Q: Congratulations on the release of Dirt! What was the initial spark that inspired the song, and what made you feel it was the right story to tell at this point in your artistic journey?
A: Thank you! Dirt was in a big pile of songs I started writing in 2023. It was kind of a crazy time- I was going through a divorce and had just moved out of our home in Mt. Juliet, TN. I was bopping around between friend’s couches and my parent’s basement in St. Louis. Writing was just kind of all I did at that time. The pile ultimately became an album, “The Lodge In Miller County”.
Q: The title Dirt immediately evokes ideas of growth, roots, decay, healing, and transformation. What does the word "Dirt" symbolize for you within the context of the song?
A: The first verse lyrics, “He was just like him, and he was just like her, and she was just like them, now we’re all in the dirt.. together, my friend” … It’s a reference to generational trauma. “Dirt” symbolizes all of those ideas in a way. What you’re born into, what you heal from, what you’re buried with.
Q: Was there a particular lyric or musical moment in Dirt that felt like the emotional centerpiece of the entire song? What makes that moment especially meaningful to you?
A: Probably that lyric ^
Q: Did the arrangement evolve significantly throughout the recording process, or did the final version stay close to your original version?
A: Not really. This was kind of the unicorn on the record that didn’t require any extensive thought or outside influence. It had its own identity from day one and remained that way until the very end. Every word was written within an hour or so, which is rare for me. I’m a pretty manic lyric tinker-er.
Q: How did working on Dirt challenge you creatively? Did this song push you into new territory as a songwriter?
A: In the way that the whole album challenged me. Every song teeters a fine line between fact and fiction.. nuance and vulnerability. Making this record (+ a hefty amount of therapy) got me through such a gnarly couple years. Pouring the ugly / painful thing into songs has always been my coping mechanism. This just kind of felt “final boss”.
Q: When you finished the song, did it teach you anything about yourself that you hadn't fully realized before you started writing it?
A: They always do! Which is why I think I’m so obsessed with songwriting. And art in general. The songs always seem to know what’s going on before I do.
Q: As an artist, do you feel your songwriting has evolved since your earliest releases? In what ways does Dirt represent where you are creatively today?
A: Of course. It’s crazy how many different versions of yourself you get to be in one lifetime. I used to find that daunting, almost threatening. I sometimes still do. I spent most of my 20s (my marriage) trying to avoid it entirely... remain exactly as we were. I’ve always recognized myself more in my songs than in my body. And the more I embrace that, the more it’s reflected in my art.
Q: What artists, books, or films have been inspiring you recently, and did any of those influences shape Dirt in unexpected ways?
A: I’m so deeply influenced by “good” art. And there is such an abundance of it, so yes! Absolutely 100% yes. My answer is different today than it would’ve been when I wrote Dirt. Probably different from last week tbh. At the time I was reading a LOT of therapy books… the whole record is based off the poem, Guest House, by Rumi. Which I stumbled upon in The Body Keeps The Score. I was listening to a pretty hefty amount of John K. Samson, Karen Dalton, Built to Spill, and Adrianne Lenker at the time. Amidst a million others I’m sure. I’m such a consumer.
Q: Looking beyond this release, where do you feel your music is headed next? Are you exploring anything new that Dirt serves as an introduction to?
A: Hopefully towards authenticity. So, whatever that looks/sounds like.
Q: When listeners look back on this period of your career years from now, what do you hope Dirt will represent within your catalog?
A: That ^^ Just something that’s honest.
Q: Finally, if you could leave a message for someone who's about to hear your music for the very first time, what would you say?
A: I would say that making music has always been the thing that I’ve poured my grief / anxiety into. It makes everything feel a bit lighter. My favorite artists, albums, films, books always make me want to make. I hope hearing my songs serve whatever purpose they need to, but.. selfishly.. I hope they make you want to make things.
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