142: Shelby Lee Lowe

On Episode 142, I'm joined by country singer-songwriter Shelby Lee Lowe. About a month back, Lowe released Something in Me, a strong three-song EP that embraces Lowe's country croon, warbling pedal steel, and the gentle lean of neo-traditional sonic sways. Lowe's brand of heartache storytelling falls right in line as well. Much of 2020 has seen the Tennessee songwriter continually lean in and explore those down-home roots.

During this interview, we talk about those Tennessee roots, the pressures--both good and bad--of Nashville, writing with friends and contemporaries, taking advantage of short-burst recording sessions, Zoom writing, being out on the road and abruptly ending a tour in March due to COVID-19, and why he's so glad Derrick Henry is on the Tennessee Titans.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

Interview Transcript

Note: Transcripts aren’t always accurate since they are computer automated and haven’t been edited for spelling, grammar, etc.

Thomas Mooney 0:01

everyone welcome back to New slang music journalist Thomas Mooney. Here we are at Episode 142 with country singer songwriter Shelby Lee Lowe, which if you're unfamiliar with Shelby, go check out his latest EP, it's called something in me. And yeah, while it may be short on songs, those three songs are really some of the best that he's written and recorded to date. He's really found himself with this set of songs. And really, he's found himself this year as an artist. Like anyone else, his 2020 plans were just kind of derailed way back in March two, but he hasn't let that get him down. And he hasn't let that be a detriment to his songwriting and just the craft of songwriting. He's really embraced a lot of those old country roots, a lot of what I love in country music, the storytelling, those Neo traditional sounds, that warbling pedal still all that is part of the mix. Rolling in from the hills of Eastern Tennessee is hot damn coffee, a Down Home company that rose single origin high quality coffees from around the world. I am proud to be working with a fine hard working folks over at Hot damn coffee. Their year round roasts come from certified farms in Nicaragua, Ethiopia and Tanzania, od m coffee sent me over some samples the other day and they've just been making each morning that much better. As a writer, there's nothing quite like taking a coffee break and having that anticipation of that first sip of a robust, fragrant and strong but smooth cup of coffee somehow that first sip kind of just shakes all the frustration out of you, you come back energized and more focused on the task at hand. Check out the hot damn website at Hot damn dot coffee. Note that that's at DOT coffee and not.com. There you can find more info on the variety of different coffees they offer who they are and learn how to brew the best damn coffee. While they're head on over to the hot damn coffee club. Their subscription club gives you preferred pricing first access to new roasts and delivers coffee to your door every month. Now this is important new slang listeners can get 20% off their first month subscription by entering slang in all caps in the coupon code box during checkout. I'll Of course throw all the info and links into the show notes. But again, that's hot damn dot coffee, and slang in all caps for 20% off your order. Start your hot damn subscription today.

Today's presenting sponsor is desert door Texas SoTL.

If you know anything about me, it's probably that I'm from the heart of West Texas and absolutely love everything about West Texas. And that's really why I love desert adore so much. You may be asking yourself what exactly SoTL is? Well, it's a premium spirit that's similar to a tequila or a Moscow. But for my money. It's a little bit more refined and smooth. There's a sweetness and faint hints of vanilla and citrus and it's also as versatile as your garden variety vodka. At its core desert door is authentically West Texas, they go out and harvest Soto plants from the wild and bring them back to their distillery over in driftwood, Texas. So next time you're at your local liquor store, get a bottle of desert door. For more info, check this episode's show notes. If this is your first time listening,

please hit that subscribe button.

Give us a five star review. Check out the merch store and the Patreon all those links are in the show notes. And yeah, let's just get on to the interview. Here is Shelby Lilo. Yeah, I didn't actually before we even talk about like your record and everything. You know, I've seen you tweet about this a few times. And I saw you tweet about it yesterday. So I have to ask you about your Tennessee Titans fandom. Because it seems like you're really wrapped up in in how well the team's doing over time yesterday so it was a writing a high at the end.

Shelby Lee Lowe 4:09

Oh no doubt man I live and die on the on the Tennessee Titans and that's football is really football and music are the only two reasons I have a Twitter and yeah, watching. Watching the Titans plan is like the only thing I'm almost as passionate about as country music but um, yeah, yesterday was fun. Man. That was a that was a crazy game.

Thomas Mooney 4:35

Yeah, it seems like What's his name? blanking on is the running back. Derrick Andrew Derrick Henry. Yeah, I couldn't think of his name there for a second. Yeah, it's like you ever seen any like the, the footage of like little like Pop Warner. And there's like that one kid who's just like, had his growth spurt way before everyone was like, Oh, yeah. And he's just like Like plowing over kids and stuff like you know yeah, basically it seems like he just like as the season goes on and as like a game goes on, he just like doesn't lose anything and everyone else is obviously like tired and worn out and you know that's like I guess like the the Tennessee Titans game plan right there you know in a nutshell just persevere over everyone else

Shelby Lee Lowe 5:28

as it Yeah, and that's that's pretty much been their mo since like since they became the Titans you know, as a little kid watching at George and Steve McNair play, it's kind of the same thing, man. They just beat the hell out of somebody with a running back and now I'm just I'm just gonna add Derek and replace with the Titans and that's somebody else cause he's a freak of nature.

Thomas Mooney 5:47

Yeah, I used to like I'm kind of like NFL atheist now or agnostic. I don't really have a team like I do love Patrick mahomes and the Chiefs just because the Texas Tech Titans right but when I was younger, I used to be a lot more of a Titans fan and it was all because McNair and George and like Blaine Bishop and that that era of Titans football the you know like the one yard line Super Bowl thing and then of course like after that when McNair was like the MVP and everything and just going against Peyton Manning and there for a while man he was just like McNair specifically was just the you know, just he was the prototypical quarterback of his generation. You know, I think people think like forget him when when we're talking about like that era of quarterback though of like Manning and and Brady Of course and red bar and it's the thing about McNair though I always love so much was that the guy wouldn't practice all week because of injuries and then like still show up on Sunday and like ball out.

Shelby Lee Lowe 7:04

Oh, yeah, he was he was something else to me. He was just he really didn't. He didn't really work out with a team or anything. He was just country strong. They called him you know, he's a Mississippi guy and worked on farms. And he was just tough as hell and strong as hell just naturally.

