Interview: Grant Campbell

Grant Campbell

Grant Campbell effortlessly merges country, roots and rock into his own unique sound. This Scottish singer songwriter nods towards Nebraska era Springsteen and looks set to be a name to look out for over the next twelve months. His newest work Beyond Below is out now.
 
HOLV: How are you?

GC: I’m well, thanks for asking.

HOLV: Where are you right now?

GC: I’m currently at work, looking out over the Clyde.

HOLV: How are preparations going for the album release?

GC: Going good so far. It’s a bit like being in labour (although not as painful from what I’m told) and after months of waiting I just want to get the damn thing out.

HOLV: You wrote on your Myspace blog that the recording was finished on July 16th of this year why has it taken so long to come out? Are you a perfectionist?

GC: Yes the recording part eventually finished up mid-July but it took a few more months to then set up the label, mix & master the album, do the artwork and finally get the thing pressed. There were a few delays on the way but better to get it right than just throw it out under prepared. I wouldn’t say I am perfectionist but when I have a certain idea of how things should sound or look I try to get it as close as possible without losing any of the heart or passion that gave it life in the first place.

HOLV: How much time do you get to work on your music, considering you work full time?

GC: I don’t get as much time as I would like but then again you appreciate it more when you do work on it.

HOLV: Do you expect it to receive the same sort of critical acclaim as the first?

GC: Well I would hope so but to be honest I don’t pin my hopes on it. If I can get a few good reviews in the right places then it all helps to convince people that you are credible and worthy of their attention.

HOLV: At what point would you consider this album successful?

GC: If it breaks even! Nah, I would consider it a success if people like it. It’s very basic I know but I would rather sell 1000 copies and people loved it than sell a million and they thought it was just ok.

HOLV: What can you tell us about Crooked Mouth Records?

GC: Well the name Campbell comes from the Gaelic ‘Cam Beul’, which translates as Crooked Mouth. I started the label to put out my own releases initially and it will hopefully expand in the future.

HOLV: On your website you only have two upcoming shows, is touring something you shy away from? Are you nervous about performing live?

GC: No, not at all. I had other shows lined up but they fell through. It’s funny, even after playing for years I still find it hard to convince people to put me on.
I have played everywhere from empty dead-end coffee houses to concert halls and supported some great artists over the years including Odetta, Micah P Hinson, Mary Gauthier, Alison Moorer and John Hammond. I’m not as nervous as I used to be but it’s good to be a bit nervous; it shows you still care.

HOLV: What can fans expect from you live?

GC: Lasers, dancers, spandex balaclavas… nah, just a good show of me, my guitar, my voice and my words.

HOLV: Do you think you win over new listeners when you perform?

GC: Yes definitely, it’s the best way to get people interested in your music. I think people appreciate an honest performance rather than watching someone going through the motions.

HOLV: How important are things like Myspace, iTunes and your website in attracting listeners?

GC: I think the internet in general is very useful in getting your music out to a wider audience. I think all these things can have a positive and negative effect but one of the good things is it’s far easier for promoters, labels and the media to get quicker access to your music.

HOLV: With this in mind how would you assess the future of the album as an art form?

GC: There will always be people, myself included, who put a lot of effort into creating an album that works as a whole. Everything from the font size in the booklet to the music itself has an important part to play in the reflection of an artists work.

HOLV: Can you see a time when albums will become obsolete and people simply release songs online at random intervals?

GC: No I think there are still a lot of people out there who will always prefer the physical product to the digital version.
I used to love going through my parents record collection, exploring the artwork and reading through the album notes as I listened to the music. It’s something that brings you closer to the artist I think and gives each album its own identity.

HOLV: You’ve been likened to Bruce Springsteen, and on your Myspace site you say you listen to him, and Neil Young, and Nick Cave among others. How much do these artists actually influence the songs that you write?

GC: I don’t really think about influences when I’m writing. I just try to put down things that matter to me the best I can and as naturally as I can. I think comparisons will always be drawn with other established singer-songwriters but I would say that their music inspires me to write better and encourages a higher standard of song rather than providing something to imitate.
 
HOLV: Do you aspire to be like them?

GC: In some ways I guess but at the end of the day you just want to be respected in whatever is important to you in your life. I am at the other end of the spectrum from these artists but it doesn’t mean what I do is any less important. It all depends on where on the ladder you’re happy to sit.

HOLV: Do you draw from your own experiences in life for inspiration?

GC: Yes. It’s very difficult for me to write about anything else. You can overanalyse when writing; the difficult part is to say what you mean in a few lines, make it rhyme and convey your meaning through the music at the same time.

HOLV: When were you happiest?

GC: Musically I am happiest just sitting in a room on my own playing songs. Writing and producing ideas for songs can be pleasing but yet again when the creative well is dry it can be very frustrating.

HOLV: What makes you angry?

GC: Popcorn grazers in the cinema.

HOLV: Is music something that you are fiercely passionate about?

GC: Of course, if I was in it for the money and attention I would have given up on it a long time ago.

HOLV: Is it something you hope to make a career out of?

GC: I would like to be able to make a comfortable living out of my music but I am pretty grounded and know that it doesn’t just happen overnight.

HOLV: Do you aspire to be famous?

GC: No, if anything I would probably go out of my way to stop that happening. Most of the artists I respect these days are ones who are not in the charts or on the cover of Bleat magazine and never will be (I hope). The music is important- that can take the glory and I will just gladly accept the cheques.


 Interview By Neal Parsons