Charles Esten discusses how his rise to fame on the TV show "Nashville" influenced the creation of his first album. While every artist has a unique journey, Esten's path to releasing his debut album is particularly distinctive within the country music industry and beyond.
"Isn't it true? It has been quite a journey," the vocalist playfully remarks during an interview with Taste of Country, discussing his latest album Love Ain't Pretty. This album, set to be released on Friday, January 26th, comes more than thirty years after Esten first started his career.
Starting from his initial appearance on a game show called "Sale of the Century" in 1988, where he managed to win over $32,000 worth of prizes, to his successful portrayal of the main character Deacon Claybourne on the popular country-themed TV series Nashville, and even to his impressive accomplishment of releasing 54 singles in 54 weeks, which earned him a Guinness World Record, Esten has dedicated a significant amount of time and effort, totaling around 10,000 hours, which is equivalent to approximately 30 times over.
Certainly, there are certain drawbacks to releasing a first album at a later stage in life, as in the case of Esten who is 58 years old. For instance, he doesn't have high expectations for Love Ain't Pretty to receive significant airplay on radio. However, he also recognizes the significance of having a unique backstory and identity that no one else could possibly possess. Not many individuals have the advantage of incorporating a character like Deacon Claybourne into their own musical persona. Moreover, not many people have experienced the benefit of achieving country music stardom fictitiously and then doing it again in their real life outside of the screen.
Esten reveals that while he gained knowledge from playing the character Deacon, he gained even more from interacting with the fans of the show. Throughout the series, viewers reached out to Esten to express how much solace they found in the complex and enduring character of Deacon, who faced various challenges and hardships.
The speaker explains that some people, who have experienced difficult lives themselves or grew up in challenging circumstances due to their parents' struggles, have expressed to him that there is something therapeutic about accompanying someone on their personal journey. As a result, he began to realize the importance of infusing his own music with meaning, connection, and a purpose to support and bring healing to others.
Esten frequently uses the term "through line" when discussing Love Ain't Pretty, and there's a valid reason for it: He put in a lot of effort to make the project a unified artistic expression that truly represents his identity from beginning to end. This process began by giving priority to the emotional substance and core elements, which he learned from Deacon and his fans. Additionally, he collaborated with others to write all 13 songs on the project, combining a foundation of authentic country music with his playful inclination towards rock & roll, which he humorously refers to as going "full Springsteen."
Esten gives credit to producer Marshall Altman and the musicians that Altman brought in to play on the recordings for their skill in accurately capturing Esten's artistic vision. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in shaping this vision. Just before the initial lockdown measures were put in place, Esten had begun working on an album, but had to put it on hold. When restrictions were lifted, Esten was eager to resume work and had a clearer sense of the direction he wanted his debut album to take.
When asked about the purpose behind their mission, the singer expresses that COVID has strengthened the belief that life can be challenging and harsh, but it also holds immense beauty. They believe that the most intense emotions, particularly love, are intertwined with this concept. The pain one feels after losing a relationship or a loved one is a testament to the depth of their love, which is why it hurts so deeply. However, this intensity of emotion is also what makes love incredibly beautiful.
The momentum of the album increased as more songs like "Down the Road" and "A Little Right Now" were added, according to Esten. He believes that these songs helped to develop the overall theme of the album. However, even though he had an idea of what he wanted the album to convey, he couldn't find the precise words to capture the essence of Love Ain't Pretty until he wrote the title track, which was the final addition to the list of songs.
After completing the song, just before leaving the room, Esten recalls saying, "This will be the title and the first song of the album." He wrote this song with Altman and songwriter Jimmy Yeary, and it encapsulated the overall theme of the album: love may not always be pretty, but it is undeniably beautiful.
Once he had finished writing those words, he immediately realized that he had captured the essence of the message perfectly. This unwavering self-assurance, which has been developed through years of dedication and effort, is another significant factor that makes Esten's unconventional journey towards his first album so meaningful.
There's something else I want to mention about waiting for a long time. During my time in college, I took up a job in construction. Specifically, I worked as a helper for a carpenter. As part of my job, I acquired a toolbox that I was incredibly proud of. It contained various tools such as a hammer, screwdrivers, and a drill, all of which looked brand new and shiny. This made me feel even more proud of my toolbox.
When I arrived at the location, I noticed a group of carpenters with worn-out tools. Despite their tools being old and damaged, I couldn't help but feel envious. In contrast, my own tools appeared brand new and unused. The carpenters exclaimed, "This guy has never even held a hammer before." However, one of the advantages of being as old as I am now is that when I look at my toolbox, it no longer looks new. I have used that hammer countless times, if you catch my drift.
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