Q&A with Rhythm and Blues Pop Musician – ANDERSON EAST

“With an earthy rasp beyond his years, he draws inspiration from Tom Jones and the soul-rock songwriter George Jackson.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“These are Sam Cooke-caliber love songs…He is a spectacular talent, and releases like this one are as thrilling as they come.”— Daytrotter

“His voice is full of gravely soul, easily tackling both piano ballads and foot-stompers, going head-to-head with a gospel chorus thanks to a killer range and often heartbreaking lyrics.” —Rolling Stone

 

ANDERSON EAST recently made his network television debut on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” performing his new single, “Satisfy Me.” The song is from East’s full-length debut, Delilah, which was recently released to widespread acclaim on Low Country Sound / Elektra Records —the first release on producer Dave Cobb’s  new imprint.

Of Anderson, producer Dave Cobb (Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell), comments,

“You don’t hear voices like that everyday. The first time I saw him was at the Bluebird in Nashville—he started to sing and shut the place down. And he had the charm and wit to completely hold the audience in the palm of his hand. When I got the chance to have my imprint LCS, he was the first person I wanted to sign. When he sings you can hear the soil and landscape of great southern soul in his voice and he’s a amazing writer as well.”

All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had a chance to catch up with Anderson between gigs. Enjoy their chat below!

Photo by: Joshua Black Wilkins

Hi there Anderson! How are you today? What’s on the agenda today besides our interview?

Hey there, Nicole!  I’m doing well. Today is just a travel day heading to a festival in Minneapolis. Catching up on some reading and This American Life episodes.

I understand you are in the midst of an awesome world tour. How’s that been so far?

Yea, I’ve been out solidly since the end of January and it’s been such an amazing journey filled with great people, great friends – new and old, great music and lots of amazing places. We’re looking forward to more of it.

I hear a lovely lady named Brandi Carlile accompanied you gentlemen on stage in Cleveland a few weeks ago. How was that?

It was such a treat. I’ve been such a huge fan of hers for a long time. So to not only be able to be on tour with her but to get to share a duet with her is a real dream come true. She’s such an unbelievable singer and songwriter with such a beautiful spirit.

Photo by: Neil Krug

 For those that are not as familiar with you and your music, take me back when you were just a kid growing up in Alabama. Who or what was the catalyst for you to want to live the life of a musical gypsy?

“I don’t think I understood what being a traveling musician was. I don’t think I thought that was something that existed. Hell, I thought that that when you heard a song on the radio that the people were actually at the station playing it.”

What got me going was (beyond the outlet that an electric guitar gives and frustrated adolescent) was recording. I had a 4 track tape recorder and that got me hooked. I just wanted to make records. From there everything spawned – writing, singing, performing. But in my little slice of north Alabama, there wasn’t much of an outlet to foster that type of interest and because of that I had such an appetite for music – one that still hasn’t been fulfilled.

What did you learn between albums like 2009’s, Closing Credits for a Fire, Fire Demons EP and Flowers of the Broken Hearted (2012) and playing live that you felt you wanted to infuse on your latest album, Delilah (via Elektra)?

Well like I said, I was always interested in making records and thus I had developed somewhat of a skill set to know how to do it. So I had always been recording my own music. But with “Delilah” I took somewhat of a hands off approach to the technical side of music making and put all my focus on being behind the microphone. I think that only came though through trusting someone else to hold up the other end of the program.

I found that in Dave Cobb and John Nettie and Darrell Thorp. There’s no need to be the race car driver and the pit crew at the same time.

What was the inspiration for your latest single?

If you’re referring to “Satisfy Me” then I think it came out of a conversation we were having about how when you’re in that impressionable point in your life there are moment that are so heavy that rock you to your core but as you get older and more experienced, those moments become fewer. So the song stemmed from that and of corse you add in all failed relationships and then poof, Satisfy Me just falls out on the floor.

What was the first album you bought for yourself?

I can’t remember what was first but I’ll give you a small list of what I can remember having.

Michael Jackson – Black or White (cassette single)

Space Jam Soundtrack

Eagles – Hell Freezes Over

Backstreet Boys

No shame… Had to take what you can get. Pickings were slim.

Photo by: Neil Krug

What was the first song you fell in love with and why?

I think it would have been “Black or White” or “Hotel California”. That was the first song I learned to play.

Who is in your current playlist? What artists or bands are in current rotation for you?

Right now, I’m listening to Brahms to make me feel civilized and cultured. But Donny Hathaway, The Eagles, Jai Paul, Rod Stewart, Wilson Pickett, The Stones, Joe Cocker, MF Doom, Tom Waits, Aretha Franklin… They’re always in rotation. You’ve just made me want to make a mix tape! 😉

What’s on tap next for you? What are you most excited about for this year?

Well we’re about to do a run of headline shows and go to Europe and Germany to play a few shows. We’re really excited for all that. Then starting early fall we’ll be joining The Lone Bellow for what will be an amazing tour. Mostly we’re all just excited to be doing what we’re doing.

To learn more about ANDERSON EAST , visit him HERE .