Gavin DeGraw Talks New Album, Billy Joel & His Future
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
WABASH – On his latest tour, Gavin DeGraw is highlighting his newest album, “Make a Move.” The album features songs like “Best I Ever Had,” “Make a Move” and “Who’s Gonna Save Us.” He will perform at the Honeywell Center in Wabash Monday at 7:30 p.m., with featured guests Parachute and Rozzi Crane. Tickets are $35, $47 and $75 and can be purchased online at www.honeywellcenter.org Between shows in Toronto, Ontario, and Buffalo, N.Y., this week, DeGraw took a few minutes to answer some questions via email. 1. You're co-headlining a 2014 North American summer tour with Matt Nathanson, with select dates featuring Andrew McMahon and Mary Lambert. What is it about these other artists that you wanted to tour with them and that compliments your work? Matt and I have done shows together in the past. He is a great performer and our audiences will enjoy each other. We feel like it will be a good blend of personalities. 2. Your fourth studio album is "Make A Move." How was making this album different from ones you've done in the past? What did you want to accomplish with this album? Where did the inspiration for this album come from? This whole album was a group of co-writes. The sweeter album was just a couple co-writes and it went so well with that album I decided to do the “Make a Move” album with all co-writes. The main thing I wanted to accomplish was an album that sounded unpredictable from song to song, because that not only keeps the album interesting as also crosses over well to the live show. 3. This summer you're also scheduled to open a number of dates for Billy Joel. Is he an idol of yours, and why? Do you think you can learn from him, and if so, what and how? Is he an idol of mine? When I saw him perform when I was 15, I literally made my decision that day to be a musician that day to do this for a living. The opportunity to tour with him is a lifelong dream come true. He is the real deal. 4. New artists are always coming up, the music industry has changed with the advent of downloads and the Internet, etc. How do you see yourself continue to make music in the future with the constant changes and challenges? Do you think you will ever need to “experiment” in other music genres to keep going or will you be content to keep making the music you have? The evolution of technology in music and marketing is not a NEW thing that has always existed. It’s only glorified now cause that’s the generation we are in now. It has always been an evolution and will continue to be. My job as an artist isn’t to be consumed by that reality. I get to do my hobby for a living, and because of that I can’t think of a luckier position to be in. And I feel lucky that I am able to do so. However it makes its way into people’s headphones or cars I just make music and I am content with that. 5. Twenty-five years after an artist's first release, they are eligible to be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. At some point if you are inducted into the Hall, what do you hope they say about you and your music? Ha that’s a wild thought. I guess I would hope they say my music brought people together and gave them something to relate to.
