Interview with Lawrence Curry

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I first wanted to be a musician after listening to my father’s old Bob Dylan records…If I had not gotten into music, I think that I would still be doing something creative, like painting or filmmaking.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I like to travel, which has influenced my music greatly. My most recent trip was to Scotland, soaking in the legends and the landscapes directly inspired some of the songs on my new album. I think new places and experiences are great for creativity in general.  

How long have you been making music?

I’ve been making music for over 25 years.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I’m based out of Stellarton, Nova Scotia. There is a great history of story telling here in Nova Scotia, and I think that has influenced my songwriting, whether subconsciously or otherwise.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

My most memorable show was my first one. It was in the 90’s at a Halifax coffee shop called the Geen Bean. There was maybe 25 people there, including my mom. I was very nervous at first but I remember once I got going, I didn’t want to stop. Unfortunately, I ran out of songs!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

My favorite place to play is anywhere but a bar. Many of my early gigs where at bars or pubs and although there were some good nights, it was often an unpleasant experience. There are a lot of iconic venues that I would love to play. Royal Albert Hall and Red Rocks Amphitheatre are both right up there.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Assuming you mean living or dead, there are just so many that come to mind – and across many genres. Since I’m a singer-songwriter, and Canadian – I’ll go with an all-Canuck lineup of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

My advice would be: don’t be afraid to do what you’re good at. I spent a lot of my early years trying to write and play music that I thought others would like. Once I got over that, good things happened. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t step outside your comfort zone, just don’t be afraid to play to your strengths.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

That’s tough, as I’ve written lots and over a long period of time. I think I would pick “Of Which Mortals Only Dream”, which is on my new album. Besides the fact that I think it’s a great song, it means a lot to me because the writing process was very different for me. It’s a song that was written mostly in my head as I was traveling in the highlands and islands of Scotland. I didn’t have a guitar or piano handy as I usually do when writing, so I just worked it out in my mind as I was driving or walking though all these beautiful places.  

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

My favorite songs to play are the sad and emotive ones, however, people generally want to hear my more upbeat stuff!

What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

My songs usually start with some lyrics, often just one line. From there I grab a guitar or sit at a piano and start building a melody. Once I’ve got that working, more lyrics follow. Sometimes I complete a song in a few hours or days, though it usually takes a few weeks or even months. In fact, some songs I’ve tweaked for years! Many things inspire me to write. Some of my songs are based on actual historical events, some are inspired by personal relationships and people I’ve known, some from just a felling I get when I’m in a particular place. There are many things, and yet sometimes It seems to come from nowhere.

Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music, if so please tell me about them?

No, I wouldn’t say that there is a message I’m trying to get across. Most of my songs are stories; my goal is to write songs that you feel and that stay with you after the music stops.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Well, I’m hoping people will check out my new album I SAIL TO THEE which is available now…as far as the future goes, I do have lots of new material written which I’m very excited about. So, my plan is to head in to the studio over the winter to start recording another album. It’s going to be more rock oriented unlike my latest which is full on folk.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

The best way is to visit my website: lawrencecurry.com