VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Musician: BILLY CROCKETT
Music Video: “Rabbit Hole”
BILLY CROCKETT Web-Exclusive Interview
with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David
Tell us about the song “Rabbit Hole” coming to you in a dream.
When I started writing again last year, my dream life began to stir—as though it was saying “Oh, well if you’re paying attention, finally, dig this.” I’d sometimes wake up with an image or a feeling that hung on for hours—with a kind of radioactive glow. For weeks I only had the first line, “Where goes the rabbit hole?” By day, I would scratch around with all kinds of modern worries from climate change, genetic engineering, international data theft, the unraveling of political discourse in the U.S. But the song would not settle for my conscious mind listing troubles. By night, I was able to enter another kind of state where I could be a child playing among giants and know these feelings more personally. I think the song, thankfully, kind of hypnotized me with its circular guitar part and melody until I could discover images that seemed less didactic and more vulnerable.
The lyric “shock and awe” works well—and seems to specifically refer to our political climate.
I may have failed on that verse, though I do like it. I wonder if, with time, the phrase “shock and awe” has come to generally indicate a kind of fateful sleight of hand.
Why do you classify this as a “happy little modern tale of dread?”
I don’t really parse it. It’s only there because I smile when I hear it. I do feel it says something about the lies we tell ourselves.
You guitar is seemingly effortless, yet it’s so rhythmic and haunting—with a full, lush sound. What guitar did you use, and how was it set up?
It’s a Lowden L25C that is 25 years old—flat top, steel strings. I usually use Elixir Nanoweb Lights these days, and it’s in a standard tuning. I’ve got a good pal, Dave Lovos, over at Collings Guitars who sets up my guitars.
One can easily tell you enjoyed recording this album.
Well, I tracked this album with world class players—Eric Darken, Roscoe Beck and Daran DeShazo.
What PRO are you with, and how do they help an artist like you?
I’m with BMI. They’ve given me opportunities like putting me on the SXSW stage. These are thin times for writers. BMI is a culture, a guild for songwriters. It’s where you find people with a shared passion. People like Jody Williams have been incredibly helpful. They’ve been a great support for almost all my career.
Best advice someone has given you.
The great Bill Withers said to me once: “Listen to that solo of Eric Gale. He meant that … he was serious when he played that.” I learned that day that you can lie your ass off with this instrument. And I stopped trying to do that.
What’s next? Touring?
It’s time to go sing some songs—see if we can synchronize heartbeats, these listeners and me. I’m playing some classic listening rooms with echoes of Prine, Colvin, Townes and Lovett still echoing around in them. (Smiles) Now that’s something.
Where can your new fans get more info and stay updated?
comment closed