Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Shannon Hudson

Shannon Hudson - Will I Be Loved

"When I play live music at a venue, which isn’t often, it’s usually myself and an acoustic guitar - although my dogs get to hear me sing and play quite a bit. In my youth, there were full bands on a stage, mainly with my brother playing next to me. I tried writing lyrics on my computer for a while, but I switched back to pen and paper. It just seems to work better. I try to write songs that capture a little bit of our humanity, something that the current world tends to strip away from people." - Shannon Hudson

Interview with Shannon Hudson

What inspired you to write Will I Be Loved?

Will I Be Loved is about the push and pull between the desire for acceptance and being loved, against the vulnerability required for those to truly happen. Being vulnerable with the people I care most about has been a focus for me - to try and be as close to them as possible.

How does vulnerability shape your songwriting process?

There’s a point, when writing a song, that eventually comes - it’s the question, what’s this song really about? A lot of times, that’s where the vulnerability comes in. It’s identifying the truth that needs or wants to be told, and then using the correct craftsmanship to tell it.

Why are you releasing your albums one song at a time?

All 4 of my new albums are released and available as CDs and Digital Downloads right now from my website and BandCamp (www.shannonhudson.com). The first album, Signal and Noise, is also available on vinyl. That being said, I am releasing one song at a time on streaming platforms over the next few years. This allows people who like to stream playlists or one song at a time to get something new every 6-8 weeks for a long time, and also allows people who prefer listening to a lot of songs or full albums to be able to get that right now.

How has your family influenced your music journey?

I was raised on '50s and '60s rock and roll and church music. My parents loved music and always had it playing. They paid for me to be in school bands and take piano lessons. My Grandmother bought me my first guitar: I was in a band for a long time with my older brother. Essentially, my family was essential to making me into the musician I am today.

What role does nature and the Texas hill country play in your creativity?

The Texas Hill Country is one of my favorite places in the world. It’s beautiful, and it’s alive. I love to travel and see new places. Cities, national parks, other countries, etc. Coming home to the Leander, Texas Hills is always special. As for nature itself, it’s always been a source of inspiration. I love to sit out in nature and just listen. The idea of space and open air, and the natural sound of the Earth is humbling and inspiring.

How did living in Germany shape your approach to music?

I lived in Germany for a school year almost 30 years ago. It was hugely impactful to my view of the world. I was exposed to so many new ideas and just different ways of thinking. I think the biggest thing it did for me was change my mindset to one of curiosity. As a 20-year-old man, there’s a natural tendency to think you have some things figured out. Living in another country really taught me that I knew very little. It taught me to listen first, as opposed to try and get everyone to hear my point of view. I always feel like I have so much more to learn.

Why do you prefer writing lyrics with pen and paper over a computer?

I think it’s the tactile nature of a pen and paper that works for me. For me, there has to be more intention and meaning to commit something to paper. To get rid of something, I have to cross it out. It still stares at me afterward. To write something, I have to grab my notebook and a pen. It takes a little more effort. It also feels like work, in that I can see the effort. I can hold it in my hand. I run out of space and write in the margins. It’s a little messy.

How did playing in bands with your brother influence your style?

I was in a band with my brother for around a decade. It was the first real band I was ever in. We pretty much learned everything about being in a band from that time. He’s was and continues to be a huge musical inspiration to me. We still send each other ideas, mixes, etc. You should check out his current project, Purifeye - City Electric.

What lessons did your jazz band teacher teach you about music and creativity?

Doug Clum was my 7th-grade jazz teacher in Racine, Wisconsin. On the surface, he taught intro to jazz and improvisation. On a deeper level, he taught me to believe in myself. He taught me to believe that I have something to say and to contribute musically - and that it was worth creating. He taught me to believe in my own voice and my own vision.

How do your personal experiences as a husband and father inspire your songs?

Being a husband and a father is a frame for my whole life. They are the two most important things to me. They influence everything I do and how I see the world. This inevitably seeps into my songwriting. “I Love Who We Are” and “Inside Out” are two songs that couldn’t have been written without being a husband and a father.