Thomas Mooney 7:21

Yeah. What I guess like for you, obviously you're from Tennessee. I know like obviously Titans they moved from Houston to Tennessee. You know, I'm guessing like has Tennessee like has that team always been around for y'all for you? Like your basically your entire time? Alive?

Shelby Lee Lowe 7:41

Well, I'm you know, I'm just a couple years younger than you. And so I remember when the Tennessee Oilers were a thing, and actually on one of my vans that turian I have a Tennessee Oilers license tag on it. And so I remember when they became the Titans and actually I once my first game when I was like, I guess I was nine years old at the time. So that I kind of got hooked on on the Titans right then before then I just kind of routed for john Elway or whoever won the Super Bowl with you here before as a kid. And then you know, the Titans had their couple years of really, you know, being good and late 90s, early 2000s and kind of started my fandom then.

Thomas Mooney 8:34

Yeah, yeah, like I remember going up to Nashville with my grandmother one time on like a little like week long vacation and we hit up all like the the tourist kind of country things right, like the Hall of Fame. And I remember like, we walked through all that and I was like, Oh, this is cool and everything but where I was like, just I guess spending all my quote unquote hard earned money was I was buying like Tennessee Titan jerseys and stuff. So like, yeah, just like as a kid just being like, yeah, this is uh, this is what I'm here for is like the sports them. I know. The music thing is cool. And like, everyone loves that. But yeah, this is uh, if we could sneak in a game or something. That'd be way cooler. But I don't know. Yeah, anyways, I figured like, I hadn't touch on that because, you know, I'm a big fan of sports in general. But you know, again, like I said, kind of agnostic when it comes to football, to NFL football at least. So

Shelby Lee Lowe 9:41

right obviously you're a big Texas Tech fan out there and love it.

Thomas Mooney 9:45

Yeah. Which is like been one of those things where I was talking to a friend yesterday about this because like last night mahomes like he leads the the Chiefs back for the like the game winning touchdown at the very, very end. Like a minute 30 left or whatever. And what I was talking to him about was like, Did we get spoiled and like have like this as Texas Tech fans, are we spoiled and have like this misconception about like, who our team is? Because of Patrick mahomes, like of his success, or are we actually like, should we like not have these expectations so high? Because like mahomes is just like a an anomaly. He is like, we just kind of lucked into that. I don't know.

Shelby Lee Lowe 10:31

But yeah, as a University of Tennessee fan, I can definitely relate because the days of the Peyton Manning era and the T Martin days, you know, winning championships, it seems pretty far away right now.

Thomas Mooney 10:44

Yeah, I don't know. Like, it's so weird. Like, whenever you think of, I guess like, as good as like the the dynasty and like the, the rivalry between Alabama and Clemson has been, it also means like, all these other like little or these other schools that have had some success are just kind of like, lost in the woods, if you will, you know, like that's what for for, I guess, like the big 12 comparison is everyone was talking about when Baylor got really cool. Well, we're really great. It's like, Yeah, but a Texas Tech like fell off. And that's the reason like they basically replaced us as like that. But I digress. This episode is in part brought to you by the blue light live here in Lubbock, Texas, there is a way to help a support blue light, and B get a sense of that normalcy by visiting blue light lubbock.com clicking on the merge tab, and getting some koozies a vast array of T shirts and caps, and yes,

even a blue light flag. While it is such a bummer that live music is still on hold right now.

I'm telling you by getting some blue light live merge, we're gonna feel better, it just feels better wearing a T shirt and ballcap and helping support your favorite board. Again, that's blue light. lubbock.com click on the merge tab. Get some merge. All right, back to the episode. Yeah, what I guess like what we should really be talking about though, is like you have you just released this new music just about a month ago. A little three song EP. And what I guess like what I what I've seen, you've mentioned about it is like how now I feel like everyone always kind of thinks about this, whether new music, like that's the most exciting new development for everyone, obviously, like, release a new record or EP or even just a song like you're most excited about that. But you've talked about how like, this feels like the most real and like the most what, what you want to sound like so far in your career. When you went into the like the studio cut the songs like was it just kind of one of those things where it just felt like this, this what I would call kind of like this Neo traditional sound? Was that always like the at the forefront of like what you wanted to sound like?

Shelby Lee Lowe 13:26

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And so I had a publishing deal in Nashville for a few years. And it was it was my job just to go in and, and try to write songs and be ahead of the curve and Chase, not nearly I guess I could say chase trends a little bit. And that was, you know, from the year 2015 1617 18 in that range. And you know, really what got me into love and country music was that traditional country music sound. I've always been drawn to you know, Tracy Lawrence and 90s country and Brooks and Dunn, and dwight yoakam and Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, and a lot of Bakersfield sound and that's that's what really got me hooked on country music. And I've noticed that that you know, mainstream country music and Nashville is getting further and further away from that. Mine is a few exceptions like guys like john party and a few blue cone songs but the majority of mainstream country music is just you know, it's it's its own thing now. And it's not even it's not even close to the country music I fell in love with so you know, this new project. I just want to make sure that I made some some country music that meant something to me that was more along the lines of the music that I have. Love, and just hoping that, you know, there's still a few people out there that still like the kind of music I do.

Thomas Mooney 15:07

Yeah, like what I, whenever I first listened to it, I felt like that it had that. A little bit of that, like, that gentle sway of a lot of old classic kind of stuff where it didn't feel like we were, you know, for lack of a better term it was it didn't feel like oh, you know, Shelby's here to start the party. You know, I mean, like, right, it's not like the that kind of like it let's see if we can float this keg right now it had that little bit of that sway of like that lonesome this in the bound in a lot of like, classic kind of country stuff and a lot of that 90s country.

Shelby Lee Lowe 15:47

Yeah, that's what I was going for, you know, it's kind of got songs, like, seven in me has kind of an extended instrumental solo on it. Got some cool Rhodes piano parts in it, that I that I love, and a lot of like, 80s country music and stuff, like, you know, some of the Merle Haggard records and you know, I hear it on some some Neo traditional guys, nowadays, putting that kind of sound on it. And, you know, they asked like, what do we want to double the solo? So Well, you know, it's not like, I'm recording this to put it on the radio anyway. So, as an independent guy, it's kind of a blessing that you can do whatever the hell you want. Realize that well, you know, it can be four minutes long if we want it, or five minutes long, or whatever, just whatever suits us.

