Belief, we all need it. And when it comes to recovering from something, be it a tragedy or addiction, we really need belief, belief that everything will work out, oftentimes if we just get out of our own way. In this interview, Joe Nichols discusses that power and how it helped him recover and why the song "Believers" and the new record "Old Things New" means so much to him.
Matt Bjorke: As a person who has seen battles with addictions and other times when I needed a “believer” myself, I see the power “Believers” has, particularly the third verse of the song where It just slays me. Is that what drew you to this song?
Joe Nichols: Yeah, I think the ability to make you feel like you can do more; , without preaching at people, almost encouraging people to stand up and fight for what they believe or believe in something bigger than themselves, encouragement instead of waving a finger in front of somebody like that; preaching. I think that approach is much more appealing when you’re trying to spread a message.
This song is telling that message, that the whole world needs believers. A lot of great things we’ve never even heard about are because people believe in stuff that is bigger than they are and it’s just gonna take a little fightin’ for. What drew me to the song is that it does that, it doesn’t say I told you so or preachy about it and it draws you in. (ED note: click here check out the great video Joe and his team produced in Iraq with the troops and their status as believers).
Matt: Right it does that as the verses tell you a story and then blend together to make a more compelling story. It really is not just three things picked from the air…
Joe: (laughs) yeah, it’s not verse a, verse b, verse c, bridge-out. It really lends itself to people and that it could be the same person in the stories but “Believers,” the fact that it can appeal to everyone is a great thing about the song.
Matt: A song on the upcoming album “Old Things New” that I’m really drawn to is the stunning “An Old Friend Of Mine.” As somebody who’s seen family members follow through with the same things the lyric mentions, how does the song tell your story?
Joe: when it comes to addiction, I have certainly fought from my knees and I’ve fought and loss several times. But I think that getting to a place where you find something worth living for and fighting for, something that makes it strong enough to get through the next day, and start believing that there’s something better out there. Those are the things that are key to moving onThe way that song’s real to me, I’ve been that guy, still am that guy ; it’s still a struggle, it’s painful every time. It’s hard every day, some are better than others but it’s never easy. That’s how it’s real to me, I can sing the song as if I wrote it ten minutes ago.
Matt: Speaking of your personal history, some would be surprised to see you record a song like “Cheaper Than A Shrink, “ a song about a guy who uses alcohol to help ‘cure’ his heartache. While you’re not that guy anymore, don’t you think most guys go through these situations?
Joe: Right. Yeah, that’s the thing about this song. I definitely have been that guy. The great thing about being clear-headed and on the backside on coming through recovery is I’ve got a sense of humor that I’ve never had before. I can laugh at things that are funny and poke fun at things that are kind of light. Certainly I wouldn’t condone living like the guy in the song but I have lived like that guy so it’s not like I am not singing from experience. So I guess I just find the humor in things and don’t take things like that too seriously and have a little fun with them.
Matt: Absolutely, it probably has given you a new outlook on life too, that maybe you didn’t have before, I know it has for my own family who has gone through that process…
Joe. Sure does, and it gets better every day.
Matt: Shouldn’t you be able to use your own experiences or those of people you know to ‘relate’ to a drinkin’ song, even if you aren’t the guy in the song anymore?
Joe: Absolutely.
Matt: We’ve talked about how your road to recovery had a lot of believers in you, what would you like to say to somebody who may be struggling through their own personal addiction crisis? Is it getting to a meeting? Is it admitting there is an actual problem? A combination of both?
Joe: Well, there are probably several things I could say to people struggling with an addiction. The fist thing I’d say is that I hope you find the bottom sonner rather than later. I think that when you reach the bottom, you look up and start reaching out and up for help. And until they find that perverbial bottom, it’s gonna keep getting worse. The person has to make the decision to not wanna live like that and if anybody is living like that I hope they find that bottom sooner the later, because addiction is hard on more than just the addict but those around them and those that love them. The sooner it gets as bad is it’s gonna get, the better.
Matt: The title track on the record really seems like if it’s everything I’ve come to expect from a Joe Nichols record. Actually, I think it sums your career pretty well, because it talks about making “Old Things New” which you have done with your past albums and your ‘traditionalist’ vocal style. Is that how you saw it when you first heard the song?
Joe: Yeah, I think when we listened to the whole body of work, we thought, first, what song was the anchor or the meat of the album. We had a few options and then thought about what title makes the most sense, where we’ve been where we’re at and I thought “Old Things New” was a great way to say a lot in such a short title. It could be my passion for country music, the passion for doing music is stronger than ever and it’s meaningful for me again, and I want to get better and better at it each day. It also means that the style of music that I do, hopefully we make it new again, fresh and different from what’s on radio. It can go in a lot of different ways and have many different meanings.
