Gregory Dwane is a lifer. From his humble “two turntables and a microphone” beginnings in rural North Carolina to eventually touring around the world as a tech and his recent work as producer for Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, Dwane has seen many facets of the music industry first-hand. Add to his impressive pedigree a bit of alcoholism, burnout, and fatherhood, and you’ve got life experience in spades, all informing the songs on his self-titled debut record, an inspired collection of tales of rebellion and redemption delivered with a twang that recalls the worn and weathered sincerity of Tom Petty as often as it evokes the tongue-in-cheek humor of Joe Walsh. An in-the-pocket rhythm section, some smoking electric guitar and fiddle, and some classic rock riffs for good measure, all amount to an infectious debut that’s as refreshing as it is retro.
Dwane’s compositions are lush, highlighting the worldworn experience in his voice. In our interview, Dwane tells us about his painterly songwriting process, his excitement about diversity in country music, and how Run DMC got him to where he is today.
Do you have any songwriting tips you can share?
What I’ve learned when making demos, which I picked up from making studies for paintings, is to work fast and don’t worry about making it perfect or finished. Do your best, but it’s much more important to just get the ideas out into some kind of shape that feels and sounds like a song. Don’t be afraid to do it again and again. Sometimes I demo a song 10 or 15 times using what I like from the last one to improve the next one. I change keys or change the tempo. I mumble lyrics, reach for melodies that I can’t sing. Through this process I learn the song and I allow a lot of room for improvising and making mistakes. A lot of times the “mistakes” become the thing that ties the song together and take it to an interesting place.
Who would you love to collaborate with? Why?
I am probably supposed to pick one person, but at the moment there’s a lot of great and inspiring roots music being made by diverse artists. Morgan Wade, Amythyst Kiah, Black Pumas, Rhiannon Giddens…I would love to get in a room and write or have the honor to play a show with any of these artists.
What have you missed about touring?
It’s been a long time since I’ve toured. I took a break from touring to focus on raising my young son and working. He’s 16 now and honestly I can’t wait to tour. This is my first time leading a band and that in itself is going to be a very different and fun experience. I have a great group of people that I play with.
Have you changed your practices to ensure that your team is diverse?
Coming up around the riot grrrl scene — and working with Amy Ray — I have always played in groups that were diverse and inclusive. My current lineup reflects that as well. I do think there’s more work to be done to widen the umbrella of roots and country music to be more inviting to marginalized communities and POC, both artists and fans. I hope to foster environments that reflect that.
What’s the first concert you ever attended? What do you remember about it?
Run DMC. I was 12, at the Fresh Festival in Greensboro NC. I remember the energy being incredible. I can’t remember if I had gotten my turntables from RadioShack yet, but I knew I was going to make music from that moment on.
Gregory Dwane’s self-titled album will be available everywhere tomorrow, October 8th.