Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Well I certainly grew up with music. My parents are both guitar players, so there were always instruments around to play. Learning to play guitar was pretty accessible to me. We took a lot of long drives to visit family and we’d always have music playing and, my mom especially, would be singing along. We’d listen to Paul Simon, Joni Mitchel, Nanci Griffith, and John Prine. That’s what sent me down the folk road.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Rita Bliss in three words?
A: Lyrical, banjo, folk.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: Keeping fans in the loop and sharing stories and events with them is something that I try to do consistently. Positive feedback from them definitely keeps me going and keeps me inspired.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘Peaches and Apple Pies’. Is there a story behind it?
A: It’s a collection of songs I’ve written in the last three years or so, and a lot of them are about my wife in one way or another. There are six songs that are about her or or our relationship, and others that are either stories from my life or stories that were told to me.
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: “Side by Side” is a favorite. It seems to evoke a lot of emotion from people, it seems to have a big impact on listeners and that’s really fun to see.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, “Peaches and Apple Pies”?
A: As far as the writing process, almost all of these songs came from a word or phrase that struck me as musical or poetic. “The Best Bar in Texas” is the only example of a situation where I wanted to write a song about a certain thing and took a topic-based approach. The recording itself was really smooth. Dom Fisher (the producer) and I had a shared vision on each of the songs, so decisions around the role of the non-banjo instruments had pretty obvious answers to both of us, it was really instinctual. My priority throughout was keeping the banjo at the forefront, and he agreed.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Rita Bliss so far?
A: The most memorable performance was, without a doubt, was playing a set in a smoke-filled bar in a small city in Texas. “The Best Bar in Texas” was based entirely on that experience. Every word of the song is true, I just changed one name. I was a little intimidated by being there, it seemed like the kind of place that could easily get rowdy and there was a pool tournament going on that night. As soon as I walked in though, everyone was friendly and introduced themselves. It turned out that the bartender was from a town just an hour or so away from where I grew up. There was a table of folks right near the stage that was really paying attention to each word of my songs. That it was a really special night.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: “Mountain Time” is a special track to me. I wrote right when my wife and I were starting our relationship, it is the first song that I wrote for her. I had this whole back-and-forth in my head about if and when to send her a demo recording or whether to wait and play it in-person. Her reaction to it was really wonderful. The song really captured that time in our lives.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Rita Bliss’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: In most cases, the spark is a clever or creative phrase. In the case of “Jeanine”, it was a conversation where a person was just talking about his life and said the words “I’ve got an ex-wife, her name is Jeanine, she lives out on Route 13” and I couldn’t believe it, he just kind of handed over that perfect rhyme. Sometimes it’s the cadence of a phrase. Maybe I’ll say something out loud that is totally innocuous but then it will echo back to me with a specific timing or even a melody. That’s how “Mountain Time” started. As I head into writing the song, I usually have a line or two and sometimes a melody and the process is a matter of filling things in. I’ll sit down with a banjo and try out different chord progressions until I find something that fits the melody and the mood.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for Rita Bliss, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: I just want to keep writing and playing. It’s fun, there’s no other feeling in the world like finishing a song or playing a show. I have more stories to tell and I really look forward to sharing those stories with people.
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