When an artist is an independent act, it’s hard to stand out from the herd of other indie artists but through dedication and hard work, William Clark Green has managed to build out his career an album at a time and now, with Thirty Tigers on board to help distribute Ringling Road, William Clark Green (WCG) is ready to break out of the pack with a uniquely made album. Below is a conversation about all aspects of the creation of the record, starting with its very unique album packaging.
Roughstock: The first thing I noticed with Rose Queen and your new record Ringling Road is the unique packing…
William Clark Green: It’s something we put a lot of money and time into. It’s important to me for sure. The Dodds at Backstage Design, Sarah and Shauna, they’re great. They’re so talented. Thy worked their asses off. I feel they’re the best of the best. I try to follow the model of the Drive By Truckers, how they had the same artist do the painting on each record, I thought that was cool. Instead of putting just my name and face on it.
RoughStock: Nobody really does work like this anymore…
WCG: Reckless Kelly does. They won a Grammy with the Dodds a couple years ago. I budget for it and it’s very important for me because records last for ever. I’m very proud of it especially because, For this record, I think it managed to follow the story of the song “Ringling Road.” Whereas Rose Queen, they did a great job with that but this time, they really got creative and I think it expands the listening of the record.
RoughStock: Yeah, and because it is so unique and different, it’s more like a souvenir…
WCG: That’s right, it’s hard to think of it that way but they’re becoming something you can display, something to get signed. You can’t sign air, I guess you can sign an iPhone and I have but it’s a souvenir. It’s art and the Dodds did a fantastic job with the package. We’re very proud of it. The Vinyl version will be a bit different.
RoughStock: You’re working with Thirty Tigers on this project, did you work with them before?
WCG: No, we were indie before but working with them is like working independently, they just open more doors but still gives us a lot of freedom. It’s been great working with them for this project.
RoughStock: When listening to “Sympathy,” I thought it could be a radio hit nationwide, not only because it’s a perfect fit but it’s also co-written with Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi, who has a Top 10 songwriting credit right now with Tyler Farr’s “A Guy Walks Into A Bar”…
WCG: Yeah, that was a cool writing session. It was the last one of the week and someone called in a favor for me. It wasn’t a connection I really had before. I was so embarrassed when I showed up to write. I was mentally drained but I knew it was an important writing session. So I walked in and he said, I’m sorry but I only have an hour to write and I said “Dude, don’t worry about it, I couldn’t think of anything to write.” And I asked “What are you doing in an hour anyway,” and they were celebrating a cut on Kenny Chesney’s record. We ended up writing “Sympathy” in 45 minutes based on a riff I had that he suggested we speed up a little.
I later sent him a text about it going #1 and he called my manager and said “Dude, that’s so awesome!” He was very excited, as was I.
RoughStock: What was it look like to work with Rachel Loy as your producer?
WCG: Well, she’s amazing.
RoughStock: I know she’s been producing a lot lately…
WCG: Yeah, Adam Hood, her husband Brian Keane and only one other record before “Rose Queen.” After that came out, even Brian wanted to work with her after seeing her at work. He loved the way she was as a producer and managing everything. He was like, “I think its’ gonna help our relationship and not hurt it.” As far as I’m concerned, I Love working with her, she’s my record producer.
RoughStock: Yeah, well, every record I’ve heard her produce has been great and makes me think that Nashville’s big label stars will be calling her at some point and there’s no other producers….
WCG: Yeah, man, my career has been all about being surrounded by smart women, my PR, my radio team and Rachel. She’s the most independent, confident, talented woman. She can stand tall with the guys and not back down. And it’s interesting because my sister and my mom are also that way and it’s interesting that I’ve surrounded myself with these kinds of take charge women. Having them in my life has been awesome.
Roughstock: How has the success been going in Texas the past couple of years?
WCG: Yeah, this is our fourth album and we’ve been doing the Texas thing for about seven years. We’ve always had markets that we’ve done well in, like Lubbock. Every year we gain 2 or 3 markets and see them grow is the most-rewarding thing. I remember when we sold out Gruene Hall. The first time we headlined that venue, we sold it out, after 4 years of doing $100 gigs there. When we sold out we were like, “holy shit, the plan is working” (laughs) Radio has been key for that growth. The whole scene has been based on songwriters who go play shows so to have the support from radio is great.
We’ve also been able to grow out nationwide in places like Chicago and New York. And the success of Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen and Pat Green and Robert Earl Keen setting the stage for all of us.
RoughStock: How would you describe the creation of Ringling Road?
WCG: The songs just came as they came. Rose Queen took 25 years to write and Ringling Road took a year and a half to write. And I think this is a better record with better songs with better production and Rose Queen is where we honed in on a sound for the whole band and Ringling Road is where we enhanced what we were doing. Rachel gave us the outlet to find the sound on Rose Queen, what we wanted to do for the projects prior to that recording. And now we’re here. it’s an exciting time for me and the band.
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