Breakdown with Kellin Watson

After listening to Kellin Watson's song, Breakdown, I knew I had to interview this girl. Everyone who has dealt with life and the stress that comes with this crazy world can relate to this song and the lyrics. The best thing about the song, is it doesn't make you more depressed than what you might be. With the upbeat tempo and the witty lyrics, you find yourself smiling by the end of the song!

So, I contacted Kellin through her MYSPACE account and she was so wonderful to accept my offer of conducting and interview with her. Here is the end results. Thanks again, Kellin, for taking the time to introduce yourself.

SM- I love Asheville, is that your hometown?

KW-I grew up in Black Mountain, which is about 15 min. outside of Asheville, but I was born in Asheville, so more or less, yes Asheville is my hometown.

SM- When did you know you wanted to be a musician?

KW-I started playing guitar when I was 13, and I started writing songs pretty much about a month after I learned a couple chords. I knew right away that I wanted to be a songwriter, but I didn't realize that I wanted to do it full-time until I was about 16. However, I wanted to finish school first, so I went through the motions until I couldn't stand it any longer and pursued music full time.

SM- You were definitely born to do this! Good for you for following your dreams. Now, can you introduce the band. How did you guys form to create such awesome music?

KW- My BAND...haha. This is a complicated answer...

Well actually, I am in the process of selecting a new band for my new album out this summer. But the guys that played with me for a couple of years were all guys that I sought out and found. I asked around to friends and other musicians. The Bass player, Brian White, I met at a party while I was in school at UNC-Asheville. He had just graduated from UNCA and played in a couple jazz trios, so I knew he'd be great since I played a lot of jazz based tunes. Then Matt Kinne was a guitar teacher down at the same music store my Dad taught banjo and fiddle lessons at. The store was called Acoustic Corner. My dad knew Matt that way and really liked him. He had been suggesting I get Matt to me for a while. Then when I recorded my album Paper Bird with Richard Ashe, Richard chose the musicians for the songs, and he just so happened to use Matt Kinne as one of his studio musicians. So after the album was completed, I realized that Matt would be a good person for the group since he already knew all of my songs from the studio sessions. All of the members after that were a bit of a revolving door of guys. But Will Straughan played dobro and Mandolin with me. Towards last year I began doing solo acoustic shows with just him to start separating myself from being in a full on rock band. More recently, Will Straughan actually came into the studio with me and recorded mandolin, lap steel and dobro parts for my new album. Will I met through friends also, and he himself is a very talented and kind hearted singer/songwriter and musician himself. Our drummer started with a guy named Ian Cunningham who was in many different bands around town and his schedule became so overwhelming that after playing with us for about a year, he had to bow out. So Bill Smith who also was the drummer for a group called Scrappy Hamilton, joined the group and is the drummer who played on "Breakdown" on my myspace page. Bill was awesome and def. one of my favorite drummers to date. Most recently, Eric Usher of GFE and The Hitmen, began playing most of our live shows with us on drums though. On the recent album however, I'd say mostly all of the musicians with the exception of Will Straughan are all new. The musicians on my new album include: Bill Reynolds (of Donna The Buffalo, and Blue Rags) on Bass, Aaron Price (of Hollywood Red) on keys, Mike Rhodes (of The Blue Rags) on Drums, Matt Smith on guitar, and lap steel, Ozzy Orengo on percussion and Drums, River Guerguerian on Drums and percussion, and Craig Aspen (of the believers) on electric guitar. For live shows, the list will be much smaller, but as of now it will be Matt Smith on Guitar, Ozzy Orengo on Drums, Aaron Price on Keys. The list will be more precise though come June.

-wow, sorry for the oh so long answer to that one. But like I said, it's a complicated one.

SM- No worries, I am familiar with Reynolds from Donna The Buffalo. That's really cool! Okay, tell me a little about LEAF.

KW- LEAF is an amazing world music festival held two times a year once in the Fall and again in the Spring, at Lake Eden in Black Mountain NC. Acts from all of the world come to perform at this festival, and it's one of the best folk festivals out there in my personal opinion. It's grown over the years, but it's remained small enough at the same time so as not to lose it's charm. They're a non-profit organization, working to bring a deeper understanding of different cultures and music. In fact, click here to find out more. I've performed at LEAF, 3 years in a row at the fall festival. And it's def. one of my favorite venues to play. I get an overwhelmingly warm response from LEAF goers each year, and I've really enjoyed playing that festival each time.

SM- Now for a little fun, tell me something unusual about yourself.

KW- Unusual...that's a hard one to narrow down. Let's see there's two that come to mind off hand...Musically, I sang on a metal album in Japanese once. It was called Metroid Metal. Grant Henery took all the songs from the nintendo game Metroid, and turned them into Metal songs. He played all the instruments himself on the album, and it was very well received apparently. And then the other thing is: that I'm related to the bluegrass/old-time legend Doc Watson. He's my cousin. In fact most of my family is full of musicians, but they all tend to play either old-time, celtic, jazz or classical music.

Opening for Jessica Simpson was pretty random and unusual to me. But everyone else seemed to think it was cool. I don't really love her music all that much though, thus it felt pretty weird. And they only paid me and my band $50. But whatever, it was good exposure.

SM- I LOVE Doc Watson, how awesome is it that I'm talking to one of his cousins? Also, Jessica Simpson only paid you and your band $50 bucks? Oh well, as you said good exposure doesn't hurt!

Please check out Kellin Watson! She is a super talented lady who not only has the guitar skills, but the personality to go along with them! Visit her site: http://www.myspace.com/kellinwatson