Luke Winslow King - Postcards from New Orleans

“New Orleans, unlike so many places you go back to that have lost their magic, still has it. The night can swallow you whole without anything having touched you. Behind every corner there's the promise of something bold and ideal, and things keep moving forward. There's something obscenely joyful behind every door, or maybe someone crying with their head in their hands”. Words from Bob Dylan, a man who knows a thing or two about the magic of music. So it's no surprise that a songwriter like Luke Winslow-King fell in love with the “Crescent City” too: his songs carry all the atmosphere of a city where music lives on every street corner. After a successful Italian tour, Winslow-King tells us about the past, present (and future) of his musical journey.

Even though you're originally from Michigan, your music is deeply tied to the streets of New Orleans. But it all started with a stolen car... Could you tell us how that happened?

I was touring with some old friends in 2001 playing Woody Guthrie songs. When we got to New Orleans, our car was stolen the very first night. I stayed in the city long enough to fall in love with it.

What do you love most about New Orleans?

The music in the air, the tropical plants, all my best friends on every street corner.

In New Orleans you met many great artists, from John Boutté to Roberto Luti, and you studied music theory and composition. How did those experiences shape your songwriting?

I was lucky enough to complete my studies here in New Orleans. My education brought together classical training and the knowledge picked up on the streets and in the clubs. Both of these elements shaped my writing in different but equally important ways. I learned music theory, but also style, and how to entertain an audience.

Could you tell us something about the recording and production of your third album, “The Coming Tide”?

We recorded the album right here in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, at Piety Street Studios. It's a record that reflects our recent years spent traveling and living in this beautiful city. There are songs of love and nostalgia for the old days, when jazz was born. And several great local musicians took part as well.

How do you think it differs from your previous record, “Old/New Baby”?

I think "The Coming Tide" is a bit more direct lyrically, while the arrangements are more focused and reflect our live sound.

How did the current lineup of the band that accompanies you live come together?

Esther and I met in a coffee shop and fell in love making music together. Our bassist Cassidy, on the other hand, I met on the New York subway. They're the best bandmates I could ask for, and I have a blast bringing their music to people night after night.

Last January you did a short tour in Italy. How was the response from the Italian audience? Is there any episode from the tour you'd like to share with us?

It was an incredible tour. The audiences were enthusiastic and almost every night the shows were sold out. We had some challenging moments when we had to learn how to put chains on the car to get through the snow in the mountains of South Tyrol. In the end we turned back and stopped to sleep at the foot of the mountain. I think we'll be back again this summer.

What's your relationship with Italy like in general?

I've visited your wonderful country more than six times. Back in my college days I used to play in the squares of Rome during vacations. I made some great friends and I hold beautiful memories of those times. I also learned to get by in Italian. I hope to come back every year of my life.

On your latest EP, "Live At Tweed Recording", you played a couple of classics like "Miss The Mississippi" and "Ragtime Millionaire". In your view, what's the key to truly making a song written by someone else your own?

I think the key to making a song your own is to learn it thoroughly, and then forget everything you've learned. Sing it in your own voice, with your own original inflection and vision.

You recently signed a record deal with Bloodshot Records, who reissued "The Coming Tide" this past April. How did that opportunity come about?

The folks at Bloodshot Records heard us play at a small club in Chicago. They immediately got excited about our music and that's how the relationship started. A lot of new people have discovered us thanks to them, and we can't wait to make a ton of great music for their label.

Your early records were all self-released. What do you think about the opportunities the digital era offers artists to promote their own music?

It's still possible, but it's very hard to capture the attention of the press and radio independently. Self-released albums can work if you're content with touring and selling records after shows, but distribution helps spread the seeds much further.

Your music has a kind of timeless atmosphere. If you could use a time machine, what year (and place) would you choose?

I would have liked to see the old American West at the end of the 1800s.

From past to future: do you already have plans for a new record?

Yes, we went into the studio just these past few days. We're planning a new album for May 2014 with Bloodshot Records.

While we wait, Luke Winslow-King has decided to give OndaRock readers an exclusive preview of the new album: a free live download of the unreleased "Home Blues", recorded at the French Quarter Festival. The best way to breathe in a little of that New Orleans air.

Luke Winslow-King – Home Blues

[download]

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