Greenville Scene

by: Michelle Hannon

www.myspace.com/coreycrowder

GS: When does your album come out? What’s it going to be called? What’s it about?
Corey Crowder: The album is scheduled for a late Summer 2008 release. It is going to be called Gold & The Sand. The album is very dark lyrically, which is a big change for me from past albums. Topics range from depression, divorce, love, politics, spirituality, heartache, and really just life in general.

GS: How do you feel you fit into the Tooth & Nail roster? I ask because I don’t see many country-ish songwriters on the label. You know, there’s no screaming in your songs.
CC: I feel that this album is a totally new direction for them. They wanted to put out an album that spread across a lot of genres and appealed to a wider audience than the typical albums that they have been putting out.

GS: Did you seek out Tooth & Nail or vice versa? How exactly does a guy from down south wind up in Seattle recording with Aaron Sprinkle anyways?
CC: Well, a little of both. I was feeling uneasy about signing with a major label and was looking for an indie to sign with that had ties with a major. Tooth and Nail was looking for an artist to take their label in a different direction. We hit it off right away. They are great people to work with and I consider them my friends. I feel like there is a trust that doesn’t exist very often in the music industry. I ended up in Seattle by choice. I knew that they used Aaron for a lot of albums put out on their label. After talking with Aaron and telling him the kind of album I wanted to do he was totally for doing it. He needed something refreshing to put out and I needed a totally new environment to separate myself for a few months and record an album. I had a blast and the record turned out way better than I could have ever imagined.

GS: Do you feel like Greenville is a good home base for you musically? Why or why not? Is it good for touring? Do you think you will stay here or move to a bigger city if things go well?
CC: I love Greenville. I am from outside of Atlanta originally and moved to Greenville a few years back. I think the fact that there isn’t as much going on here musically as some other big cities helps people like me to be able to make a name for myself faster. I was having a hard time standing out in the Atlanta area and have really enjoyed the music scene here. I think it is a good central spot for touring. There are a lot of big cities within close driving distance and that is very helpful. I think I will be in Greenville for at least 5 more years before I reassess my plans in life.

GS: What is your favorite venue to play?
CC: I love playing The Vinyl in Atlanta. Even though I love playing in Greenville, there is something about going back to my hometown and seeing familiar faces that I haven’t seen in awhile.

GS: What have you been listening to lately?
CC: I have been listening to lots of Bob Dylan. I have been really into Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings here lately. I also have been jamming some Al Green and Michael Jackson too just to mix it up a little.

*Catch Corey tomorrow, March 22 at The Channel. See the Events page for more details.