Thomas Mooney 16:40

Yeah, like, it feels like, obviously talking with a lot of people who have, you know, gotten either like record deals, or, you know, publishing deals, and then like, going through that, trying to turn out X amount of whatever, a week or a day or a month, or whatever your quota is. And then like getting out of that. It's kind of like just one of those, like, you know, the weight being lifted off your shoulders that sometimes you didn't necessarily even realize you had on.

Shelby Lee Lowe 17:14

Right? Yeah, I was listening to your, your podcast with Ward Davis. And I know, he was, he was kind of hitting on that a little bit. And it made me chuckle I was like, man, I can, yeah, I can definitely relate to that. And, you know, there's definitely a place for it. And there's, there's, there's a lot of good with having, you know, a publishing deal or record deal. And I'm thankful for the one I had, because I got to write songs for a living for, you know, two or three years before, I was actually ready for a publishing deal. So I joke that I was actually, you know, I got paid to learn how to write songs for a few years. But now that I'm not in that world, necessarily. I spend a lot more time just writing with folks that I generally enjoy writing with, that have the same taste as me. And it's not really, okay, let's, let's try to write a good song today. For you know, so and so not that I'm opposed to that, I would love to get some mailbox money from, you know, Cody Johnson, or, you know, any of those big, big, you know, homerun hitters out there. But it's just trying to write the best song in the room and writing what I love, and that's what got me into country music game with.

Thomas Mooney 18:39

Yeah, and of course, like, one of those things that we don't really talk about is, it's not like they make you delete all those contacts. What so you know, what I mean, like, you have all those, that's, that's part of all this game that, that we really don't talk about, is just knowing the right people, and you meet so many people, and you don't know who is going to help you out and later on, you know, or like, who you're going to connect with, and just have a genuine connection with and be able to write some really great songs. And yeah, you know, what I mean? Like, it's, it's all part of it.

Shelby Lee Lowe 19:18

Oh, absolutely. You know, currently. Good example. My producer was one of the first people that I that I called, when I got let go from my publishing deal. And, you know, we were just co writers at the time, I'd met him while I had that deal. And, you know, we'd written some really good song wasn't really clicked and became really good friends. So I he's one of the first people I reached out to for advice. And he just said, Well, you know, what I've been actually thinking about, you know, wishing I could produce some music. I'm someone like you and I think it'd be really fun. And I was just thinking It was too bad that you were tied up with your deal, because you're the guy I'm going to work with. And I said, Well, you know, let's, let's do something. So I've been working with him ever since. And, honestly, I've written some of the best songs I've ever written in the last, you know, couple years since and my manager he actually was my day to day manager at my publishing deal. So he got let go the same day. I did. So we had a good thing going, so we just kept going. And, you know, I'm pretty lucky to have some, a team of guys that, you know, are working on my behalf that believe in me and have pretty much the same goals in mind and the same taste in music as I do. Because that's, that's pretty hard to come by.

Thomas Mooney 20:51

Yeah, of course, man. It's, it's, I think, like, it just that's the thing, too, is like, I guess like, we all I've just thinking about it right now is like, yeah, like you. We think of like songwriters being let go, they're publishing deals or whatever. But, you know, that happens with other people, too. You know what I mean? It's not this, it's like in the management side that you can transition. And you don't I mean, like, that's, it's not just necessarily the quote unquote, songwriter who, who has like, these ups and downs and like, changes places, and yeah, I don't know. Like, it's, that's, that's really interesting.

Shelby Lee Lowe 21:32

Yeah, man, I've lived it. And it's I was pretty lucky to meet the people I did when I did. It's working out pretty good for me now. But um, it's, um, Nashville is a crazy town. I'm sure. I've heard that a lot of the Texas music industry is similar in a lot of ways.

Thomas Mooney 21:53

Yeah, I that's something that's kind of funny, in my opinion on the I think like, there's, like, at one time, yeah, there was probably like a genuine riff between Nashville and Texas, like back when, you know, like Wayland and wilier. Were around and making records. But then like, it's, it's so funny now seeing and it's never like the actual, like musicians who talk about this, really, it's only like the fandom of like here in Texas, of you know, Nashville sucks, blah, blah, blah. And it's like, well, actually, like the people that you're talking about that you're here in Texas, that you love so much. That record that you love that was cut in Nashville. It's like, they're always up in Nashville, like writing. So I don't know what you're talking about. But going back to like, the the recording aspect of all this, you know, this is like a three song EP that you just released recently released? Just about a month ago? What is like the are you going in and like cutting, like, a few songs at a time? Or is it been more like, you know, more regular than that. And like, you're just kind of ready, you just kind of collecting them all for like a full length or, or what's I guess? Like, my big question right here is like, what's the game plan going forward? Right now? For you?

Shelby Lee Lowe 23:11

Yeah. Some? Yeah, that's a good question. Sometimes, what's the game plan? Mostly, it's just, you know, about a year ago, or two years ago, I actually went in with my producer, and some songs that we thought we'd written and recorded six or seven different songs. And so we still have that in our back pocket. And, you know, we've had some, we've had some meetings about those songs, and we're, you know, trying to decide whether we want to, you know, work up a game plan and release those independently, or work with a label or some company to find a home for those songs and put them out that way. And so, I've been, we've been just kind of, we've got some great music we've recorded and that I love, and we've been waiting to put that out. But I'm also you know, this year was was so crazy. I had a lot of plans on touring and trying to open up for some, some artists that I'm really, you know, fond of, and trying to make some, some big, big things happen. And then, you know, the whole pandemic deal kind of slowed that down a little bit. So, I didn't want to be one of those guys that just took the year off and said, You know what, this year is tired, and I'll just come back 2021 I decided that I was going to try to you know, make the most of it and release as much music as I could and keep keeps the momentum going. And so So we wrote something in me on a zoom phone call in my bedroom, and with my producer Andrew Scott wheels, and a songwriter named Rick Huckabee. And it just it felt really good, it felt real. And it was a zoom. I'm not I'm not a huge fan of writing over zoom, or doing anything over zoom, to be honest, it's just weird. But, um, that was one of the few moments where we actually, you know, sat down and did those zoom thing. I didn't lose service because I live out in the boondocks. And, you know, I talked with with Andy afterwards, I was like, man, I would love to record that song. And he said, Well, let's, let's get some studio time booked. Let's record some songs. And let's get you some some new music out this year. So that was kind of the catalyst behind it, and could afford me was the song that we had written, probably in January of this year. So before, we knew the world was going to be flipped upside down. But it was just one of those songs that that felt good. And I thought I thought people might relate to it. And it felt broad enough that a lot of people would like it, possibly. But contrary enough and telling the story enough that where it's, you know, it still still fits where I want to do, so. We decided to put it out.

