Todd Sterling - Pawn Shop Guitar
By: George Peden
There is no escaping the truth. Country music is one slippery slope. There’s the constant battle for radio and paying gigs, and with album sales slipping, giving way to single track buys, love of the music is surely the only drawcard for the independent artist. It’s a hard road; its rewards are few and the demands are many. If you need proof just ask Todd Sterling. Todd knows.
He knows through his well- framed knowledge and a skill for words that has seen his published music reviews widely read. Now he’s flipping roles and leaving his reviewer’s chair for an industry offering the hard sell to radio and the search for paying gigs.
Not that it’ll come as a total surprise, as three years back he headed to Nashville, armed with seven songs, enthusiasm and hope-filled dreams. We here at NAC thought highly of that album (see Cheryl Harvey Hill’s review)
Now this Canadian, who proudly CVs song writing, production and guitar as skills is back to do it again. He has a new 8 track album – Pawnshop Guitar: A Poets Prayer – slotted to drop in September (watch out here for an upcoming Q & A about the album); however, in the meantime, he’s released a single from the set.
“’69 Chevy” is a radio-friendly sampler sure to find a market with fans who like their country dashed with energy and pop sizzle. Just like his earlier Road Songs album, he stayed with the “if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it” approach.
Recorded in Nashville, Todd has stayed with good mate and music muscle
(Co-producer) Scott Neubert. Along for the ride, Todd has stayed with proven session players, including noted guitarist Jason Roller.
With a solid bass line and Roller’s guiding guitar, the song (written by Todd) skirts teenage love and the excitement of visiting the back seat for the first time. The timeline continues with plans made and hopes lost on a tune that showcases envied lyrical flair.
With a tune that’s already enjoying Australian plays, Todd has a honed the four-minute single with catchy and memorable hooks and a feel for melody, held easy with a voice that isn’t microphone shy.
Todd Sterling is waiting in the wings. However, given his obvious song writing talent, he can expect better lodgings…and soon.
https://toddsterlingmusic.com/
Check out Todd’s album on iTunes, September 1st.
Todd’s insightful reviews can be found on his blog: https://melodyandchaos.com/
Todd Sterling: Pawn Shop Guitar
George Peden.
Todd Sterling has every reason to be excited. His 2nd independent release, the tuneful Pawnshop Guitar, is enjoying radio attention. Pockets of radio including America and Australia have picked up ‘69 Chevy (the first release from the Canadian’s 8 tracker.)
On the rise of fan and industry interest, Todd agreed to talk with us about his self-written album.
Q1: Todd, you’ve been a music reviewer for many years, dabbling with opinions on most forms of popular music. What and why is your attraction to country music?
I’m more of a roots guy — I love Americana. Most of my favorite artists don’t get played on mainstream radio. Honestly, though, I love all kinds of music — everything from Classic Rock to Blues and Easy Listening (Air Supply immediately come to mind). For me, a good song is a good song, no matter the genre. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, all the classics, with my Dad. My brothers, of course, were listening to Rock and Pop artists, so I absorbed that as well. This cross-section of influences really helped me later on when I was writing reviews.
Q2: Who are your inspirations? What’s your song writing approach?
Wow. That’s a tough one. Ask me the same question tomorrow, and you’ll probably get a completely different answer. It’s more what than who, I think. I live in a very inspiring community, a place surrounded by trees and lakes. That inspires me. Sitting at the lake in the morning, having coffee, often sparks the creativity in me. Driving can inspire me — I get a lot of song ideas while driving. At any given time there are dozens of ideas recorded on my cell phone. Of course, listening to a lot of music helps stoke the fire.
My approach to songwriting is simple: I let the song guide me and lead me where it wants to go. When I do this, the results are usually good. Pro writers say songwriting is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration. I agree. The best songs come in a flash, but then there’s a great deal of rewriting and polishing, at least that’s how it works for me. There’s a magic to it that, if you begin dissecting it, it goes away. I go through times of great inspiration, and times when the well is completely dry, when I feel I will never write another song.
