Coles Whalen ‘Comes back’ for more

After Coles Whalen made her second album, she signed with a new indie label, turned in an album, went on tour, and came back to learn the new label had signed a star they couldn’t afford, gone bankrupt, and were refusing to print more copies of her album.

She had to pay them to get her rights to perform her own music.

But she regrouped.  And after two more records and a tour she booked entirely by herself, she rightfully felt tired. She took some time off the road, dabbled in a few other projects and waited to see if she had another album in her.

It turns out she does. And that record – Come back, Come back – will be released July 23.

What’s your new album about? 

It’s about everything I was feeling around February of this year. This is the first time I’ve ever written, recorded, and released a project in less then six months. I feel very connected to the songs because the emotions are still so present in my life. This hasn’t been the case with previous records – they have taken many months and sometimes years to complete.

Where did the inspiration come from? 

My heart. I know that sounds cheesy but it’s true. I locked myself in my apartment for two weeks and wrote about everything I was feeling. Happiness, sadness, frustration, excitement – all of those emotions are in this record. I also was mad inspired by my good friend and bass player Kim O’Hara. We co-wrote many of the songs on this album.

You self produced this album, how is that different than someone else producing it?

I wanted to see what an album would sound like uninfluenced by someone else’s ears. Just Coles Whalen, straight up. I also brought my live band into the studio for the first time. Eric Garcia, Kim O’Hara, Loren Ellis, Tim Buckman. They are amazing players and they did a great job. I was trying to make an album that sounded just like what a listener would hear at a live show, without a lot of studio tricks. I think we got exactly that!

Did you feel you had to be more critical of each part of the process?

Absolutely. I was a nutball throughout! I got obsessive about small things and started to worry I would never be able to get it right. That’s when I was very thankful for John Stewart, my engineer, and Kim. The two of them were able to listen more objectively, offer helpful constructive advice, and help me realize that the mixes were great and I should stop fussing about them and relax!

Recently, a gay man came out with a country song, “All-American Boy.” The mainstream media and most LGBT media hailed him as a trailblazer [but] some said the song, in which a gay man falls in love with a straight man, played into a predatorial stereotype of gay men. Do you find yourself, as an LGBT artist, worried about how your work might influence equality?

Not usually. I’ve never promoted my sexuality or much of anything about my personal life when releasing music. My songs are musical portraits of my intimate thoughts, not statements about my political beliefs. I do hope my work will influence equality however! I try to play those songs at as many LGBT events as possible!

Back to your record, what’s your favorite song? And yes, you have I have one, and why? 

My favorite song is “Tether.” We got the title of the record Come Back, Come Back from a lyric in this song. I love “Tether” because it’s about sticking with someone through thick and thin. I’m very lucky to have someone in my life to inspire this song!

What’s up with the Denver release party? 

It’s going to be a par-tay! Casselman’s July 19. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Miguel Dakota is opening. He’s extremely good looking and talented – just sayin’. There will be a dance party after the show hosted by DJ John Stewart. Tickets are $10.

Any plans for a tour? 

The national CD Release tour launches July 23, the same date the album goes live to iTunes. Check out dates at coleswhalen.com

Tickets to the show are available at casselmans.com/event/134964