Corb Lund: “I solely really feel assured within the tunes if I actually really feel they signify this imaginative and prescient I’m attempting to create with my life.”
The Canadian nation artist discusses his musical roots, proudly DIY aesthetic, and the evolution of his ‘scruffy’ and ‘quirky’ sound
In the panorama of Canadian nation music, few artists command consideration fairly like Corb Lund. Primarily based in Alberta on his household farm, this singer-songwriter weaves tales that echo the wealthy tapestry of his Western heritage. Most not too long ago, Lund launched his single Redneck Rehab, taken from his twelfth album, El Viejo, due on 23 February by way of New West Data.
Lund’s distinctive voice resonates with narratives that span from cowboy folklore to the complexities of contemporary life. Seamlessly, his songwriting showcases the traditions of nation and folks, whereas additionally incorporating varied components of rock and Americana. Over time, Lund has gained consideration and followers internationally, constantly being praised for his authenticity and skilfully crafted lyrics.
When talking with us, Lund shares his private method to songwriting, sheds gentle on his distinctive musical fashion, and explains how his background influenced his dedication to proceed making music that feels genuine to him. Lund additionally opens up about how he selected the songs on his upcoming album and shares his private recommendation for aspiring songwriters…
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Are you at the moment based mostly in Alberta?
“That’s proper. Alberta is in Western Canada and the Rockies, north of Montana and Wyoming.”
How do you discover the songwriting scene in Alberta?
“Nicely, truthfully, I don’t take part a complete lot. After I was youthful, arising, I used to be a part of an area scene. However, I toured internationally a lot that once I’m dwelling, largely I’m simply catching my breath. I most likely ought to maintain my finger on the heartbeat of the native scene extra, however I’m simply too busy. So once I get dwelling, I’m simply laying on the sofa catching my breath.
Do you often choose to put in writing alone then?
“Ideally, yeah. I’ve received two which are mates that I’m snug writing with. I haven’t had a lot luck. I imply, I assume the songs turned out okay. However on my final report, earlier than this one, I did just a few collaborations with, you understand, ‘skilled Tennessee writers’. My stuff’s bizarre and quirky and fucked up and unusual. For me, they have been good individuals and I feel they’re actually good at what they do. However, that’s not likely my cup of tea. So, it was an experiment and it was high-quality.
“Most of my profitable co-writing makes an attempt have been with a man named Hayes Carl, and one other man named John Evans. They’re each from Houston. They’re each actually shut mates. I’ve completed probably the most not too long ago with my buddy Jaida Dreyer. She’s who I wrote Redneck Rehab with.”
Are you able to talk about how you bought launched to Jada? As a result of she’s additionally Canadian, however she’s based mostly in Nashville…
“Yeah, she’s born in Canada. I feel she spent her complete life within the southern US. I feel I met her by way of reveals and different musicians and stuff. I can’t bear in mind. It’s been so lengthy. We simply hit it off rather well, musically. Backside line is she’s superior. She’s nice to put in writing with and we will simply fall proper into it and we snort loads.”
Corb Lund: “What it boils right down to is, I simply do shit that I feel is cool.”
You described your music as ‘quirky,’ are you able to communicate just a little bit extra about why you employ that phrase to explain it?
“Yeah, there’s a bunch of phrases. ‘Subordinate,’ it is a good one. ‘Scruffy,’ is an efficient one. I simply have issues in my head that I’m attempting to do and it has nothing to do with recognition, or radio cuts, or any of that. It’s simply I’ve this factor that I’m pushed to do and create. What it boils right down to is, I simply do shit that I feel is cool.
“I began out in a velocity steel band in my twenties and it was a scene the place it was tremendous do-it-yourself, roll up your sleeves, anti-corporate, do all the things you possibly can to make your personal distinctive voice. So, my songwriting DNA was cast in that form of scene. I’ve completed all the things from being my very own publicist, my very own reserving agent, to my very own supervisor, to my very own t-shirt printer.
“I’ve constructed an viewers, particular person by particular person. My complete viewers has been made up by touring. Due to this fact, I don’t have very many informal individuals at my reveals. They’re both absolutely into what I do, or they simply aren’t there. That form of is a mirrored image of my writing, as a result of my writing is totally geared round making me really feel good. And if there’s individuals who need to come alongside for the journey, cool.”
Between now and 2020’s Agricultural Tragic, what number of songs have you ever written earlier than releasing Redneck Rehab?
“I’m not a quantity man. I put most of them on the report. I don’t actually write 100 after which choose 10. In the event that they’re not likely what I contemplate prime notch, they simply by no means get previous the early levels. So for me, there’s a variety of wreckage alongside the freeway; stuff that will get possibly 10 % completed or 70 % completed and I simply deserted it if I don’t really feel prefer it actually represents what I’m attempting to do. So, I don’t actually find yourself with a complete bunch of accomplished tunes. I find yourself with a complete bunch of blind alleys and purple herrings and unsuccessful avenues that by no means get completed.”
It’s attention-grabbing to listen to you say that the majority of what you accomplished writing is on the album…
“I’m not non secular. I’m simply utilizing it as a flip of phrase. Writing for me is quasi-religious. I don’t really feel in any respect snug with releasing stuff that I feel, ‘That’s not unhealthy. I’ll put it on the market. Possibly any individual likes it, I don’t know.’ I’m actually uncomfortable with that. I solely put out stuff that I’m 100 % behind. I solely really feel assured within the tunes if I actually really feel they signify this imaginative and prescient I’m attempting to create with my life.”
What recommendation would you give an aspiring songwriter from what you’ve realized through the years?
“I might say simply maintain doing it and doing it and doing it and ignore the music business. Construct your personal world round you. Since you won’t be Garth Brooks big, however you’ve a greater likelihood of getting energy and constructing your personal profession. The extra stuff you do by yourself, and the much less you lean on the music business, the higher off you might be.
“And may I say another factor? I don’t get to speak about songwriting that always. A giant a part of my writing course of, too, is the precise instrumentation and the association of the songs with my band. As a result of, you possibly can take a track that’s an acoustic demo and make it 15 other ways, proper? I contemplate the association and the recording and what the instrumentation is ready as much as do as a part of the songwriting.
“I spend a variety of time with my band on preparations. You get a really totally different outcome than you get in case you simply hand over to a gaggle {of professional} studio people who find themselves wonderful, however in case you don’t give them course, you simply get form of a generic take. My method, and I might add this to my recommendation for younger writers, is to spend so much of time on preparations, attention-grabbing instrumentation and stylistic selections, when it comes time to report it.”
So you’d advocate songwriters to grasp extra of the composition behind the monitor?
“Yeah, like association stuff. Research that and steal from all people as a result of there’s every kind of kinds of music you possibly can borrow from, you gained’t the place it got here from but it surely actually provides the songs gentle. Typically the association and the instrumentation can carry the track, proper, and possibly the track is okay by itself, however if you add it to the actual rhythmic really feel and the instrumentation you’ve chosen, it actually can come to life. I feel that’s a misplaced artwork in a variety of methods.”
El Viejo, the brand new album by Corb Lund, is out on 23 February by way of New West Data. Lund will likely be touring Europe in Could and June, ending with a present in London on 19 June. Get your tickets from corblund.com
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