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Here’s our 6th song of the summer! A beautiful folksy ballad coming your way from our founder, Jordan Woods-Robinson, with lyrics by long-time collaborator, Cynthia Woods. Check out their story below.
SOS: What were your main influences for writing this song?
JWR: All of my early songs were written as a Mother/Song team. I would write music on my Mom’s guitar, an Ovation, (that eventually snapped at the neck because I didn’t know to change the strings) and she would write poetry and lyrics. Through the years, we’ve continued to collaborate but, when she came to me with these lyrics, I got really excited. They’re written about our farm in the hills of Tennessee that has served as an animal rescue refuge for the past 30 years. The farm has seen and cared for countless animals, from household pets to exotic animals, and my Mom is the heart and soul of the place.
SOS: Has this idea been in your head for a while or did you think it up especially for SOS?
JWR: When she gave me the lyrics, she said that she was inspired by Sting’s “Fields of Gold.” I started out writing with that in mind but it quickly took on a life of its own, as these things do. I wanted it to have a nice folk feel to it and I wanted the song to feel like a hug, a circle of protection, a force field. With my Mom’s lyrics in place, I sat down and had this written in a couple of hours.
SOS: Given that this is a collaboration, were there any surprises with the final production from how you envisioned it?
JWR: I told the collaborators about the “Fields of Gold” reference and I love where they took it. I would certainly put them on the same mixtape.
SOS: Describe your experience of making music with people who are not even in the same room as you?
JWR: This was my first time working with Ben Levy as a mixer and I think he did a fantastic job. He has a great ear and the very first mix he shared with me was nearly ready. He is a great storyteller with his mix and that allowed me to just step in and help sculpt a couple of moments.
SOS: Do you have a website where our audience may go to hear more of your music?
JWR: The majority of the songs I’ve written recently are on SongsOnSunday.com but I also have a bluegrass album, Red Haired Boy, available on iTunes.
Interview by: Dan Cooper