With a new album, Empty Shoes, set to release to the streaming world next month, we had a chance to chat with bluegrass survivor and singing star Claire Lynch recently, and talk about what she has been doing since retiring from touring in 2016.
We all remember Lynch for her time heading up the renowned north Alabama band, The Front Porch String Band, and subsequently as a solo artist and bandleader for many years. In both realms she recorded memorable projects that have stood the test of time, and made contributions to other artists’ releases as well.
It has been ten years now since her last project, North By South, which celebrated Canadian songwriters, partly in response to her having moved to Canada in 2014 when she married.
So we wondered, “why now” for a new album?
“I should have done it five years ago! I feel an obligation to my fans, who have been asking for so long when I would cut a new album. They have supported me for a long time. Some of the emails I’ve received have made me tear up.”
She told us that, in many ways, this is a typical Claire Lynch recording: a lot of bluegrass and a bit of swing, with careful attention to the songwriting, and the recording process.
But there is one difference. Empty Shoes is the first where Claire had a hand in writing every song. All eight tracks she either wrote or co-wrote.
Was this meant as a songwriter project from the start?
“Yes, I definitely felt that way. I’ve always had originals on my albums, but this time it turned out that they were all ones I had been a part of.”
Without a timetable, she was able to work as the opportunity allowed, leading to some musical reunions in the studio with former bandmates like Jim Hurst and Missy Raines.
“I did have a lot of time. I just made time, as I didn’t have an agenda, or anyone telling me that it needed to be done by a certain date. We recorded the first five songs in Nashville, and worked with a lot of my old bandmates; we just had a blast. I got all these rhythm tracks, and did vocals and overdubs up here.
I have a small studio in my home, we did some vocal editing work here, and some background harmony at home.”
She also worked in a Canadian studio to record the other three songs.
Part of the reason there was no time crunch is that Empty Shoes is being released on Thrill Hill Records, her own label.
Is that all Claire running the company?
“That’s me! Doing it all myself. I’ve done it before with the Holiday CD, but it’s been a number of years, and I’ve forgotten about a lot of it.”
Claire also commented on the inclusion of swing music, in its acoustic string form.
“We always did swing, at least one cut, and I’ve had fans asking me for years when I would do a swing album. It just happened that many of the songs that stood out the most were swing numbers. I think they’re all good songs.
I’ve always gone against what the bluegrass traditionalists thought, so I’ve never been one of their favorites. But somehow, I guess I’ve found a way to fit in.”
Physical CDs for Empty Shoes are shipping now, and the project will be available from the streaming and download services on May 7.
“I did my best, and hope I gave people what they wanted. It feels good to have it done.”
There is no doubt that a new Claire Lynch album will be eagerly snapped up by her many followers in and around bluegrass music.
