, just got 315 00:19:44,756 --> 00:19:47,916 Speaker 1: his radars for the cops, you know, driving real fast. 316 00:19:47,956 --> 00:19:49,916 Speaker 1: And I'm worried. I'm like, WHOA, what have I done? 317 00:19:50,396 --> 00:19:52,236 Speaker 1: And he heard one of the songs on there, and 318 00:19:52,276 --> 00:19:54,036 Speaker 1: he said, you know what you need to do. You 319 00:19:54,116 --> 00:19:57,516 Speaker 1: need to move to Nashville and become a songwriter. There's 320 00:19:57,596 --> 00:20:01,156 Speaker 1: no loyalty in the side person world. And I thought 321 00:20:01,196 --> 00:20:03,116 Speaker 1: I was being fired, like it was a polite way 322 00:20:03,116 --> 00:20:07,356 Speaker 1: to fire me. So I said, no, Billy Joe, I 323 00:20:07,396 --> 00:20:09,676 Speaker 1: love my job. I don't mind not settled the CDs 324 00:20:09,716 --> 00:20:11,556 Speaker 1: if you don't want me to, I don't. I really 325 00:20:11,636 --> 00:20:13,756 Speaker 1: I don't want to. I really love playing with you. 326 00:20:14,156 --> 00:20:17,716 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm learning a lot. And he said, no, 327 00:20:17,796 --> 00:20:19,716 Speaker 1: but you should. You could be a songwriter. If you 328 00:20:19,756 --> 00:20:21,476 Speaker 1: want to go be a songwriter, you should be a songwriter, 329 00:20:21,516 --> 00:20:22,676 Speaker 1: and I was like, I don't know, Billy Joe, I 330 00:20:22,756 --> 00:20:25,236 Speaker 1: really like playing with you. And then a year later 331 00:20:25,276 --> 00:20:27,596 Speaker 1: I told Billy Joe Shaver I was moving to Nashville 332 00:20:27,676 --> 00:20:32,036 Speaker 1: to pursue my dreams of being a waitress. And then 333 00:20:32,076 --> 00:20:36,276 Speaker 1: I started over and here we sit. Was there a 334 00:20:36,316 --> 00:20:39,076 Speaker 1: song you heard? Was there something that inspired you that 335 00:20:39,116 --> 00:20:41,316 Speaker 1: made you think I can do this? Who were your 336 00:20:41,356 --> 00:20:44,956 Speaker 1: inspirations back then? I always heard Billy Joe Shaver and thought, 337 00:20:45,036 --> 00:20:47,596 Speaker 1: I wonder if I could do that one day, and 338 00:20:48,556 --> 00:20:52,196 Speaker 1: just the way he captured exactly what he was feeling 339 00:20:52,836 --> 00:20:55,036 Speaker 1: in that way, and then I did I realize that, no, 340 00:20:55,196 --> 00:20:56,836 Speaker 1: I can't. I have to do the ones that come 341 00:20:56,916 --> 00:20:59,156 Speaker 1: from me. But the other people I were listening to 342 00:20:59,396 --> 00:21:03,836 Speaker 1: were everybody from Cindy Walker all of her songs from 343 00:21:03,836 --> 00:21:06,916 Speaker 1: the Playboys, I loved that, like that song you Don't 344 00:21:06,956 --> 00:21:09,916 Speaker 1: Know Me, and then then of course all of the 345 00:21:10,276 --> 00:21:14,076 Speaker 1: all of the Whale and Jennings and Dolly Parton I 346 00:21:14,116 --> 00:21:19,356 Speaker 1: listened to, and I listened to acts like Jagged Edge 347 00:21:19,396 --> 00:21:24,196 Speaker 1: and Destiny's Child and everything Elliott Smith and I had. 348 00:21:24,556 --> 00:21:26,436 Speaker 1: Then I started working at a record store and it 349 00:21:26,516 --> 00:21:28,196 Speaker 1: was just crazy. And then I fell in love with 350 00:21:28,276 --> 00:21:31,636 Speaker 1: Leonard Cohen, and I was like, that's me. I'm Leonard Cohen, don't. 351 00:21:31,636 --> 00:21:35,116 Speaker 1: I don't mean I'm Leonard Cohen, but that's I identify 352 00:21:35,276 --> 00:21:38,596 Speaker 1: with that. You went and got your MFA, which not 353 00:21:38,676 --> 00:21:41,556 Speaker 1: a lot of country writers do. What made you want 354 00:21:41,596 --> 00:21:44,236 Speaker 1: to do that? My life philosophy is like, we're all 355 00:21:44,236 --> 00:21:47,756 Speaker 1: here to learn, and you know, as nature does grow 356 00:21:48,796 --> 00:21:52,196 Speaker 1: until we made our end. So I went to get 357 00:21:52,276 --> 00:21:56,396 Speaker 1: my MFA like I did when I was learning the fiddle, 358 00:21:56,516 --> 