Shawn Mullins
The folksy singer-songwriter talks about life after 'Lullaby,' his new album and New Orleans
KARI WETHINGTON | CIN WEEKLY
You might remember alt-crooner Shawn Mullins from back in the late '90s when he struck it big with the single "Lullaby." That song, from 1998's Soul's Core (released on the major label Columbia Records), launched Mullins' national - and international - career.
As often happens with earnest musicians, Mullins eventually grew weary of the major label. Now he's back to doing his own thing - the independent way. Releasing his latest album, 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor, on Vanguard Records earlier this year, Mullins is on the road with new songs and new energy.
He called me from his hometown of Atlanta, where he was enjoying his short break, but also busy taking care of "personal stuff" - doctor's appointments and the like. Read on to learn more about the folksy pop star.
CiN: Does it feel good to be back to your indie roots?
Shawn Mullins: I had worked with Columbia for a few records, and it was a little big for me and they got that (feeling) too. I'm not trying to play that same game. I didn't feel good about doing that dance anymore.
I wanted to have real creative control. They were pretty good about that as far as major labels go. But they'd still suggest (things for songs). It's kind of like editing in a way. As a writer you get edited and I'm sure that's weird.
But I love Vanguard. You just deliver the record, and they go, "Great," and put it out, and I think they feel they have a lot of avenues they can take it. (The label) kind of crosses a few genres and they can work it that way.
CiN: The studio in New Orleans where you recorded your album was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. What was it like?
SM: The Pickin' Parlor was a really cool place, and really close to the levee, unfortunately. I recorded four or five months before Katrina, so everything was fine and dandy - it was the spring.
It was a really amazing community we saw there. I was surprised by that. I was kinda scared going in, and it ended up being this amazing community of people of all colors. It was an amazing experience.
(The studio's owners evacuated and relocated to Kansas.)
CiN: You've been back to New Orleans since the hurricane. What's it like now?
SM: That whole area it's really bad. It still looks bad - like a bomb dropped. It's pretty bad. I feel like, man, I don't know if it's just what we're getting from news, or if it's a plot of some sort, but there doesn't seem to be enough attention on that thing.
Usually at every show, I don't go on a big rampage, but I might say a few words about the Gulf and how inspirational that area's been to me and friends and people I've known over the years.
CiN: How has your music changed?
SM: My Soul's Core album, I had produced that myself and released it myself, and then it got momentum independently, and then Columbia (released it).
In between I've done some other things, but the gist of it is I'm back to what I was doing - as far as the story songs and Americana traveling road songs.
I don't know if I've changed too much. I hope I'm getting better at it; that's my wish that I've become a better writer and performer, but I still talk about life in America. The songs are my observation of that and just like any storyteller, there's a little bit of fiction and some fact.
CiN: A lot of people became familiar with your name when the single "Lullaby" came out. How have things changed for you since then?
SM: Edwin McCain (whose hit "I'll Be" broke about the same time as Mullins') and I have this running joke because we've both had people come up to us and tell us that the other person's song meant so much to them. We don't even look alike, so it's very funny. (We were both) white guys with acoustic guitars and long hair. We both had hits at the same time - around '99-2000 - right around that time was a busy time for me. It was fun, but I kinda like my life a little better now, just because I'm not as popular overall and I'm not being driven by a big machine.
(I feel lucky that) I've got an audience wherever I go. It's also the way you carry yourself. I think that keeps me from being a huge star in a way, 'cause I just don't want to go there. I love people and talking to them and connecting with them.
CiN: What should we expect from your set at Taste of Cincinnati?
SM: I'll do a lot of the new songs - over half new - and the old tunes too that people might want to hear. I enjoy doing those too. ... I'm kind of a storyteller, but I like to think I rock some too. It's a little bit of both, inspired by folk music and bluegrass music and rock music.
CiN: You worked with Matthew Sweet and Pete Droge in the Thorns. Any plans to get that group back together and record again?
SM: (Matthew's) always doing something and I'm kind of the same way where we're both kind of learners that way and Pete's that way as well. We all kind of like doing our own thing. So years will go by until someone says, "Why don't we do another Thorns record?"
CiN: I heard that you're interested in acting - any big roles lined up?
SM: I'm not really good - I'm pretty sure of that. I haven't done it enough to be good at it or anything. I think it's going to take me really studying and getting into it, and it would probably mean taking time off from music.
I have read for some great big films, but I just didn't get the part. So it's either that I really suck or that I've never been right for the part. I've done some indie stuff. It's something I want to do at some point. I also want to be a painter.
I think I've always thought of myself as someone who wants to express himself in different ways, but music is the one I can find success with monetarily, I guess.
CiN: What else should we watch for from you?
SM: I just made a video for "Beautiful Wreck" ... and I'm pretty much full-time touring for this new (record).
See Shawn Mullins live on the CiN Stage at Taste of Cincinnati at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, May 27.