Q3: What excites you musically?
I love a great story song, the perfect marriage between melody and lyrics. Songs that move me in some way; that draw me in and don’t let go until the last note fades. Like I said, I enjoy all kinds of music, but my favorite artists — singer-songwriter’s like Rodney Crowell, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger and Steve Earle, to name a few — move me in ways I can’t articulate. Great songwriters craft songs that make the listener want to hit the repeat button over and over again. This is what I aspire to.
Q4: This is your 2nd independent release, following on from 2014’s Road Songs, what has this new recording taught you? Is it true to say you’ve become more introspective with your writing?
It’s taught me to doubt myself a little less. I was feeling horrible the day before we began recording. I was in Nashville, and all I wanted to do was get on a plane and go home. The studio was booked, the players were booked. I could have cancelled, but it would have cost me a significant amount of money. I began to think I wouldn’t be able to produce anything worth releasing in the state I was in. The morning of our first session I was shaky and tired, but the minute I saw my old friends at the studio, I slipped into a different frame of mind and got to work.
I’m not sure I’ve become more introspective in my writing. I think I’ve chosen to record more introspective songs. I’m all over the map when writing. I write a lot of dark songs, I just don’t record many of them. This time I really wanted to record songs that were maybe a little deeper and more meaningful. I had a few other songs I was going to record and include on the disc, but in the end I decided to go with the more edgy ones. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to include “Sunshine Good Time Summer Time,” but then I realized it can’t all be heavy (lol).
Q5: There are several focussed tracks on your album. “Sideshow Act” reveals the hardship of being a solitary performer, with its gritty observation of life on a road offering drinks and tips. Is this general observation or lived experience?
Definitely a lived experience. It seems people are less and less engaged with the world around them. We live in a time where almost everyone is glued to their cell phone. “Sideshow Act” was inspired by a particularly bad gig, where no one seemed to be listening. I was playing solo to a room full of young people who didn’t seem to notice I was even there. They were completely oblivious. At one point I stopped in the middle of a song, tuned my guitar, and then started a completely different song. Not one of them looked up from their phones.
Q6: “Stones Record” is an interesting take; in it you use Rolling Stones song titles for song structure. Where’d this idea come from?
I had another song kicking around for years. It was half done, but I could never get past that point. I would revisit it now and then and try to finish it. Eventually I realized it wasn’t really that good, but there were two lines in it that were salvageable — “I’ll be the needle, you be the groove” and “rock you like a Stones record.” I trashed the other song and wrote these two lines on a piece of paper. “Stones Record” had so many possibilities. I wrote down 50 Rolling Stones song titles and let inspiration lead the way. This is one of my favourite songs that I’ve written.
Q7: A standout track is the sombre and loaded “Bad For Me.” It’s a dark tune. What was the inspiration here?
When I play live, I like to joke after certain songs and say, “that’s a true story.” The audience will laugh, and I’ll carry on. Almost all of my songs have a seed of truth in them; they come from real life. They might not necessarily be about me, but there’s always reality mixed in with a little fiction. I wrote “Bad For Me” during a dark moment. I was wondering why the things (we think) we want the most in life are often the things that harm us. I framed it in the context of a relationship, but it goes much deeper. Some people never defeat their demons.
Q8: Pawnshop Guitar – A Poet’s Prayer shows rock, grit and reflection. Where do you see your musical future – are you a performer, or do you primarily see yourself as a songwriter?
That’s a great question, and when I figure it out, I’ll let you know! Some days I think I just want to write songs for other people to record. Other days I want to get out and record and perform them myself. I do this because I have to. When I don’t write songs or play music, I become unwell. This fire has burned inside me since I was very young, long before I could sing or play guitar. I’m hoping to record an acoustic project this winter — one voice/one guitar — for release next year. It will be as raw and real as it gets. Beyond that, I have no plans. I imagine I will always do it on some level, and as long as people listen and support it, I’ll keep sharing my music with the world.