00:22:00,316 Speaker 1: like with everything I had. When I discovered my passion 359 00:22:00,436 --> 00:22:04,396 Speaker 1: for writing in words, I wanted to do that and 360 00:22:04,436 --> 00:22:05,956 Speaker 1: I wanted to know what I was doing, and I 361 00:22:05,996 --> 00:22:08,676 Speaker 1: wanted to be able to make decisions and know the 362 00:22:08,756 --> 00:22:12,836 Speaker 1: reason for the decisions I was making and not kind 363 00:22:12,836 --> 00:22:15,676 Speaker 1: of just go on instinct. Like I wanted to know 364 00:22:16,236 --> 00:22:20,316 Speaker 1: down to the preposition what the word choices could be 365 00:22:20,436 --> 00:22:24,116 Speaker 1: and then how they would affect a liner and emotion 366 00:22:24,236 --> 00:22:26,756 Speaker 1: depending on where and how you use them. And I 367 00:22:26,836 --> 00:22:29,276 Speaker 1: just wanted to be kind of able to do it 368 00:22:29,316 --> 00:22:34,596 Speaker 1: with purpose and intention and to not second guess myself, 369 00:22:35,116 --> 00:22:38,196 Speaker 1: but also stay open to criticism should somebody notice something 370 00:22:38,236 --> 00:22:41,956 Speaker 1: I forgot. But for me, I get passionate about something 371 00:22:41,996 --> 00:22:44,556 Speaker 1: and I want to do it and I want to 372 00:22:44,956 --> 00:22:47,036 Speaker 1: do it right, and I don't get very passionate about 373 00:22:47,036 --> 00:22:49,756 Speaker 1: a lot of things, basically just music, writing and painting. 374 00:22:50,156 --> 00:22:52,196 Speaker 1: Where does that come from? Was someone in your family 375 00:22:52,276 --> 00:22:55,476 Speaker 1: that way about what they did? No, I think when 376 00:22:55,516 --> 00:22:57,716 Speaker 1: I think about it historically, I think it's something that's 377 00:22:57,756 --> 00:23:00,436 Speaker 1: been lost. Like, I don't know, I'm no historian, but 378 00:23:00,476 --> 00:23:02,196 Speaker 1: I feel like people used to do a lot more 379 00:23:02,236 --> 00:23:07,316 Speaker 1: things like read and be into arts and learning. And 380 00:23:07,356 --> 00:23:09,636 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to sound like an old grand mob, 381 00:23:09,636 --> 00:23:11,876 Speaker 1: but you know, there's a lot of TV watching going 382 00:23:11,956 --> 00:23:15,356 Speaker 1: on when you could be exploring yourself in the world 383 00:23:15,396 --> 00:23:18,516 Speaker 1: around you. You know, I always preferred being outside over 384 00:23:18,596 --> 00:23:22,236 Speaker 1: being inside. Yeah, I mean, there's nobody else that I 385 00:23:22,396 --> 00:23:25,556 Speaker 1: know that really. I mean, my mom was a single 386 00:23:25,596 --> 00:23:29,836 Speaker 1: mother who eventually became a doctor, but that was also 387 00:23:29,916 --> 00:23:32,436 Speaker 1: while she's while she was raising two kids and being 388 00:23:32,476 --> 00:23:36,036 Speaker 1: a bail bonds lady and working at Price Chopper. Wow, Okay, 389 00:23:36,076 --> 00:23:38,236 Speaker 1: I think we know where it comes from that. Yeah, Okay, 390 00:23:38,636 --> 00:23:42,156 Speaker 1: they're right, So there we go. What was learning to 391 00:23:42,156 --> 00:23:44,996 Speaker 1: write at an MFA? Like, what kind of things did 392 00:23:45,036 --> 00:23:47,716 Speaker 1: you do and how did they help your music. I 393 00:23:47,756 --> 00:23:53,436 Speaker 1: think the MFA was the hardest thing I've ever done. Like, 394 00:23:53,476 --> 00:23:58,156 Speaker 1: I read everything James Joyce ever wrote. I suffered ocular 395 00:23:58,236 --> 00:24:01,396 Speaker 1: migraines and my lost vision in one of my eyes 396 00:24:01,476 --> 00:24:03,436 Speaker 1: from reading so much, but it came back, thank God. 397 00:24:04,396 --> 00:24:08,076 Speaker 1: And you know, we'd do everything from workshops to study 398 00:24:08,156 --> 00:24:13,556 Speaker 1: Middle English and Old English and you know where words 399 00:24:13,636 --> 00:24:17,076 Speaker 1: came from and vowel shifts, and poets we'd study other 400 00:24:17,116 --> 00:24:20,596 Speaker 1: poets in their works and