While reading, listen to this one: Linda Draper – Shine (from “Keepsake”)
After listening to Linda Draper’s stripped down acoustic songs on “Keepsake”, her fifth album, I am amazed how it is possible to get so much out of only a guitar and a voice. With her soft, almost whispery voice and an impressing simplicity in the arrangements, she gives us the core of the song without any disturbing elements. I first heard Linda Draper on “one two three four” from 2005, an album that has become one of my absolute favourites. On “Keepsake” she manages to refine elements from her past recordings and still make something that sounds unique and fresh. I have talked to Linda Draper about her new album and her songwriting.
She tells us that curiosity was the factor that made her start making music.
I was curious. Once I found out what a good outlet writing songs was for me, how it made me feel better about things in general, I knew it was something that I not only wanted, but needed to continue doing…for my own peace of mind, more than anything else.
- When I listen to your new songs, I am amazed about the simplicity of the arrangements. It seems to me that they are stripped down to the bone, and only the needed parts are included. What are your thoughts on this?
I think for the kind of music I make, it’s important for the arrangements to remain as embellishments in the background, as a way to compliment but to never overshadow the foundation of the composition itself. The foundation of the composition basically being, the chord structure in the songs and the melody and lyrics of what I’m singing…Also, since I’ve never really been that spectacular or virtuosic of a guitar player, I guess the arrangements remain simple because the songs themselves are built that way. And lastly, since keeping things simple is something I strive for in my own life, it may be possible that this has been naturally replicated in my music as well.
- This time, you have co-produced the album yourself, and on the last two albums you had Kramer with you. What has this done to the sound?
This album is different from my other cds because I was working with very different people in a very different kind of environment and it was more of a collaborative effort with everyone who was involved. I think this album has more of a rustic “live” kind of feel to it, more so than my previous efforts. Major Matt engineered and co-produced the album with me.
- Your voice seems to be more “in front” this time. Do you agree?
It sounded right to me to do it this way, I’m not sure why. Maybe because my voice is what’s closest to my own ears, so when I heard the playback on the speakers, I wanted to make the voice sound closer on the speakers too — because I’d like to share with the listener what it is that I’m hearing in my head when I’m singing.
How do you work when you are preparing new songs for an album?
Whenever I’m writing a song I don’t ever really know at the time if it’s going to end up on an album or not. Songwriting, sometimes can seem more like an excercise I’m doing, an experiment to see where it can go. Sometimes it goes somewhere interesting, sometimes it doesn’t. So, when it comes time for recording, I take the songs that (for me) seem to go in the most interesting places.
- The lyrics seems to be an important part of your songs. How do you write them?
I usually sit down to write with a glass of water – or cup of tea – when I have at least a couple of hours to focus in on it. Sometimes I have ideas in my head for a song when I’m on the subway or out in public and then I make a mental note to remember those ideas for when I have time to sit down and work them out into a song.
- Are there themes that have been present in your songs since you started writing music, or do you feel that the themes of the lyrics and the lyrics themselves have changed a lot during the years you’ve been a recording artist?
I do find reaccuring themes sometimes, but I try to find new ways to express it, such as with love or death or my questions regarding spirituality vs. science. But new themes arise for me too, usually in images or metaphors that are brought to my attention in different ways during the day or in my dreams. Sorry, I know that’s a vague answer…that’s the best I can do!
- The first reviews on the new album is coming in at the moment, and they all seem very positive. Did you expect this? How do you feel about being reviewed?
I’ve had good reviews and I’ve also had some not so good reviews in the past. Although I must admit that it’s encouraging to feel validated for my creative efforts by some of these more recent reviews that have come in, after I read them, I find ways to distract myself and forget all about it. Because narcissism is awfully boring and thinking about myself for too long just gives me a headache.
- You released your first album on your own label in 2001, and so far you have released 5 albums. Do you still play the old songs live? I see that you are playing quite a lot of shows, – do you enjoy it?
Yes, 5 full length albums, you are correct! I see you have done your homework
I usually don’t play my older songs live because I don’t feel them the same way as I did when I wrote them. I guess that’s only natural. And you are also correct, I have a bunch of shows coming up. My first west coast tour! I am very excited about it and especially to be playing a bunch of shows with my amazing bass player, Robert Woodcock!
- How does Linda Draper’s workday look like? Is it music and only music, or do you have other work or other things you like to do as well?
No I’ve always had a day job that I’ve never really liked. But that is soon to change. When I come back from my tour, I will be beginning my studies in Music Therapy. Even though I’ll be turning 30 years old the end of August, it’s never too late to go back to college. So then music will be what I do all the time. But even though I’m going back to school, I’ll still have time to write music and record and play shows…when you really love doing something, and aren’t afraid to do it, you always find a way to make time for it.
- In our eardrums-interviews we always include a little silly thing in the end. A top-5 of everything… What is your top5?
Hmmm..the first thing that comes to mind..the top 5 people I would talk to on the phone. Actually, it also happens to be a cell phone commercial gimmick here in the U.S. – I don’t know if they offer it in Norway too? Basically (as if we didn’t talk on the cell phone enough already, ugh!) they’ve devised this plan for people to blabber on endlessly all the time to whoever’s in their “Top 5″ at some sort of discount. I think it’s pretty silly, actually, I don’t subscribe to this plan because I don’t need or like to talk on the phone that much – so it’s pointless to me – but if I did, here are the people that would be…in My top 5!
1) Jason (boyfriend)
2) Neil (Planting Seeds indie label guru/friend)
3) Arina (friend)
4) Carolyn (friend too!)
5) Mom (relative)
“Keepsake” is out now on Planting Seeds rcords. You can read more about Linda on her own website or her myspace-page.
Linda Draper recently did an in-studio performance at radio WFMU (may 21st) together with fellow NY singer-songwriter Carolyn Alroy. You can listen to the performance here (this is the full radio show, and the performance is in the middle of the long broadcast (around 68 minutes out in the show) (see the playlist here).
Linda Draper and Carolyn Alroy at WFMU radio
Here are some “bonus tracks” from her previous album “one-two-three-four”:
Linda Draper – Jezebel
Linda Draper – Needlessly
(two more songs available from her website)
