Quick Q and A with Slaid Cleaves
 by Kathy S-B  ·  19 October 2010

How can one not like a guy whose website intro says this:

Slaid Cleaves. Grew up in Maine. Lives in Texas. Writes songs. Makes records. Travels around. Slaid tries to be good.

What more can you say? We’ve got to admire a man with so much talent and is so humble. So I’ll leave you with these words:

Listen.

Watch.

Enjoy.

You may be the only singer-songwriter who has an endorsement from Stephen King. When did you first learn that he was a fan? It must be the Maine connection, am I right?

Mr. King is a big fan and supporter of Americana music. He first heard my music on satellite radio in 2004 and mentioned me in his Entertainment Weekly music column. He also owns a radio station in Bangor. James McMurtry is another one of his favorites. I think the Maine connection probably helped solidify his fandom.

I understand that you were an English major. (I’m part of that club as well) Do you think that studying literature helped give you the basics for songwriting?

Studying literature and poetry in college certainly opened my eyes to the various techniques and possibilities and potential power of language. I was also lucky to have, in my freshman year, one of those teachers who convinced me I had something unique to offer and gave me the first glimmer of confidence to think I might be able to “be” a writer.

Have you ever looked at the All Music Guide in which they describe your music with these adjectives: melancholy, literate, intimate, gentle, bittersweet, romantic and reflective? Does this mean that you never get down and dirty and rock out?

No. And yes. Those adjectives seem about right. I just don’t have the burning passion, extroversion, ego or lack of inhibition or whatever it takes to “rock out.” I did play with “abandon” one night. There’s a story about it somewhere on my web site.

How do you think your life would be today if you had never moved to Texas?

If I had never moved to Austin I fear I never would have developed my skills enough or been given enough opportunities to develop a national career. I might be playing some local gigs and working a day job.

What basic differences do you perceive between the Boston and Austin music scenes?

I don’t know much about the music scene in Boston today. But twenty years ago, when I decided I needed to leave Maine, I thought of the Boston scene as predominantly college/indie bands, loud smokey clubs, high rent, bad parking.

Austin has more of a variety of music, I think, and more of the country/folk/songwriter tradition, listening rooms, lower rent, cheap parking and MILD WINTERS.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re at home or on the road?

Not much, really. iPod shuffle is always fun. And when my wife Karen and I do switch on the stereo it’s usually a combination of friends and colleagues (Eliza Gilkyson, Adam Carroll, Jimmy LaFave, Sam Baker, Rod Picott, Ray Wylie Hubbard) and always some Tom Waits.

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