Authentic. That’s the first word that springs to mind when you encounter Brandi Carlile. From her rootsy bell-clear voice to the palpable emotion that seeps through every song on her stunning debut album, everything about this 23-year-old from rural Washington state is the real deal.
Carlile’s determination and work ethic paid off in late 2004 when she signed with Columbia Records, home to several of her favorite artists including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Buckley, Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin, and James Taylor, whom she has shared a stage with. The timeless quality of her debut album for Columbia, Brandi Carlile, is proof of her intention to become a classic artist alongside her labelmates.
The album is a showcase for Carlile’s expressive voice, which can turn from a tough, bluesy growl to a vulnerable, aching falsetto on a dime. The catch in her throat before she launches into those alpine high notes is reminiscent of her idol, country singer Patsy Cline.
We interview Brandi Carlile.
Hip: When did you record the album?
Brandi: It’s been about a year.
Wow, really?
(Laughs) Yeah about a year ago.
So is it weird to talk about it now because it’s been done for so long?
Yeah, I have to remember it’s this record… the one that has been done for a year.
I really think this is a great record. It’s a really nice surprise.
It was actually supposed to be an EP. And then we recorded some more tracks and they were killer and put a good mix on it and it ended up being an awesome record.
It’s interesting how in the history of music that have a certain melody will be confused as either happy or sad.
Totally. That is what happens with us. We have a lot of dark love songs. That comes from me. I never write uplifting lyrics. I can’t make myself do it. Tim writes really happy lyrics—so when he attaches them to my dark melody—even though I write almost all of the lyrics.
Why is that?
For some reason I’m only creative when I’m discontent, brokenhearted, or furious. For some reason I can’t sit down and write a simple love song, which is fine because there are enough love songs in the world.
I’m the same way. I write fiction. For whatever reason you have something to get off your chest and whether you twist and turn it into something that isn’t exactly about what is bothering you…
… that is exactly it. You totally nailed it.
Maybe you are pissed off about the day and come home and write about something else. Like Johnny Cash…
…Writing “Boy Named Sue” about his father.
It’s always subconscious. You have to wonder what Stephen King’s mornings are like. (We both laugh)
Yeah, what’s buried in his backyard?
When you write a song do you know what it’s going to be about?
I almost never know what it is about or I’ll figure it out halfway through. That part of your brain is so turned off. It’s so subconscious.
If I try to force myself to write I can’t. I know Stephen King says he writes X amount of pages a day. I don’t know how he does it.
If you read a Stephen King novel he has pages and pages of nonsense and no plot. I think each of his books could be 200 pages shorter than it is.
[Ed. Note: I’ll be honest and say we went on to talk for another 20 minutes of what amount to us talking about our favorite bands and didn’t seem like it would fit in the format of this interview. Perhaps if there is enough interest we can post it as a wav file. Email us if you want more Brandi! For more information go to: http://www.brandicarlile.net/
Brandi’s self-titled album Brandi Carlile is in stores now!]
+ Charlie Craine
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