Graham Reid | | 2 min read
New Zealand singer-songwriter Erin Cole-Baker spent time in the US earlier this year and, given how her work would easily sit with both country and folk audiences it is no surrise that she is heading back up that way.
In August and September she is playng dates in California, Oregon and Washington.
She wil be touring on the back of her delicate new album Till The Feeling's Right which we have reviewed, and this being her third release she has a strong catalogue to draw on for her live shows.
It is timely then for her to take a moment out of her busy schedule to answer our songwriter questionnaire . . .
The first song which made you think, 'Now that's a well crafted piece of work' was . . .
I was pretty much all over John Denver’s album “Back Home Again” and Jimi Hendrix “Bold as Love” in my early teens.
Complete this sentence: The first song I wrote was . . .
“love just hurts” when I was 7!!!!
The one songwriter you will always listen to, even if they disappointed you previously, is?
Gillian Welch
As songwriters: Lennon-McCartney or Jagger-Richards; kd lang or Katy Perry; Madonna or Michael Jackson; Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson?
Can I say Gillian Welch???
The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear because they are well crafted are . . .
This question is really freaking me out!!! the pressure!! I’m just blurting them out now after too much thinking!!! i’m all about how the song hits me emotionally over how ‘well crafted’ it might be!!
July Flame - Laura Veirs
Sometimes I Cry - Chris Stapleton - wow the emotion in it!!
Don’t Wait - Mel Parsons
Melody first? Words or phrase first? Simultaneous?
Simultaneous mostly!
If you could co-write with anyone it would be . . .
Ryan Adams
The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)
Chris Stapleton - Traveller
One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you would be . . .
Get Me A Ticket - I wrote this and laughed as I dreamed of selling this song to a big country artists…..I could see it being an anthem like song with the right artist to get it out there…..
One line (or couplet) from a song -- yours or someone else's -- which you think is just a stone cold winner is . . .
Clock don't know what your memories do
They're stacking up beside the bed
I count 'em every night inside my head (Ryan Adams - Prisoner)
Songwriting: what's the ratio of inspiration/perspiration?
When the songs decide to flow it’s 99% inspiration 1%perspiration - and 100% perspiration the rest of the time, because I feel like I have no idea how to write a song!!!!
Ever had a song come to you fully-formed like it dropped into your lap?
YES.
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