MWN: Hey Ted! So to get us started, I have a few background questions. How long have you been signed to Motown/Blacksmith Recordings?
TW: Good question. I don’t know the exact date because signing this deal took a long time. I feel like I’ve been signed longer than when I actually signed the contract. It’s hard to nail it down to when it actually happened. But I would say about a year now.
MWN: Ok, so it feels like this organic and natural progression since you began working with Motown/Blacksmith Recordings. I was reading that you’re based out of Nashville. What has the music scene been like over there, pre-covid?
TW: yeah, it’s new to me being based out of Nashville. I was in LA for 7 years. I’ve been here for 2 years and it really does not seem like that long. I’m just getting my feet wet in the Nashville music scene. And I don’t think I’ve really scraped the surface. But everyone that worked with and everyone that I’ve met is really cool. Everyone is down to collaborate. People are making and writing music constantly. It’s really cool. I still do most of my writing and composing at home in my makeshift studio here. I will do a lot of my vocal recording here as well. Then I’m still making the trip back to LA to work with some of the people that I’m used to working with out there as well.
MWN: Oh, mainly for the post production process?
TW: I would say mid production. I like to get the foundation of the idea here. With this project, I like to work with other producers in a collaborative way to take it to a different spot. I do a lot of that out in LA
MWN: My next question was if location ever played into your work directly? I’m going to assume yes because of the fact that you work between two cities and take something from the people you work with in both locations.
TW: Yeah for sure. Location takes a much bigger role in the writing process. I have noticed that my writing has changed a little bit subtly. I think it’s due to the fact that i’m out of the city and i’m surrounded by more green and open space. Also I have the seasons here. That was different in LA because it was sunny all the time and 70 degrees. Here I get the Winter. That is when I’m most productive because I’m kind of just holed up inside and it’s more emotive. Then you get those transitional periods like spring and fall where a lot comes out. So yeah that plays a big role.
MWN: How has isolation shaped your recent release titled Morning?
TW: A lot of the themes are about isolation and self medication. Also dealing with not being able to sleep, unrequited love and loneliness. All those things go hand in hand with isolation. I felt isolated before the covid at home order. In a lot ways I feel less isolated now because I’m married and my wife now works from home. She works for a label here in Nasvhille and she would always have to go and I would have the house to myself. Now we’re both home. It’s weird because I’ve had the opposite effect of isolation.
MWN: I wanted to know What’s your favourite track off your new EP and why?
TW: I like, “Don’t’ Feel like Feeling.” It’s my favourite to play live because it’s in 7/4 time and that’s really fun to count along to because it’s not the standard 4/4 or 3 / 4. It has this lazy shuffle feeling. Like you stuck around two beats too long. I find it fun and I like the open tuning and picking pattern. It’s just really fun to play.
MWN: I wanted to know what your favourite piece of gear is?
TW: I have not really thought about that and i’m looking at everything in my studio right now. I would say my CASIO SA-20. It’s like this little quirky keyboard. I call it a garage sale keyboard because it’s something you would find at a goodwill. But when you plug it in and use an aux cord, it has this huge sound once you run it through actual speakers. It has all this analog, crunchy accidents and this weird quirky reverb and tone modulations. I really like it. That’s my favourite one.
MWN: Any plans for more releases this year?
TW: I just completed an acoustic version of all these songs because most of them were originally written on an acoustic guitar. We felt it would be really cool to release those original versions. Those are all recorded and are being mixed right now. So I’m excited about that release right now. We also have a remix album coming out with a bunch of talented artists that are fun. I also plan on releasing a full album at some point.
MWN: Incredible! Well thank you for taking time out of your day to sit down and chat. Take care and congratulations on your release!!