Todd’s album is now available on ITunes. A general release is from September 22.
https://toddsterlingmusic.com/
There is no escaping the truth. Country music is one slippery slope. There’s the constant battle for radio and paying gigs, and with album sales slipping, giving way to single track buys, love of the music is surely the only drawcard for the independent artist. It’s a hard road; its rewards are few and the demands are many. If you need proof just ask Todd Sterling. Todd knows.
He knows through his well- framed knowledge and a skill for words that has seen his published music reviews widely read. Now he’s flipping roles and leaving his reviewer’s chair for an industry offering the hard sell to radio and the search for paying gigs.
Not that it’ll come as a total surprise, as three years back he headed to Nashville, armed with seven songs, enthusiasm and hope-filled dreams. We here at NAC thought highly of that album (see Cheryl Harvey Hill’s review)
Now this Canadian, who proudly CVs song writing, production and guitar as skills is back to do it again. He has a new 8 track album – Pawnshop Guitar: A Poets Prayer – slotted to drop in September (watch out here for an upcoming Q & A about the album); however, in the meantime, he’s released a single from the set.
“’69 Chevy” is a radio-friendly sampler sure to find a market with fans who like their country dashed with energy and pop sizzle. Just like his earlier Road Songs album, he stayed with the “if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it” approach.
Recorded in Nashville, Todd has stayed with good mate and music muscle
(Co-producer) Scott Neubert. Along for the ride, Todd has stayed with proven session players, including noted guitarist Jason Roller.
With a solid bass line and Roller’s guiding guitar, the song (written by Todd) skirts teenage love and the excitement of visiting the back seat for the first time. The timeline continues with plans made and hopes lost on a tune that showcases envied lyrical flair.
With a tune that’s already enjoying Australian plays, Todd has a honed the four-minute single with catchy and memorable hooks and a feel for melody, held easy with a voice that isn’t microphone shy.
Todd Sterling is waiting in the wings. However, given his obvious song writing talent, he can expect better lodgings…and soon.
https://toddsterlingmusic.com/
Check out Todd’s album on iTunes, September 1st.
Todd’s insightful reviews can be found on his blog: https://melodyandchaos.com/
Todd Sterling: Pawn Shop Guitar
George Peden.
Todd Sterling has every reason to be excited. His 2nd independent release, the tuneful Pawnshop Guitar, is enjoying radio attention. Pockets of radio including America and Australia have picked up ‘69 Chevy (the first release from the Canadian’s 8 tracker.)
On the rise of fan and industry interest, Todd agreed to talk with us about his self-written album.
Q1: Todd, you’ve been a music reviewer for many years, dabbling with opinions on most forms of popular music. What and why is your attraction to country music?
I’m more of a roots guy — I love Americana. Most of my favorite artists don’t get played on mainstream radio. Honestly, though, I love all kinds of music — everything from Classic Rock to Blues and Easy Listening (Air Supply immediately come to mind). For me, a good song is a good song, no matter the genre. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, all the classics, with my Dad. My brothers, of course, were listening to Rock and Pop artists, so I absorbed that as well. This cross-section of influences really helped me later on when I was writing reviews.
Q2: Who are your inspirations? What’s your song writing approach?
Wow. That’s a tough one. Ask me the same question tomorrow, and you’ll probably get a completely different answer. It’s more what than who, I think. I live in a very inspiring community, a place surrounded by trees and lakes. That inspires me. Sitting at the lake in the morning, having coffee, often sparks the creativity in me. Driving can inspire me — I get a lot of song ideas while driving. At any given time there are dozens of ideas recorded on my cell phone. Of course, listening to a lot of music helps stoke the fire.
My approach to songwriting is simple: I let the song guide me and lead me where it wants to go. When I do this, the results are usually good. Pro writers say songwriting is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration. I agree. The best songs come in a flash, but then there’s a great deal of rewriting and polishing, at least that’s how it works for me. There’s a magic to it that, if you begin dissecting it, it goes away. I go through times of great inspiration, and times when the well is completely dry, when I feel I will never write another song.
Q3: What excites you musically?