Matt: How special was it to have one of the nicest most talented guys in the world, Mr. Vince Gill, sing on that song?
Joe: That was amazing, man. Just that he said yes he would do it was great. He is great at everything he does so for him to come in on this song, it was a good song. Because he loves traditional country music, loves to sing on that kind of stuff, loves to play on that kind of stuff so it was more than an honor, it was a compliment that he thought enough of the song to come in and do it . It was a compliment and an honor.
Matt: Each of your records has had a couple of fun, radio-ready songs that guys could agree with and girls could place themselves at the center of. What song on your new record do you think is that song?
Joe: I Think “Gimme That Girl” is one of those songs, that girls and guys can dig. “Man. Woman” that song is one of my favorites (laughs). It’s country and there’s just something about it that makes me smile.
Matt: Well the title enough is something that draws you in. Man period woman. And I think that “Gimme That Girl” may be something that would help reintroduce you to an audience that might’ve forgotten about you during the period of your recovery.
Joe: Yeah, actually I think the label likes that as the second single and That’s OK with me because it goes over great live and as you said, it is universally liked by many people.
Matt: I’ve actually seen Rhett Akins sing that song in a writer’s night and he mentioned loving people like you cutting his songs so that he can go sit in a tree stand and hunt year-round.
Joe: Is that right? (laughs) We’ll he’s got it all figured out and that’s probably the way to live right there, that’s what I strive for, to one day sit in a tree stand while people are making money for me (laughs)…
Matt: well you never know…
Matt: What songs have meant the most to you and your career as you’re now five albums deep into your career with Universal Records South? What ones do you like to sing all the time?
Joe: I’m always gonna be drawn to stuff where I can sing stuff that imitates or is tribute to my heroes. Songs like “No Time To Cry” from Revelation, “Farewell Party” “If I Could Only Fly” from Real Things. I’m always gonna be drawn to those things as a tribute to guys that taought me to sing but the fun stuff like “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” is still fun every night. I think it’s a good song. I know it’s kind of a ‘ditty’ to some people and the Dixie Chicks slammed it one time in an interview and that may be that it’s silly but it’s still fun to sing every night and people really have fun listening to it so I don’t give a damn. Those songs are fun every night.
Matt: You know, Randy Houser, in response to people asking him ‘why does he do or write songs like “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and he said that’s because not everything needs to be serious or an artistic statement and fun, silly stuff is good to have too, along with stuff that’s considered ‘high art.’
Joe: Yes and that’s the key, to find the balance between stuff like “Tequila” and turn around and do a song like “The Impossible,” a song that’s on the opposite end of the map. You can get credibility on both sides and I don’t know, finding the balance is good I think; between the commercial and the critical praise.
Matt: What would you like to say to the fans who’ve stuck by your side throughout everything you’ve been through?
Joe: I would like to say thank you, first of all. Thanks for sticking around and for wanting to hear more. I’d say the tank is full and we’re just getting started from here.
Matt: Do you think that’s what makes country music and country fans unique? Their loyalty to artists?
Joe: I definitely think that fans personal connection to artists is what makes them unique in country music. I think their devotion is a direct result of their personal ownership of an artist or several artists. When a country fans like somebody, they just don’t buy the record but they like the artist. They want to know who they are, what kind of life they lead, they want to know a lot more about the artist than any other genre does. It’s really special because in rock or pop orother genres, you have artists that will put out records and people will buy a song or that piece of work but they won’t have the investment in the artists that country fans do.
Joe Nichols has partnered with the Hopeine, an outreach site dedicated to being a resource for those struggling with addiction, Joe Nichols is working to turn his personal struggle with addiction into a community where people can connect with one another and find a source of strength. The site features a video for his song "An Old Friend Of Mine" and a personal message from Joe.
The first big event for this site is the first live chat opportunity with live Hopeline counselors. The chat is this Thursday, October 15th from 7pm to 9pm EST. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157301895193&index=1
Joe said about the new website: This site exists out of my desire to offer more than a song when talking about my struggle with addiction and recovery. The purpose of OldFriendofmine.com is to be a starting point resource for teens, families, parents, or individuals that are struggling with addiction or know some one who is.
You can support Joe Nichols by purchasing his "Believers" single at iTunes | Amazon.
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