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| Photo: Akasha Rabut |
Surviving The Heartsick Blues
By Matt Chrystal
The story of Luke Winslow-King in short (very short) goes something like this… He grew up in Maryland, became an accomplished jazz scholar who decided to be a blues musician. He traveled with his band down to New Orleans. His equipment gets stolen and he winds up staying in the Big Easy, busking, performing and falling in love with the city. He finds success, makes records, and tours. Along the way, he finds a musical companion in songwriter, Esther Rose. They fall in love and marry in 2013. The couple divorce in October 2015. He then goes on to pen one of the most revealing, intimate and honest albums that any artist has ever laid out to the public.
He creates a document chronicling his journey through overwhelming distress in search of a silver lining.
"It’s a roadmap to surviving heartbreak…" is how Luke Winslow-King describes his latest album, I’m Glad Trouble Don’t Last Always.
Each track on the album takes the listener along on Winslow-King’s journey through various stages of emotion. You can hear the despair in "Heartsick Blues," the questioning in his tone in "Change Your Mind," and the pleading in his voice throughout "Esther Please." His anger in "Watch Me Go and Act Like You Love Me" festers into moments of seeing red during "Louisiana Blues."
But the album is not all doom and gloom nor is it intended to be. The themes of resiliency and acceptance are revealed throughout the album. A sense of optimism finds its way up front in "On My Way," "No More Crying," and on the title track… and it can even be found subtly inserted in bleaker tracks like the aforementioned "Heartsick Blues."
I’m Glad Trouble Don’t Last Always is not only a journey of emotions, but it also serves as a vehicle for Winslow-King to showcase the vast array of styles that he has honed throughout the years. There are touches of country, roots, rock, jazz, gospel and blues. All genres seamlessly held together by Winslow-King’s soulful voice and gift for storytelling.
Luke Winslow-King’s sound is polished and smooth but the wounds are open and raw.
CoolMattyC: Is it safe to assume this album is an autobiographical document stemming from your recent divorce from your wife (and long time music partner), Ester Rose?
Luke Winslow-King: Yes. That is true.
CMC: Ok, so then can you describe what it was like for you to write an album’s worth of material that is so personal?
LWK: It just happened pretty naturally. I did not have to search for inspiration. The songs kind of just fell into my lap and just poured off the end of my pen.
I feel like I wrote these songs out of survival. The theme of the album is that it’s a roadmap to surviving heartbreak. There were times that I felt that I could maybe write my way out of heartbreak. My hope is that somehow these songs can help others that are in a similar situation. I feel heartbreak is a fairly universal struggle that happens to all walks of life all across the planet.
I did not want to write an album complaining about getting screwed over or my heart getting broken.
I wanted to write something that people can relate to and hopefully something that will inspire others.
CMC: The album is not all gloom and doom, as many songs reveal a sense of optimism, as well as the themes of resiliency and acceptance... What is your outlook on life these days?
LWK: I’m still trying to carry on. I have definitely found some determination… and that is the silver lining in this all. I’m still struggling but I’m fighting for positivity. I’m trying to become a better person through all of this. And I feel that I am having some success at that.
I’m having sunny days and I’m enjoying myself, enjoying my friends, my band and my fans. I’m enjoying being out in nature and enjoying the places I'm traveling to. I’m feeling very fortunate about all of that.
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| Photo: Martina Monopoli |
CMC: In addition to capturing this difficult time on an album, you are performing these intimate songs each night on the road and I’m sure being asked questions about your private life while you are promoting the record. Do you consider this a cathartic experience or do you sometimes feel as if you are opening old wounds?
LWK: I feel like every night it’s still fresh but I have become the wound. And I’m happy to share it.
I perform the songs different each night and the songs are constantly in flux.
I don’t mind. That is why I started playing blues music. That is why I became a writer. I don’t mind making myself vulnerable.
My favorite music is music that moves me. When an artist makes themselves vulnerable… that’s usually what moves the audience. I am proud to do that. I feel like that’s what I am here to do.
CMC: We talked about the album being a journey of emotions and it also seems to act as a vehicle to showcase your vast array of styles. There are touches of rock, country, jazz, gospel and blues. Who or what were some of your influences when making this album?
LWK: There’s a pretty wide swath of inspirations. I feel like this album is a little more modern than stuff we have done in the past. In the past, we sounded more like traditional New Orleans delta blues influences from the 1930s and 1940s. On this album, we moved toward inspirations from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Of course we also have some that traditional blues stuff up our sleeves. That's where we come from.
"Watch Me Go" was inspired by Aretha Fanklin’s "Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)."
"Change Your Mind" was inspired a little bit by Neil Young and Tom Petty. Ry Cooder is a huge influence across the board. He was a great slide guitar player that you can hear in my guitar playing on "On My Way."
R.L. Burnside and the Black Keys were influences on the title track, "…Trouble Don’t Last Always." Jimmy Rodgers was an influence on "Heartsick Blues." You can hear American world music on "No More Crying." Howlin’ Wolf’s "44 Blues" is a direct inspiration for "Louisiana Blues." There’s inspiration that is direct and indirect all throughout the album.
I think we moved into the future on this record. For awhile we were stuck in the 30s and 40s but now we made it into the 50s and 60s!
CMC: Speaking of journeys, you’re a Michigan native who made your bones in New Orleans, have since traveled all over, and are currently on a tour that crosses the United States before heading over to Europe… with all that said, is there something you look forward to when you come to the New York City area?
LWK: Definitely. I lived in NYC in 2004 and 2005. I lived in Harlem and I lived in the Bronx. It was right around Hurricane Katrina that I moved to New York. I have a lot of friends there and a lot of memories there. New York is where I started my musical career. I worked as a music teacher and a music therapist when I lived in NY and right after I left is when I started my career as a professional performer.
I love going back to my old haunts and seeing my old friends. It is such an exciting place to be. It is just a really great feeling to have to have a show in New York City.
CMC: We touched on your new album, your many influences and what you are looking forward to in NYC… and of course we touched on changes in your personal life which led to some changes within the band… so what can people look forward to when they come out to see a Luke Winslow-King show?
LWK: Our style has changed. If you haven’t seen us in a year or two, you will really see that we are in a new place. We are getting out of the “where is Esther” phase. For a while, people came to our shows and where just like “hey, where is Esther?” We are getting out of that. We do not have a washboard anymore. But we do have electric guitars, electric bass, a drum set and we bring a lot more firepower to each show. I feel like these shows are more exciting and energetic and danceable. We have been getting a great response from our audience so far.
So, I think that if people come ready to have a good time, then they will be satisfied.
Luke Winslow-King will be performing at the Mercury Lounge in NYC on September 22nd, at the Brooklyn Americana Music Fest on September 24th, and on World Café Live in Philadelphia on September 25th.
The album, I’m Glad Trouble Don’t Last Always, will be released September 30th on Bloodshot Records.
For more info, visit www.lukewinslowking.com
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