A mainstay in the Americana scene, The Carolyn Sills Combo is an enticing and unique brand of music for your soul. Releasing a successful series of singles and videos from their latest release, "Dime Stories Vol. 2" we hear the band at their best. With more music to come in the near future, the group is readying up for a handful of dates in the coming week which you can find over at their site: www.carolynsills.com Ready to dig in with Carolyn Sills herself? Read below!
What is the inspiration behind your new album, "Dime Stories Vol 2"?
Thanks for the interview, nice to meet you all. The inspiration behind our latest release was simply to record a great collection of songs. We wanted it to resemble one of those old dime story cowboy novels that we're always compelled to buy at antique shops. We wrote songs about Buffalo Bill, a canoe outing, the 1908 Cubs, babies growing up to be villains… various stories, told with a consistent voice.
What made you discover your passion for creating an eclectic sound of western, country, Americana and dashes of rock?
Like everyone, we grew up listening to lots of styles, and you can't help but be influenced by it all. Gerard Egan (guitarist) and I have always strived to do our homework when we like someone's music. Who were their heroes, what artist/albums inspired them. When we started peeling back the layers, we discovered Western Swing to be a genre that combined all the sounds we were drawn to – country, western, jazz, swing – it has it all.
I really enjoy your latest video for "Ghost Reindeer in the Sky." What was the inspiration that went into creating it? What places in your mind did you channel to create it?
That’s great to hear, thanks! A couple Decembers ago, we were listening to The Sons of the Pioneers, and I just started singing Ghost Reindeer in place of Riders… then the words of ‘T’was The Night Before Christmas’ came to mind, and the cadence and phrasing fit so well, that the song started writing itself. I added some lines to tie it all together, and we played it for the first time at our annual Christmas show that year. Folks loved it, and we couldn't believe that this mashup wasn't already thought of by someone else. So we went into the studio this past summer. For the video, we were inspired by old home movies of my Dad as a kid in his cowboy outfit, running around the tree with a stick pony... so our pal Rob Ludacer put together than fun video of public domain footage to try and bring folks back to those childhood Christmases. More tinsel than technology.
What are your favorite venues to perform at? and if you had to choose, do you feel more comfortable in the studio or onstage, and why?
At this point, any venue with a good sound system, friendly folks and drink tickets is our favorite venue. We’ve played dive bars and jazz centers, performance halls and backyard BBQs with robot bartenders. I simply love playing live… every show is different, and you always learn something and meet new people. I’m probably more comfortable there than in the studio, although I do love recording. Music is very ‘in the moment’ for me, so I feel a lot freer on stage... it's crazy to think about one take becoming the ‘official’ version of that song for the rest of your life. I love how a song can sound and feel different every time you play it.
Critically acclaimed from the start of your music career, how have fans and critics been receiving your new record?
Thanks for that. We’ve been thrilled with the response to our new album. It ranked at number one in November last year on the Western Swing charts of the Western Music Association, and No Depression named it one of the top new releases of 2016. It also got nominated for Western Swing album of the year by the Academy of Western Artists, which is a big thrill for us, as The Time Jumpers and Wayne Hancock’s albums are nominated as well. We get lots of nice emails and even hand written letters from people who appreciate what we're doing, and that's just the best.
How do you write your songs? What is the process like? Does it take you days, weeks, even longer? How does the perfect Carolyn Sills Combo piece come together?
Sometimes it takes days, sometimes years! It just depends. I try not to stress about it… like most things in life, good ideas come to you when you’re focused on other things, and in a good state of mind. Lyrics are the most important thing for me. I usually start there, but I’m at the mercy of the song, so if I get a rhythm or melody in my head and it just needs words, I shall find it some words. The best lyrics just come to me while overhearing conversations, walking my dog, drinking in the shower… I usually start with the words and bass line and then Gerard and I work together to craft the song. The best is bringing it to Charlie, Jimmy and Sunshine, and hearing their ideas for it. The song just comes to life from there
How did you create a sound throughout time that is so uniquely your own? What defines the Carolyn Sills Combo sound to you?
Thanks for that as well. I think we just stayed true to ourselves. We love this music and we love playing it. We write songs about what we’ve experienced and are interested in, and our melodies are based on years of absorbing the records we own… it's just who we are, which I guess by default creates a sound that is unique to us. We started out just wanting to write good songs in the styles we like… so it was a thrill to be so welcomed by the Western Swing and Ameripolitan music communities who are into what we are doing. We like to write songs that could be soundtracks to spaghetti western films, or putting EE Cummings poems to a cavalry march, or taking on challenges, like ‘write a song that Marty Robbins could sing if he was a lady.’ We keep it fun, and I think our music reflects that, as does our live show.
This year is already shaping up to be a huge year for you. What do you hope to accomplish in the New Year?
Once again, thanks for that. This year we’d love to play for as many people as possible, open for some artists we admire and play festivals. We’d love for more people to hear Dime Stories Vol 2. We’re playing in Austin in February for the Ameripolitan Awards, and hope to get to Nashville this year as well, so I can hang out with Ranger Doug. But most of all, I just want to write more songs.