yeah, that was that was 401 00:24:20,636 --> 00:24:23,076 Speaker 1: really fun. Though it's a lot. Can you tell me 402 00:24:23,116 --> 00:24:25,796 Speaker 1: a couple of examples in your songs where you can 403 00:24:25,876 --> 00:24:28,516 Speaker 1: look at them and say, without that training, I wouldn't 404 00:24:28,516 --> 00:24:31,836 Speaker 1: have written this song. Oh yeah, for sure. I wouldn't 405 00:24:31,836 --> 00:24:34,756 Speaker 1: have written Parking Lot Pirouette without that training. And that's 406 00:24:34,796 --> 00:24:37,356 Speaker 1: one of my favorite. If if I had to pick 407 00:24:37,436 --> 00:24:39,676 Speaker 1: one of my favorite songs of my own, it would 408 00:24:39,716 --> 00:24:43,956 Speaker 1: be that one. Then White Feather from to the Sunset. Also, 409 00:24:44,596 --> 00:24:46,436 Speaker 1: that's when all that was kind of wrapping up and 410 00:24:46,836 --> 00:24:49,596 Speaker 1: I wrote it separately. I have a record coming in 411 00:24:49,636 --> 00:24:52,596 Speaker 1: the spring. None of the songs I would have written 412 00:24:52,676 --> 00:24:55,676 Speaker 1: without this kind of training that I had, because they're 413 00:24:55,756 --> 00:24:59,436 Speaker 1: going a little bit literary, I guess, But still accessible. 414 00:24:59,956 --> 00:25:02,396 Speaker 1: And then with the Christmas record, I would say it'd 415 00:25:02,436 --> 00:25:06,196 Speaker 1: be slowfall and snow and some of them would be 416 00:25:06,196 --> 00:25:08,156 Speaker 1: a lot worse. If I hadn't had the training, is 417 00:25:08,196 --> 00:25:10,636 Speaker 1: what it would be. It wouldn't be the same level 418 00:25:10,716 --> 00:25:14,756 Speaker 1: of accuracy of words to feelings. Now, I am going 419 00:25:14,796 --> 00:25:18,516 Speaker 1: to put you in the spot because your husband had 420 00:25:18,516 --> 00:25:21,316 Speaker 1: an online conversation with George Saunders, and I think people 421 00:25:21,356 --> 00:25:24,956 Speaker 1: can find it on YouTube. So now, who do you 422 00:25:24,996 --> 00:25:27,076 Speaker 1: want to do that with? What writers would do you 423 00:25:27,156 --> 00:25:30,276 Speaker 1: want to speak to? Well? I will say that Jason 424 00:25:30,356 --> 00:25:32,516 Speaker 1: did do that, but he was never asked by George 425 00:25:32,556 --> 00:25:34,396 Speaker 1: to write a song for his tenth of December, and 426 00:25:34,476 --> 00:25:40,476 Speaker 1: I was and I did and it was awesome. I 427 00:25:40,636 --> 00:25:45,036 Speaker 1: would think Barbara Kings Salver, I would like to talk 428 00:25:45,036 --> 00:25:50,116 Speaker 1: to her. I'd like to talk to Ada lemone wonderful poet, 429 00:25:50,276 --> 00:25:52,316 Speaker 1: and some of them I've already talked to. I mean 430 00:25:52,356 --> 00:25:56,076 Speaker 1: Tom Robins would be fun, definitely, Larry David. We're gonna 431 00:25:56,116 --> 00:25:58,076 Speaker 1: take a quick break, but we'll be back with more 432 00:25:58,116 --> 00:26:04,876 Speaker 1: from Amanda Shires. We're back with Amanda Shires singing her 433 00:26:04,916 --> 00:26:08,876 Speaker 1: song always Christmas around Here from a new album for Christmas, 434 00:26:09,796 --> 00:26:16,756 Speaker 1: It's Quiet right down, the skies gone dark, the sink 435 00:26:16,916 --> 00:26:23,756 Speaker 1: full of dishes, the mondree a start, the best saying 436 00:26:24,036 --> 00:26:28,036 Speaker 1: in the living room, there's wine all over the couch, 437 00:26:29,076 --> 00:26:38,076 Speaker 1: the sisters art speaking. Who's crying now? It's allays Christmas 438 00:26:38,236 --> 00:26:51,396 Speaker 1: round here. It's allays Christmas round here, compounded interest, no 439 00:26:52,556 --> 00:26:58,316 Speaker 1: sleeping in. Dad's asking for money. He's in a bad 440 00:26:58,476 --> 00:27:05,836 Speaker 1: waykin keep pushing down the trash to keep from taking 441 00:27:05,916 --> 00:27:11,756 Speaker 1: it out. The bread always earns. Think we'd use a 442 00:27:11,956 --> 00:27:22,036 Speaker 1: tier by now. It's alllways Christmas around here. It's always 443 00:27:22,276 --> 00:27:35,156 Speaker 1: Christmas around here, solways, always always the same. It's always 444 00:27:35,396 --> 00:27:45,636 Speaker 1: Christmas around here here my house. Lots of questionable tattoos, 445 00:27:46,676 --> 00:27:53,716 Speaker 1: silent fights and holy fights. Dave's bassack word views, look 446 00:27:53,876 --> 00:28:02,076 Speaker 1: forward to a new a new Saturdays, hoping for change. 