Charles Esten discusses how his experience as a star on the TV show "Nashville" influenced the creation of his first album. While every artist has a unique path, Esten's journey in the country music industry stands out.
"Can you believe it? It has been quite a journey," the singer playfully remarks during a discussion with Taste of Country, referring to his new album Love Ain't Pretty. This album, which is set to be released on Friday, January 26th, comes more than thirty years after the start of Esten's career.
Starting with his initial foray into the entertainment industry in 1988, which involved participating in a game show called Sale of the Century and securing winnings exceeding $32,000 in value, Charles Esten has continuously built his career. Notably, he played the lead character, Deacon Claybourne, in the immensely popular country-themed television series Nashville. Additionally, Esten achieved a remarkable feat by releasing 54 singles within 54 weeks, earning him a Guinness World Record. Through his dedication and hard work, Esten has accumulated approximately 10,000 hours of experience, which is equivalent to the time required to master a
There are certainly drawbacks to releasing a first album at a later stage in life, as is the case for Esten who is 58 years old. He understands that Love Ain't Pretty may not have the same level of success on the radio compared to younger artists. However, he also recognizes the unique advantage he has in having a backstory and persona like Deacon Claybourne integrated into his own musical identity. No one else can claim the same benefit of having fictional country music stardom and then achieving it again in their real life outside of the screen.
Esten explains that while he gained valuable knowledge from playing the character Deacon, he actually learned even more from the fans of the show who reached out to him. Throughout the series, these viewers expressed how much solace they found in the portrayal of Deacon, a character who faced many challenges and difficulties but remained strong and persevered.
The person mentioned in the text shares that many people, whether due to their difficult personal experiences or the challenges their parents faced, have expressed to him the therapeutic nature of going through life's struggles alongside someone else. This realization has had a profound impact on his own music, as he now understands the importance of creating meaningful and connected songs with the intention of offering assistance and healing to others.
Esten frequently refers to the term "through line" when discussing Love Ain't Pretty, and with good reason: he put in a lot of effort to ensure that the project is a unified artistic expression that truly represents him from beginning to end. This process began by placing emphasis on the emotionally rich and substantial aspects, inspired by Deacon and his fans' teachings. It also involved collaborating with others to write all 13 tracks on the project and blending a foundation of authentic country music with his playful inclination towards rock 'n' roll, which he humorously describes as going "full Springsteen."
Esten acknowledges producer Marshall Altman and the talented musicians handpicked by Altman for their exceptional ability to bring his creative vision to life. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in shaping his project. Just before the initial lockdowns were implemented, Esten had begun working on an album, but it was put on hold. As soon as the restrictions were lifted, Esten was eager to resume his work and had a stronger sense of purpose for his debut album than ever before.
When asked about the message behind his work, the singer explains that COVID has emphasized the universal truth that life can be challenging and cruel, but also incredibly beautiful. He believes that love is intricately connected to this concept, as the pain we experience from losing relationships or people is a direct result of our deep affection for them. This is why these losses can be so painful, yet also hold a profound sense of beauty.
The momentum of Esten's album increased as popular songs like "Down the Road" and "A Little Right Now" were released. These songs were particularly significant as they helped to develop and clarify the overall theme of the album. However, even though Esten had a general idea of the sentiment he wanted to convey, he struggled to find the perfect words to capture the essence of Love Ain't Pretty. It was only when he wrote the title song, which was added as the final track, that he finally found the exact words he was searching for.
After completing the song, before leaving the room, Esten recalls saying, "This will be the title of the album and the first song." He wrote this song with Altman and songwriter Jimmy Yeary, and it perfectly encapsulated the theme of the album – that love may not always be pleasant, but it is still a beautiful experience.
Upon completing the writing, he immediately realized that he had successfully conveyed the intended message. The fact that Esten's unwavering certainty comes from years of dedication to his craft adds further significance to his journey towards releasing his first album.
There is another aspect of waiting for a long time that I would like to mention. During my college years, I took up a job in construction where I worked as a helper to a carpenter. As part of my work, I acquired a toolbox that I was extremely proud of. It contained various tools such as a hammer, screwdrivers, and a drill, all of which were in pristine condition, giving me a sense of pride.
"I arrived at the place and noticed a group of carpenters with worn-out and heavily used tools, and I couldn't help but feel envious," he adds with a laugh. "In contrast, my tools looked perfectly new and unused. They jokingly exclaimed, 'This guy has never even held a hammer before.' The wonderful thing about being my age now is that when I look at my toolbox, it no longer appears brand new. I've swung that hammer countless times, if you know what I mean."
Here are 20 country artists who achieved their highest level of success with their debut albums. Gallery credited to Billy Dukes.
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