About That Song: David Stoddard
About That Song #39
In our special series, singer-songwriter Sarah Morris interviews artists about the songs that shaped them.
Hi! I’m Sarah Morris. I’m wildly in love with songs and the people who write them. There have been a few songs in my life that have been total gamechangers—songs that made me want to be a songwriter and songs I’ve written that made me feel like I am a songwriter. About That Song is a space where I can learn more about those pivotal songs in other writers’ lives.
For our 39th edition, I was happy to connect with David Stoddard! We talked about the songs that set him on his artistic journey and some exciting recent and upcoming projects and shows.
David Stoddard. Photo credit: Satchel Paige.
Sarah: Hi David!!
You’re an award-winning songwriter, film composer, producer and self-proclaimed “music theory nerd.” In addition to your solo albums, you recently released a duets album with Karen Mal. I’m thrilled to get a chance to learn more about the songs that brought you where you are today in your musical journey. Do you remember the song that you heard that made you want to be a songwriter? Tell us about that song.
David: Oh my gosh, I remember it so clearly. It was “Find the Cost of Freedom” by Stephen Stills. I was rifling through my parents’ record collection and found So Far by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. It was one of those songs that you start over again even before you finish it the first time. I was enthralled by the intertwined guitar parts and the short verse. I still am. That, and “Helpless,” a Neil Young song on that same album. Both give me chills and are still inspiring.
I wanted to know everything about that record, and, oddly, my parents didn’t even know we had it. It led to further investigation into the songs played by my other hero, John Denver, who sang songs by people like Steve Gillette, John Prine, Steve Goodman and Jack Williams, who became my new heroes, and a couple of whom I’ve actually become friends with over the years. It really brought home to me the idea that songs are written by people and don't spring up out of nowhere.
Sarah: I existed for years as a song-loving human before I had that realization! Once you began writing, did you feel like a writer immediately? It took me a few years of writing before I believed it—was there a song that gave you that “a-HA! I AM a songwriter!” moment? Tell us about that song…
David: I feel like every song gets me closer, and I’m getting more comfortable and confident. I don’t write a lot. Occasionally a prompt stirs something, but not very often, and I’ve found I’m less than enthused with my own results when writing that way. I feel rather useless in groups that write a lot because I easily fall victim to “editing too early in the process.”
The first one? In kindergarten, I was walking around singing a song about which hand was your left and which was your right. It still jumps into my brain occasionally. My mom transcribed it at the piano and brought it to my teacher at Norwood School in Green Bay, and the class sang it. Does that count?
Sarah: That absolutely counts! Also, as someone who spent a lot of their life still making an L with my left hand, probably a song I could have used!
David: I’ve co-written a bunch of musicals with my friends Steve and Dee Savides in Wisconsin. I remember the first one we put together, and we were presenting the first song to the cast, and they immediately began to sing along, including their harmony parts, and I was conscious of having written something that simultaneously resonated with people, and I felt, “Ah, this is what I do.”
People have occasionally recorded my songs over the years, too, and that is a really otherworldly experience, but that feeling cements it into you—“this must be what I do.”
Sarah: You’re a Kerrville New Folk Winner—congrats! I sure am a fan of that festival. As part of the competition, you performed two songs, I believe. Do you remember what songs you performed? Can you tell us about those songs? (Also, was Sparkle Joe there?)
David: First, and most importantly, Sparkle Joe was there, although I didn’t know him then, and certainly wasn’t aware of what an iconic figure he is. Not many folks know he’s an environmental lawyer in Austin, in addition to the interpretive dancing he does which has become so essential to the Kerrville experience.
Sarah: Learning of his career as an environmental lawyer delighted me to NO END. Made the magic of Sparkle Joe somehow even…magic-i-er.
David Stoddard. Photo credit: Lila Kiely.
