Interview with Curtis Lyn Cook

Interview with Curtis Lyn Cook

by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

Lamitschka:  Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  I’m a throwback to the Outlaw Country of the 70’s. A mixture of Waylon, Merle, Paycheck, and Bocephus.

Lamitschka:  How was the last year for you? What were your highlights?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  2011 was an awesome year, with the long awaited release of my new album. We were able to chart in the top 50 on the Roots Music report by the 2nd month. We’ve been there every since.  32 weeks and counting.

Lamitschka:  What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  The album is titled, „JUST MY LUCK.  It’s a collection of songs that I’ve written over the past 20 or so years, along with a couple of my favorites from my favorite writers, Merle and The legendary Gene Davis from the West Coast.

Lamitschka:  How did you choose the title for the CD?  Is there a story behind the name?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  Whew, that’s tough. I just tried to come up with something catchy, yet that incorporated a title from one of my songs… This music business has been a long road so, the title JUST MY LUCK seemed fitting.

Lamitschka:  Do you write the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding the songs for your CD?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  I wrote 10 of the 12 songs on the album.  Picking songs are a process. I’ve written so many but, narrowing it down wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.  I have a pretty good idea what works for me and what doesn’t.

Lamitschka:  What is the difference between your last CD and your current one?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  This album is just put together much better.  We tried not to overproduce anything. I try to improve in the recording process also.  I don’t do much fluffy up on what I record. I want to be able to go out and create that same sound in our shows. NO pitch corrections or click tracks go into anything I cut. I want it to feel real.

Lamitschka:  What kind of songs do you like to record the most?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  Well, I love singing a ballad but, I think I have the most fun with the hard driving, Honky Tonkin‘ songs.

Lamitschka:  What is your favorite song among all the songs you have recorded and what’s the story behind it?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  Wow, My favorite song??? That’s tough.  I think I would have to say YOU CAN’T HAVE HER…..from this album.  I just love the song.  It’s the last thing I wrote for the record, and it just sticks in my head everytime I hear it.  I hope it does that for everyone else…lol

Lamitschka:  How much creative control do you have over your music?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  I have 100% creative control with my music. Arrangements, recordings, all of it. Maybe that’s why I’m not on a Major Nashville Label today but, I don’t think someone sitting behind a desk, who doesn’t play music but has a business degree should decide what’s best for me and my brand.

Lamitschka:  What do you think about today’s music scene versus its post and where do you see it going in the future?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  I’m not wild about Country Music coming out currently. Some is good but most is just bubble gum Country.  It all pretty much sounds the same, being produced by the same producers..You’ll get that when that happens. I think there’s a market and a place for my brand of music and I firmly believe it will come back around. It has to if we want Country Music to survive. I’ll do my part to keep Steel guitar in Country Music, and that honky tonk sound going.

Lamitschka:  If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  I wouldn’t keep so many folks out of it. Take the politics out of the biz. Just because someone isn’t a known songwriter, for example doesn’t mean that person don’t write great songs. It just means that the chances are slim for anyone who can get them out there to ever hear them.  That’s ashame.  I have people ask me all the time, How can I pitch a song in Nashville to a Recording Artist?  My answer is simple.  I always say, When I figure it out, I’ll let you know! If I had the power to help someone be successful in the biz, I would do everything I could to help them succeed.

Lamitschka:  Are you doing anything to take music beyond its current borders or are you happy where it is?

Curtis Lyn Cook:  I’m never happy with the current state of my career. I keep pushing everyday for more. That’ll never change. Right now, we do alot of social networking to get my music all over the world.  Airplay oversea’s is the very reason we’ve got a charted record right now.

Christian Lamitschka ( Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de )

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