I was online one day and saw an ad on Craigslist for a producer and musician who had just moved here from London and was looking for local talent to work with. I answered the ad and we went back and forth on email a bit. It turned out that it was Tim Bradshaw. He was in David Gray's band and also had been in the band Dogs Eye View. He was on a break between the recording of Gray's album and their next tour and was looking for a project.
I have to admit, I was definitely intimidated by the fact that here was a guy who had been involved in making "real" records. All I had done was a home-made album with my old band and some acoustic demos. But the more we spoke and got to know each other it quickly became clear that it just felt right, for both of us, I think. We had similar ideas as to how we liked to work and, if I may say, we're both very easy to work with.
The title of your debut album is Schoolbus Window Paper Heart, where does that come from?
It’s a line from the opening track on the record "White Feather". That song, which I think is pretty much one of the only very clear songs on the album, was written in the few days after 9/11 and is about the events of that day. Basically, from the perspective of someone like myself… someone who was not directly affected — in that I didn't know anyone involved — but who was still deeply affected nonetheless.
So when I was thinking about a title for the record, it jumped out at me. I liked it for the reasons I mentioned, but also for another reason. And in fact, I don't think I ever really came out and told anyone this reason, maybe one or two friends. But, I also thought it appropriate because, in many ways, that is kind of the perspective I have. I feel like, for better or worse, that's how I view the world. Kind of naively, idealistically, and maybe still like a child.
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1 - Connie Phillips
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