Coming off the relatively recent success as a collaborator on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" film soundtrack, singer-songwriter Gillian Welch just completed work on her fourth album "Soul Journey" produced by David Rawlings. The work incorporates hints of many styles like bluegrass, folk and country with spontaneous solo, duo and band sessions. Welch used many of those first takes that almost always capture the emotional depth of the lyrics, singing and instrumentation (organ, drums, banjo, fiddle, harmonica, bass and guitar) for this work.
Wy this week talked with the Grammy winner about the process in making what she considers to be her most personal and impromptu recording to date.
Welch: I think people grow in different ways to express one's self. This record was all about opening up my head and dumping out the contents. It was less edited, and more extemporaneous and organic. I see it as a health food record mixed with soul food. Perhaps it's because that's all we ate when making the record.
