About That Song: Ian George
About That Song #57
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.
In the 57th edition of this series, I got to connect with Ian George! We talked about his recently released new album and dug into his musical past—including one time our paths crossed!—and talked about the songs and moments that helped make him the songwriter he is today.
Ian George. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Sarah: Hi Ian George!! I believe we met years ago at Aster Cafe—you were running sound—so I would love to start this conversation by saying THANK YOU for making us sound good that night! And for all the other artists you took care of sonically over the years. A Minnesota native, you’ve played with several bands over the years. Currently you’re making music as part of duo Fellow Pynins, in addition to your solo effort (which has an accompanying band). Recently, you released your sophomore album, titled A Fair. I’m wondering if you’d be willing to sit down and chat a bit About That Song (or those songs) in celebration of your new release?
Ian: Yea dude, I remember now! Love you calling it a solo “effort”... lol, I am definitely efforting.
Let’s go!
Sarah: To efforting! Yes! Do you remember the song you heard that made you want to be a songwriter? Tell us about that song.
Ian: Weezer’s Blue Album, all of it, that’s it. I remember a moment pooping listening to the Blue Album on my Walkman whilst imagining playing music I had written for a rock band. I think I was like 14. I also remember at that moment that it felt too late and I had already missed the music train because I hadn’t started playing yet… Funny how we make excuses. Such convincing ones too. Oh! And also The Beatles’ White Album. That changed me.
Sarah: So, albums that are colors. Got it! Or more accurately, excellent, career-defining albums that are colors. 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.
Ian: Ha, took a few I think. A couple of years in, I wrote a song called “between a wood and a river” that was kinda like, “damn—that’s alright.” Just felt like a nice cohesive, accessible story with a sing-along chorus and easy verse melodies… no bridge either! Was inspired by the melodies of trad Irish music as I was living in Ireland at the time.
Sarah: I think “damn—that’s alright” is a wonderful way to take in a completed song. It feels like a tiiiiny high five. To yourself.
Allow me to give you a high five for this lyric: “I was a fool at the wrong time, never again…” from your song, “Gone” featuring NOLA-based artist Anna Moss. Listening to it gave me what I will call “The Songwriter Swoon.” I listened to the first 30 seconds of this song on repeat 4 times before I let myself go on and get caught up in the jubilance of the chorus melody. Can you tell us about THAT song?
Ian: First of all, jubilant is one of my fav adjectives, so thanks for bringing that in here—made my hour actually. Also, love that you stopped the song before the chorus a few times, that’s weird. Ok, so, “Gone” … Hmmmm, kinda the thesis statement of the entire album really, which is an album of loss and of breakup and of polyamory and of all the things like that, well maybe not all of the things because I could never do that in one album... But yea, I don’t really want to talk about what songs are about specifically because I don’t want to strip someone from their creative interpretations.
Sarah: I completely understand that. With certain songs, as a writer, and as a listener, I am happier if all the gray remains.
Ian: But for me, this one kinda sums up what I was going through at the time. Anna is the only other vocalist on the record. She is actually the only vocal harmony on the record too. I wanted to make an album without any background vocals to challenge myself with melody writing and to make a record quite different from my first solo record, which is kinda drenched in harmony... Buuuut, this song I just knew wanted a gal voice singing with me on the chorus and I thought about all my musician gal friends and their voices and Anna was my first choice. She’s a phenomenal singer, so much control, and flavor, and freedom, and richness… and, and…
So I asked, and she said hell yea. I wasn’t sure because she’s a busy gal and plays in like a bazillion bands and seems to be always on tour. She actually forgot about it and I hadn’t heard from her in a while so I sent a follow-up text and she was like “shittttt, I’ll do it now.” It was kinda late at night, her time, and she was leaving for a tour first thing the next morning. She sent back one take within the hour. Nailed it.
Ian George. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Sarah: Nailed it, indeed! I’m always fascinated by artists like you who balance duos (The Fellow Pynins) or bands with solo-facing projects. With your new album, A Fair, was there a song you wrote that let you know it was time to get back to the studio, Ian George Style?
Ian: I’d say it was “Gone” actually. Really loved it and kinda built the album around it… Felt strong enough to work towards a record, felt strong enough to be a good excuse to make another.
Sarah: Sometimes we just need a song excuse, and it’s record time! According to your website, you split time between Minnesota and the forests of Oregon. Do you have any shows coming up where we Minnesotans might be able to come out and hear you sing some of these songs live?
Ian: Yea, the last handful of years have been weird and I’ve been quite unsettled with location and home. I’m living on a commune in the mountains of southern Oregon currently. I’m playing a couple shows in the Midwest this month, though!
Catch Ian at Lamplight Sessions in Mosinee, WI on Thursday, August 29 with Bad Bad Hats, and at Icehouse on their outdoor stage in Minneapolis August 30!
Listen to “Gone”
A Fair Album Credits
Ian George : vocals, acoustic guitar, synth
Ted Olsen : double bass, bass
Patrick Horigan : electric guitars, synth
Reese Kling : drums/percussion
Nelson Devereaux : silver Flute, saxophone
Joe Strachan : piano
Anna Moss : vocals
Connor Gallaher : pedal steel
mixed by Shane Leonard
mastered by Philip Shaw Bova
engineered by Matt Patrick, Con Davison, Ian George, Nelson Devereaux, Joe Strachan, Connor Gallaher, and Anna Moss
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.
