Dwight Yoakam, music’s biggest fan, sings the praises of his influences on ‘Brighter Days’

As I delve deeper into the captivating tale of Dwight Yoakam, it’s hard not to feel awe-struck by the sheer magnitude of his journey and the unwavering passion that fuels him. Having grown up on the sounds of Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and the Byrds, I can only imagine the thrill he must have felt when he set foot in Los Angeles, chasing the twangy echoes of his dreams amidst the urban cowboy movement.

Looking out from a high-rise office in West Hollywood, I watched as the sky shifted from a bright cyan to deep navy and finally into indigo blue. In the distance, the lights of Century City began to glow, while the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean gradually vanished from view.

For about three hours, Dwight Yoakam sat at a conference table with a glass of iced tea and two smartphones in front of him, his mind abuzz with details. The country performer’s stories about music are rife with the minute observations and historical tidbits absorbed and disseminated by die-hard fans. We were there to discuss Yoakam’s new album, the singer’s first batch of new songs in nine years. In order to get to that subject, however, he needed to tell me about his inspirations. He talked about the Dust Bowl and its reach throughout the Midwest, where we are both from. He described the connections between bluegrass figurehead Bill Monroe and celebrated American songwriter John Prine. He covered classic country artists Jimmy Rodgers, Buck Owens and the Carter Family. Yoakam was particularly animated about one of his favorite bands, the Byrds.

He launched the Spotify app on one of his devices, then typed a query into the search bar. Yoakam reached out towards me and selected “Set You Free This Time,” the third track from The Byrd’s 1965 album “Turn! Turn! Turn!” A verification symbol appeared next to the song’s name, as it had been saved in his Favorites playlist at some stage. To boost the volume, Yoakam covered the phone’s lower section with his free hand.

Yoakam noted that instead of singing one sentence per chord change, Byrd Gene Clark was completing phrases on the next chord. He found it to be quite advanced songwriting. As we listened to the track together, it was like two college students discussing their favorite records in a dorm room setting. Yoakam then stopped the music and sang the first verse of the song to demonstrate how Clark skillfully stresses the word “blind.

He repeated the tap on the play button, and we heard Clark’s voice singing, “I’ve never ventured so far ahead/That I could demand what I desire/And receive it whenever I wanted.

“It’s genius,” he proclaimed. “It’s so self deprecating without being pandering, you know?”

On November 15th, Yoakam is set to unveil his sixteenth studio album titled “Brighter Days.” This album sees the artist seamlessly blending elements of rock ‘n’ roll, country, and bluegrass, a skill he’s been perfecting since emerging from the Los Angeles cowpunk scene in the 1980s. While the musical style may echo the fusion that catapulted Yoakam to fame, the lyrical narrative offers a glimpse into his current life experiences. Known for being a rule-breaker and an independent artist, Yoakam now finds joy in the harmonious blend of family life and collaboration.

The album “Brighter Days” marks a unique set of firsts for the musician, Dwight Yoakam. Notably, he wrote most of the songs himself, an uncommon practice in his lengthy career. This includes the title track, which he co-authored with his 4-year-old son, Dalton, earning him a co-writing credit. Jokingly, Yoakam said, “I handle the publishing on it.” The lyrics of the album are largely influenced by Yoakam’s life as a family man and husband, having married Emily, a photographer, in 2020. Moreover, he teamed up with pop sensation Post Malone for the album’s popular lead single, “I Don’t Know How to Say Goodbye (Bang Bang Boom Boom)”. In the song’s music video, shot along the Sunset Strip, both Yoakam and actors Malin Akerman and Nina Dobrev appear alongside Post Malone.

As I delve into the new album, it’s clear that its title suggests daylight and cheerfulness, but let me clarify, I’m more of a night person, with my creative endeavors usually starting as the sun sets and extending well into the early hours of the morning. Tonight, Dwight Yoakam shared The Byrds with me, emphasizing his admiration for Roger McGuinn as an undervalued songwriter. He went so far as to compare McGuinn’s talents to those of Johnny Mercer, the legendary Tin Pan Alley figure who penned “Moon River” and co-founded Capitol Records in 1942. Interestingly, Yoakam also introduced me to his weekly radio show, Dwight Yoakam and the Bakersfield Beat, which airs on Sirius XM.

In 2018, the satellite radio station manager assigned Dwight Yoakam his very own channel, providing him an opportunity to showcase his passionate fandom – engaging in conversations with and spotlighting his fellow artists and idols, while also sharing his extensive musical insights with his audience.

Chris Hillman, a pioneer of folk-rock and country-rock, who was the original bassist for The Byrds and co-founded the Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons, hosts a program on Yoakam’s channel that delves into the roots and impact of these genres, along with the California country sound. Another series, “Cow Punks to Now Punks,” examines music that significantly influenced the L.A. scene where Yoakam first made his mark.

