Blitzen Trapper | Feature Interview

Story by Dylan Bliss 

| Published Sep 20, 2011

Songwriters have been trying to articulate their processes for decades, and only a few factors contributing to their work remain constant. Environment can tend to dominate the composition of an album, and that’s part of the focus shift brought about with Blitzen Trapper’s newest LP, American Goldwing. Eric Earley pulls away from the idealistic musings of Destroyer of the Void, and reaches into an archive of settings and memories to construct a raucous motif of small town living and love lost.

Earley’s clever marriage of introspective metaphors and the beautifully simple images sets the foundation for yet another session of folky jams and easy ballads. Just because Blitzen’s endeavors with the familiar aren’t breaking ground doesn’t make them less enjoyable to listen to, and it makes pinning down the era of release utterly trivial.

We spoke with Eric Earley in hopes to explore some of the new directions in store for Blitzen Trapper. Although Earley is notorious for reclusive interviews, his message is clear in his songwriting.

Seeds: One of the tracks from your new LP “American Goldwing” is entitled “My Home Town.” Where is your home town, and how much of the album harkens back to your experiences there?

Eric Earley: I’m originally from Salem, Oregon. A lot of the songs use some of the more mundane imagery from there.

Seeds: You've been making music from an extremely young age. What were your earliest aspirations as far as writing and performing your own music? How did those aspirations finally fall in line with the rest of the members of Blitzen Trapper?

EE: I guess I didn’t have too many aspirations. In the tour aspect, I did. I didn’t really even start trying until I was 30. I’ve been playing since I was 15, but I was never extremely ambitious, ever.

Seeds: From album to album, Blitzen Trapper's focus and tone is constantly changing. Explain the elements of “American Goldwing” that are new or revisited in the creation process.

EE: There’s a lot of rock and country and other bullshit in there. It’s more direct. It’s an album where the writing is a bit more personal and easier to relate to.

Seeds: The lyrics from your back-catalog range from some obviously personal experiences to more sprawling, big-picture observations. What kind of stories are you telling in “American Goldwing”? Are they more ‘big picture,’ or more personal?

EE: It’s a little of both. It’s more about relationships; others are more general. It’s all about the imagery and places the songs took me.

Seeds: You've spent a considerable amount of time on the road in the past few years. How much of the tour experience makes its way into your songwriting?

EE: I’d say quite a bit. It’s mostly just subconscious. It becomes who you are, and I think it all comes from that.

Seeds: What have been your favorite experiences while touring?

EE: I think it’s more about the band’s experience, rather than me. You know, there’s the times when we’re jamming on stage. Those are easily the best.

Seeds: Your sound and stylings have been compared to some big hitters in folk and folk rock music. Who are your real influences?

EE: My earlier influences were more folk and country. You always have the old rock and roll, you know, with Don and the others. Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, stuff like that.