Diandra Reviews It All- Interviews Whitacre: Turning Seasons Into Songs

Listening to Whitacre’s Seasons, it is hard not feel like you can conquer the world. The mountain rock band have a natural, mythic twang to their melodies; making their songs sound like the ones you play when life becomes a Mt. Everest you must climb. Now, more than ever, people understand that feeling; having to confront whether or not they are okay or, at least, have been. The result is a record put a spring in your step, even is you are only strolling through your home. Thus, in our interview, we discuss with lead singer Paul Whitacre and banjoist Chase Perry , the Seasons of their life that inspired music and made them resilient.

Diandra: As artists, you go through many seasons. How do you feel your own art has helped you weather the high and low moments of being an artist?

(Paul Whitacre): The biggest way that our own art has helped us through the highs and lows is the bond we all have as friends. Any time we’re on tour together, we can be honest about our struggles/things we’re excited about and know that it’s going to be well received by the other guys in the band. Having that relationship is huge.

Whitacre – Between Dreams (Official Music Video)

Diandra: What would you define as “the cold” and “the hot” moments of building a career as an artist?

(Paul Whitacre): The cold moments are any time we’re not playing shows. It’s so easy to believe you’re failing when there’s no form of live performances going on. Hot moments would be when touring or recording is ramping up, or when we have time to be creative together.

Diandra: With the world going through such a crazy crisis, what songs of this album were written in your attempt to get solace? How would you define peace for you?

(Chase Perry): There are a couple songs that come to mind for finding peace amidst crisis. “The Journey Home” is an unreleased instrumental, kind of in-between track within the album that glides you along while giving you an escape. It allows your mind to take a break and just breathe; simple and repetitive really slows you down and really makes you feel that its ok to slow down.

“Stand my Ground,” also an unreleased song from the album, is a song of courage. It acknowledges the situation that you’re in but is pouring with hope. Not only hope but a communal hope. One of the lyrics is, “don’t let me run from destiny.” We are all in this together and it’s only in the community that you find yourself in that hope and strength to overcome will start to fill your mind more than the fear of uncertainty.

Whitacre – Set Me Free (Live at The Bluebird Theater)

Diandra: What lightness do you hope the world and yourself gain from this current darkness?

(Chase Perry): One thing I am learning is that I am a slave to my time. I just feel the need to do and do and do and when time is no longer a factor, THAT is when my heart for the things that matter really comes out and that is kind of depressing that it took a global pandemic to realize that, but I am glad I have learned that. It’s not about the money and success; it’s about loving people. It’s about loving your wife, loving your neighbor, connecting with hurting people and being there for them in times of distress. And if we can share that message, we’ll be happy. Also a check in our morality. I think as younger people it’s not something you think about often but everyone dies, and a reality check in that is healthy and very human… what kind of legacy will you leave behind, where are you going when you die? Sobering, but man, it really helps you live in the moment and take full advantage of every blessing we have been given in this life.

Diandra: As a band what are the personal qualities, you all appreciate in each other and feel fuses into the songs?

Whitacre – Here, Again. (Official Music Video)

(Chase Perry): As a band, we are pretty weird. With that, we are all pretty open and real, too. That makes for some interesting trips in the van while on tour. The inside jokes are endless and I’m sure people at gas stations think we are a threat to their civility but at the same time, if somebody is feeling bad, we can enter into their pain and help them process. So that tight-knit community really finds itself seen in the live performance. We have the time of our lives every time we play a show. And beyond that, we love to bring the audience into that every chance we get. We just wanna have a party with you guys when we play a show. In terms of the songs, in “Prodigal,” I , Mark, and Paul all sing a verse that really lends itself to that community, especially because that song was very co-written. Paul is an absolute genius songwriter and a lot of the songs are built upon what he has started, but this one Mark and I really had a hand in with lyrics and melody. The lyrics to every song are a great showcase of our openness. In “Here, Again,” Paul is very vulnerable about how he experiences moments of pain and how that stirs up what’s inside. He is very good at expressing that and I think if we are honest, that is how a lot of us experience pain as well. That leaves the door open to the listener in terms of: it’s ok to feel what you feel and processing that pain by feeling pain is so important. Really, we are wanting to live the most real life and encourage others to do the same.

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