LANDRETH: Not really, because the task at hand to distribute an album is so complicated. I think everyone was hoping that, Wow, all artists get their own website to sell their own products and everyone lives happily ever after. I do think it's evolving in that direction, and for some people it's happening right away. For example, Emmylou Harris — that's a beautiful way for her to do that. If you have a name already you have a lot more going for you than someone who doesn't. That was another fortunate thing for me.
But we'll see, the jury is still out on that for me as well. We do a certain amount of [online] sales, but I think it's more about people coming out to hear you live, and they're excited at that moment and that's when they want to buy the CD if you have it available. Things are also changing with the mom-and-pop stores — we just lost Raccoon Records here in Lafayette, they'd been here forever; they were the last one to go. They just can't do it anymore, because the chains and MP3s pushed them out of business. So that's the sad part of it. You just hope that all the stuff that's in the air will land in a good way, and overall I have a good feeling about it.
STARPOLISH: Two quick questions: one, I really enjoyed a lot of the acoustic stuff that you've done, such as "Son of a Native Son" and "Jukebox Mama" on the new CD. Have you ever thought about doing an all-acoustic album?
LANDRETH:: Oh yeah, sure. You know, my first official album was an all-acoustic record, the Crazy Cajun Sessions that got repackaged and released as Prodigal Son. Half of that was an actual album I wrote, conceived, recorded, and produced in Houston, Texas back in 1973, and it was all acoustic. So yeah, I've kind of wanted to get back and do that at some point in time. That's always the back of my mind, along with other ideas, such as an instrumental album, or a guest album with friends of mine, who are a lot of fun to work with. Hopefully there is enough time in the day — and the life — to do that.
STARPOLISH: Finally, looking back, is there any general advice that you can offer to maybe a hot local player who's looking to maybe build a career?
LANDRETH: Well, you have to be prepared to hit the ground running. And the main thing is the songwriting; that is the most important part of it all, not only because it's the most you get involved with creatively — you are literally conveying from your heart and soul directly to others — but it's the thing in the long run, if you get other people doing your songs, and you're out there playing them yourself and you develop a catalog to fall back on, that will help fill in the cracks financially.
Article comments
1 - jorge luis
hola