While barnstorming the country in support of his new album Chief, Eric Church took some time out of his packed schedule to talk with us about his music and life on the road. It's been a big year for the singer. He's experienced his biggest commercial success to date with the new record, and netted a CMA nomination for 2011's New Artist of the Year -- nevermind that Church has three albums to his name, going back to 2006, and is hardly a new face in the country music scene. But odds are he's a talent that will stay.
Robert Silva: Chief debuted at number one on the charts and is primed to be one of your biggest-selling albums. It's obviously been a long time coming. But how seriously do you take the commercial performance of an album? Do you look anywhere else to gauge success?
Eric Church: I think the commercial performance of an album is very important when people will take their hard earned money in this day and time with the economy being down is a true testament to our fans. We sold these albums on word of mouth the ultimate test for this record will be where the word of mouth takes us from here. I also look to ticket sales - it's people using their hard earned money to come be a part of something they are passionate about!
RS: There's a lot going on in the musical arrangements of Chief. I'm thinking of the creaking percussion and banjo on "Creepin,'" and all the ingredients of "Hungover and Hard Up," which sounds kind of like a good stew tastes. When you're working on a song do you have a firm idea of where it's going to go? How often do you surprise yourself?
EC: I very rarely have an idea of where the song is going. It starts with just me and a guitar. [producer] Jay [Joyce] and I try to cultivate a studio atmosphere that allows the creative process to dictate how the song sounds. I don't believe music should be thought out, I believe it should be felt.
RS: In my review of Chief, I compared your song "Keep On" to the R. Kelly track "I'm a Flirt" (which has the line "When she's with her man lookin' at me, damn right I'm a flirt.") I don't expect you to be an R. Kelly fan, but it kind of got me wondering: Is there any music you listen to, or find inspiration in, that might surprise some of your listeners?
EC: It's an understatement to say I know anything about R. Kelly or his music. I do listen to music for inspiration. Usually a lot of obscure music. I like a lot of singer song writers. The stuff that may surprise people is I love everything in the R & B world from Beyonce to Timbaland, in the Rock world everything from Pantera to Shinedown. I f*ckin love Prince!
RS: There are quite a few songs about booze on Chief. What's your beverage of choice? Or, for that matter, one of your favorite drinking songs?
EC: Beverage of choice is Jack Daniels, no secret. There is a song titled, "Jack Daniels" on the new record that I've lived a lot lately.
RS: You've been busy touring this summer with Toby Keith, and are scheduled to keep on the road through October. How has it been so far? What do you do to keep yourself occupied while on tour?
EC: Been great. I respect Toby. I like the kind of artist he is and I like the kind of tour he runs. It's impressive that he has had the same guys working for him for so many years. It speaks of the kind of guy and boss Toby is. We've actually had a chance to write a few songs on the road and that's a great way to pass time.
