Hailing from Chicago, folk-pop artist Crow Moses has won over a legion of fans thanks to his latest album Nightshades and recent single “Different Man.” Heavily influenced by The Grateful Dead and Nick Drake among others, together with dreams of playing the Royal Albert Hall, he kindly agreed to this interview to chat social media, song-writing inspiration and working with Pat Sansone.
PW: At what age did you first realise you wanted to be an artist and prior to that, did you have any other career ambitions?
Crow Moses: I have always been interested in art making. I’ve explored several mediums over the years and really enjoy the process of transferring energy in different directions.
PW: Which bands and artists influenced you growing up and have those influences changed over the years?
CM: I would say my heaviest crushes have been: The Grateful Dead, Gillian Welch, Nick Drake, Elliot Smith. I like a lot of diversity in my music. While the artist that I admire change over the years, I’m mainly searching for an emotional resonance. As long as I can find it in the music, I’m generally interested in exploring more.
PW: Tell me about your latest single “Different Man”. Is there a story behind it?
CM: “Different Man” was a really fun song to write. I really like the universality of it. Where most of the songs on the record are intensely personal, this one was written for people to connect with without too much reservation.
PW: How did you come up with the concept for the video and is being creative in that way something you enjoy?
CM: There were challenges in creating a video to mirror a song that is meant for people to apply their own narrative. I think we solved the problem in a really unique way. I wrote and co-directed the video and was really proud of what we made.
PW: Your new album Nightshades was produced by Pat Sansone. How did it come about that you teamed up with him and what did he bring to the creative process?
CM: I met Pat via Gary Louris at a Jayhawks show in Chicago. I have always really liked the contributions that Pat has made with Wilco. Pat made an indelible mark on the sound of this record and added some great textures and layers to the songs.
PW: Has he given you any particular pieces of advice that you still reflect on?
CM: I think the greatest advice he’s ever given me is to just remain true to the core of the song.
PW: To what extent has social media helped grow your fan-base and boost your career? Would you agree it’s a necessary tool for bands and artists today?
CM: I would say if anything, I have probably under-utilised social media. It wasn’t a part of my life growing up so in some ways i haven’t really acclimated to it as an artist or a consumer. It really breaks down the facade of an artist which I think is interesting. Privacy is a thing of the past.
PW: Finally then, if you could play any venue in the world that you haven’t yet, which would it be and why?
CM: I think the two venues I would love to play are the Ryman in Nashville and the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Check out “Different Man” below and for more information on Crow Moses, visit his website, give his page a like on Facebook, or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