447 00:28:02,676 --> 00:28:13,116 Speaker 1: Baby win the lottery one day. It's so's Christmas around here. 448 00:28:15,956 --> 00:28:29,036 Speaker 1: It's Allays Christmas around Here's allays always a saying. It's 449 00:28:29,116 --> 00:28:35,716 Speaker 1: all Lays Christmas around here. Happy in the year. This 450 00:28:35,756 --> 00:28:38,596 Speaker 1: brings us around too. I think just one of the 451 00:28:38,596 --> 00:28:42,476 Speaker 1: most sharply observed songs on your album, which is always 452 00:28:42,516 --> 00:28:44,596 Speaker 1: Christmas around here. Can you tell me about that song? 453 00:28:45,236 --> 00:28:48,156 Speaker 1: You know? How folks say every day's Christmas. It's like 454 00:28:48,836 --> 00:28:51,196 Speaker 1: when it comes down to it and you're sitting there 455 00:28:51,276 --> 00:28:54,356 Speaker 1: thinking after you know, everything's cleaned up, and you're looking 456 00:28:54,396 --> 00:28:59,396 Speaker 1: around just kind of noticing the conversations and enjoying the 457 00:28:59,476 --> 00:29:05,236 Speaker 1: company with all of its positive and negatives, just like 458 00:29:05,276 --> 00:29:08,876 Speaker 1: in the moment, like it's just it's just true because 459 00:29:08,916 --> 00:29:12,476 Speaker 1: you it together just one time a year with folks 460 00:29:12,596 --> 00:29:15,996 Speaker 1: that you don't see every day, and you're expected to 461 00:29:17,196 --> 00:29:20,996 Speaker 1: hang out and agree on all things because you're related. 462 00:29:21,436 --> 00:29:26,476 Speaker 1: And then you cook a turkey, and like who cooks 463 00:29:26,476 --> 00:29:28,996 Speaker 1: the turkey in the year outside of Christmas or Thanksgiving? 464 00:29:29,396 --> 00:29:30,836 Speaker 1: Like why are we going to have the thing we're 465 00:29:30,836 --> 00:29:33,516 Speaker 1: the worst at making. That's a thing that always bothers me. 466 00:29:34,356 --> 00:29:36,756 Speaker 1: You think about it and you're like, Christmas, it's just 467 00:29:37,156 --> 00:29:39,556 Speaker 1: you drag all this stuff out and you decorate your 468 00:29:39,556 --> 00:29:42,436 Speaker 1: house with it. But also at the same time, you're 469 00:29:42,476 --> 00:29:45,316 Speaker 1: still doing the same things you do every every day, 470 00:29:45,396 --> 00:29:48,036 Speaker 1: Like every day Jason and I are trying to see 471 00:29:48,076 --> 00:29:51,516 Speaker 1: who's gonna push the trash down the furthest or for 472 00:29:51,556 --> 00:29:53,236 Speaker 1: the last time and who has to take it out. 473 00:29:53,676 --> 00:29:57,436 Speaker 1: You know that happens to our Christmas it's all just 474 00:29:59,076 --> 00:30:02,596 Speaker 1: the way life just is all the time. But it's 475 00:30:02,636 --> 00:30:06,636 Speaker 1: just happens to be Christmas. That's what that song is. 476 00:30:07,356 --> 00:30:09,556 Speaker 1: But it's full of sort of beautiful line. It just 477 00:30:09,636 --> 00:30:13,076 Speaker 1: kind of sum up that experiences. I don't remember the 478 00:30:13,116 --> 00:30:15,876 Speaker 1: precise words, but there's wine stains on the carpet and 479 00:30:16,316 --> 00:30:19,636 Speaker 1: someone says we'll win the lottery. Yeah, it's this incredible 480 00:30:19,716 --> 00:30:23,196 Speaker 1: kind of slice of life. I think that that true 481 00:30:23,236 --> 00:30:27,236 Speaker 1: experiences to me are the ways that you can describe 482 00:30:27,276 --> 00:30:30,236 Speaker 1: the feelings the best in a song. How do you 483 00:30:30,476 --> 00:30:33,636 Speaker 1: go about writing lyrics? Then do you start with the 484 00:30:33,716 --> 00:30:37,396 Speaker 1: melody and then