Photo by The Wade Brothers
We were lucky enough to sneak in a Q&A with Trent Dabbs (accomplished writer, producer, and touring artist) who releases his eighth record The Way We Look at Horses this fall (Nov 5).
NL: Favorite lyric on Horses and why.
TD: I guess it would have to be from the bridge of a song called "Time Decides". I wrote that song shortly after seeing a loved one in her last stage of life. "...And if it takes a turn on me then let it be / and if it takes eternity then I don't mind / if time decides."
NL: Both this [The Way We Look at Horses] and Southerner have the horse imagery on the album cover. Muse? Metaphor? Both?
TD: It's kind of strange but we had different album art options for both records but nothing compared to the image of a horse. I sent our designer, Katie Moore, the songs in very early stages because I wanted her to interpret the music visually. I suppose it would be fair to say that the horse is both "muse" and "metaphor" because of its strength and beauty.
NL: You've mentioned the album Future Like Snow was a collection of songs gathered through your songwriting lifeless of a conceptual piece. Is Horses any different in terms of how you chose what material went on the record?
TD: The last record, Future Like Snow, had several different producers involved and we would track the song the day it was written. For this album, I accumulated many songs and then picked the ones that spoke to me the most and tracked with my producer, Jeremy Bose.
This was also the first solo album since Decade Fades that I worked with one band for the full record. I wanted the sound to have continuity and feel like a band. After we had finished tracking, I would spend a day a week pursuing overdubs with just me and the producer. We tried to pay attention to what would sonically serve the song, that's why you hear everything from the grit sound of singing through an acoustic pickup to the slick sound of intentional auto tune vocals on "Time Decides." I chose the material that felt like best represented my current songwriting and felt like the most honest depiction of who I am as an artist.
NL: Your songs are often heard on popular TV shows (Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood, Pretty Little Liars) any dream show/s (past, present or future) you'd like to feature your music?
TD: If I could turn back time, I'd love to hear my songs on shows Freaks and Geeks, The Wonder Years or Friday Night Lights.
NL: You've talked about 'blind musical dates' going badly, so what was it like to write with Lori McKenna, Daniel Tashian and Jeremy Bose who you've worked with many times over? What do they bring to the record?
TD: I think this could be the longest answer ever if I were to explain what these writers bring to me. There is a difference between songwriters who are the best at their craft and songwriters that bring out the best song in you. To me these writers are multi-faceted and they can be both. More than anything though, I'd say a great writer brings comfortability and trust.
If I broke down writing with each of these people it would look like this:
Lori always brings truth and a touch of grit to every song, she is the kind of writer who delivers so much honesty that it would almost force people away because they don't want to fess up, yet it doesn't force people away but rather draws them in. I am a fan of her music so the trust is easy.
Daniel brings ideas and melody that no one I've met can touch. When I moved into town 10 years ago I made a visit to Grimey's and inquired about the best local music. I was directed towards The Bees. Daniel was the frontman for this band and I still remember how moved I was listening to his melodies for the first time. It reminded me that I really had my work cut out for me here in Nashville. I knew when I started writing for this album that he would be the first call to make. Something about this record felt like a "full circle" kind of thing...after all it had been over a decade since that first inspiration.
Lastly, with Jeremy. I am truly confident and comfortable. The song will show up every time. We have worked together with many different artists and projects and he always listens well and quietly applies his vision. Jeremy is a very catering writer and does not let his pride get in the way. He's the kind of talent that doesn't feel the need to prove his skills. However, each time we work together he does prove his skills. I will always be inspired by writers that have either something to say or something to draw from you. That's why I love to be a writer. I get to meet the characters and then ask them to play a role in my own story.
NL: You wear a lot of 'music industry' hatswriter, performer, producer, etc.any particular role you identify with more than others?
TD: I think I identify more as a collaborator through writing. When you can hear a song in your head and then it comes to life in the studio there is nothing else like it. I used to watch "behind the music" on VH1 as a kid, and for me this feels like a behind the scenes version of history. Whether the world gets to meet these writers and artists or not is the challenging part of the equation. Recently I was able to hear Kacey Musgraves sing the song "Undermine" to thousands of people who sang along. I thought about our entire process of writing and recording that song and it felt like a musical birth to life process.
NL: Heard you're pulling a 'Matthew Perryman Jones' as the live musical artists (Sugar & Hi Lows) for Nashville Ballet's 2014 Attitude show. Pretty exciting! Talk a bit about how that came to be.
TD: Oddly enough we were approached about it shortly before seeing MPJ's performance (which absolutely blew our minds conceptually and sonically). The idea and challenge alone of combining art forms is genius to me. I think the world needs more art collaborations. Taking fans of one art form and cross pollinating fans from another is a great way to introduce new listeners and we were just flattered to be asked.
After several meetings with the Ballet director we agreed that interpreting Johnny Cash songs into the set would be an inspiring idea for the dancers. It is very sacred ground to tread when you are talking about an icon of that nature but feeling the freedom of interpretation is what dance is all about. (Get more details about Nashville Ballet's 2014 performances of Attitude, February 14-16 )
NL: Lightning Round:
Most touristy thing you've done in Nashville? Purchased a t- shirt in downtown Broadway that says "Viva Las Nashville"
Favorite place to go on date night? City House for dinner and Belcourt Theatre for movie
Most under-rated thing about Nashville? Nashvillian's. Love 'em.
Tootsies, Layla's or Roberts? Santa's Pub
The Pharmacy or Rotier's? Burger Up
Patterson House or Holland House? Patterson House