Larry Crane shares a piece of wisdom in our conversation that has stuck with me since the moment we recorded it. As we were talking about the process of making and releasing records and the idea of how musicians should be compensated for their work, Larry simply said, “Music is not merit based.”
It sounds like a harsh statement, but it is completely and totally true. Each of us can likely rattle off a handful of bands that we believe should have been huge. While most of us also have a huge band or artist that we find unctuous and irredeemable. It’s not enough to just write a great song and turn it into a great record. It takes ability, dedication, consistency, discipline, and a shitload of luck.
While much of the music business is a crapshoot, Larry and I talk about a few of the tools artists can employ to stack the odds in their favor. Larry shares how much bands still struggle with basic arrangement ideas like tying the kick drum to the bass guitar, or even making sure that the band is functioning as a unit. Despite the fact that it is easier than ever for a band to record their own tracks at home, these nascent artists are often still struggling with the basic concepts of writing and arrangement.
Larry and I talk deeply about his relationship with the great singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. In Elliott, Larry found a kindred musical spirit who embodied all of the great things about songwriting, arrangement, and recording that brought Larry to music to begin with. The pair even found a way to work together as Larry was first building his studio, Jackpot Recordings in Portland, OR. Larry offered severely discounted studio time to Elliott for his help in getting the studio into working condition.
As the line between DIY consumer gear and professional level equipment continues to blur, Larry is quick to remind folks that great records can be made on the most basic of equipment. We use the Nebraska record by Bruce Springsteen as a prime example.
We chat about Larry’s opportunity to work with the terrific Australian rock band, The Go Betweens who made one of their last, and probably best sounding albums at Jackpot with Larry behind the controls. There are tales of M. Ward, She and Him, The Decemberists, Sleater Kinney, and even R.E.M. that pop up in our talk.
This is a fascinating chat with a guy who has been learning on the job since the first day he sat down in his high school electronics class and slowly immersed himself into a world of recording and capturing music. As he says, he has been paid to learn almost everything he knows, and the proof is in the terrific work he continues to churn out every day.
Cheers,
Matty C
WAIM Podcast #098: Singer/Songwriter Emma Swift
Emma Swift found her way to Nashville by way of the mid-sized, but isolated city of Wagga Wagga, Australia. In high school, she fell hard for the myriad female singer songwriters that were ascendant in the early 1990s. At university, Emma discovered the world of alt-country, and she began to soak up the artistry of iconic singers like Linda Rondtstadt and Emmylou Harris.
WAIM Podcast #097: Luc Rinaldi And The Death Of The Middle Class Musician
Writer Luc Rinaldi first came on to my radar when I noticed the headline for his newest piece in The Walrus. The article, titled The Death Of The Middle Class Musician, is a dire and detailed look at the economic landscape for roughly 99% of artists making music today. Rinaldi begins the piece by focusing on the story of a critically and commercially successful Edmonton rapper known as Cadence Weapon. In full detail, we see the production and distribution costs for Cadence Weapon pile up with little monetary compensation in return.
WAIM Podcast #096: Rock Historian & Storyteller Patrick Hicks
Patrick Hicks never expected to become a Tik Tok star. He first opened his account in response to his wife suggesting a 30 day creative challenge; The couple had already produced a short lived podcast together, and while it garnered just a handful of downloads for each episode, it provided a much needed creative outlet. Without that pod as a regular endeavor, Patrick’s partner suggested that perform a creative task with accountability every day, for thirty days in a row.