add the lyrics? Sometimes I'm like all 485 00:30:37,436 --> 00:30:39,396 Speaker 1: of all of the writers, you could start with the 486 00:30:39,516 --> 00:30:42,556 Speaker 1: melody and add lyrics, or maybe you start with the 487 00:30:42,596 --> 00:30:45,196 Speaker 1: piece of an idea. I'm not one of those that 488 00:30:45,236 --> 00:30:47,436 Speaker 1: writes to a title. I've never been able to figure 489 00:30:47,476 --> 00:30:48,996 Speaker 1: that out. You know a lot of people like read 490 00:30:49,076 --> 00:30:52,676 Speaker 1: the title and they write to that. But throughout the 491 00:30:52,756 --> 00:30:56,916 Speaker 1: year I take lots of notes, and then the notes 492 00:30:57,716 --> 00:31:00,556 Speaker 1: I put little like a couple literal and or something 493 00:31:00,636 --> 00:31:02,716 Speaker 1: on an index card, and a storm in my index 494 00:31:02,756 --> 00:31:05,476 Speaker 1: card bins. And then when I feel like the well 495 00:31:05,636 --> 00:31:08,916 Speaker 1: is full, I start taping them around my house. Like 496 00:31:09,116 --> 00:31:10,316 Speaker 1: I can't tell right now, but a lot of the 497 00:31:10,316 --> 00:31:13,476 Speaker 1: walls are white. So all the index cards go up 498 00:31:13,556 --> 00:31:17,076 Speaker 1: and the painter's tape goes up, and then I just 499 00:31:17,916 --> 00:31:21,716 Speaker 1: kind of synthesize all that and pull out my little 500 00:31:22,956 --> 00:31:25,636 Speaker 1: voice memo recorder to see what melodies I have, and 501 00:31:25,676 --> 00:31:29,396 Speaker 1: then you start ratting one or two and then it 502 00:31:29,556 --> 00:31:33,236 Speaker 1: just pours out of you. Well, so you tape them 503 00:31:33,236 --> 00:31:35,516 Speaker 1: all over the house. I used to only do it 504 00:31:35,556 --> 00:31:39,716 Speaker 1: in the closet because I was afraid of judgment with 505 00:31:39,796 --> 00:31:43,516 Speaker 1: it within my family, and then I realized that that 506 00:31:43,636 --> 00:31:46,476 Speaker 1: was silly. Then I started. They started coming out of 507 00:31:46,516 --> 00:31:49,716 Speaker 1: the little closet into the bathroom, into the master bedroom, 508 00:31:50,196 --> 00:31:52,756 Speaker 1: and it only got tricky once when Jason ripped a 509 00:31:52,796 --> 00:31:54,356 Speaker 1: line from me and I had to tell them that 510 00:31:54,436 --> 00:31:57,996 Speaker 1: that wasn't how this was going to work. Did you 511 00:31:58,036 --> 00:32:00,516 Speaker 1: just say, like, just tape up your own damn cards, Jason, 512 00:32:00,836 --> 00:32:03,476 Speaker 1: I said, I realized what's happened here that you know, 513 00:32:04,116 --> 00:32:06,516 Speaker 1: it's impossible to not read the words that are on 514 00:32:06,556 --> 00:32:10,516 Speaker 1: the wall, but it infiltrated your unconscious and that's my line, 515 00:32:10,516 --> 00:32:13,636 Speaker 1: and we have to be careful about that. But I 516 00:32:13,676 --> 00:32:16,956 Speaker 1: Also I don't mind sharing. You know, I always tell 517 00:32:16,996 --> 00:32:20,916 Speaker 1: them that I've got lines for days. Are you one 518 00:32:20,916 --> 00:32:23,476 Speaker 1: of those people for it just comes easily, that lines come. 519 00:32:23,836 --> 00:32:25,236 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know what it's like to be 520 00:32:25,276 --> 00:32:27,476 Speaker 1: a different type of person, but I think that I 521 00:32:27,516 --> 00:32:31,716 Speaker 1: stay in a particular mindset so that way I can 522 00:32:31,796 --> 00:32:34,356 Speaker 1: always find it. You know, I don't shut I don't 523 00:32:34,396 --> 00:32:37,516 Speaker 1: shut it down that part. I write a little every 524 00:32:37,556 --> 00:32:43,276 Speaker 1: day and I still find beautiful lines and books and 525 00:32:43,356 --> 00:32:47,076 Speaker 1: poems and room to get better. And I don't shut 526 00:32:47,116 --> 00:32:51,156 Speaker 1: the part of my mind off that also shuts down imagination. 