CMO: What goals have you accomplished and what do you still want to accomplish with your music career?
TRACY: I think just having the success over the last 10 or 12 years has been a pretty big accomplishment. Seeing a lot of things come and go. Just being able to maintain and continue to have hits periodically in the music business is a pretty big accomplishment in itself. I would like to see us get to the situation to maybe we'll pull down some awards in the next 5 years. Get position to be in the more top 10 percent of the field. I think that's pretty much the goals that we have as far as myself and the label and as well as where we see my career going.
CMO: One of my favorite songs on this album is "Stones." How did this song come about and why did you decide to record it on this album?
TRACY: "Stones" - that's the kind of song that I really in my heart- came to Nashville to record. I had a lot of success with things like that deal with life scenarios like "If my world had a front porch" and "Time Marches On" .. I put "Stones" in that same category. That to me, is what country is about. That's a hard core country song. I loved it because of the life message in it. I thought it was a great song just about life. Very emotional, very powerful. James really outdid himself in the track. Keep your fingers crossed, I'd like to see this as a single.
Partial Tracy Lawrence Interview
By Janelle Landauer
CMO: What do you like about touring? What do you dislike?
I love being out on the road and I love making music. Now that I have children, it's a little bit difficult to be away from my kids. Probably the hardest part. Man, they're young enough now where they still get to travel with me quite a bit. Depending on where we are going and the whole situation, but I think that's the hardest part is just being away from the kids.
CMO: What kind of songs do you look for when you go in the studio to record albums?
TRACY: I look for things that I have some sort of personal connection to. I look for things that I think are going to be commercially viable and have the same power that have a slow burn factor as far as the time of repetition of listening that you can burn out on them. I look for things that have some sort of life meaning to them. I'm partial to things that move me.
CMO: How would you describe the whole process of recording your new album, and what is a typical day in the studio like?
TRACY: I think recording albums is really one of the most exciting times because you really get to focus down on making the record. That's the difference between playing live on the road and recording. You get such instant gratification live from the crowd and when you are recording a record you are making something that is going to be around for a long time. So, that's a big motivating factor that I think is really cool about it. You're making a product that is going to stay around for a long time. The actual recording process: I've been in the studio so long. It's exciting. I kind of focus into the task at hand. It's not a party atmosphere to me. We really don't have very many people in the studio. It's pretty isolated. We go in and take care of trackings. We usually track first and then come back and do vocals secondary. Then background vocals and over-dubs and things are done in stages. Getting all the things put in place before the next process starts. It's pretty cool to watch the process of all through the multi-stages that it goes through to the finished product.
CMO: What is your favorite song on this album and why?
TRACY: My personal favorite is a song called "Bobby Darwin's Daughter" I like it because it kind of deals with losing faith and finding faith again. I think that's something everybody has to deal with from time to time in life. As life kind of twists you around, you go through things emotionally with your family. Losing people in your life. Whether it's a death or a relationship break up. So I think it is something we all kind of struggle with from time to time and I thought this song addressed it very well.
CMO: What is your favorite song that you've recorded of all time?
TRACY: Overall, I have to say "Time Marches On." It was one of those things I thought the life message was great. It said a lot in three minutes. It was one of those rare things you find that I pretty much knew the first time I heard it that it was really going to be a big record.
CMO: If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?
I would love to do a record with George Strait. He was the primary influence in my life when I was very young that really motivated me to want to get into this business.
To really like this music. What you approach in a song. I had really been a fan for a long time. I had the opportunity to tour with him. I just haven't had the opportunity yet to work with him on a record.
A NOTE FROM TRACY TO THE FANS:
The biggest thing I would like to say to my fans is to thank them so much for being so loyal through all these years. I've seen a lot of ups and downs of the business. I have the best fans in the entire industry. I mean, I have some really devoted fan members out there. They follow me from show to show. I've developed a lot of close relationships with a lot of them through the years. I really try to be as accessible to them as I possibly can. I take time for them here during fan fair and do stuff for them just with my fan club. I really just want to be really appreciative and thankful. They've been through a lot with me.
A NOTE TO TRACY: Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to participate in the interview! We appreciate your support!
