“On some records more than others, I’m thinking about where I am at that given time. I feel like on my last two records in particular, my art has lined up with my life.’’Texan troubadour Hayes Carll is giving Lonesome Highway the low down on his recently released album titled What It Is, the sixth recording in a career that kicked off in 2002 with Flowers & Liquor. Much of that early career was spent on the road, constantly touring. More recent years have found him packing in fewer shows, trying to find a happy balance between the inevitable draw of the road and maintaining a stable domestic existence. “I’m still trying to figure that one out. The road is nowhere near as alluring as it once was, but I still appreciate parts of it and it’s still the best way I can find to make a living and promote a record. It’s a strange alchemy, having a home life while being in a different city every night. I haven’t mastered it yet.’’
Home life in recent years has been spent with his partner and fellow artist Allison Moorer, who co-produced the album with Carll’s long-time collaborator and musician Brad Jones. “Brad is an incredible musician who brings a lot of great ideas into the arrangements and has a very steadying presence in the studio. I like his curiosity and willingness to try anything.’’Moorer also co-wrote a number of songs on the album, including one of the standout tracks Jesus & Elvis, which recounts the story of a young man from Texas who lost his life in Vietnam. “I wrote that song with Allison and Matraca Berg and I thought it was fact, but now I’m not as sure. There is a bar in Austin I used to hang out at that had Christmas lights up year-round and nothing on the jukebox past 1968. The story I heard was that the owner had a son who had gone off to fight in Vietnam and she had promised she wouldn’t take the lights down until he came home.’’ Another co-write with Moorer is the opening track None ‘Ya. Laced with Carll’s caustic humour, it features an occasionally less than attentive partner. Hardly autobiographical? “No, it’s pretty close to the truth! It is about appreciating your partner and embracing being in a relationship.’’. Despite the head scratching and humour featured across that particular track, there is an ambience of a writer quite content and fulfilled with his lot as present. The song Beautiful Thingreads like a Valentine to Moorer and the closing track I Will Stay also breathes personal happiness. “I’m pretty happy at the moment, so I’m glad to hear that it came through in some of the songs.’’Equally, If I May Be So Bold doles out good advice given the increasing negativity at large these times. “It’s just a reminder to myself to live life. I get one shot and most of the limitations in front of me are ones I’ve put there. Whether it’s fear of judgement, or of making the wrong decision, or not believing in myself, I can get hung up on that and lose sight of the big picture. I don’t want to be a spectator in life as it goes by. It could end in forty years or it could end tomorrow, I want to make sure I participated.’’
The album may include more personal material close to his heart than previous recordings, but never ignores current social and political issues, at a time when soundbites rather than mature conversation are the order of the day and empathy and wisdom are in short supply. Tracks Times Like Theseand Wild Pointy Finger particularly come to mind. “I don’t know if it was inevitable but as I was writing for the record, these themes started showing themselves. The title, ‘What It Is’, refers to me trying to be present and engaged in my own life. The thought of ignoring what was happening in the world around me didn’t make me feel very engaged, so social and political commentary started to sneak in a bit.’’
Hayes has co-written with others for previous albums, none more so than on his 2016 recording Lovers and Leavers. Either way, the songs always have his personal stamp on them, regardless of his writing partners, suggesting that collaborating both draws the songs out of him and offers up different directions in which to take them. “Yes, both. There are songs that never would exist if I hadn’t had someone working with me, and songs that might have been developed but would have had a very different feel.’’
Feature articles and reviews regarding Carll invariably make reference to the influence of Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and more recently John Prine. Lofty compliments but does it also put some pressure on him as a writer?“At this point I just take it as a compliment, if I think about it at all. Those are three of the best writers of all time and it’s flattering to be mentioned in the same sentence. Having said that, I’ve always thought the Townes comparison was lazy. Flattering but lazy. I was massively influenced and inspired by Townes but I just don’t see near the connection with him in my work as I do with artists like Prine and Guy. That line is easier for me to trace.’’
Carll has recorded consistently strong albums, received the plaudits, toured the universe, got the Grammy nominations and had his material recorded by some household names. Looking back two decades, what would a twenty something Hayes Carll have to say about that? “If you had told me twenty years ago that I would have lived the life I have lived, and that I would be where I am right now, I would have been overjoyed. Hell, I’m pretty damn happy right now that it has worked out the way it has.’’
Written by Declan Culliton