ISSUE #27 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Danny Clinch

Natalie maiNes a Chick stops whistling Dixie to rock Cali with Ben Harper

Dixie ChiCks fans might be What was it like working with Ben? that song. i could hear how it would sound surprised that natalie maines chose a rock he’s super easygoing. Oftentimes i knew with my voice—and how it would take on a direction for her solo album debut, Mother, what i didn’t like about something, but he different meaning with a woman singing it. but for the texas native it was all about was great at knowing how to fix them—even as for the Jeff buckley song, my husband, getting back to her roots. “anything but if it was a small thing like changing the guitar. adrian, and i used to wake up every morning country music was what i listened to growing Plus, ben’s such a gifted writer, he can write to that tune the first year we were falling in up,” says the 13-time grammy winner. “it was a song a day. i love making and performing love. and i’ve always been a huge Jayhawks all pop, rock and R&b.” maines recorded music, and the production side, but writing fan. We recorded a couple of their songs, Mother at ben harper’s L.a. studio, where is like homework—i only do it when forced. and “i’d Run away” seemed to best fit the she worked at a leisurely pace with the ben is also such a positive presence in the album. and of course there are the new veteran songwriter-producer and his band. studio. You do a vocal, and he’s throwing songs. i had sung “trained,” the ben original, in addition to the Roger Waters–penned himself on the ground with excitement. months before we started this album. he title track, the album features Jayhawks, Jeff had written it and was doing a demo, and i buckley and eddie Vedder covers, and new any magical moments in the studio? sang on his version. We sort of changed it songs written by harper. it took us a long time to get the buckley up when i sang the lead for mine. song, “Lover, You should’ve Come Over,” How did you approach the album? exactly how we wanted it. but when it finally How did it feel performing solo for the ben and i had co-written and sung a song happened we all felt a certain energy. Later first time? together for a documentary. that’s how that night i was reading the news, and Weird. i don’t feel like i know who my our friendship began. but i didn’t actually learned it was the anniversary of buckley’s audience is yet. i’m usually good at reading realize we were making an album at first. death. i immediately texted all the guys—we an audience, tuning in to them, and giving We went into the studio with no agenda, no were all shocked. them what they want. now it’s guesswork— schedule, and went at things song by song. and i’m figuring it all out. there’s also more i didn’t even tell my manager until we were How did you choose the songs? for me to remember for this music, because seven songs in. the guys in the band were Various ways. after being in the studio for i play lots of guitar. but that’s all part of what excited to be trying things. they just wanted about a week i went to see Roger Waters’ makes things exciting. i definitely feel like i’m to make music, and i wanted to see where The Wall concert, and when i heard him starting over. it all might lead. do “mother,” it struck me that i had to do –Russell Hall

‘We went into the studio with no agenda, no schedule, and went at things song by song.’

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