Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I was given my first guitar when I was five years old. I remember sitting on the swings with my cousin and talking about being in a band together. Funny how you can have a clear vision even that young. I eventually went to music college and started playing in bands. Different genres of music and lots of time on stages in bars and all kinds of venues. For most of my life music was always a part of it. Once Mat and I started The Prairie States things got focused and here we are.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I’ve had Ashley McBryde on repeat lately. Her songs are so good, the lyrics will rip your heart out. Eric Church is a favourite for the band as well. His style and rock n roll cool is something we all love. For a guilty pleasure it’s 80s hair metal. Put some Poison or Skid Row on and rock on.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘The Prairie States’?
A: The strongest musical influences for me have always been the songwriters that tell stories. Writers like Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and The Eagles have classic songs that everyone knows and are burned into our collective psyche. Modern writers like Chris Stapleton and Hardy can tell a story in three minutes that will hit you hard.
The band was named by our good friend and the guy who produced our first record, Jay Sparrow. Nash and I were living with Jay during the time we started the band. We kicked around a whole bunch of names but couldn’t agree on anything. Jay found a poem by Walt Whitman called The Prairie States. It talked about a classic landscape of the prairies but having a modern touch. We thought that summed up the band nicely and we really liked the name. The Prairie States were born.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘Trouble Is’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Trouble Is chronicles the journey and development of our band over the last two years. The songs were written at different points in time and tell the tale of The Prairie States. We started the record as an independent band doing everything on our own and finished it with the support of our new record label Willing Records. Each tune is a snapshot and a moment in time. Different writers and producers helped shape the vision. We are very proud of the journey it’s taken us on and proud of the record.
Q: What is the message behind your music?
A: For us each song is an opportunity to tell a different message. The song sometimes directs you where to go. Sometimes we have a specific goal in mind. I think as you listen to this record you will get different messages. Waiting for that special someone is worth it, some people choose to forge their own path in life, embrace it or slow down and appreciate the moment and the people that you are with. These are just a few of the messages that we tried to get across on this record. It’s always great to hear from fans to see what messages they hear. Music is so personal and everyone can get something different from the same tune.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: We pride ourselves on being a band. Five guys who play together to make music they love. We try to emphasise that band sound. The five of us are more than the sum of our parts. Playing live is where we shine and each of us contributes to that overall Prairie States sound. We have vocal harmonies, interacting guitar parts and of course Mat’s killer vocals. If you come to a Prairie States show you are going to get what we like to call “Arena Country”. Big sound, big show.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: The love of music starts with just that, music. As you grow as an artist you start to realise that it takes so much more to have a career. There are a lot of hats to wear, bookkeeper, graphic artist, social media manager, merchandiser, designer and on and on. Each area gives you an opportunity to shape the vision for your art and to reach more people. At the end of the day when we step onstage and the lights go down, all the work is worth the effort.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Every time we do a song write the process is different. Sometimes somebody brings in a lyric idea, sometimes it’s a riff, sometimes the ideas happen in the moment. There have been a few times where the hang before the write produces the idea. Everyone is just sitting around catching up and someone will say something that triggers an idea. That’s why I love songwriting so much. It’s always a surprise and it’s always interesting. I have a coffee cup my sister gave me. It says “Be careful what you say around me, I’m a songwriter”. Anything can turn into a song.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: As a band there are always challenges. There are five people with families and lives outside of The Prairie States. Even with all the ups and downs of everyday life it’s nice to know we have this outlet to be creative and chase our dreams. Even when life gets you down there’s always a song there to pick you up.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: We are very proud of the progress we have made as a band over the last seven years. Big moments for us have been signing our record deal, winning awards, touring and playing big stages. Every time we strap on our guitars and walk on a stage it’s a big moment. We are playing songs we wrote for fans with our best friends. Who could ask for more success than that?
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