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Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Jeff Crawford

Jeff Crawford cut his teeth playing classical music, but of late he’s made a name for himself in the local music scene.  He’s done time in Americana outfit SpencerAcuff, run the roads with indie roots rockers Roman Candle, and stepped out with soul rock’n’rollers Max Indian and folk lovelies Mandolin Orange. He also released his own 2007’s Something for Everyone, began groundwork on his upcoming release Love is the New Hip, and produced a bevy of local talent through his Arbor Ridge Studios.  So sure the man knows how to multitask, but can he handle five of the hardest questions in faux business?

1. If your band were a beverage, what would it be?
As much as I’d like to be Sun Drop or Budweiser, Sun Drop’s too energizing and Bud, well he’s the King. The band would probably be closer to a cup of regular joe. Classic and soothing.

2. When did you start to think music might really work out as something more than a bedroom hobby?
I started out in classical music, so it was always in the back of my mind that this might be a career at some point. Once my first band SpencerAcuff went to Nashville in 2004 to record their second record, I knew I was hooked. I came back and immediately started the bedroom hobby of recording.

3. Describe the pressures/pleasures of producing your own record.
Producing your own music can be good and bad for the same reason: no deadlines. Since you’re not on the clock, there’s no pressure to work, so you can take your time as long as you want. It becomes maddening with decision-making at times, and execution of parts at instruments you’re not really good at can be a pain in the neck. On the other hand, it can be fun to make mistakes and leave them in and not scrub down the product. On my first record there’s phones ringing and all kinds of racket in the background. You can definitely beat a dead horse, but you can also quickly try and establish a musical vision that may be harder to do with someone else in the room to explain it to.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that would really surprise people?
Some of my favorite music is old living strings-type instrumentals. I love going antiquing and searching through the dollar bins and looking for old lady record collections. The production is amazing! I’m also an avid Disney aficionado which most people know at this point. The music of Robin Hood and the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, Jungle Book, etc) have been influential, as has the life story of Walt himself. Neil Diamond, the American Revolution, John Ford movies (with John Wayne), bungalow architecture, sandwiches in all their variant glory, the Bible, and Communist propaganda art all sway me as influences from time to time. Especially sandwiches.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)
Becoming a Carolina basketball player was very important to me for a long time, but eventually I decided I wanted to become a Disney Imagineer (the people who design and create Disney theme parks). I planned a theme park named Arbor Ridge (which became my studio name) for years as an adolescent. I worked for two stints at Walt Disney World to try and make the vision a reality, but then got stuck in the Chapel Hill music scene. I’m very thankful for where I’m at, but you never know, some day the dream may resurface. Until then, Chapel Hill and the community I work in will suit me just fine.

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Hop on over to Motorco next Wednesday, April 6th to see Jeff Crawford backed by a full band.  And by all means, give Jeff a high five when you see him!