INTERVIEW: Chris Pellnat — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Chris Pellnat

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THIS is not the first time the name ‘Pellnat’…

has made its way onto my blog! I reviewed Erin Pellnat last year: right now, I have been speaking with her father, Chris. I learn more about his path into music and how he got started; details about his awesome album, Honey Venom Wings – some of the choice cuts and stories that go into the record.

Chris Pellnat talks about his favourite sounds and the music scene around Hudson, N.Y.; why the area is so special to him; whether there is more to come; if we can expect arrival in the U.K. anytime soon – and whether he feels he has grown as a songwriter (whilst recording his latest album).

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Hi, Chris. How are you? How has your week been?

I’m doing pretty great. Life can be hard - but life is beautiful, too.

For those new to your work; can you introduce yourself, please?

I am a singer-songwriter from just outside of Hudson, New York (U.S.A.). I have played in numerous bands - and am currently the electric guitar player in the (Poughkeepsie) New York-based band, The Warp/The Weft.

I have done the solo singer-songwriter thing - as well as collaborations with other musicians.

Honey Venom Wings is your new album. What sort of ideas do you investigate on the record? What is the history of that title?

Honey Venom Wings is the album title and also the name of one of the songs. I named the album after this song because I felt this song best encapsulates the essence of the album - which is to say I was striving for a certain ‘elevated’ feeling that I think I came closest to achieving in the song, Honey Venom Wings.

There are several very light, fun songs on this record – even a silly novelty song called Vegetarian Blues (I am a vegetarian).

But, Honey Venom Wings is rather dark. It’s about being in a fever in a hospital and perhaps (being) near-death. But, it’s also strangely uplifting in some kind of subtle way - I think because it’s very spiritual.

The first song on the album is On the Ground, which is a dulcimer-driven Folk spiritual - it’s all about rising up to become more than we are.

Has it been a fun and illuminating process – recording and constructing the songs? Do you think you have grown a lot as a songwriter whilst making the L.P.?

Yes. I have done several recording with bands and with other singers and have dabbled a bit in recording - but this album is really the first time I focused solely on bringing some of my songs to life in a recorded form. It is very much a learning experience.

The final form/structure of a song, sometimes, isn’t worked out until it comes time to make decisions about how it’s going to come together in a recording. The recording process and tools influence the way you perceive your own songs - and the possibilities for what directions you can take them in.

It’s liberating in some ways: limiting in others.

The record veers in directions and embraces different sounds! Is that consistent with your music tastes and upbringing? Which artists did you grow up listening to?

I grew up listening to every possible thing I could...

I went through the obligatory Beatles, The Rolling Stones; Bob Dylan, and Bowie phases; then, Talking Heads and a lengthy Indie-Rock/Alt.-Folk phase; a Jazz phase (John Coltrane!); a Classical music phase (Beethoven, Mozart especially) - as well as being really into old Country music for a while (Hank Williams, Johnny Cash etc.)...but, the truth is, I’ve never really escaped from any of those phases: I still love it all and it lives within me. But, I don’t live in the past.

My ears are always open to new sounds.

Do you know what is coming next year? Are you working on any new material?

I am always writing and working on new ideas.

About 80% of it ends up in the garbage almost immediately: the other 20% are songs that I keep alive – to shape and fine-tune. Some of these will end up discarded, too, as my thoughts about them evolve.

So...maybe 10% end up being songs I perform and record.

Hudson is where you are based. What is that area of New York like for music?

The entire Hudson Valley has a very vibrant music scene.

All of the cities (such as Kingston, Hudson and Poughkeepsie) are home to amazing musicians - and there are a good number of venues that welcome original music.

In addition to your own music; you collaborate with others – and perform with different musicians. Is it hard balancing those projects? Do you take a little from each area and incorporate that into your music?

I love collaborating...

My work with singers has been especially helpful to me. I do not think my voice is anything special - I am more of a songwriter than singer. But, when a super-talented vocalist sings my songs, my music really comes to life in a wonderful way. It’s magical.

I’ve also done some production for singers doing their own music – also a great learning experience in terms of internalizing and striving to really understand their work on a deep level…and act on that to hopefully convey their musical essence.

All of that influences what I do with my own music.

Does the rise of Donald Trump impact your music? Is he someone who ‘inspires’ creativity in you?!

Politics is not a major focus for me but this presidency really has made non-political people like me focus on what is going on. I think the importance of creative pursuits and the arts is paramount now; when the nation is so divided and angry on both sides. Not that art can fix conflict - but it can show us something higher and more universal that transcends politics and goes to the heart of human existence.

We need that perspective to keep from being dragged into the partisan battles and division. That said; I did do one overtly political song. Shortly after the election of Donald Trump; Mercy Weiss and I made an anti-Trump music video for a song I previously wrote called Evil Baby.

The song didn’t start off being about Trump but, since he became President, we both saw that the song could easily be about him. Mercy sings the song and appears in the video.

Who are the new artists you recommend we check out?

Aside from Mercy Weiss, whom I just mentioned, of course, I would recommend The Warp/The Weft (the band I play in).

IN THIS IMAGE: Mercy Weiss

Another Hudson Valley band I really like a lot is The Sweet Clementines.

At the risk of nepotism; I would strongly recommend the Brooklyn band Caretaker - fronted by my daughter, Erin.

IN THIS PHOTO: Caretaker/PHOTO CREDIT: Alex Joseph

If you had to select the three albums that mean the most to you; which would they be and why?

(This is an impossible question - I could name one-hundred such albums! But, if you insist; here are three that are very special..):

Transition - John Coltrane

Especially on this album; Coltrane shows any musician with open ears and an open mind how to navigate music and make it do your bidding. In his case, it was incredible, imaginative; visionary improvisational music - but that same kind of exploratory curiosity and intelligence are needed to move one’s music forward, regardless of the genre.

Talking Heads: 77 – Talking Heads

Forty years later; this record still sounds bizarre, brilliant - and unlike any other Rock album before or since.

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

Yes, I know this is too obvious a choice to make - but I make it anyway. An uneven, in some places, muddled - but overall brilliant - record that changed everything.

Can we see you perform anywhere soon? Where can we catch you play?

I plan to do some more gigs in early-2018 (in the Hudson Valley).

Will you be coming to the U.K.? What do you think of the music over here?

No immediate plans - but I would jump at the opportunity, should it arise!