MIGUEL His New Set: a Little Collaboration, a Little Solitude and a Little Crazy
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SPOTLIGHT Chris Crisman Jeff Fasano DAWES The L.A. folk-rockers get down to basics on their latest Griffi n Goldsmith, Taylor Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber, Tay Strathairn ISSUE #42 EARLIER THIS YEAR, DAWES HAD THE relationships with these people, whether or It’s that sort ofMMUSICMAG.COM connection with listeners honor of being one of David Letterman’s not they have it with us.” that Dawes sought to establish with All fi nal musical guests. After the L.A. quartet It’s never been diffi cult to fi gure out Your Favorite Bands, recorded in Nashville performed its new single “Things Happen,” the what musicians are important to Dawes. with producer David Rawlings (Old Crow legendary Late Show host joked that he was The band—Goldsmith, his brother Griffi n on Medicine Show, Gillian Welch). The record joining the group—an idea that just might fl y. drums, bassist Wylie Gelber and keyboardist follows Goldsmith’s involvement with the New “If he wants to come hang out, sure,” Tay Strathairn—specializes in warm and Basement Tapes—the supergroup assembled says lead vocalist-guitarist-songwriter Taylor familiar ’70s-style folk rock, the artisanal- by T Bone Burnett in 2014 to put music Goldsmith. “He’s always talking about the grade California stuff exemplifi ed by artists like to unearthed Bob Dylan lyrics. Goldsmith drums. I wonder if he plays.” Jackson Browne and Crosby, Stills and Nash. says he was inspired by the spontaneity Goldsmith doesn’t sound especially Although some of his favorite bands of those sessions. The result isn’t a huge broken up about Dave leaving the airwaves, probably broke up before the 29-year-old departure from the band’s previous output, but separation issues are relevant—and on Goldsmith was born, he has experienced but Goldsmith believes you can work within the title track of Dawes’ fourth album, All musical loss. He still remembers how he felt well-established classic-rock parameters Your Favorite Bands, Goldsmith offers in 2003 when indie hero Elliott Smith was and still make music that changes lives. perhaps the most meaningful blessing he found dead of an apparent suicide. “I found “We’ve always wanted our fans to be can imagine: “May all your favorite bands myself crying, and I was blown away that I concerned with the songs—but also the stay together.” was so impacted by it,” Goldsmith says. “I playing. We take pride in being able to “The art we bring into our lives is such a had an understanding of Elliott Smith that express ourselves with an instrument in ways big part of who we are,” Goldsmith says. “The was probably inaccurate, but he still meant you can’t do with words.” musicians we’re fans of, we have personal something to me on a personal level.” —Kenneth Partridge MIGUEL His new set: a little collaboration, a little solitude and a little crazy “CRAZY IS SUBJECTIVE,” SAYS MIGUEL. THE CALIFORNIA- based R&B singer, songwriter and producer is in London explaining the concept behind his third album, Wildheart. He wants to dispel any confusion about its title. There’s good, life-enhancing crazy, and then there’s plain, energy-sucking crazy-crazy. Wildheart is about the former. “It takes a little crazy wild-heartedness to ignore all the bull programming we deal with on a day-to-day basis from the media or society,” Miguel says. “It’s about knowing what you want from life, knowing who you are, knowing what you stand for, and living by that.” Given that Miguel, born Miguel Jontel Pimentel, will turn 30 in 18 M mag 42.indd 18 1/17/16 3:56 PM move precipitated by the 2013 death of her longtime Brazilian guitar collaborator, Oscar Castro-Neves. “When Oscar passed away, I knew I was going to make a Brazilian record, and I couldn’t fi nd a person in the U.S. who would play like Oscar. I thought, ‘I’ll go to Brazil and try something there.’ Once there I became inspired and started writing arrangements. I got together with some beautiful musicians and it felt amazing, so I said, ‘I’m recording here.’” Co-produced by Elias, bassist Marc Johnson (her husband) and Steve Rodby, Made in Brazil features a dozen tracks— several Elias originals and others penned by such Brazilian greats as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ary Barroso and Roberto Menescal. “You wouldn’t believe how different it was Griffi n Goldsmith, Taylor Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber, Tay Strathairn to play this music in that environment—in my hometown, with our weather and our ISSUE #42 language and the people and the vibe,”MMUSICMAG.COM says Elias. “It felt like home. It was different from recording in New York.” Although today she’s heralded for Philippe Salomon her vocals, when Elias fi rst arrived in New York, she was strictly a piano player. “I never wanted to put the voice in front because in my mind I am a pianist fi rst,” she says. “I made a record called Eliane Elias Sings ELIANE ELIAS Jobim, but I was fi ghting with the engineer saying, ‘I don’t want the voice loud.’ But You can go home again—and fi nd inspiration for it did very well, so I made another album, a new album and that did well, too. I started enjoying it so much. Now it’s integral. Together, it’s my WHEN PIANIST AND VOCALIST ELIANE A decade or so later she had attained heart. It’s all me.” Elias was an 11-year-old prodigy in São that goal, and during the 30 years since, One thing Elias refuses to do is repeat Paulo, Brazil—already composing and Elias has released more than two dozen herself. “All my records are different, and arranging her own music—she was invited to albums exploring many aspects of jazz and that keeps me motivated to do new things,” perform on a local TV program. “They asked native Brazilian music. But it wasn’t until her she says. “I’m never bored. I’m always me what I’d like to do,” she recalls, “and I said, newest release, Made in Brazil, that Elias looking forward to the next project.” ‘Move to New York and be a jazz musician.’” returned to her home country to record, a –Jeff Tamarkin October with a Grammy win and smash singles under his belt, open—as did listening to peers, especially in the R&B world, where he seems to have a handle on self-determination. Something, he collaboration is paramount. Wildheart includes guest performers says, comes from listening to his inner voice, especially during the Lenny Kravitz and Kurupt, and guest producers like hit-maker songwriting process. It’s a mindset that hasn’t changed since he Benny Blanco (Rihanna, Maroon 5), former Tony! Toni! Toné! made his 2010 debut album, All I Want Is You, which introduced his member Raphael Saadiq, and newcomer Cashmere Cat. Although blend of creamy, spicy soul and hard, edgy hip-hop—and spawned collaborations are key, writing solo offers a certain magic. the hits “Sure Thing,” “Quickie,” and the title track. “I’m a lot more comfortable—and I’m better at getting out of my “The process for me is to be ready for when the creativity own way and letting the subconscious write the song—in solitude,” comes. It’s like surfi ng: You swim out and you wait, and every wave he says. “But when I was younger, trying to become a professional is different,” he explains. “You never know what it’s going to become, artist, I wrote a lot—and there was a lot of horrible crap you will never but the best thing is to just be out there. And that’s what the creative hear, corny stuff,” he says, laughing. “But a lot of it was writing with Daniel Sannwald process has always been once I started writing music for myself. other people, and through that I learned how to write in different You’ve just got to show up and trust it.” circumstances, in different studios, in different vibes—which plays Growing up on a diet of pop and soul, everything from David into the creative process. Vibe goes a long way, man.” Bowie to Smokey Robinson, primed his ears and kept his mind –Linda Laban 19 M mag 42.indd 19 1/17/16 3:56 PM ISSUE #42 M MUSIC & MUSICIANS MAGAZINE.