A Dirty Dozen with STEVEN BLANE – April 2019
According to a recent press release: “Singer-songwriter, Steven Blane, returns with the release of his newest album, I Walk Alone, set for release April 16th, 2019. The album, self-composed, and self-produced is a true testament to Steven’s artistic capabilities. Blane was responsible for the entire project, from playing the instruments to mixing and mastering, this body of work was a one-man show. Says Blane, “It is is the truest realization of my artistry to date.” I Walk Alone is an album comprised of 60’s Rock & Roll, Jazz Story Songs and is recommended if you like Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Tom Waits. Steven writes and performs in multiple genres (Americana, Pop, Jazz, Country). The Huffington Post writes “stylistically, Blane fits in the Americana category. But there’s more going on in his music than simply Americana. There’s a pop influence in there, along with a 1950’s rock vibe that gives his sound a unique signature. It’s much different from the usual run-of-the-mill stuff most bands turn out today.” Steven is also a multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, piano, and ukulele.” We get Steven to discuss new music, influences, and much more…
1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?
I Walk Alone is a homage to the music I loved growing up – those formula R&R songs, sung by great singers from the 1960’s. Of course, the main theme of the album is, yes you’ve got it, love. Love gone wrong and love gone right. I think they will find the music catchy. And if they listen to the lyrics, they might be transported. “The shades are drawn, Two silhouettes float by, That somebody once was me, I hang my head and cry. I walk alone…” My songs tell stories. LOL. I wish I had some die-hard fans. But you know I hope someday, my songs might be appreciated for the craft I developed and that went into creating them. One nugget is the fact that “Brooklyn Bridge” was written a few years ago and recorded and co-produced by a guy named Luba Dvorak. He hired the steel string player. I think it’s a great tune and they did a wonderful job on the steel track.
2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?
Ha. I don’t think it came to me in a moment. When people liked the way I could sing I knew I liked that feeling of being liked. When I later played chords on a guitar and girls liked watching me play that was surely excellent. But there was a moment. I wrote a poem in HS English Class and the teacher really was impressed with it – that made me want to write. I went to college and majored in Music, but writing songs have always been my passion.
3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?
Oh man, that’s tough. I think seeing Leonard Cohen perform live changed everything for me.
4. Who would be your main five musical influences?
Elvis was my main influence on vocally and performance-wise. But then the Folk-Rock thing captivated me. CSNY was huge in my life. I discovered Joni later and I found Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits only 15 or so years ago. And only after Roy Orbison died did I really get him. I think Chris Isaac is a great singer. All of their styles pretty much shaped my performance and writing styles.
5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?
I write alone. I’m surely open to collaborations, but outside of Nashville, I have found people do not want to write together, at least not at the less than “superstar” level. It’s a drag for sure.
6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?
I sound a bit like Elvis and Roy Orbison. And my writing is strongly influenced by Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. To be honest, reviewers have been very kind and they seem to get me. “Guy’s decent – has a cool voice and writes solid songs.”
7. When the band is all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?
Ha. That’s easy. It’s mostly just me. I cook, I drink, I play…
8. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?
I really, really love Alison Krause and Gillian Welch. And Laura Marling. Male artists just don’t impress me much these days.
9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?
The best part for me is waiting for a song to be born. And then delivering it. LOL. I think I might want to be a…chef. Nuts right? I’m fond of my family, so I could be the family chef and homemaker. In fact, that’s my other job now so it would be an easy transition.
10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?
“What are you trying to say?” would be the question. And “I don’t have a clue.” would be my answer. I’m tired of answering the question, “Do you have a synagogue?” Oops sorry- that’s a question I get in my other life.
11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?
Wow. I think it was this one – I was about 25 or 26. I was in a relationship with a girl who would become my wife. And I wanted to move to Nashville to be a songwriter. So I said “goodbye.” And I drove away. And then a couple of hours down the road, I turned around and went back home. And Carole and I got married and we are so damn blessed and married almost 33 years. Still, sometimes I think what if I kept going…”
12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for anyone record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?
Oh, baby! ANY of the early Elvis sessions. I loved his Sun Records sound. I’d love to be hanging in the control room with Sam Phillips and recording “That’s All Right” with Elvis and Scotty and Bill. That sound is so true and real and interesting. So, yeah that would do it.
Thanks for the interview, my friend.
STEVEN BLANE LINKS:
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Category: Interviews