Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Paul Faith

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

One of my earliest musical memories is being at church I suppose. My family went to church every week, and we’d usually sit behind a group of three sisters. They would sing three-part harmony on all the hymns. Whatever harmony singing I am capable of I always attribute to them.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

The Pandemic really did a great job of making everyone re-evalute their priorities, and it did the same for me. I had played music for a long time at that point, and had even wrote a few terrible songs back in college, but having that extended period of quiet, free time really made me realize that this was something I valued in my life and that I wanted to pursue in a more serious way. I began to go to an open mic every week in town, here in New Orleans, and the host encouraged me to write my own songs as opposed to playing the covers I had been playing. It was like a door had been kicked open in my mind after that.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

I made my second album, “OH WELL”, earlier this year with some of my best friends and bandmates. I had made my first album with my friend, producer, and engineer – Dreux Gerard, and was tremendously proud of it. But it was largely a solo effort, or it at least felt that way. Dreux recorded everything track by track, and we arranged everything very simply on it to present the songs in a real folk context. By the time I had begun pulling together songs for the second album, I had gathered together my band – The Barstool Prophets. Sky Choice on lead guitar, Sasha Salk on Drums, and Hank Neuhoff on bass. Together we had kind of taken the songs to a rock and roll format that felt like what I had always wanted to do. We got together in a friend’s space for a week straight, and we essentially set up a studio in this downstairs apartment. Dreux engineered and recorded us again, and we knocked out 2-3 songs a day, live in the room. I think we really achieved the goal of capturing the energy and feel of what it’s like when we play together live. The album is really warm sounding, largely just us four on the album with some pretty minimal overdubs. That we were able to make something I’m so proud of in such a short period of time, and do it with people I love – well it’s just really special and I’ll never forget it.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

I’d say like anyone I’m made up of all my influences stirred together in a pot. When I first began playing guitar, I learned two records in their entirety to teach myself how to play: “Highway 61 Revisited” by Bob Dylan and “A Rush of Blood to the Head” by Coldplay. You might not think there’s much of a link there between the two, but I loved both those albums so much at the time, and I think I see it now in my music: pop/alternative rock sensibility from the 90’s and 00’s, set in an Americana context. I see my music as a good amount of Wilco and Neil Young, but with someone who listened to too much 90’s grunge, emo music, and early aughts rock along the way. I love Tom Petty and Dylan, but I listened to bands like Third Eye Blind and Say Anything just as much. We jokingly refer to it as “Grungicana” at shows.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

Maybe this is surprising, but I think the longer I write songs the better I get at knowing when to quit. I’ve learned when I’m “forcing it” more, trying to shoehorn an idea into something instead of letting something come naturally. I like to think I’ve learned when I’m polishing up a turd too, taking song that I was not all that thrilled about from the beginning and trying so hard, too hard, to make it better. John Craigie, an artist I love, wrote, “You gotta give yourself the shivers before you can give ’em to someone else”, and I think that’s what I’ve learned along the way. If I begin a song idea, and it almost makes me cry, or chuckle, or grabs me and gives me the shivers – I know that’s one that’s worth it.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

Every song I write begins on my old Gretsch New Yorker from the 50’s. It’s an old archtop guitar and it truly is my writing companion. From there, I think it’s really critical to know your tools. If you take care of them they will take care of you. I am a tinkerer by nature – I have a fleet of harmonicas, and each one I’ve taken apart, cleaned, and even tuned (a whole ‘nother interview on that subject). I say that to say that if you understand how your tools work and function it will make your relationship with them that much better.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

It’s hard not to always say Jeff Tweedy. He just put out a triple album (!) that is a magnificent opus,and inspiring to see someone continue to put out such amazing output  deep into their musical career. Also ‘d say The Beths I just can’t get enough of this year – they put out an album called “Straight Line Was a Lie” that is just so great, and as a fan of theirs for a little while it is a joy to see them starting to get their due.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

I would say all of my songs are intensely personal. I  think it’s from that emo music that I loved so much growing up. I listened to those records and I was like – “these guys are really feeling it”. I think that comes through in my songs. I’ve had countless folks say, “wow, it’s clear when you’re up there you’re really in it”. Or when people use the word honest, I think that’s what they really mean- honest in feeling the emotion.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I hope listeners can take a message of trying, or doing your best. I think I have a lot of songs that speak about “The effort” – trying, questioning, the struggle, and I don’t think I have any songs about the result. I think that might be because that’s where I see the value- in the journey, the effort, the trying.

 What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that the comparison game is the thief of joy. You have to do this for you, and because you love to create. If not, this is just another way to be unhappy. Because there are so many talented folks out there, and those aren’t always the most succesfull. And there are folks that are incredibly succesfull that you might say have less talent or “don’t deserve it”. You or I are not the arbiters of taste, or the deciders of who deserves what. If you spend your time in music doing that you might as well quit because you’ll never have enough. If you can be content creating your songs and playing with some people you love, then you’ve accomplished the real goal.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

Jazz Fest here in New Orleans. It’s not because I’m a Jazz artist by any means, it’s really because I live here in New Orleans, and it’s the biggest festival the city does each year. Even before I started playing out more, I would go and see folks perform onstage and think it would be such a dream to do it too.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I might be tempted to say Dylan, but something tells me he might not enjoy collaborating or co-writing all that much. I think I’d have to say Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. He is someone I look up to musically so much, and I think he’d just be a great hang.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

You can always go to my website, www.paulfaith.net for the most up-to-date information on what I’m working on, where I’m playing, and all. Besides that, I’m on @realpaulfaith on Instagram and actively post about my gigs and the songwriter night that I run. My music’s up everywhere you can listen to music under my name – Paul Faith.

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

I’m writing and beginning recording for a third album currently – I’m really excited to see where it’s going already. Think it’ll be a good size, 11 or 12 songs, and 6 are already done. It’s always exciting to be at the point when something is beginning to take shape – the “not knowing” point of how it’s going to be.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope they listen to the songs, the lyrics, find something that resonates with them. I’m always touched when someone says, “you sang this” and “it made me think about this”. If I can connect with folks in that way then I think I’ve done the best job I can.