Thomas Mooney 26:34

Yeah, yeah, it's like, the the zoom thing is just like, I can see like, word like, just, you know, anything can go wrong, anything small can go wrong, and like, just ruin it all. Especially like, in this setting, like you're trying to write a song and stuff. I feel like, for me, at least, I feel like it would be one of those things where it's like, let's just address the awkwardness of it being a zoom call for for a minute. And then like, just not let that bother. Tried to like just like, get past all that and then just pretend you're all in the same room? I don't know, like it, what do you Is there anything that you have to do to? to kind of get in a mindset that's a little bit different? When it when it's over zoom versus like in person?

Shelby Lee Lowe 27:24

Well, you know, for me, it's, it's, it's almost impossible to sit down with somebody I've never written before. And do a zoom or Skype, co right? Like that. Because it's just, I don't know, like, I need to be in the room, somebody, I need to chat with somebody and get to know somebody a little bit, before we actually just crank out a song. So luckily, you know, I mostly did that with folks like, my producer, Andy, who I've written a million songs with, and, you know, rickerby, who have already, we'd already written a bunch of songs with and it's been, you know, it's just the right people who you have experience doing that with, it's pretty seamless, you know, it's not that big of a deal, but there's just no, you know, there's no replace, and just being in person with somebody, and then going after it like that.

Thomas Mooney 28:25

Yeah, like, I think of it kind of like the same way that, you know, when I when I talk with people when they are either like, like physical writers, they got a note pad or a notebook, or they, they're like that team or they're like, team, you know, laptop, and having it like that. I feel like, if you're really a notepad writer, part of the reason why you like to do that is because it's physical, and it's like, a physical touch. And it's like, you know, your, I don't know, like a there's, there's something real, like earthy and organic about that. And when you I feel like my, I guess my my entire point on this is like, if you're that kind of writer, typically like I feel like you would want to do it more so in person and just adding that layer that filter of, of just strangeness obviously the technology aspect of it can be something that just like, makes it way more difficult for you to be productive.

You know what I mean?

Shelby Lee Lowe 29:37

Yeah, absolutely. And for me, I've always been a late adopter with technology. I just, you know, I grew up in an area called possum trot, Tennessee. My parents are older than most people my age. And so yeah, I've always been just like a minute behind figuring out. Stuff like zoom. So I've always I don't shy away from it, but I just prefer doing it in person and the notepad thing. My handwriting is so terrible that if I if I try to write lyrics on a notepad, I'll never know what the song lyrics are the next time we'll look at it because I can't even read my own writing.

Thomas Mooney 30:21

Yeah, I, I've had like, I mean, I think like, my handwriting overall is pretty bad. It's if I if I'm intentional, it's, it's decent. But regardless, like, the further down the page, it goes, like the worst it gets. I was always like, a horrible note taker in school, because it would just be like, the very top of the page would be pretty, okay. And then as it just went down, it was like, This is chicken scratch, and like, there's no reading it, there's no rhyme or reason for it. For what what's going to be on? So So do you, right? Like, are you a more of a laptop person or like a? Or something like that?

Shelby Lee Lowe 31:06

Yeah, for sure. And if I'm being honest, I'm more of a Google Docs person. Like, well, like if I'm doing a co write with some folks. You know, somebody, I'll start a Google Doc. And usually, I just somehow somebody else becomes the, the the person in charge of typing the lyrics. And I just, I just start blurting out lyrics and playing guitar. And somebody else ends up being the one that types. So I'm okay with that. I will type I have to, but you definitely don't want me right. And I'm also left handed. So yeah, it's about taking notes in school. Yeah, anytime I'm using lead pencil pretty much. At the end of the day, my left hands covered and lead hand. Yeah, I'm smeared all over the paper. So

Thomas Mooney 31:57

yeah, I know. I know what you mean, I'm a team left hand too. It's a hard harder growing up. All the right handed scissors, the left handed pair of scissors is like 20 years old and rested and won't cut for shit.

Shelby Lee Lowe 32:16

And every desk, every desk is, you know, there's a little armrest. Yeah, on the right side, which never did me any good. Yeah.

Thomas Mooney 32:26

I was, I guess, like, there's, there's a few other things that I was thinking about how that people don't think about when it comes to me and left handed that were also not. I guess, like, just kind of shitty. The one that I was, like, people don't realize is, and this is like something super small. But, you know, when you shake hands, most people are like shaking hands with your right hand. And so right, obviously, like you shake hands with your right hand. And most people like i and this is one of those things like it's gonna sound like I'm bitching about this. But like, most people, they got a firm handshake. And it's like, no big deal. And your right hand is firm enough. firm enough of a handshake for them. But you every once in a while run across those people who think that they have to, like crush your hand. And then that like that has something to do with like, how I don't know how virtuous of a person you are. And it I hate to say it, but a lot of times it's like a lot of women to feel like if you don't shake their hand like hardcore, like if you don't crush it, like you're not a man or something. And I only bring this up because like, there's this one girl at a blue light one time who gave me a look like and was starting to like, talk shit on me. And I was like, actually, you know, what if we shook hands left handed, I bet I like this is like the exact handshake that you're looking for. But you know what I mean? And that's my entire point. If we all show canes left handed, everyone else would know exactly what we're what we feel like.

Shelby Lee Lowe 34:05

That makes all absolutely yeah, you know, and it's what's funny is I've grown so accustomed to shake it with my right hand, then I've got a pretty damn firm handshake with my right hand. But now for whatever reason, I've had people like come at me with their left hand. I'm not prepared for it. And I get like this bitch handshake with my left hand and then like, afterwards, I'm like, Oh, that was my chance. Like to show him how much of a man I was with my left hand and I failed. So I actually prefer I've grown used to shaking with my right hand. So left hand just feels really weird now.