In his personal talk show titled “Greater Bakersfield,” which he records in a studio adjoining his office in West Hollywood, Yoakam welcomes musicians and cultural influencers to engage in dialogue, attentive listening, and music-sharing sessions. Every episode features the guest’s music being played, as well as songs that hold significance for Yoakam. Typically, he also performs a couple of songs together with the guest. Lately, Michelle Phillips from the Mamas and the Papas, John Doe and Exene Cervenka from the band X, and actor William Shatner have been among his guests.

Yoakam’s album “Brighter Days” was significantly influenced by his “Greater Bakersfield” project. In 2018, Yoakam encountered Malone as a guest on a show. Yoakam found Malone’s Texas background intriguing and was impressed by his passion for music. Yoakam requested that Malone perform the Dylan cover [“Don’t Think Twice”] alone first because he wanted the audience to appreciate Malone’s sincerity. As Malone transitioned into the country music style he now embodies, he and Yoakam maintained a connection and developed a friendship.

In April, the duo took to the stage at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio and performed Dwight Yoakam’s 1987 hit “Little Ways”. Yoakam commented, “I notice others following his lead now.” He also mentioned that Zach Bryan bears a slight resemblance to Post when he’s free from heavy production.

Through the radio show, he also established connections with Jeffrey Steele, Bob DiPiero, and Shane Minor, who were involved in “Brighter Days.” Individually or collectively, they collaborated on songs such as “Wide Open Heart,” “I’ll Pay the Price,” “California Sky,” “I Spell Love” and “Hand Me Down Heart” with Yoakam.

“He’s such a smart, detailed guy,” said Steele, a Nashville-based songwriter who’s had hits with Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes and others. Yoakam contacted Steele after watching him perform at a benefit concert in October 2018, when the long-shuttered Palomino Club in North Hollywood briefly reopened to raise money for the Valley Relics Museum. The pair bonded over their mutual love of the club and the artists that played it, and Yoakam invited Steele to try writing with him. Steele appeared on “Greater Bakersfield” soon after.

As a fellow enthusiast, one aspect that resonates with me about this duo is their shared preference for late-afternoon work sessions. They seem to be the type who don’t stop until I’ve reached my limit, just as Steele describes.

He commented, “Something brilliant often comes from there,” he said, “and Dwight understands this. I appreciate that he remains the same.” During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Yoakam and Steele persisted with their collaboration over Zoom, inviting Steele’s friends DePiero and Minor to participate as well.

As a music enthusiast, I can share that Steele vividly paints the scene of our creative space where we delve into crafting unique tunes. He recalls an instance when Dwight would reference intricate details from an old Byrds song from the ’60s, leaving us puzzled at times with phrases like, “What on earth is he referring to?” Yet, this was just a glimpse into his vast musical knowledge, as he also cited the Kinks, Linda Rondstadt, Roy Orbison, and even early rockabilly music. Notably, much of ’60s-era rock music also found its way into our discussions. Steele points out that our album is woven with numerous strands of influence, many of which only Dwight recognizes due to his role as a musical historian.

In the late 1970s, Dwight Yoakam was drawn to Los Angeles by the appeal of The Byrds, Bakersfield sound, and California country music traditions, as well as the growing urban cowboy trend in Nashville. As Music City shifted towards pop, Yoakam decided to move west. He started playing at Southern California honky tonks in the early ’80s with a versatile band led by Pete Anderson, who was not only the lead guitarist but also Yoakam’s long-term producer.

Dave Alvin, who was a founding member of both the Blasters and the Knitters (which included Doe and Cervenka among others, key figures in L.A.’s cowpunk scene), mentioned that he stumbled upon Dwight Yoakam’s early performance at the Palomino while seeking a drink. Recalling the event, Alvin said, “There were approximately 35 people in the audience, and I instantly thought, ‘Here’s a rising star.’

He helped get Yoakam out of the honky tonks and into L.A. punk clubs such as Madame Wong’s, and the country singer opened for the Knitters and others. A few years later, in 1985, the Blasters hired Yoakam and his band as the opening act for a tour of the South and the East Coast. Alvin and Yoakam were already close friends by the time Yoakam released an expanded version of his first album, “Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.,” on a major label in 1986.

Alvin mentioned that even before he landed his Warner deal, he had a special and lasting quality about him. ‘When we first became friends,’ Alvin explained, ‘he had already chosen the songs for his second album.’ Except for two, his predictions were spot-on. He was incredibly intelligent and highly dedicated to achieving what he eventually did.

Since then, Yoakam has put out 29 studio, live, cover, and compilation albums. He’s garnered two Grammy awards, one Academy of Country Music award, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. While a large portion of Yoakam’s acclaimed work revolves around traditional country topics like struggle, sorrow, solitude, and wandering, his song “Brighter Days” exudes significant joy. Yoakam himself described it as something that emerged from the happiness in his life and good fortune.

Speaking about his exceptionally joyful moments during the pandemic, such as getting married and becoming a father, Yoakam’s voice choked up with emotion. He expressed gratitude for having them both during those times, saying, “I was incredibly lucky to have them in my life when all that was happening.” The album, he explained, is a reflection of these experiences.

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2024-11-14 14:32