About That Song: Matthew French
About That Song #65
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 65th edition of this series, I sat down with a friend and sometime collaborator, Minnesota singer-songwriter Matthew French! We had a delightful conversation about the songs and artists that shaped his creative journey.
Matthew French. Photo credit: Tom Smouse.
Sarah: Hi Matthew French!! Thank you for stopping by About That Song! As part of the same songwriting group, I often get to hear your songs when they are … fresh out of the oven. We’ve co-written a handful of songs, and recently released an EP, This Is My Favorite Part (yay, us!).
After releasing your fantastic album Two Sides in early 2022, you began work on an album set for release next year called Circles. You release your second single from that album tomorrow and are celebrating with a show at the beloved Minneapolis venue Aster Cafe on Friday. We’ve had many conversations about songwriting, but I’ve yet to ask you my favorite questions on the topic, so this feels like a perfect chance to dive in. Do you remember the song you heard that made you want to be a songwriter? Tell us about that song.
Matthew: Yes, it was a song by Counting Crows called “Have You Seen Me Lately.” I believe it was on their Recovering the Satellites album as sort of a rock song, which I love. But there was also an acoustic version on their album Across a Wire, and that was the version that really got me into it, because I learned that dichotomy of how a rock and roll song can also be this other thing at the same time. I think that was just really influential to me.
Sarah: I imagine you're learning the power of a song to hold up to different production elements, that a song is a song, and it's excellent, and the rest of it can be window dressing in some way.
Matthew: That sounds exactly right.
Sarah: I'm not familiar with that song—I’ll have to check it out. 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.
Matthew: It took me a few years to call myself that. To be able to say that I was a songwriter, and feel okay saying that. You know, there’s self-doubt, and there’s like, have I written enough? Are the things that I’ve written good enough? Just because I’ve written a song, does that make me a songwriter? I mean, now I say yes, but back then I didn’t.
Sarah: I hear you; the self-doubt was a huge part of my calculus in being able to embody that identity. Now, I feel that if you’ve written a song, you’re a songwriter. As a huge fan of songwriters as humans, I want more people to feel that way! Because sometimes embracing that identity is a way to make sure you keep going! Do you remember the first song that you wrote where you felt comfortable wearing the hat?
Matthew: I had an EP called Home that I love, but it was more of an organic recording, and the first thing that I ever recorded. In the song “Home,” the chorus said, “Tell me where I can find my home.” It was at a time in my life where I was feeling adrift. I think what made me feel more of a songwriter was when I was able to access some things emotionally or inside of me that otherwise wouldn't have come out if it wasn't for writing it in a song.
Matthew French. Photo credit: Tom Smouse.
Sarah: I first met you when you hired me to sing harmonies on your 2016 release Winding Road. I’ve heard you sing the title track to that album now in so many places and I’m always impressed by the way it brings the listener in and along. Can you tell us about that song?
Matthew: The Winding Road EP came out of a time when I’d gone through a divorce, which was the catalyst that got me into songwriting. A lot of the writing I was doing at that time was processing the grief and the loss. Processing that question of how do I move forward now? The refrain at the end of “Winding Road,” which I love to sing and love for people to sing along with, says “keep moving forward.” Songs I’ve written based around advice to myself always feel like my best songs because it’s the same thing I might tell a friend or another person if they were going through something difficult or a rough time.
Sarah: Did you know that it was advice to yourself at the time or did you sweetly kid yourself thinking it was about something else? I’ve had that experience a time or five.
Matthew: I didn’t think of it as advice to myself at the time but I wasn’t thinking on a meta-level about songwriting at that point. It was mostly just an exploration of writing and that’s what was coming out, and I liked it. We got into the studio and that song took on a life of its own. I remember Jeremy Hansen, who played drums on it, played this marchy beat and said something along the lines of “let’s do this; makes it sound like a Simon and Garfunkel song.” I’d imagined it to be something different and it turned into something far better.
Sarah: Last summer, you released the single “Sweet Ohio Soil,” an ode to your parents. Can you tell us about that song?
Matthew: My parents’ 50th wedding anniversary was two years ago. I was thinking about them and as they’re getting older, wanting to be able to give them something; to tell them and put into words, and in this case into song, exactly what they mean to me. The garden metaphor is perfect for my parents because they have a massive garden that they take care of so well and that’s sort of a metaphor for their lives and the way I feel about them—being so grateful that they’re my parents and that I come from them.
Sarah: If I remember right, that song was inspired by, is part of our songwriting group that we belong to? And the prompt was?
Matthew: “Soil”?
Sarah: That was a prompt once, so probably! You're releasing a single tomorrow. It's a cover song, a cover of John Prine’s “How Lucky.” Can you tell us about it?
Matthew: I first sang that song at a John Prine tribute show a couple of years back. It’s such a fascinating song. John Prine has a way of taking you to so many different places, but in that song in particular, for me, it feels like a looking back. I’m releasing the song tomorrow, on my birthday. There were many years when I couldn’t legitimately release a song called “How Lucky” and feel like I was being true to myself. But this time around, I feel lucky to be where I’m at, lucky to have the experiences that I have, and lucky to have the people that I have in my life. So I wanted to put it out as a celebration of that.
Sarah: That sounds like the best celebration. Thank you, Matthew, for sitting down and talking with me About That Song. How lucky am I?! How lucky are we?! (Also, happy birthday!)
You can help Matthew French celebrate his birthday and his new single at the Aster Cafe on Friday November 22, along with Superior Siren! Just make a reservation; a $15 per person cover will be added to your tab. Music starts at 9pm.
Listen to “Sweet Ohio Soil”
“How Lucky” Single Credits
(release date: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024)
Written by John Prine
Produced, Engineered & Mixed by Christopher Furst
Mastered by: Chris Bethea
Pedal Steel: Travis Toy
Guitar and Vocals: Matthew French
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.
