I feel like over the last few years, Americana had become a campy version of itself. After Jason and Chris and Margo’s success, a lot of people were (and still are) trying to make the pivot from pop to alt-country. I’ve only played music that I enjoy on the podcast, of course, but I was beginning to wonder if maybe things had run their course. But all of a sudden I’m getting music from people who are intent and revitalizing the genre — especially that gritty punk sound Lucero helped to inspire. Enter Billy Edwin and his new EP Life is Short. Let’s dig into two songs from the 4-song set: one that finds Billy in the mood for a party, and the other that is a bit more introspective.
The Road was written while reading the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name. “While the song is not about the book specifically,” Edwin writes, “some of the themes crossed over into the songwriting. It focuses on the uncertainty of our individual voyage, the fortitude to push forward, the greener grass across the street and navigating how our individual decisions impact others around us.”
Meanwhile, Edwin breaks out the acoustic guitar on “She’s My Best.”
“Writing about relationships can bring out deeply personal but universally connecting stories,” writes Edwin. “Relationships aren’t simple and easy; it takes time, compassion and empathy to make things work. In tracking the song, we prioritized live performance vibes as it’s a song about human imperfection. The track features a single vocal take in the garage, my son’s harmonica and a single take of my old 1943 Gibson LG-2.”
Edwin is a veteran of the SoCal punk scene and called in some friends to work on the EP: guest musicians on the recordings includes drummer Amy Aileen Wood (Fiona Apple, TheDonniesTheAmys), keys wizard Phil Parlapiano (John Prine, Lucinda, Social D), and guitar rippers Adam Salzman and Rich McCulley (Ted Russell Kamp/Stash). Additional vocal harmonies were provided by Barry Stricke (King Commoner). Acoustic/Electric Guitars/Bass/Harmonica/Vocals by Billy Edwin. The tracks touched down in multiple states during the tracking/mixing process and the May Day release in a nod to all the hard working folks who have overcome so much to stay afloat this past year.