Delilah – the major label début album for singer-songwriter Anderson East – evokes a time in music history when rhythm and blues was on the rise in popular consciousness. Despite being released just over three months ago, virtually all of Delilah‘s songs could easily be unearthed gems from the mid-60s heyday of the Stax/Volt stable. Shuffling drums, bright brass, warbling Rhodes, and frisky rhythm guitars create a satisfying backdrop for East’s soulful, salty-sweet vocals. Not many artists of his generation are drawing comparisons to pioneers like Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett — and not many of them are recording inaugural albums this skillfully crafted. From the playful strut of first single “Satisfy Me”, to the twilight-time serenade “Lying In Her Arms”, East exhibits impressive range as a performer and composer.
Born and raised in Athens, Alabama, East’s early exposure to music was through his family’s involvement in the Baptist church. By the time he was in high school, he had taught himself to play the piano and began writing songs. East would go on to study music engineering at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, leaving after two years to move to Nashville. To pay his bills, he worked as a recording engineer and session musician; most notably playing guitar and singing harmony vocals for Holly Williams. East recorded and released two full-length independent albums (2009’s Closing Credits for a Fire, and 2012’s Flowers of the Broken Hearted) as well as an EP, Fire Demos. His capital in Nashville continued to rise as he played local shows with warm reception from audiences, but a chance meeting with producer Dave Cobb — who happened to catch East’s performance at the famed Bluebird Café one evening — would shift his fortunes dramatically.
When I spoke with East last week, he was in between shows in Minneapolis and St. Louis. He will head back home to Alabama to play Iron City in Birmingham, and make two other stops in Atlanta and Louisville before taking the stage here in Columbus at the Lincoln Theatre this Tuesday. East will be appearing alongside Brooklyn-based neo-folk outfit The Lone Bellow, who are also promoting their new album Then Came the Morning. Battling the remnants of a cold, he thanked me humbly when I told him how much I enjoyed Delilah. While he seems to wear his new success calmly and collectedly, our conversation revealed that East is genuinely in awe of his experience.
Artists sometimes, either intentionally or unwittingly, record albums that have themes or a story line. Are the tracks on Delilah related, or are they just a collection of songs?
“You know, I think they ended up becoming related only after the fact. It never was a conscious thing that entered writing all the songs — it wasn’t that all the songs had to fit together. When we started recording, the subject matter just kind of melded all together. It was kind of unintentional, but it made sense that it happened that way.”
Your music blends country and rhythm and blues pretty effortlessly. Is that something you’re conscious of when you write, or does it just happen?
“It’s just a pretty natural thing, you know. I just think that’s my personality — a little bit country and a little bit R&B. Yeah, it just kind of came out — and were just trying to really service the songs.
Most people probably don’t realize how much interplay there is between those genres.
“Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Even gospel music, as well — I think it all stems from the same thing.”
You recently signed with Elektra Records, which has just as a tremendous history as a label all the way back to when it first housed folk singers like Judy Collins and Tom Paxton in the 1950s. How did you find each other?
“Well, it actually came about through Dave Cobb, who also produced the record. Elektra saw some of the records he was working on and thought he was making some good waves, and they gave him an imprint (Low Country Sound) to be able to do whatever he wanted and to be able to foster and support all the people they wanted. We actually started at Atlantic (Records) and then shifted to Elektra, and it’s been amazing. There are just such wonderful people there who are so supportive of making art and music. So, I’m really excited.”
I’ve read several interviews in which you’ve spoken with great affection about Cobb. What is your relationship like and what has he taught you since you’ve been working together?
“Oh, man. You know, I think beyond the musicality, his work ethic is something that’s really incredible. I have a feeling he’ll be dead in the next year if he doesn’t slow down (laughs). Beyond that he’s just a really good friend at this point, you know? Somebody that for me, at least, that came at a time in my life when I just needed some encouragement and some direction. Just somebody to say ‘you’re good. Keep going with this thing.’ And as middle school counselor as that sounds, you know a lot of people don’t get that.”
You’ve been on tour since your album dropped in July. Is it different playing shows now with the backing of a major record label as opposed to when you were doing so independently?
“Well, we’ve actually been out since January — so we’re coming up on almost a full year of being on the road. And yeah, it’s been different, you know — we’ve had support to bring out all the boys in the band. We’re not living the high life by any means — you know, eight deep in a twelve-passenger van, don’t get a lot of sleep… but we’re able to go out and have fun every night and not have to worry too much. And you know, just that the record’s out is a huge thing… it’s great.”
What have you learned about yourself while you’ve been on out on this current tour?
“I think, you know, there’s been a lot of personal things. As I’m starting to try and write again… you know, a lot of personal shifts are happening and I’ll talk more about that on the next record. But, just as long as we’re having fun — that’s the only thing I’m trying to keep learning how to do.”
Your Facebook and Twitter feeds are full of people telling you how much your music means to them. How does that impact you? Do you have any cardinal rules you consider important follow when you engage with your fans?
“Man, every night after our set and after the show, I just get to meet people. You know, it’s a pretty amazing thing that they would even come up and say anything at all. That is not my personality — anybody whose work I like or respect, there’s no way I’m gonna do that. So, I don’t even understand how people could be bold enough do it — it’s amazing. I look forward to it every night. Then you get the guy who’s drank way too much and tells you how much you look like Tom Waits, and won’t stop spitting in your face — unintentionally. But, you know we just try to smile and be grateful and thankful. It’s the only reason we keep doing this is because people come to the shows and want to come and say ‘hi’ to us. I think that’s the cardinal rule — to be thankful.”
Is there a song you’ve heard on the radio recently where you’ve listened and then said to yourself “I wish I would have written that”?
“Oh, I’m gonna be guilty in saying that I haven’t been listening much to the radio. But, there’s a song called “Sorry You’re Sick” by Ted Hawkins that I actually really wish had come from my brain. It’s a beautiful song. It’s an old song. Something current… yeah, pretty much everything Jason Isbell writes, I wish I’d written. When he sings the line “I’ve been working for the county and it keeps me pissing clean (sic)”, I just say ‘oh. man… I can’t believe… how did he come up with that?’ Smart guy.”
So, Delilah was just released on vinyl. Given your appreciation for a very classic era in music, what was it like to see your name on wax?
“Man, it’s pretty cool. And we got ’em in, actually, when we played the Fillmore in San Francisco the other day — and it’s just like ‘okay, this feels pretty awesome’. It was a pretty rad experience.”
I know it’s probably clichéd to ask a musician “what’s next?”, but you did mention that you’re starting to write for your next record. Are you also planning on doing more shows or is there anything else on the horizon you want to share?
“Well, we’re going to be on this tour until pretty much the end of the year — and then we’ll start our first actual headlining tour that starts up in January. So, we’re really excited about that. We’ll kind of see where that takes us. And then, yeah, we’ll focus on trying to make something new.”
So, there’s been a lot going on in your life lately — but of all the things that have been happening to you in the past year, what has brought you the most joy?
“Musically, there’s just all kinds of stuff. But you know, on the base level when we’re driving down the road, I get to look around at all my best friends every day. And I think that’s something pretty amazing — I get to be out here doing what a whole lot of people wish they were. That’s what gives me the most joy.”
Anderson East will appear at the Lincoln Theatre, 769 East Long Street, on Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $21.50 to $26.50 (plus fees and taxes) and are available through Ticketmaster. His début album on Elektra/Low Country Sound, ‘Delilah’, is available digitally and on vinyl from Warner Music. You can sign up for updates through his website, and follow him on Twitter @andersoneast.