RH: Man I don’t know and if you can figure it our please let ME know. GM: You have built a remarkably large and loyal following in the U.K.? How do you carry that enthusiasm to the states? You feel very lucky to be getting notes from someone of that caliber. So it was a cool combination of a no BS approach and a track record that speak for itself in terms of songwriting and producing. For him to take the time to sit down and do that is a really special thing. He will go away, get his guitar and sit down with the song and record what he’s hearing and then send it to me in a voice memo. He does this really wonderful thing where he hears potential in a song and knows a place that it can get to that I don’t. On this album in particular he sent me several notes on every single song and we would get on the phone together and go through them. He doesn’t have the time or patience for that, especially when it comes to working on songs. RH: I like working with Stevie because he gets right to it. GM: What was the songwriting process like with Steve Van Zandt? It’s a very rare thing in this business – especially when you’ve been through the ringer a couple of times. To have someone of that caliber not only get excited to work with me and the other artists on the label, but to be that humble was also a big deal for me. Putting aside the fact that he’s Stevie Van Zandt, he just has a very artist-friendly view and that’s what sold it for me.
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He can talk to me or Jesse (Wagner) in a way that the other suits can’t and just don’t know how to do. You’re talking to a fellow artist who has that same point of view. But it was as soon as I spoke to Stevie on the phone for the first time that it just clicked for me. I spoke to Wicked Cool and there was definitely some interest there. It was total DIY, start over in a new country. So I went to England to start over and try one more time with zero intention of ever signing with another record label. Instead it went to s**t, both times, right when we were on the verge. They both had big record deals and attracted big management companies. RH: The short version is I was in two previous bands that were supposed to be a huge deal and the next big thing. They aren’t just about signing garage rock bands.
GM: It’s interesting to see the variety of artists that Wicked Cool Records are bringing on board. I think that’s a testament to being a singer songwriter. There still will be a part of me that does a little bit on some songs. So I shouldn’t be torturing myself too badly on the road when I perform this record. And again, the songs that ended up on the record, even with those songs that are real heavy emotionally and lyrically, I think it remains a very hopeful record. In the end I feel that it’s come together in the right way. Instead, I didn’t want people to think that I was using my marriage ending as some kind of promotional tool, because it was all very real to me. Because where I struggled with it was not about being raw and honest about things. I said “I think I can do that, I think I SHOULD do that, and I think that people will relate to this.” But in a weird way I needed other people to tell me that it was OK. So there’s that kind of “come to Jesus” talk that you have to have with yourself that I had and had with my family. And with half of the songs it’s going to be just that when you play them live. I think you have to (and I’m sure Dylan did as well with Blood on the Tracks) have that moment where you go “if this goes into the world that’s what happens.” It’s going to be an instant “close my eyes straight back to that moment in my life” kind of thing for 10 to 12 songs. RH: That’s a really good point AND question. How do you feel about playing these songs live for the balance of your career, night after night? Seems like an experience you’d rather put in your rear view mirror. GM: Much like Blood on the Tracks, this is largely a divorce album. We were just kind of enjoying the success of the other record! (laughs) You know life happened, and divorce happened, and then this other album just appeared out of nowhere. We had won the Independent Music Awards’ “Album of the Year,” so there was no pressure to put out another album for at least another year.
RH: Honestly I didn’t really think about it because that record was still riding high getting the support of some big names. GM: After all of the praise and recognition that you earned with the last record was there a different follow-up that you had begun to map out or that you are currently sitting on? This record seems to have come together quickly.