Thomas Mooney 34:43

Yeah, no, the handshake definitely does feel weird going left. But I literally do everything. Like, you know, open jars. We're gonna just talk about like, things that you do kind of like that. Like screwdriver. wrench all that is like for me, usually left handed and so, like my left hand is deaf. I'm looking at my hands right now, by the way, like my left hand is like definitely, like stronger if I try and like, do anything right handed it's that's not it's a good thing. But I feel like we've gone off on this weird tangent on being handed left handed, but I feel like the I don't know what I don't know what the population of left handed people the 10 people who are listening to this right now are like going, don't get me they gave me so. Yeah. We're, we're, we were talking about zoom hand in hand, I guess. writing lyrics left handed. wanted to talk to you one more time about Hot damn coffee at Eastern Tennessee. The morning comes at you hard. And there's only one thing that can charge you up for the day. That's coffee. Sure, you could fill up with whatever you can find on the bottom shelf at your local giant box store. But do you know what works better? Hot damn coffee. Why? Because our single origin and high quality there downhome company passionate about great cups of coffee. And of course, they love great music too. Which is why we've partnered up here on new slang. Go visit Hot damn dot coffee and order yourself some robust smooth and high quality coffee grounds and beans join their subscription club as a new slang listener. Put slang in all caps in the coupon code box at checkout for 20% off your order. You'll be saving some cash getting some of the finest coffee around and helping support new slang the music podcast that you know and love. Again, that's hot damn dot coffee.

All right,

let's get back to the interview with this with the stuff that you're recording right now, I don't like you mentioned just the other day about being in the studio cutting some some more stuff, right?

Shelby Lee Lowe 37:00

Yeah, actually, I just I just saved the vocals on three new songs the other night?

Thomas Mooney 37:07

Yeah, so I guess like are you going in and kind of like doing it in three song batches right now? Like as far as like the recording goes? Like At what point do you kind of go? Okay, like this is we've got a I've got enough songs where I'm like, it's good for a couple of days. In the studio.

Shelby Lee Lowe 37:26

Yeah. Is there anything like? So there's a good question. Yeah, I'm not even sure how these these songs came to be. You know, we wrote we wrote a song with a buddy of mine from from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Mr. Matthew Huntley, I'll tell him I gave him a shout out on here. So you'll be you'll be the number one podcast in Lawrenceburg. This comes out for sure. But we had an idea about this Tennessee. And you know, we wrote it, and it was it's a fun little country song kind of feels like, you know, something from the 90s. And I played it out a few times. And you know, apparently somebody with the Miss Tennessee pageant are interested in using it. So we figured, well, I guess we'd better record that. So. And that, that, I think the same night, I had a, I don't know, it was a weird that doesn't happen like this. Hardly ever. But you know, I've got a family, I got the kids in bed. And, you know, finally, it's like nine o'clock at night. And I just had a song idea just wash over me. And it was about, about my grandparents, who passed away, you know, like, 2010 2011. And that's not something I've been really, you know, upset about. And I had a long time, but it just, it just washed over me and I had a song idea about a dream I had about my my granddad, that was really vivid. And that's been, I think I had that dream in like 2010 or 11. But I sat down and I wrote I wrote this song in my kitchen. And it's about 45 minutes by myself, and I, you know, cried like a little bitch. And it was really cathartic. Honestly, it felt good because it's not often that I you write a song that makes you feel like that, but I send it to you know, my manager and producer just be like, Hey, I don't know if it's, you know, any good or I'm just, you know, too emotionally attached to it, but I wrote this or I figured out sent it to you. And they loved it, and they want to record that one. So and then there was another song that co written a few years ago that was really cool and and little little strange, almost like a criticize ik Sound and tune that needed rework and a little bit so we decided to record it. So basically, if there's if there's one song that's good enough to record, you know, for the for the time allotted with the studio guys we use, we might as well record three. So they just it just so happened to work out where I had three really cool songs that we wanted to do.

Thomas Mooney 40:27

Yeah, like the how often does that does that happen where like it's, it's an old song that you just kind of you love the idea you loved like the the bones of it, and you just get like, I need to go back and you know, you know, hit the dust off of it and maybe do a little reworking or whatever. And how often does that happen for

Shelby Lee Lowe 40:49

you? Yeah, well, you know, there's, there's some songs, when you write them, it's just instant, you know, like, Damn, we got to record that. We got to, we got to do something with it. Then there's songs, it's like, you know, that song is really cool. It's got potential. And if that song just keeps coming out, you know, in conversation, or once you started talking about songs that you want to record. You have it it's all in it kind of keeps coming up, but just hasn't, for whatever reason just wasn't quite what you want to record. So what what can we do to get it there? And, you know, we we pretty much change the entire verse melody on the song changed some lyrics around. And it just felt so much better that it's like, Yeah, well, that's, that's the way we need to record it. So

Thomas Mooney 41:40

yeah, man, like Chris Isaac, that's somebody who I think, is so fucking underrated. And that, like, that forever blue record is definitely like, in my, like, probably like, top 50 Records, favorites, you know, but it's one of those ones. I'll, I'll, it'll be one of those things where I don't listen to it every week or anything like that. But when I listened to it, I'm listening to it like 20 times, like, just like, that is like the record of the week, whenever it pops up. And it's like, just the I feel like that the sound that he has, was so distinct and so dynamic. Like, he doesn't feel like it's just like, where he's trying to do too much. But of course, like it's just like these bold features. like of course his voice is just incredible. But like the guitars always feel like they're just like, right there in your face. And they sound really cool. And I don't know, man, I just I love I think like people if they go back and discover some some other Chris Isaac stuff other than you know, like the the the big hits, you know, like, got like so much stuff. Believe that or like, you know, just deep cuts that are just so fucking good that people need to go check him out.

Shelby Lee Lowe 43:01

He's He's me. He's one of those guys that just kind of effortlessly cool. You know, it's just like, he didn't have to try to be cool. He just was and I've always looked up to guys like him especially I could just kind of kind of weird you know, weird voice just different. And I'm really drawn to that kind of sound.

Thomas Mooney 43:22

Yeah, like it's I've seen a couple of like live videos just on YouTube just going down that rabbit hole and he seems like he's just like that effortless cool, kind of guy. And then it's like, man you also did wicked game and like that music video is just fucking cooler than she had to just oozes cool but then like like I said all of that other stuff on beneath it. Also just amazing.