527 00:32:51,276 --> 00:32:53,036 Speaker 1: So like I guess you could call it a little 528 00:32:53,076 --> 00:32:55,116 Speaker 1: bit of your silly like itself. You've got to keep 529 00:32:55,196 --> 00:32:59,076 Speaker 1: some kind of like part of you that's open and 530 00:32:59,396 --> 00:33:03,756 Speaker 1: spontaneous and can find magic. And like, I don't know, 531 00:33:03,876 --> 00:33:07,196 Speaker 1: looking at rocks, that's interesting because for so many people 532 00:33:07,796 --> 00:33:11,996 Speaker 1: you mentioned worrying about your family's judgment, that fear of 533 00:33:12,076 --> 00:33:14,476 Speaker 1: judgment is what keeps them from being able to write. 534 00:33:14,596 --> 00:33:17,996 Speaker 1: You don't feel that. I used to feel that a 535 00:33:18,036 --> 00:33:21,516 Speaker 1: whole lot. And I don't know if it's age and 536 00:33:22,196 --> 00:33:25,316 Speaker 1: going to school and studying under Andrew Hudgins, but I 537 00:33:25,356 --> 00:33:30,036 Speaker 1: don't feel that way, because it's impossible to, based on 538 00:33:30,756 --> 00:33:34,476 Speaker 1: some words, get a whole clear picture of what is 539 00:33:34,516 --> 00:33:37,916 Speaker 1: in anybody's mind, because you know, truly, like if any 540 00:33:37,916 --> 00:33:41,236 Speaker 1: other songwriter took one of my little index cards words 541 00:33:41,316 --> 00:33:44,956 Speaker 1: and it wasn't Jason, probably wouldn't even be very good. 542 00:33:46,476 --> 00:33:49,516 Speaker 1: This is positive self talk with Avanda Shires. This is 543 00:33:49,516 --> 00:33:52,436 Speaker 1: how you do it. You'd be confident in yourself, you 544 00:33:52,476 --> 00:33:55,596 Speaker 1: know what the hell you're doing, and then if anybody 545 00:33:55,636 --> 00:33:58,236 Speaker 1: has questions, you can choose to answer them or not. 546 00:33:58,596 --> 00:34:01,836 Speaker 1: And as far as judgment, that all kind of comes 547 00:34:01,836 --> 00:34:03,956 Speaker 1: after the records out, so you have time to fix 548 00:34:03,996 --> 00:34:06,956 Speaker 1: it in between now and then. How many drafts you 549 00:34:07,076 --> 00:34:10,156 Speaker 1: typically do of songs lots like a song on this album? 550 00:34:10,276 --> 00:34:12,556 Speaker 1: How many? How many would you have done? I have 551 00:34:12,676 --> 00:34:17,516 Speaker 1: forty seven verses to Gone for Christmas. Oh you're kidding, no, no, 552 00:34:17,796 --> 00:34:21,836 Speaker 1: And I have have pages on pages of always Christmas 553 00:34:21,876 --> 00:34:27,116 Speaker 1: around here. Recently, my producer Laurd Trothman is insisting that 554 00:34:27,196 --> 00:34:30,276 Speaker 1: I don't shred them for six months, just so I 555 00:34:30,276 --> 00:34:33,636 Speaker 1: could look at the process on my own better. This 556 00:34:33,716 --> 00:34:35,276 Speaker 1: is going to sound like a silly question, but a 557 00:34:35,316 --> 00:34:37,956 Speaker 1: lot of people I ask this question to have very 558 00:34:37,956 --> 00:34:41,476 Speaker 1: specific answers. Is there a kind of notebook you write in? Yeah, 559 00:34:41,596 --> 00:34:44,956 Speaker 1: I like the I like a specific notebook, but I 560 00:34:44,996 --> 00:34:47,236 Speaker 1: don't keep them, like, I shred them. After I put 561 00:34:47,276 --> 00:34:49,276 Speaker 1: the notes onto the cards and they go into my 562 00:34:49,276 --> 00:34:51,916 Speaker 1: little index card bins, they all go in the shredder, 563 00:34:51,956 --> 00:34:54,476 Speaker 1: and the shredded paper goes into the compost and then 564 00:34:54,516 --> 00:34:56,356 Speaker 1: I use it in my garden. Why do you shred 565 00:34:56,396 --> 00:35:00,916 Speaker 1: them because the whole place would be a tinderbox. Okay, 566 00:35:01,116 --> 00:35:03,316 Speaker 1: this is just a storage issue, it's not you hate 567 00:35:03,356 --> 00:35:07,196 Speaker 1: them well and honestly, like it's a little bit like 568 00:35:07,316 --> 00:35:09,956 Speaker 1: that that idea of if some they saw my Google 569 00:35:09,996 --> 00:35:13,956 Speaker 1: search history, they would really think something was wrong with me. 570 00:35:14,036 --> 00:35:16,716 Speaker 1: But sometimes