EDDIE 9V – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT & COOL CONVERSATION
Photo by Alysse Gafkjen
By Ralph Beauchamp
Atlanta-bred blues rocker Eddie 9V is a little different. His music is rooted in vintage blues but it goes way beyond that. Eddie 9V annexes glorious chunks of Southern soul, gritty rock, funk and R&B to add invigorating flavors to his music. His music bypasses flash in order to accentuate feel, emotion and vibrant intonations, Eddie 9V allows his songs to breathe with a subtle flair allowing his listeners to fully partake in his warm guitar tones and emotive vocals.
Eddie 9V will be dropping a new album entitled Down Here via Easy Eye Sound. What makes this record special is the fact that it was produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. His recent single “Blowin’ Up” just got released. The album was recorded at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Studios in Nashville. Due to a near perfect collaboration, Dan was able to highlight all the raw fearlessness found deep inside of Eddie‘s songs.
A defining characteristic of Eddie 9V‘s work is his commitment to be real and totally honest. His music feels organically authentic. The energy he displays with the band on Down Here makes the record pop. By recording live, Dan Auerbach was able to capture all the subtle nuances that makes Eddie‘s music stand out. Hammond organ and tasteful slide guitar often complements Eddie‘s blues foundation. The album’s overall vibe is one of rich textures and superb songwriting.
Eddie 9V was kind enough to sit with AMP while on tour with The Black Keys for this cool conversation.
AMP: Your music blends blues, Southern rock and R&B in a wonderful gumbo. How would you describe the essence of the Eddie 9V sound and how it has evolved over time?
EDDIE: It has definitely evolved. All you have to do is look at my first album cover and you can see I’m a completely different person. This project started out as a straight blues band trying to make a little money on the side. With representation and management, we slowly started to find our sound and a dedicated fanbase. As to my writing, I write how I feel in the moment. It encompasses everything from pedal steel, jam inflections, folky vibes and my heroes like Otis Rush and Al Green.
AMP: When writing a song, does the guitar riff or the lyric come first?
EDDIE: Ninety percent 0f the time it’s the riff. I normally find a sweet groove and then work on the lyrics.
AMP: Your guitar playing has an urgent raw quality that’s easily recognizable. Who were some of the influences that shaped that sound?
EDDIE: From back in the day, Mike Bloomfield. He is one of my favorite guitar players. Also, a local guy named Sean Costello who isn’t with us any longer. He was amazing. He basically got me into artists like Freddie King and those older blues legends.
AMP: Working with Dan Auerbach in the studio must have been a unique experience. What did he bring out in your performance that surprised you?
EDDIE: It was awesome writing with Dan. I never did co-writing sessions, so it was very interesting especially with three people in the room. Kind of a Nashville way of doing things. It was like playing ping pong because we were all bouncing ideas off the walls. Dan was fantastic. His experience easily helped me polish up my songwriting,
In the studio, it was so smooth. Dan said in another interview that it “took longer to write than record” which was the truth. The most any song took was three takes. It was nice just being the artist as opposed to having to produce myself.
AMP: Your new single is “Blowin’ Up”. Can you give us a little insight into the track?
EDDIE: That main riff I have on guitar, I had for a while. On the original demo it was called “Dicking Around”. I always loved how it was super-grooved based. You could tell everyone in the studio was up for this one. I really dug the end result.
AMP: You’ve said authenticity is important in your music. How do you balance honoring classic blues and Southern rock while creating something that feels fresh and modern?
EDDIE: My formula is simple. I listen to all this vintage blues and I try to absorb that aura in my sound. I always worry that I’m copying the music too hard but in the end, I realize that I’ve put my own spin on everything. In essence, that hybrid sound becomes my own. So, I believe that that fusion creates something both familiar and contemporary at the same time.
AMP: How much of what listeners hear on your upcoming album, Down Here, comes from live takes versus careful overdubs?
EDDIE: Basically, all the music was recorded live. To be honest, there were some vocal overdubs just to give some tracks some aural strength. Outside of that, everything was live, even the solos.
AMP: Looking back on your sessions with Dan Auerbach, what’s the biggest lesson you took away that still influences how you make music today?
EDDIE: It’s kind of lame and cliche but “don’t give up.” I’ve done that in the past. If a song isn’t grabbing you at that moment, it doesn’t mean just to write it off. You should keep digging into it. As an example, we weren’t finding the way on the title track. Renown session player, Tom Bukovac said “let’s dive into the frustration, not quit.” That is what made the song thrive. If everything went too easy, the song would probably lack emotion.
AMP: If someone never heard of Eddie 9V before could only listen to only one song, which one would you choose and what does it say about where you are as an artist right now?
EDDIE: I guess I would have to pick “Halo”. It’s one of my favorites to play live. It showcases all of my influences in one song. It’s got pop, soul, R&B and cool horns. I really feel it’s one of my best written songs. But I feel the same way about all the tracks on my new record.
AMP: What’s next for Eddie 9V?
EDDIE: My next goal is to get time off! I just got a house two months ago and I’ve haven’t slept in it yet. But I don’t think I’ll be getting there anytime soon. After the record drops, we have a world tour planned. Then there is the next album. It’s all about just making a living doing something you love to do. Music is the best thing in the world and it’s humbling that I am able to make it my career.
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