Shelby Lee Lowe 43:52

Oh, hell yeah.

Thomas Mooney 43:55

Yeah, like you mentioned that you know that that song you're you're writing about your grandparents and that coming out in like 45 minutes kitchen table. Like where does where do you most of your songs kind of happen Do you have like a specific place in your house spot in your house that you're just like this is kind of where I I do best

Shelby Lee Lowe 44:17

Well, I guess I would say you know if I'm doing any kind of you know, just learning new songs or you know, picking around right myself at the end of the night. I pretty much have to do it in the kitchen is gonna be pretty quiet because I've got a five year old son and I've got two step daughters that are already asleep by this time and not a huge house. So if I if I start getting too loud and waking up, everybody pizon everybody else so I guess I would say you know the kitchen. But um, I do. You know I live about an hour south of Nashville and pretty fortunate to From an hour south, from Nashville goes, I know a lot of people that, especially this year, they had to move, you know, from California or Texas, to Nashville, and work like 10 jobs to afford to live there where I just, you know, when if I want to go to the city, I hop on Interstate and I just go out there. And I actually be going up there tonight to write with a buddy of mine. So I do most of my writing, in Nashville with songwriter friends, co writing, but I do come up with a lot of ideas. Sitting at the kitchen, taking guitar, Mo in the yard, or honestly, you know, like I do when I do too, or I'm not I'm not big enough to have like a bus driver or anything like that. I've got a Dodge Caravan that I'm driving. So I spent a lot of time, you know, coming up with song ideas, driving down the road to

Thomas Mooney 46:02

Yeah, well, that's actually what I was gonna ask you is like, what is that drive? Like, when you're going from home to Nashville to write with a buddy? You're on that interstate for about an hour? What are you? Are you thinking about songs right then? Or are you kind of like going, Okay, I kind of have this idea. I have this idea. I'll throw those out. Or are you like not even really trying to think about the songwriting because it may be adding too much pressure what's like that drive? Like?

Shelby Lee Lowe 46:32

Well, you know, well, honestly, you know, don't think I'm tooting your horn or anything. But yeah, the last few times I've gotten Nashville, I've been listening to the the new slang podcast. So I've been listening to listen to you talk to waveland pain and the guys that like, okay, I dig their music, and I dig their songwriting style. And I've been listening to, you know, other podcasts and I will listen to music that I like, or the kind of bad that I want to, you know, artists that I wouldn't mind sounding kind of similar to, and are listened to, you know, listening to podcast about right and country music gets me fired up to pull up to the room and, and write country music, honestly. But I'll also, if I have ideas in my phone, a lot of times, if I'm going down a road or something, I'll pull out my phone and do a voice memo of a melody, or a hook. And I'll kind of listen to that every now and then and try to try to work something up.

Thomas Mooney 47:43

Yeah, it's, I feel like, it's probably it was gonna be one of those two things right there kind of like, I hate to say calling it homework, but you know, like, kind of prepping for it. Or just kind of like doing something that's totally different. Just to kind of like clinic clear your mind out or something, you know, so yeah, I don't know if that's really interesting about like, just what you do, right before you're doing whatever your kind of thing is, you know, like before, for example, like not just to talk about, like what I do, but before like a record a podcast, usually that day, I'm listening to that artist, and I'm just kind of like listening to their catalogue, kind of getting in that. But like, the hour beforehand, I try and do just like don't listen to that person. I listened to something totally different, or I have something else on. Just to like, I don't know, like, clear the palette, I guess. And then then once the podcast goes, you know, obviously have all those notes out and stuff. So I didn't know what what it was like, what you what what kind of like you're going to use this again. What your game plan but

Shelby Lee Lowe 48:58

yeah, it changes day to day to honestly. You know, like, yeah, tonight, I'll probably be you know, when I get done talking to you, and I'm driving to Nashville. I'll probably listen to some you know, sportstyle radio or something. You know, just about how the Titans beat the Ravens, you know, yeah. Lost, I probably would be listening to, you know, Mike the moon pies or something like that on the way up there.

Thomas Mooney 49:26

Yeah, yeah. The I feel like the Ravens are reeling right now. They're, they're kind of lost in the woods. They lost their identity in a lot of ways. Yeah. What I was gonna say though, too, is, you know, you mentioned earlier about how, you know, obviously this year just kind of went to shit really, pretty quickly and we just didn't have any plans on. We didn't have any way of knowing how to really handle this year. What have you have you been doing like the past couple of months. Once things have been a little bit like easier to get some dates and stuff, have you been kind of easing back into to play and more around and, and stuff like that?

Shelby Lee Lowe 50:15

Yeah, it's been. It's been a crazy year for sure. I think the day that the world flipped upside down for me, I was actually on tour. And I had a run of shows in Amarillo, Texas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. And I was supposed to play I played in Amarillo Wednesday night. And I was supposed to play Albuquerque three nights in a row. And I got to play there one night. And the next night, the bar owner called me and said, Hey, the governor is shutting us down for this Coronavirus deal. And, you know, I'll let you know more. We'll find out more. But you guys need to come get your equipment. So we we had to load up all of our equipment. And yeah, it's one of those things where like, I know, I didn't play three nights. But if you could, if you know, obviously paying for last night and give you some gas money, you know, I'll be able to get home. Cause I got 1300 mile trip, right from Albuquerque, to Nashville, Tennessee. So that was a crazy, crazy mess. And pretty much spent the whole trip on the way back listening to like a Joe Rogan podcast talking to a scientist about this pandemic and trying to learn about it and just kind of freaking out. And that was like March 12, or 13th.