you have to know the details about you know, 571 00:35:16,956 --> 00:35:19,676 Speaker 1: turquoise mines, and then simultaneously you need to know the 572 00:35:19,676 --> 00:35:23,036 Speaker 1: exact weight of a sash weight to use a particular 573 00:35:23,396 --> 00:35:26,716 Speaker 1: fight that some characters might have, and exactly what is 574 00:35:26,716 --> 00:35:29,956 Speaker 1: strychnine and stuff like that. Would stryc nine just be 575 00:35:30,076 --> 00:35:36,156 Speaker 1: after the Google search? My husband stole my lyrics? Yes, yes, 576 00:35:36,356 --> 00:35:43,716 Speaker 1: definitely after I Amazon ordered a knife sharpener jokes. But 577 00:35:43,756 --> 00:35:46,156 Speaker 1: there's there, there is that thing where like you have 578 00:35:46,196 --> 00:35:49,876 Speaker 1: all these pieces of paper everywhere and then been there 579 00:35:49,996 --> 00:35:53,316 Speaker 1: left to interpretation kind of like like I kind of think, 580 00:35:53,316 --> 00:35:56,356 Speaker 1: I feel like it's shitty that they released Marilyn Monroe's diary, 581 00:35:56,636 --> 00:35:58,956 Speaker 1: But I guess that's the risk you run if you 582 00:35:59,036 --> 00:36:02,076 Speaker 1: leave your diary. So you wrote forty seven verses, and 583 00:36:02,116 --> 00:36:04,556 Speaker 1: then do you try and put some together or you 584 00:36:04,716 --> 00:36:07,316 Speaker 1: just like you stroke off, like you get rid of 585 00:36:08,236 --> 00:36:10,116 Speaker 1: forty four of them, or I can't remember how many 586 00:36:10,196 --> 00:36:14,316 Speaker 1: verses are in the song. Some people say way too 587 00:36:14,316 --> 00:36:16,676 Speaker 1: many and some people say not enough. The way I 588 00:36:16,796 --> 00:36:19,676 Speaker 1: do it is I try some out in the studio, 589 00:36:19,996 --> 00:36:22,076 Speaker 1: like I bring my favorite, like with that when I 590 00:36:22,076 --> 00:36:25,196 Speaker 1: brought my favorite twenty in and then I tried some out, 591 00:36:25,236 --> 00:36:28,836 Speaker 1: and then as you go and you follow the thing 592 00:36:28,996 --> 00:36:32,436 Speaker 1: that makes it the most, fits the best, and then 593 00:36:32,556 --> 00:36:35,036 Speaker 1: the other ones could be another version if they wanted 594 00:36:35,116 --> 00:36:38,396 Speaker 1: to be, if you know, they decide to be for 595 00:36:38,596 --> 00:36:42,076 Speaker 1: Christmas number two. So you are Leonard Cohen because that's 596 00:36:42,076 --> 00:36:45,116 Speaker 1: how he wrote. He wrote hundreds of verses for songs. Well, 597 00:36:45,156 --> 00:36:47,956 Speaker 1: I don't always do that, because home to me, I 598 00:36:47,996 --> 00:36:50,276 Speaker 1: just wrote that in one go tell me about the 599 00:36:50,316 --> 00:36:52,836 Speaker 1: last song you're doing for us, which is a real tree. 600 00:36:53,196 --> 00:36:55,676 Speaker 1: This one's a funny song. I always always liked the 601 00:36:55,756 --> 00:36:59,436 Speaker 1: idea of things that happen around the holidays, you know, 602 00:36:59,596 --> 00:37:04,596 Speaker 1: like new love interests or well, really, I think we 603 00:37:04,676 --> 00:37:06,676 Speaker 1: know what I'm talking about here. It's a it's a 604 00:37:07,076 --> 00:37:10,636 Speaker 1: instead of a fake tree, this lady's found herself a 605 00:37:10,676 --> 00:37:15,236 Speaker 1: real tree. And I guess it's a euphemism. Christmas is 606 00:37:15,236 --> 00:37:18,676 Speaker 1: a time for romance and booty calls and sadness and 607 00:37:19,436 --> 00:37:22,316 Speaker 1: nostalgia and all the things, right, Like it'd be like 608 00:37:22,676 --> 00:37:25,396 Speaker 1: just trying to that's the point of the record. You 609 00:37:25,396 --> 00:37:27,716 Speaker 1: can listen to a lot of Christmas records and it's 610 00:37:27,956 --> 00:37:32,316 Speaker 1: it's either hymns, which are great, or everything's really happy 611 00:37:32,356 --> 00:37:35,476 Speaker 1: and snowing, right, And this is all the rest of 612 00:37:35,516 --> 00:37:38,356 Speaker 1: that stuff. That's what so great about this