Hi! For those that haven’t heard of you yet, how would you best describe your sound, and who have been your biggest influences so far?
HeavyDrunk is a mixture of Soul and Blues. Tedeschi Trucks, Al Green. For me it’s New Orleans, The Mississippi Delta, Muscle Shoals, Memphis all rolled together. I grew up in the Deep South. I took my first job at 16 in a cafe/bar in Louisiana because all the Delta blues acts played there. I was cooking, doing dishes, serving folks, but mostly I was soaking up the music playing every night.
Do you remember what the first song was that made you want to start a career in music?
You know Kris Kristofferson comes to mind, Robert Johnson, Al Green, Dr. John. Great songs, unique, authentic characters.
You have just released ‘You Don’t Know Me’. Can you tell us how that came about?
I’m always writing, or at least sketching songs. When I sold the restaurant, it was natural to tighten my favorite’s up, and go into the studio. ‘You don’t know me’ is about how meeting someone can change your life entirely. Change you so much, that you are not the person you were without them in your life.
And how would you say it compares to your previous releases?
Reflections change with the light. Perspective grows. This is my 11th album to write and produce with different bands and I feel like I’m just finding my voice. I guess I’m a little slow.
Where are you based?
I live in Mississippi and Tennessee. I would call Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee home.
Can you tell us how the music scene there has inspired your sound at all?
Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana is where the blues, soul, country, jazz, r&b, gospel Zydeco and Americana were born, so I have always been surrounded with great live music. I owned a BBQ Joint with live music almost every night in Leiper’s Fork for the last 13 years. It was a funky old country store but we had folks like Keb’ Mo, Tanya Tucker, and Jason Isbell come play. It’s always inspiring to see folks like that.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
Personally, just getting out of my own way. I have a tendency to complicate things in my head. At some point you have to stop thinking and let it flow.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a musician?
Get a real job….Just kidding.
I can’t remember any good advice, but you have to believe in yourself, develop your craft, focus on what you do well and improve it.
What’s next for you?
I have some family issues holding back the touring right now, but we have a few shows on the books, and there will be more soon.
Is there more music or any live shows on the way?
Sept 21 The Listening Room Nashville
Nov 10 The Franklin Theatre Franklin, Tn.
Dec 31 NYEve Fox & Locke
Leiper’s Fork, Tn.