I love a great story song, the perfect marriage between melody and lyrics. Songs that move me in some way; that draw me in and don’t let go until the last note fades. Like I said, I enjoy all kinds of music, but my favorite artists — singer-songwriter’s like Rodney Crowell, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger and Steve Earle, to name a few — move me in ways I can’t articulate. Great songwriters craft songs that make the listener want to hit the repeat button over and over again. This is what I aspire to.
Q4: This is your 2nd independent release, following on from 2014’s Road Songs, what has this new recording taught you? Is it true to say you’ve become more introspective with your writing?
It’s taught me to doubt myself a little less. I was feeling horrible the day before we began recording. I was in Nashville, and all I wanted to do was get on a plane and go home. The studio was booked, the players were booked. I could have cancelled, but it would have cost me a significant amount of money. I began to think I wouldn’t be able to produce anything worth releasing in the state I was in. The morning of our first session I was shaky and tired, but the minute I saw my old friends at the studio, I slipped into a different frame of mind and got to work.
I’m not sure I’ve become more introspective in my writing. I think I’ve chosen to record more introspective songs. I’m all over the map when writing. I write a lot of dark songs, I just don’t record many of them. This time I really wanted to record songs that were maybe a little deeper and more meaningful. I had a few other songs I was going to record and include on the disc, but in the end I decided to go with the more edgy ones. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to include “Sunshine Good Time Summer Time,” but then I realized it can’t all be heavy (lol).
Q5: There are several focussed tracks on your album. “Sideshow Act” reveals the hardship of being a solitary performer, with its gritty observation of life on a road offering drinks and tips. Is this general observation or lived experience?
Definitely a lived experience. It seems people are less and less engaged with the world around them. We live in a time where almost everyone is glued to their cell phone. “Sideshow Act” was inspired by a particularly bad gig, where no one seemed to be listening. I was playing solo to a room full of young people who didn’t seem to notice I was even there. They were completely oblivious. At one point I stopped in the middle of a song, tuned my guitar, and then started a completely different song. Not one of them looked up from their phones.
Q6: “Stones Record” is an interesting take; in it you use Rolling Stones song titles for song structure. Where’d this idea come from?
I had another song kicking around for years. It was half done, but I could never get past that point. I would revisit it now and then and try to finish it. Eventually I realized it wasn’t really that good, but there were two lines in it that were salvageable — “I’ll be the needle, you be the groove” and “rock you like a Stones record.” I trashed the other song and wrote these two lines on a piece of paper. “Stones Record” had so many possibilities. I wrote down 50 Rolling Stones song titles and let inspiration lead the way. This is one of my favourite songs that I’ve written.
Q7: A standout track is the sombre and loaded “Bad For Me.” It’s a dark tune. What was the inspiration here?
When I play live, I like to joke after certain songs and say, “that’s a true story.” The audience will laugh, and I’ll carry on. Almost all of my songs have a seed of truth in them; they come from real life. They might not necessarily be about me, but there’s always reality mixed in with a little fiction. I wrote “Bad For Me” during a dark moment. I was wondering why the things (we think) we want the most in life are often the things that harm us. I framed it in the context of a relationship, but it goes much deeper. Some people never defeat their demons.
Q8: Pawnshop Guitar – A Poet’s Prayer shows rock, grit and reflection. Where do you see your musical future – are you a performer, or do you primarily see yourself as a songwriter?
That’s a great question, and when I figure it out, I’ll let you know! Some days I think I just want to write songs for other people to record. Other days I want to get out and record and perform them myself. I do this because I have to. When I don’t write songs or play music, I become unwell. This fire has burned inside me since I was very young, long before I could sing or play guitar. I’m hoping to record an acoustic project this winter — one voice/one guitar — for release next year. It will be as raw and real as it gets. Beyond that, I have no plans. I imagine I will always do it on some level, and as long as people listen and support it, I’ll keep sharing my music with the world.
Todd’s album is now available on ITunes. A general release is from September 22.
https://toddsterlingmusic.com/