album. This 613 00:37:38,436 --> 00:37:41,036 Speaker 1: is all the rest of the stuff you're forgetting about. Yeah, 614 00:37:41,196 --> 00:37:43,596 Speaker 1: you're forgetting about the part where you could find love 615 00:37:43,756 --> 00:37:49,716 Speaker 1: or or divorce. Should I check in with you again 616 00:37:49,756 --> 00:37:52,316 Speaker 1: after Christmas just to make sure you're I mean, why 617 00:37:52,396 --> 00:37:55,236 Speaker 1: not that, I mean you might as well, Okay, I 618 00:37:55,316 --> 00:37:58,236 Speaker 1: just want to know which way it goes this year, right, right, 619 00:37:59,276 --> 00:38:07,916 Speaker 1: let's dress you to be seen. I've been looking forward 620 00:38:07,956 --> 00:38:15,356 Speaker 1: to this for fifty two weeks. I got feathers, gold 621 00:38:15,356 --> 00:38:20,236 Speaker 1: and silver beads, garling and up to cover all six 622 00:38:20,356 --> 00:38:28,596 Speaker 1: glorious fee of you. I got a real tree this year. 623 00:38:29,836 --> 00:38:35,956 Speaker 1: Smells like mentholes and old spice. A real tree this year, 624 00:38:37,196 --> 00:38:45,996 Speaker 1: took my fake one to the roadside tonight, putting you 625 00:38:46,436 --> 00:38:54,596 Speaker 1: in bows, a red velvet skirt, dripping you in gold. 626 00:38:57,556 --> 00:39:02,356 Speaker 1: I'm gonna take my time and for someone get the 627 00:39:02,436 --> 00:39:05,876 Speaker 1: lights on. You'll in just right. I'll flock the hell 628 00:39:05,916 --> 00:39:12,596 Speaker 1: out of you. I got out a real tree. This 629 00:39:12,836 --> 00:39:19,476 Speaker 1: you smells like menthols and old spice. A real tree 630 00:39:20,116 --> 00:39:26,156 Speaker 1: this you took my fake one to the roadside. I 631 00:39:26,276 --> 00:39:29,716 Speaker 1: haven't decided if you wear the crown of the big 632 00:39:29,756 --> 00:39:37,836 Speaker 1: bright star. Oh how you shine for me through the dark, 633 00:39:40,676 --> 00:39:45,196 Speaker 1: your reflection in the window, you beautiful thing. I'll take 634 00:39:45,236 --> 00:39:49,996 Speaker 1: what I want. Candy came from my real Christmas tree. 635 00:39:51,836 --> 00:39:58,796 Speaker 1: I got a real tree. This you. I catch myself 636 00:39:58,876 --> 00:40:09,196 Speaker 1: staring a real tree this year. There's just no comparing. No, 637 00:40:11,556 --> 00:40:13,956 Speaker 1: it's been just delightful talking to you. Thank you so much. 638 00:40:14,356 --> 00:40:20,756 Speaker 1: Thank you. Thanks to Amanda Shires for singing some songs 639 00:40:20,756 --> 00:40:23,796 Speaker 1: from our new holiday album For Christmas. You can hear 640 00:40:23,796 --> 00:40:25,676 Speaker 1: it and check out the playlist of our favorite Amanda 641 00:40:25,716 --> 00:40:29,676 Speaker 1: Shire songs at broken record podcast dot com. We'll also 642 00:40:29,716 --> 00:40:32,916 Speaker 1: post a holiday playlist curated by our Broken Record team. 643 00:40:33,076 --> 00:40:36,196 Speaker 1: You can follow us on Twitter at broken Record. Broken 644 00:40:36,236 --> 00:40:39,236 Speaker 1: Record is producer with help from Alia Rose, Jason Gambrel, 645 00:40:39,556 --> 00:40:44,556 Speaker 1: Martin Gonzalez, Eric Sandler, and Jennifer Sanchez, with engineering help 646 00:40:44,596 --> 00:40:48,636 Speaker 1: from Nick Chafee. Our executive producer is Neil Lavelle. Broken 647 00:40:48,636 --> 00:40:52,036 Speaker 1: Record is a production of Pushkin Industries. If you love 648 00:40:52,076 --> 00:40:56,156 Speaker 1: this show and others from Pushkin, consider subscribing to Pushkin Plus. 649 00:40:56,556 --> 00:41:00,196 Speaker 1: Pushkin Plus is a podcast subscription that offers bonus content 650 00:41:00,396 --> 00:41:04,196 Speaker 1: and uninterrupted ad free listening for four ninety nineam. Look 651 00:41:04,196 --> 00:41:08,396 Speaker 1: for Pushkin Plus on Apple podcast subscriptions, and please remember 652 00:41:08,436 --> 00:41:11,516 Speaker 1: to share, rate, or review us on your podcast. Are 653 00:41:11,596 --> 00:41:17,316 Speaker 1: the Musics by Kenny Beats. I'm justin Richmond, h