Charles Esten discusses how his experience as a star on the hit TV show "Nashville" influenced the creation of his first album. While every artist's path is unique, Esten's journey stands out in the world of country music and beyond.
"Isn't it true? It has been a very long journey," the musician playfully remarks during a conversation with Taste of Country. They are discussing his latest album titled Love Ain't Pretty, which is scheduled to be released on Friday, January 26th. This album comes more than thirty years after Esten first started his career.
Starting in 1988 with his initial appearance on a game show called Sale of the Century, where he managed to secure over $32,000 worth of prizes, Charles Esten has ventured into various forms of entertainment. One of his notable accomplishments was his portrayal of the main character Deacon Claybourne on the popular country-themed TV series Nashville. Additionally, he holds a Guinness World Record for releasing 54 singles in just as many weeks. Esten has dedicated a significant amount of time and effort, amounting to approximately 10,000 hours, which is equivalent to around 30 repetitions.
Releasing a debut album later in life, like at the age of 58 as in Esten's case, certainly has its drawbacks. Esten understands that Love Ain't Pretty might not have the same level of impact on radio as it would if he were younger. However, he recognizes the unique advantage of having a backstory and identity that no one else could possibly possess. After all, who else can claim to have a character like Deacon Claybourne ingrained into their own musical identity? And who else has experienced the fictional rise to country music stardom, only to achieve it once again in their real life off-screen?
According to Esten, he gained more knowledge from Deacon's fans than he did from Deacon himself. Throughout the show, viewers reached out to Esten to express how much solace they found in the character of Deacon, who faced numerous challenges and remained strong.
The individual explains that people, whether it be due to their difficult personal experiences or their parents' challenging lives, feel the need to share with him the therapeutic nature of going through their struggles. This realization has influenced his own music, as he now understands the importance of creating meaningful and relatable songs that have the intention to assist and bring solace to others.
Esten frequently refers to the term "through line" when discussing Love Ain't Pretty, and there's a valid reason for it: he dedicated considerable effort to ensure that the project is a cohesive artistic expression that truly represents him from beginning to end. This began by placing emotional depth and substance as a top priority, influenced by Deacon and his fans' teachings. Additionally, it involved co-writing all 13 tracks on the album and blending a solid foundation of authentic country with his lighthearted description of embracing a "full Springsteen" rock 'n' roll influence.
Esten acknowledges producer Marshall Altman and the talented musicians recruited by Altman for their ability to effectively focus on Esten's artistic vision. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in this process. Just before the initial lockdowns were implemented, Esten began working on an album, but unfortunately, it had to be put aside. However, once the restrictions were lifted, Esten was eager to resume work and had a clearer understanding of his desired direction for his debut album.
When asked about the purpose behind her mission, the singer expresses that COVID has served as a reminder of the challenging and sometimes harsh nature of life. However, despite its difficulties, life can also be incredibly beautiful. The singer believes that love is intricately connected to this concept. The pain experienced from losing a relationship or a loved one is a result of the deep love that was shared. This is why the loss hurts so deeply, but it is also what makes love so incredibly beautiful.
The album gained more popularity as it featured songs like "Down the Road" and "A Little Right Now," which Esten believes added depth to the album's concept. Though he had a general idea of the emotions he wanted 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 also the final addition to the list of songs.
After completing the song, before leaving the room, Esten recalls saying, "This will be the title and the first song of the album." He wrote this song alongside Altman and songwriter Jimmy Yeary, and it represented the theme of the entire album – that love may not always be pretty, but it is still beautiful.
After he finished writing the words, he was certain that he had conveyed the message effectively. This self-assuredness, gained from years of dedication and effort, is another significant aspect that makes Esten's journey towards his first album so precious.
There is something else I want to mention about waiting for a long time. During my college years, I took up a job in construction as a carpenter's assistant. As part of my responsibilities, I had my own toolbox which I was extremely proud of. It was filled with tools such as a hammer, screwdrivers, and a drill, all of which were in pristine condition and appeared brand new to me.
"And when I arrived, I saw a group of carpenters with worn-out and battered tools, and I couldn't help but feel envious," he adds with a laugh. "In contrast, my own tools looked brand new and unused. They exclaimed, 'This guy has never even held a hammer before.' The advantage of being my age now is that I can look at my toolbox and see that it's no longer as new. I've swung that hammer countless times, if you know what I mean."
Here are 20 country artists who achieved great success with their debut album. The credit for this gallery goes to Billy Dukes
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