Charles Esten shares how his experience in the popular TV show "Nashville" influenced the creation of his first album. While every artist has their own unique path, Esten's journey in the country music industry stands out.
"Isn't it true? It has been a lengthy journey," the singer playfully remarks in an interview with Taste of Country, discussing his latest album Love Ain't Pretty. After more than thirty years since the start of Esten's career, the album is set to be released on Friday, January 26th.
Starting in 1988 with his initial appearance on a game show called Sale of the Century, where he triumphed and received over $32,000 worth of prizes, Charles Esten has had a remarkable career. He gained recognition for portraying the main character Deacon Claybourne on the popular country-themed television series Nashville. Additionally, he achieved a Guinness World Record by releasing 54 singles in 54 consecutive weeks. Esten has dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to his craft, accumulating around 10,000 hours of experience, which is equivalent to approximately 30 times the average.
There are certainly some 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 significance of having a unique backstory and personal identity that no one else can replicate. For instance, he has the advantage of incorporating his character, Deacon Claybourne, into his own musical identity. Additionally, he has experienced the fictional rise to country music stardom and now has the opportunity to pursue it in his real-life career.
Esten acknowledges that while he learned valuable lessons from portraying the character of Deacon, he gained even more insight from interacting with the show's fans. Throughout the show's run, viewers reached out to Esten to express how much solace they found in the complex and enduring character of Deacon, who led a challenging and tumultuous life.
The speaker shares that many people, who have faced difficult lives themselves or have had parents with challenging lives, have expressed to him the cathartic experience of going through a journey with someone. This realization has influenced the speaker's own music, making him understand the importance of creating music that holds meaning, fosters connections, and aims to provide assistance and healing.
Esten frequently refers to the term "through line" when discussing Love Ain't Pretty, and there's a valid reason for that: he put in a lot of effort to ensure that the project is a unified artistic statement that truly represents his identity. This process began by giving utmost importance to the emotional depth and substance, just as Deacon and his fans had taught him. Additionally, Esten co-wrote all 13 tracks on the project and combined a solid base of authentic country music with his playful inclination towards rock 'n' roll, which he humorously describes as embracing the spirit of "full Springsteen."
Esten acknowledges producer Marshall Altman and the talented musicians he brought in to work on the recordings, for skillfully refining Esten's artistic vision. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in shaping this vision. Just before the initial lockdowns were imposed, Esten had begun working on an album, but had to put it on hold. As soon as the restrictions were lifted, Esten eagerly resumed his work, with a stronger and more defined idea of what he wanted his first album to represent.
When asked about the purpose of their mission, the singer expresses that COVID has served as a reminder that life can be challenging and harsh, but it also has its moments of beauty. They believe that love is intimately connected to the hardships we face in life. Whether it's the loss of a romantic relationship or the passing of someone dear to us, the pain we feel is a result of the love we had for them. Despite the pain, the singer recognizes that love also brings immense beauty and joy into our lives.
The album gained popularity as more songs like "Down the Road" and "A Little Right Now" were released. Esten believes these songs helped to develop the album's theme. However, even though he had an idea of the overall sentiment he wanted to convey, he didn't have the precise words to capture it until he wrote the title song. Interestingly, this song was also the final addition to the tracklist.
After completing the song, before leaving the room, Esten recalls saying, "This will be the title and the first track of the album." He wrote the song alongside Altman and songwriter Jimmy Yeary, and it encapsulated the theme of the album, which is that love may not always be pretty, but it is still beautiful.
Once he had finished writing the words, he was aware that he had successfully conveyed the intended message. This unwavering self-assurance, developed through years of dedication and effort, is an additional factor that adds significance to Esten's unique journey towards releasing his first album.
There is another aspect I want to mention about waiting for a long time. During my college days, I took up a job in the construction field as a carpenter's assistant. As a part of my work, I acquired a toolbox that I was extremely proud of. It contained a hammer, screwdrivers, a drill, and various other tools, all of which appeared to be in pristine condition, making me feel even more proud.
When he arrived at the location, he noticed a group of carpenters with worn-out and aged tools. He found himself feeling envious of their tools, as his own appeared immaculately new and unused. The carpenters jokingly remarked that he seemed inexperienced with a hammer. However, now that he is older, he takes pride in the fact that his toolbox no longer looks brand new. He has used that hammer countless times throughout the years, and it holds a significant meaning to him.
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