“The Art of Storytelling: An Interview with Austin Songwriter Amy Cook”

Chris chats with singer/songwriter Amy Cook

If you pay any attention to the Austin music scene, you’ve probably noticed Amy Cook‘s name everywhere.  The singer /songwriter’s show at the Mohawk last week, which apparently led to many hangovers the next day, brought heavy-hitting Austin folk rock singer Ben Kweller onstage.  She’s also playing at Jo’s on 2nd every Thursday this month.  Oh, and did we mention she just finished recording her album with producer Alejandro Escovedo?

Amy’s songs are stories with a strong sense of location.  To me, Amy’s music conjures images of fields full of dried yellow, West Texas grass and Mesquite trees.  Sometimes you’re transported out to Marfa. It’s night, and you’re lying on your back, looking up at the Milky Way on a cool Spring night.  Or maybe you’re off SoCo in the alley behind Continental Club, boots scuffed, dizzy, propping yourself up on a dumpster, praying you’ll keep your liquor down.

Her penchant for story telling reminds me of Lou Reed, Billy Joel and Kate Bush; so the morning before our interview, I put together a playlist of songs by some of my favorite song writers.  My goal for the interview: Get Amy to use her storytelling ability to interpret songs from classic rockers, as well as contemporary acts.

In the first video below, Amy and I chat about:

• Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed
• Captain Jack by Billy Joel
• Parisby Friendly Fires
• Weekend Wars by MGMT.

You’ve also got to check out the second video, an outtake from the interview, where Amy and I talk about Jane’s Addiction’s Jane Says.

After the interview, Amy gave me a copy of her fresh-out-of-the-studio-still-unmastered album Let the Light In.  There are a few songs on the album that I’ve kinda fallen in love with.  My fave, so far, is “moonrise.”  It shows a gritty, dark side of Amy, and could probably be used in the opening sequence of the HBO vampire show True Blood.

Check it out and tell us what you think in the comments below! Also, tell us YOUR interpretation of the songs in the video. We’d love to hear them!

EXCLUSIVE LISTEN: moonrise (unmastered) by Amy Cook:

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