David: The songs I played were “Things I’ll Never Understand” and “Reality TV.” I was not aware that any of my songs were chosen for the finals until a friend from Chicago called and told me. I couldn’t even remember which ones I’d submitted (cripes, I need a manager), and luckily I had a digital copy of the cd label I’d stuck on my entry to look back on. It is pretty humbling to just go from camp to camp, being knocked off your feet by the songs and the people and the love and support.
Sarah: Agreed, there’s nothing like it! Your most recent release is a duets album with Karen Mal—was there a song that sparked the desire to make a duets album?
David: Well, Karen and I have been dear friends since my first Kerrville, and have always really enjoyed singing and playing together. I think she’s very patient with me, as I’m not in her league as a vocalist, but she’s also a tough, sincere and virtuosic writer, and I trust her critiques completely. We’ve toured together with other people over the years and have often talked about forming an actual duo, where we write and arrange songs together with an eye toward performing them as a duo. I wouldn’t write the same way as if I were writing for a band, for example. It’s an honor to work with someone whose opinions I value so highly, and she’s taught me an awful lot about the collaborative process. We’re both side-guys, really, so we’re both sensitive, I think, to serving the song—toward that end, I think my song “Devil in the Mirror” really made me enthused that we could do this thing as a team. She’s got that magic “it” that she sprinkles around.
Sarah: Sounds like you’ve discovered a generative, fulfilling partnership. In the song you mentioned, “Devil in the Mirror,” when I heard the lyric “I wish I had an angel on my shoulder / Warning me when I was just about to say too much,” I immediately thought “OH, I would ALSO like that angel on my shoulder!” Tell us more about that song.
David: An actual co-write! We’re finding our cowriting voice with that one. It started as something I’d written after hanging out with Houston songwriter Matt Harlan and absorbing his style a little bit. Originally, it was more strummy, and said “screw it up” instead of “say too much,” which Karen had the idea to improve. We find that we write better together when one of us presents a “finished” song and the other goes to work editing, clarifying and shoring up potentially problematic prosody. And admonishing about annoying alliteration. I’ve often found that when people say “You always regret the things you DIDN’T say,” that is certainly untrue. I’ve shot my mouth off so many times and, in retrospect, have never regretted keeping silent—that’s what that song is about. I’m getting better about that, too.
Sarah: I get the idea that one can regret not speaking up in some situations but, while I have a few of those, I do lean toward the “say too much” side of things, and am aiming toward getting better there as well.
Do you have any Midwest shows coming up in the next few months where we might hear you sing that song, or any other song for that matter?
David: I’ve got a couple of things, and so many songs! Legendary percussionist Mikkel Bee and I are playing at 331 Club in Northeast Minneapolis on Sunday, March 24 from 3–5, and later on this spring I’m taking part in a songwriters’ round with Taylor James Donskey—May 12 at the White Squirrel in St. Paul. Then, Karen and I will be touring around Minnesota in early September! We play mostly living rooms (house concerts), so if you’ve got a living room and a circle of friends, we’d be honored to come and play for you—I’ll even walk you through the process if you’ve never done it before.
Sarah: Wonderful! House concerts are just about my favorite thing, and TJD and Mikkel Bee each do the good work of bringing artists together in collaborative settings, and our community is the better for it. Thank you so much for stopping by About That Song, David!
Find out more about these and other upcoming chances to see David!
Listen to “Devil in the Mirror”
DUETS volume 1 Album Credits
Karen Mal: Guitar, Mandolin
David Stoddard: Guitar, Piano, Accordion, Bass
Hans Christian: 'Cello (Grammy Nominee!)
Gabriel Donohue: Pedal Steel
Photos: Chantel Mead
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Morris. Photo credit: Tom Smouse.
Sarah Morris is a superfan of songs and the people who write them, and a believer that certain songs can change your life. A singer-songwriter / mama / bread maker / coffee drinker who recently released her fifth album of original material, she’s been known to joyfully sing with people in her Big Green Bathroom.