Thomas Mooney 51:45

Yeah, yeah. Like that's, I'm not like a big Joe Joe Rogan guy. Because like, for starters, like his podcasts are always just like, three hours long, that kind of thing. But I did listen to that one right there because it felt like that guy knew what the fuck he was talking about. Yeah, all right. Well, let's, uh, let's listen to the experts for once. But But um, yeah, like, that's, that's something right there too, is like, you know, people being stuck out on, like, in the middle of a tour, you kind of think, Oh, well, that's easy, like, just go back home. But usually, you know, like, those dates are like, like, there's a reason why the dates kind of go back, leading you back home because like, you know, you're not necessarily making all your money on that first, that first day, you know, that's,

Shelby Lee Lowe 52:37

Oh, absolutely. Yeah, sorry, I lost I lost my ass on that trip. Sure. But I was really fortunate when I when I got back, you know, I kind of a lot of my fans knew what I was going through. And you know, I okay, well, Shelby makes his living from playing shows. So I got a lot of love on, you know, Venmo. And doing, I did a lot of the, the Facebook Lives that everybody else was doing. And for a while, it was just so saturated with every artist you could think of on Facebook, live playing shows. But yeah, that really was I made my money for a few weeks. And I just, you know, I just, I just had a moment after that trip where I like, well, there's a whole lot that I can't control. But I know that I'm going to be out of work for a few months. So I'm going to go out in search of people that are passionate about country music. So, you know, I got on Twitter, and I just started going down a rabbit hole of I think I found you on Twitter around that time. And I decided I was going to just find every single music reviewer that you know, might have some extra time, and I was gonna send them my music and try to do what, you know, a PR firm would do for me by myself and just, you know, take that time to write songs and promote myself. And that's, that's pretty much what I did, you know, recording videos, and just trying to try to put out new music, you know, and it's really this year. I'm grateful for this year because I got to take a step back from just planning week to week like, Okay, I've got two days to plan. My trip to Virginia are here there and I get to sit back and focus on the music focus on you know, connecting with fans over the internet. And that's it. I mean, that was pretty much all I did for a couple months

Thomas Mooney 54:40

wanted to talk to y'all one more time about our new partners at Desert door and offer up a handful of my favorite ways to drink it. Do you a Mexican Coca Cola, have a couple of swigs. Then pour yourself some desert door oak aged in tossing a lime wedge or two. Or how about this pour some desert door into a mug top The glass was some ginger beer, squeeze in a lime. Or for all you ranch water drinkers out there, get you a topo Chico, take a couple of pools off, and then pour in some desert door, toss in a couple of lime wedges. And now you have a mighty tasty and refreshing ranch water. Remember, Soto is as versatile as vodka and has a more refined, smooth and a more complex palette than tequila. It's rich and balanced and, and whatever your go to drink is it will make it that much better. And again, it's inherently West Texas, it tastes like home. For more info on desert door, check our show notes. Alright, that's it for Thomas Mooney, his cocktail minute, let's get back to the show. Okay, it goes like, you know, obviously, this this is affected everyone, you know, in a lot of the same ways as far as like, you know, I think like it's a universal shared kind of hit on everyone that everyone's kind of going. Yeah, you know, knocked us out of work. For the most part for most people. It's been draining on our connecting with our family and friends. It's all those things are, are common. But I felt like, especially with the like the musicians, and the art community. It was like, it's been harder, just because obviously everything is tied to touring, and like putting people in a room. And then like, obviously, it's also tied to the creative process. And it's one of those weird things where I think that it's obviously you've been writing songs during this time. But it's because like you've been able to get in the right headspace. It wouldn't have been productive for you to write all the songs had you been like, also like in a horrible headspace and like, you know, been? I don't know, just like, I feel like that would have been like a soured a lot of the songs. You know what I'm saying?

Shelby Lee Lowe 57:06

Go for sure. You know, and I've just tried to I've tried to be as optimistic this year and just grateful for the things that do have and opportunities I have. And, you know, luckily, I haven't personally been overly affected by COVID itself. You know, I think I don't think there's anybody in America that doesn't know, at least 10 people that's had it now. And, you know, my dad ended up having it. And he's probably more high risk than most people. And we had a scare with him, but he came out on the other side just fine. And so I'm, you know, I'm grateful for that. And so now, I'm doing as much as I can do, they'll let me do playing the shows I can play and trying to be, you know, socially responsible, and not. I'm not trying to get Coronavirus, but I'm also you know, I'm also just going out and doing whatever I can as safely as I can, you know, like, if I get to play a show, I'm going to try to do it until they tell me I can't. Yeah,

Thomas Mooney 58:15

yeah, it's, I feel like there's obviously like, responsible ways on how to do this. I think that like the, like the show, like in a, I don't know, like the, obviously, like a lot of these places are kept out capacity wise, like they're limiting all that kind of stuff. But what I find like the irresponsible in this is, is like whenever, you know, you're just like, overly packing a bar. And it's obviously over capacity and like, no one's wearing a mask or anything like that. And it's so it's, it's this weird, like, blurred line that I don't think any of us really know how to walk necessarily. Because, like, you can make it where it's like you I guess like, there's a lot of reasons on both sides. any rational person I think can understand, you know what I mean?

Shelby Lee Lowe 59:13

Oh, for sure. Yeah. I mean, I've, I've showed up to shows where there was like, you know, 00 concern for Coronavirus whatsoever, and I just kind of just had to think, Okay, well, you know, fingers crossed, I'm not going to get sick and I won't after the show, I'm gonna get tested. And yeah, I've been fortunate that that I haven't ever tested positive Corona, you know, but luckily, most of the events that do get to do they are at a you know, they kept the capacity. And, you know, there's like a mass mandate and you know, I just tried to take care of myself and not get sick getting by elsayed so been, I've been lucky so far. And hopefully, you know, I just, you know, Dolly Parton is gonna say the world. And yeah, you know, we get this better vaccine now and get to play some shows and soon.

Thomas Mooney 1:00:14

Yeah, I, of course, like the Dolly Parton aspect of all this of the vaccine and looking or all the research and all that stuff. I think that's one of those things. It's going to be such a I don't know, like, it's going to be kind of funny, like in 10 years, like, it's kind of funny now like thinking like, oh, Dolly Parton saving the world helping save the world. But like, in 10 years, it's gonna be like, Hey, remember that time that like Dolly Parton saved the world? Because like, obviously, without, without money, like that research probably would have, it would have taken a lot longer. So

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:00:53

yeah, and yeah, when I when I found that out, you know, I wasn't even surprised because, yeah, she does so much for, you know, like the imagination library and donating books, and she's just always been a huge philanthropist. And so, yeah, you got to be a dolly parton fan. I don't know anybody that doesn't like Dolly Parton.

