SLC Deseret News Interview
Thursday, May 21, 2009
By Scott Iwasaki
Malone says she always has a great time playing in Salt Lake
‘Singer/songwriter Michelle Malone had a great time recording the follow-up to her critically acclaimed “Sugarfoot.”
“It was really relaxed,” she said during a phone interview from the road between Los Angeles and San Francisco. “We had a fun time and recorded most of the music live.”
Malone said when she usually goes into the studio, she typically has a couple of songs and ideas ready to go.
“After I book the studio and go in, I realize, ‘Oh, crap, I need more songs.’ So I end up writing a bunch of songs and tweaking them just before I record them.
“I find I work well under pressure,” she said with a laugh. “But that’s just me. I don’t think I’ve worked any other way.”
The result of her recent studio work is her 10th CD titled “Debris.”
The challenge for her was choosing songs that would fit together on a single album.
“I love music,” she said. “Styles and genres mean nothing to me. My influences run from Bonnie Raitt to Handel’s ‘Messiah’ to Led Zeppelin and Linda Ronstadt.
“So for me the hardest part was trying to find songs that had a common musical thread.”
“Debris” features 11 songs ranging from the fiery opener “Feather in a Hurricane” to the acoustically heartbreaking “Candle for the Lonely.”
“I actually had the CD all recorded back in May 2008,” she said. “But the producer who mixed it had other projects he needed to do, and we finished the CD in August.”
Malone, who calls herself a “Southern Gal,” said she didn’t want to tour in the winter, so she waited until this year to release the CD.
“I don’t like touring when the snow falls,” she said. “I don’t like the chance of getting caught in a blizzard. And, besides, I like to feel warm.”
Malone said she is looking forward to the Salt Lake show at the Urban Lounge.
“I always have a great time when I play in Salt Lake,” she said. “Everyone is so nice, and I’ve got a lot of friends there.”
Malone said her set list this year depends on how much time she has on stage.
“I will be playing some songs from the new album,” she said. “But I also want to play music that I like and what the fans like. I mean, these fans come pay to see me when they could use that money for something else.
“When they come to see me play, it’s the most wonderful thing in the world. And I love playing on stage. There’s a Zen element where I forget all the other things in my life and just focus on the moment.”
