Allison Moorer Interview
C: You’re obviously a thinker, so what inspires you in the subject matter of your songs?
A: Whatever’s going on, whatever’s going on at the time like y’know most of the time it’s something directly influenced and sometimes it’ll come out of the woods. There’s no predicting it and I’ve never gotten enough handle on it to figure it out and I don’t even want to and just wait for the lightening to strike and be prepared for when it does.
C: So it’s not a conscious process; I’m going to sit down today and write about world peace or whatever?
A: Not with me, no, I know some people do that. I do the thing of keeping note books going y’know, if I have a thought or have an idea I’ll jot it down and I may not be in the mode to write at that moment so I’ll just jot it down and then if I have some time and I feel inspired to pick up the guitar, I will go back through those notes and y’know…..several songs have happened with the process…mostly with me, it comes out of pure inspiration and I’ve got something that just won’t leave me alone. Cause writing is not really my favourite thing to do [laughs]. I do it ‘cause I can’t not do it and I am a writer even though I never meant to be.
C: Took you by surprise did it?
A: I think it was Norman Mailer who said: “I like having written” when he was asked if he enjoyed writing, so that’s kinda where I am with it.
C: As a journalist I totally understand that pain! We were talking earlier about maturity and experience fuelling life and much has been written about your tragic childhood, I don’t want you to dwell on that, but I was interested to hear how that has influenced you.
A: Well, I think good things come out of anything if you let it. Obviously it’s made me incredibly independent, I had no choice but to be independent y’know from a very young age…y’know it’s…the events with my parents are not really the most important about them, their lives influenced me way more than their deaths and y’know even though they were…they had their troubles, they were nice talented people and somehow they managed to raise me…they died when I was 14…but somehow how I got the skills and the tools to be a self-sufficient adult and be able to make decision and function and …so, they were very musical and growing up in their house…
C: …it was around you all the time. And of course your sister [Shelby Lynne] is also very musical.
A: Yeah, they passed on their talents to us and y’know hopefully they’re looking down and enjoying it.
C: No doubt! I know you need to go Allison, so just one final question, what is your master plan?
A: My plan is to, after Mocking Bird comes out and whatever happens to that happens, I’ll write another album, so my next album will be….
C: That’s the one you’re half-way through writing now?
A: Yeah, I’m writing for it now and sort of designing it in my mind, I always have some plan cooking up. I sew a lot, I do embroidery, y’know as if I don’t have enough to do, I have some dresses in a shop in New York and just dong some stuff like that and y’know exploring all those feminine arts.
C: Why not?!
A: I’m getting that going and always doing something!
C: And enjoying life! Thank you so much for spending time with me, it’s been wonderful to chat and learn more about you. Hope I meet you again in the future.
© CAT www.catontheprowl.co.uk