Thomas Mooney 1:01:16

Right? Yeah, yeah. I don't I've not met anyone who has been like, you know who I don't like that Dolly Parton? Yeah. Yeah, she's, uh, that's the thing. Like, I think that with her, she's, it's all that stuff that you're talking about the philanthropy, the all of that, but it's also like, obviously, a great singer, a great like personality as far as like ambassador of, of country music, but man, like, an incredibly gifted songwriter, and storyteller. I think like, that's one of those things that's, like, further down the list of like, the things that she's amazing at, but it's like, that's like, we're she's just as gifted as writing a song as she was ever like singing a song, you know?

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:02:08

Oh, absolutely. Yeah. And that gets overlooked a lot. Because, you know, she's done so much. And, you know, she was an actress and I don't know, there's others in Bollywood. You know, she's known for Dollywood now, but yeah, I mean, she all that stuff came about because she was such a talented songwriter and singer. So yeah, I think like country music Mount Rushmore. You know, I think Dolly Parton would have to be somewhere around there. Absolutely. Just cuz she's, she's iconic for so many reasons.

Thomas Mooney 1:02:40

Yeah, yeah, for sure. The the the Mount Rushmore. Yeah. Do you have anyone on your list right now? That's a good way down that rabbit hole or put you on?

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:02:51

No, I but you know, I have that's something I've thought about a lot. And, you know, I think Hank Williams senior has to be on it. You know, as far as just iconic country music people. Especially like in that in the the early days of country music. Hey, seniors gotta be on there. You know, for me, Merle Haggard has to be on there. I think Merle Haggard just want the greatest artists songwriters that that ever lived. And then then you have you know, you've got you got Waylon James, you got Willie Nelson. Those guys are so iconic for so many reasons, and so badass. But then you got George Jones. And then you got guys like George Strait, who's you know, iconic in a different way. I couldn't pick him on Mount Rushmore for country music would just be like, probably 100 Mountains, because I've got so many people I look up to but somewhere around, you know, it's got to be one of the George's and Merle Haggard. And Johnny Cash, of course. I mean, say it's tough.

Thomas Mooney 1:04:06

Yeah, yeah. It's it's one of those things. Yeah, it's it's, there's no wrong answers. There's no right answers. I do feel like there's more right answers. And there's some answers are righter than other answers. I'll put it that way. I think Yeah, Hank. I think that Loretta and Dalia are like, right there in that mix. Yeah, I was gonna mention George Strait. I don't know like, I feel like he he may be like a Texas thing for me where I'm like, and overrating him a little bit.

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:04:41

I don't think you can override George Strait man, you know, it's one of those things where he is, he's King George. And, you know, he, you know, he never was a songwriter or anything like that, but the songs that he put out, just were he just had a way of kicking ass, you know? Being George Strait is this no way of explaining it?

Thomas Mooney 1:05:02

Yeah, I always think like, you're anyone who like talks, I guess, like, talk shit on George Strait, it's always like, attached to him like not being a songwriter or like, you know, he most of his songs or other people's cuts and I still think like the part there are underrating is that he's still like the, I guess the he's had so much to do with like the producing aspect and like the arranging of a song. And like the feel obviously like it's, it's him singing the song and like, you know, doing all that, but I think also they're underwriting all the musical aspects of it because it's not like he's, you know, just up there. Like, like a puppet just singing You know, he put on a lot of what the the feel of a song is. So

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:06:01

yeah, he made he made those songs his own probably better than than anybody you know. So I can't hate on George Strait ever. You know, I've actually he's a he's one of my favorite artists of all time as well.

Thomas Mooney 1:06:19

Yeah, yeah. I'm thinking I'm talking about some other people. Yeah, Johnny, Willie Nelson. I mean, like there's there's no wrong answers again. There's just so many fucking great Rebbe. Like I think like Reba. McIntyre has like a pretty good argument today, as far as someone who's maybe got a little bit of that claim of a Mount Rushmore.

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:06:43

Oh, and they were so many great artists in the 90s. And, you know, that just are underrated. To me, you know, like, Clint black and Travis tritt. And you know, there's, there's, the list goes on and on, like, Brooks and Dunn, you know, those guys were iconic. And, yeah, and Garth Brooks, his early stuff that is really good. You know, traditional country stuff. I mean, there's a lot to be said for what Garth Brooks did for country music. Whether you like it like him or hate him. They really he was the biggest star in the 90s. And there's really no denying that.

Thomas Mooney 1:07:25

Yeah. And also like, I always tell people if they if they don't like Garth, go back and listen to like those first two records and listen to the deep cuts. Listen to like the the songs that were never released the singles. There's some like, incredible fucking grinding on there. Yeah, Clint black. Did you ever listen to that episode of that I did with Clint black.

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:07:46

No, I didn't even realize that you did want to call it black. That's a

Thomas Mooney 1:07:50

yes, Matt, go back and listen to that one. That one right there. I was just like, I'm just kind of fuckin amazed by how good or like how, like, aware, like, I hate to use that word, but like, our self aware of, of himself, and like, who Clint black was for a lot of people. And, like, how he talks a little bit about like, you know, after that first record came out, like so many of those songs were like his, I guess, like the, the place where you got so many songs was being able to be like, that wallflower in a room at a bar or something and just kind of like, people watching. And then like, yeah, after that, I guess like those first couple records, he had a lot of those songs already written. But after that, like he had like, this self, like he had a realization that like, you know, there's no going back to being able to just blend in. And so like, I guess, like, how that affected his songwriting, and I get a little bit more intentional. He had to be with with writing and stuff. It was like, it's not to toot my own horn on that one. But I felt like, like, the stuff he gives off on that episode is just incredible, incredible insight.

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:09:04

Well, I know what I'm gonna listen to him away to Nashville.

Thomas Mooney 1:09:08

Yeah, well, that's good. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I you know, it's been really great talking with you. It's, uh, I think we've covered a lot of ground here.

Shelby Lee Lowe 1:09:19

Yeah, man. Yeah. And hopefully, one day in the future. I'll be shooting you tag saying, Hey, you know, I'm gonna be playing at the blue light. So, you know, tell your folks in love. Please come see me.

Thomas Mooney 1:09:31

Yeah, for sure. Man.

I think it'll

hopefully 2021

Okay, that is it for this one. Be sure to check out Shelby's latest something in me. Go check out our partners over at Desert tour, Hot damn coffee and the blue light live here in Lubbock, Texas. Go check out the merch store, the Patreon all that kind of stuff. And yeah, I'll see you all later this week for another episode of new slang

Transcribed by https://otter.ai