Written in Feb 2014 based on the notes of my interview over the phone personally with Sheryl Crow. I interviewed Sheryl on the day I lost my job. There’s a weird juxtaposition about this day because I was so down about having lost a job I really enjoyed and yet here I was needing to elevate my voice and my attitude so much in order to give a good impression for the magazine and in the face of professionalism like I’d do on a radio show. And often I will have done interviews with people at times when personally my life is – for lack of a better expression – falling to pieces, mentally, and yet I need to be “on” in order to promote or encourage a pleasant exchange.
There’s more than a few examples of interviews I’ve done in such situations now that I think about that. Especially when I’ve been on a mobile phone, I’ve not always been sitting at a desk somewhere in an office casually jotting notes.
I'd literally just done my last shift (I'd been with them about four years, and they couldn’t afford to keep me on) and decided (for some reason) to go to the cinema to cheer myself up. I got this email from Russell, the editor at NEMM, who informed me that Sheryl was in London doing press that day and would I like to call her for an interview that would go in the physical magazine. And of course, I said I would.
When I called the hotel, I needed to ask for a special code name on Reception to be connected through directly to Sheryl. Like something out of Notting Hill.
And I stood on a bridge at the Metro station talking on a mobile phone to Sheryl Crow - recording the audio for the transcript - and then when the call was over, I continued walking to the cinema. I think I saw 'Wolf of Wall Street' that day.
“I’ve lived in Nashville about eight years now, and this record was recorded at home, so that’s a great thing for me and something really positive.” It’s an honest statement from an honest woman.
And Ms Sheryl Crow is undoubtedly one of the most honest and easy-going people on the planet. For a woman whose sold over 50 million albums worldwide, that kind of positivity and individuality might be hard to maintain for others, especially when this reporter gets just 15 minutes over the telephone on a busy Friday morning.
But her Missouri accent and refreshing candour means that Sheryl is happy to talk like we’re old friends. “Before I was living in Nashville…” she continues, “I was living out in Los Angeles, and you know I liked it and all, but I always felt very transient and if I hadn’t set down roots anywhere. Out here [in Nashville] everybody is really close and communal and their children are friends with my children and I see them on the school run.”
It was this neighbourly friendship with American country singer Brad Paisley that led to his encouragement for her to record an album that truly felt like she was coming home. ‘Feels Like Home’ is the resulting project, a country tinged creation which reflects a lot of the best in Sheryl, and she agrees wholeheartedly. “I recorded this album at home, in the barn, so that was a real highlight. Brad came to me and we did some vocals and he just told me to be imaginative with my song writing and feel the real sense of what was going on in Nashville”
With tracks like ‘Easy’ and ‘Crazy Ain’t Original’ it’s an album that truly reflects a very folk inspired song writing, a storytelling functionality, which Ms Crow wanted to do. “I don’t look at singles, I know a lot of people are downloading these days, but I really enjoy the concept of an album – something with a beginning, middle and an end, something that takes you on a journey. And for me this album is certainly about a journey”
2010’s ‘100 Miles from Memphis’ is Sheryl’s previous effort, a soul filled record which reflects easily on something recorded between Memphis and Graceland, while still retaining that signature sound. “I don’t like genre’s myself, I think if a song sounds good, you’ll listen to it, even though this latest record is a country record – or as at least marketed as such – I think it has a place anywhere.
So, in this honesty and truth is their room for concept or fantasy? “Well, I wrote this Broadway musical, which I hope is opening either in the fall or early next year, it’s based on the movie Diner, which already has a big cult following and I think is going to be really successful”
Sheryl is nothing but complimentary about British radio and the music played. “I listen to a lot of digital radio, because you have less restriction with that…I heard this song the other day and the girl’s name was Birdy…really enjoyed it…I think she’s someone to watch”
A woman of many talents, a creationist and a performer, Sheryl Crow continues to wow audiences with her performances and humble those lucky enough to speak with her personally by her openness.