Nickel Creek Member Sean Watkins Talks About Trio's Unique 'Newgrass' Sound

(This was an interview that ran prior to a show in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2003)

Acoustic innovators. Bluegrass revivalists.

These are just a few of the words used to describe Nickel Creek, the new phenomenon exploding on the county music scene. The trio comprised of brother and sister Sean, 25 and Sara Watkins, 20 and long-time friend Chris Thile, 21, has taken country music by storm the past year. With their self-titled debut album recently going gold, two hit radio singles ("When You Come Back Down" and "The Lighthouse's Tale"), as well as a slew of CMA, ACM and Grammy award nominations, Nickel Creek is certainly creating some well-deserved hype.

Nickel Creek's hype is contagious, and it looks like it spread to Northeast Pennsylvania. Radio station Froggy 101 is presenting Nickel Creek in concert at the Scranton Cultural Center this Wednesday, and as of press time, there are very few tickets remaining.

"Nickel Creek is country music going through an evolution. They are so young, yet such awesome musicians. Their music is just incredible," said Froggy 101 music director Kelly Green on why they chose the trio as their first independent concert event. "They are on the verge of something... not just for country music, but the music scene all together. There is nothing like it anywhere else."

Green continued, "Tickets are literally almost gone. If you want to hear the voices of angels, get to the box office." And you had better do it now.

I recently spoke with Nickel Creek guitar player Sean Watkins, who was preparing for a show in Greenville, North Carolina, about their upcoming Scranton concert, and about what it is like to be such a phenomenon. For the concert, Watkins says fans should expect a more energized version of their album, as well as songs from their forthcoming album and both his and Thile's solo projects.

In today's world of musical fluff, producers seem to throw good-looking strangers together to form bands, whose music is then synthetically manufactured to have commercial appeal to the mass public. (ie "Making the Band) It's not too often that you find a pure and wholesome gem like Nickel Creek that has played...and grown up... together for a lifetime. I asked Watkins how being together for over a decade has readied them for success.

"Being in bluegrass and growing up playing together, there were lots of people to help us along, and have over the years given us time and encouragement, " he explained. "It's really neat to feel like a family with your band mates. It just works really well."

The band has been said to be responsible for making bluegrass popular again, and helping the genre reach a younger audience. But, Nickel Creek did not analyze the music scene and decide there was a void to fill in bluegrass. In fact, it was almost unbeknownst to the young trio that they have brought bluegrass back into the mainstream music scene. They simply just do what they love, and what they have been doing for over a decade. And it just caught on. Big time.

Watkins explained that although they grew up playing bluegrass and it is in their roots, they don't refer to themselves a bluegrass band. They just want to play real music.

"We're not really necessarily on a crusade for bluegrass," admitted Watkins. "We basically just try to make music that we would listen to. Anything else has been a side effect, a good, good side effect. We're happy to be a part of bringing (bluegrass) to more people."

Perhaps the reason that Nickel Creek has in fact caught on, is that they are just that...not your typical bluegrass band. In fact, they are not your typical anything band. Their vast pool of musical influences has created such a versatile musical style that made Nickel Creek virtually impossible to place in any category. Some call it "newgrass" while some call it "youthgrass". But producer Allison Krauss (and bluegrass great herself) sums it up best with, "It's just Nickel Creek music." I asked Sean to put into words just what Nickel Creek music is.

"It's a mix of what we listen to. And, it changes every year. There is always the core there, but every so often we look at the band and add something new. We try not to take away from our influences, but we add to them in ways that will work," Watkins said. "We all listen to modern rock, also a lot of classical, jazz and Celtic. And, there's little elements of each we like to blend in."

With that said, it is obvious why Nickel Creek has grown to have such mass appeal. Since they include little pieces of every musical genre, there is a little part of Nickel Creek that everyone can relate to.

Aside from each being a musical master of their respective instrument, Watkins and Thile are also quite talented songwriters. Thile, who co-wrote their latest smash with his friend Adam McKenzie, "The Lighthouse's Tale" simply cashed in on a "what if." Watkins explains their creative process.

"We think outside the box. We think, 'what is the first thing I wouldn't think of?' or 'What is something that is off the beaten path, but not too, too weird?' And, we do a lot of what if's. And sometimes what if's can turn out to be pretty cool, and that what if worked out for Chris."

And, who their musical and lyrical talent did catch the ear of was Sugar Hill records. And bluegrass great Allison Krauss, who produced their first album as a band for the label. (Previously, mandolin player Chris Thile and Watkins both had a solo project released.) In fact, Krauss has been a mentor for the twenty-somethings for some time. And, what an ultimate compliment to have your hero not only acknowledge your talent, but to actually become a part of your career. Watkins describes that honor as being "really, really cool."

"At first, we were in awe of being in the studio with her, but she makes you feel so comfortable. She is an extremely likeable person and great to be around. In a short time, you think of her as a great friend with an amazing ear for music." Watkins continued that they are in the studio with her completing their sophomore album, which is slated for release in late summer.

"It's even better then the last time," Watkins said. We can't wait.

Aside from working with Krauss, as well as touring with Dolly Parton and Lyle Lovett, Nickel Creek also got a glimpse into the pop scene. The band toured for a month with Glenn Phillips, former front man of Toad the Wet Sprocket.

"He's been a huge influence to us as a band, probably one of the biggest. It was amazing to work with him and a lot of fun."

The members of Nickel Creek have gotten to do some pretty cool things in their career that they otherwise wouldn't have gotten to do, such as Sara being featured playing a mean violin in a Cingular commercial, or their music being featured in a Dr. Pepper ad. But according to Watkins, it is still playing and hanging out with their heroes, such as Krauss and Phillips, that is the best "side effect" of their career.

"To be honest, that is just out of control fun for us. It's more than icing on the cake," he beamed.

One other very cool and very major honor the trio has received was being named by Time Magazine as one of "Five Musical Innovators of the Millennium." Wow. Watkins mentioned that they get asked about this a lot, and his answer is a very unique and honest take on the honor.

" It's an extremely cool, amazing honor. We're super thankful and it's one of the coolest things that ever happened to us," he said. "But it's one of those things that we try not to think about. We don't want the good stuff to make us feel too good. If we really think about it too much, it could affect our creativity and the way we make music, write songs and arrange them. We don't want honors like this to change the way we've been making music all these years."

Well put. Nickel Creek plays what they feel is good music, and will not adjust to what society wants to hear. The sign of a true artist.

Still, with all those award show nods, all the rave reviews of their album and concerts, Nickel Creek still maintains that grounded attitude. When asked of their newfound popularity and what it is like to be recognized, Watkins remained very naïve about the fame factor.

"I don't think...no, I know we're not famous yet. But at the shows now, it is a totally different experience because everyone know you and is there to see you," Watkins said. "But just walking around, we seldom get recognized. There are certain areas, like Nashville, where we get noticed more." He continued that still calling California home, has helped maintain a more private life.

"When Sara and I go home, it's so far away from the business end of it, it's completely normal. And, there are just bigger things out there in southern California for people to worry about, like movie stars. No one is worried about a little group like us." For now, anyway.

The young trio is in fact still young, and likes to enjoy their rare time off. When they are not playing a sold-out theater, and home in southern California, Watkins says he enjoys surfing and just being outside. While on the road, he says they try to find the cool places that are unique to the particular area they happen to be playing in.

"Or, we like to visit coffee shops or just randomly play somewhere," he said.

So, you never know just where you will run into the young musical prodigies. Or, what to expect from them, this year. One thing is for sure though, it will be 'Nickel Creek music'.