The new album is titled "Love and the Death of Damnation," what does that mean to you personally and musically?
I wanted a title that had elements of the album in it but with
broader strokes. There's some love, some spirituality explored in this
album as well as the idea of heaven and hell.
This is your fifth record, what did you do differently on this record that you haven't done before?
There are a few tracks that I kept feeling and sounding good. I
didn't take them to a darker place, which has taken me awhile as a
songwriter to feel comfortable doing. Musically it's more varied groove
wise than anything I've ever done. There are some
swampy jams, there's even a gospel song
Many of your records are concept albums, is this record?
No, but the very first song on the album I wrote while writing my
last album. It's a bit of a continuation from the last album I guess
you could say, like a bookend. This one's just songs though for the most
part.
Hailing from Southern California, how has your location influenced your music?
Landscape, weather, everything manages to seep their way into songs just like it does your life.
Last fall, you were part of TV history singing
"Come Join the Murder" on the finale of Sons of Anarchy. The song was
written by series creator Kurt Sutter, what was it like singing lyrics
written by someone else that wasn't a cover and
being a part of that important moment?
It was actually co written with Bob Thiele and I as well but the
lyrics were primarily written by Kurt. It was a unique experience as
far as singing somebody else's lyrics. It was a bit harder to feel it
but it was definitely emotional. It took me awhile
to get it, the word play of "Come Join the Murder". He actually wrote
those lyrics without the intent of it being the finale episodes song.
It was for an earlier episode but he loved it so much that he decided
to use it as the finale.
Other songs of yours were also used in SOA, were you a fan of the show when you let the songs in the show?
No, I had actually never watched it until I got a song in it. Then I got hooked and became a diehard!
Many of your other tracks have been used in
other TV/ film related projects like Californication, West of Memphis.
Lone Ranger, and others. There is still a majority of people who have no
idea who you are (blows my mind) but also a majority
of people who discovered you through projects like this. Do you find
this to be effective way of getting your music out there?
Yeah, absolutely. Probably SOA more than any other show just due
to the fact that the way they used music was so in your face. With the
montage scenes, they really made it apart of the story and not just
background fluff. Having so many songs has also
helped guide people to the rest of my catalogue
Last year you toured with Chuck Ragan, did you guys ever consider recording together?
We never actually talked about it but it would be fun! He would sit
in with us every night and sing, he's got a great, powerful voice.
While I am sure you have gotten this before, why
did you opt to go under the moniker 'The White Buffalo' instead of
using your birth name? Did you take the name from the Charles Bronson
film?
Can't sell T-shirts with the name Jake Smith on it! The idea was
that The White Buffalo would be a bit more grand than just a singer
songwriter project. Could be a solo artist, a full band, trio, etc. It
adds a bit of mystique as well.
A majority of your songs are very dark, deep,
and come from intense places. What is it like bringing them to life
night after night on stage and playing them again? Is it a cathartic
experience for you?
I try to feel the lyrics every night but it's not exactly
cathartic. In the performance, I'm trying to be passionate and think
about what I'm saying which definitely gets me to a good place.
Following the release of the record, you will hit the road, what are the essentials that you bring when touring?
Everything you need is in your iPhone nowadays... E mail, notes,
contacts, I can record and lay down song ideas too. That's really all
you need…. And a tooth brush