WBCR-LP 97.7 FM Interview
Keepin' It Real: A Talk on the Countryside
by Patty Seifert
I can finally say it.. I’m a little bit country! I’ve never been all that big on country music, alright I do listen to the stuff that goes mainstream.. if its playing on the radio. I did grow up listening to artists in my home like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and such. However, until recently, I never found that one country act that pulled me in to the point where I can see myself searching through my music collection saying, “Where are those country joints? I want to listen to them!“ Or "Hey, I want to go check out this country band this weekend."
Ironically, the culprit and I have coined the same phrase for our projects. Keepin’ it Real, a part of my radio show’s branding statement and format, is also the title of Ted Painter’s newly released EP. The reason for my surprising appeal to this artist‘s music? His humor and bluntness... dare I say bold and controversial? Yes! He writes about REAL life and shares REAL secret thoughts. Thoughts and feelings we’ve all had but wouldn’t dare say out loud or make public without sugarcoating. Well, sugarcoating is not in Ted‘s vocabulary nor in his repertoire.
Patty: You joined the local music scene in 2006 after your service to our country. Were you involved in music before this or was this the point in your life where you became more dedicated to music? What, or who, attracted you to music?
Ted: Elvis and the Beatles--what a cool job they had! As a pre-teen in the 80's I'd spend hours pretending to be these guys in front of the mirror with the stereo blasting, shades drawn, while singing loud and accompanying my vocals by masterfully playing the air guitar. I just could never get into the music of my childhood era so I grew up listening to the guys that invented and revolutionized rock music. As a teenager I traded my air guitar in for a real one but was easily discouraged when I didn't immediately pull off a Hendrix style solo or Townsend leaping windmill. I kept at it though and just when I thought I was figuring it out, I went into the Army.
Flash forward to 2006... I had been out of the army for a few years and found that same old guitar buried under a bunch of jackets in a closet. By this time I was really into the 70's outlaw country stuff - Kris Kristofferson, Waylon, Willie, Charlie Daniels along with Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, George Strait and the like - and now I had the time and discipline to really pursue what had always been a dream-- writing songs and performing. I'm still light years away from the Hendrix solo though.
Patty: Tell us what we will hear in a Ted Painter song musically and lyrically? What are your inspirations?
Ted: My songs are about real life. Musically my songs tend to be more neo traditional and less country/pop. My lyrics are very straight forward (odd for a Beatles and Dylan fan) and honest. I often throw humor into the mix and I have one or two songs that may offend someone with delicate sensibilities. My songs generally illustrate my observations of human nature, relationships, and current events. Marriage and kids, crazy road trips, times and people, successes and failures, ex girl friends and wives (just one), all make for great topics.
Patty: You’ve received quite a bit of exposure in various medias and performed up and down the east coast, what has been the most interesting or rewarding experience that will influence your future career?
Ted: That's tough. The most personally rewarding gig I've played to date has to be the Walter Reed Army Medical Center show that we played last summer. It was a very emotional experience for all of us. To play for true American heroes who, in many cases, made life altering sacrifices regardless of their personal beliefs or politics was a great honor.
Patty: You’ve opened for Collin Raye and Buddy Jewell… what was that like?
Ted: Very cool. The Buddy Jewell show in particular. It was an intimate dinner theater venue and it gave me a unique opportunity to connect with an audience hearing my songs for the first time. This was the most stressful gig that I had played up to that point and Buddy made us feel right at home. I remember saying to Buddy before we went on, "Thanks for sharing your stage with us, Buddy" or something to that effect and he shook my hand and said, "Man, it's our stage tonight." Just a down to earth, regular guy who is a remarkable songwriter. Thanks, Buddy.
Patty: You also have a number of award recognitions under your belt, did you ever expect that? How does it make you feel and do you feel it affects you’re future musically by placing added pressure to measure up and exceed? How do you handle that?
Ted: For anyone who is really trying to make it in the music business, the pressure you put on yourself is directly proportional to your success, I think. I know it is for me in any case. Being recognized on any level is always the goal but you can’t ever sit around expecting it to happen when there are so many talented people in the race. Then when it does happen, even locally--which is where I'm at, that bar starts getting higher and so you start working harder and harder trying to get to that next level. And of course it feels great to be recognized.
A lot of passion goes into writing and when people enjoy it and are moved by it, that's really rewarding. As far as the future is concerned, I'm just trying to keep it real. As an aspiring professional writer it's easy to fall into the trap of writing for what you think some gate keeper is going to want to hear and that's when I find I just have to take a step back and ask myself if I'm being honest because even if I were fortunate enough for say, George Strait to record one of my songs, I still have to stand behind it. It would still have to be true to me.
There's a fine line between writing commercially viable songs that are honest and turning that corner and becoming something your not. Luckily, I have a supportive wife, teenage son and fellow musicians (particularly my friend and bass player, John Prunier, who never has a shortage of arrangement ideas or an occasional great line) who will never hesitate to tell me if I write something that's just crap. And that is one of the best tools a writer can have as far as I'm concerned.
Patty: Who is Ted Painter? The man behind the music.
Ted: First and foremost, I'm a family man. Does that sound canned? I guess it does but it's the truth. I’m 38, I have a great wife, two beautiful little girls and a 14 year old son and they're the priority. People observe that I write a lot of songs about drinking and fighting and raising hell but for the most part, those songs are about a guy I used to be and not so much about the guy I am now. I'm the proud owner of a sedan and mini van these days.
I like to run, workout, go backpacking and when time and money permit, I'll hit the slopes or skydive when the weather is just right. And of course, I have a regular job so it's all a delicate balancing act but hey, I think it was John Adams who said, "It is wonderful how much may be done if one is always doing."
For music and more information including upcoming shows, visit Ted on MYSPACE, FACEBOOK, and CDFREEDOM.
