Jason Isbell is known for writing his own music. But even for a legendary tunesmith like Isbell, whose freshman Sirens of the Ditch album came out in 2007, songwriting can have its pitfalls.
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For Isbell, one of the self-imposed rules he tries to follow is to create something current, without thinking about if the song will stand the test of time.
"I resist the temptation to write something that is timeless," Isbell tells the LA Times. "And I don't like throwback music. I don't need to romanticize the past because that's a shortcut. That's not showing your work, you know? If I'm talking on a cellphone, I'm talking on a cellphone. I can't make it a rotary."
Along with the songs he sings, it's just as important for Isbell to create an environment where people can come and be themselves.
"It's important to me to create a place where people can enjoy themselves and not be afraid," Isbell explains. "That's why we started making rock 'n' roll in the first place."
The Message Jason Isbell Wants To Convey To His Fans
Isbell isn't afraid to speak out boldly about topics he believes strongly in. But for Isbell, it's less that he wants to be right, and more that he wants people to be challenged enough to think.
"I like running off people who are closed-minded," Isbell says. "I'm not trying to sway them to one side politically, I'm just trying to tell them my story."
Isbell also is critical of those who stay glued to the news, taking what they hear at face value. It's something he has been trying to combat for years.
"There's a reason it was the tree of knowledge that was the poison one," reflects the singer. "Like, why wasn't the tree of poison the poison one? Why wasn't it the tree of herpes? They had to pick knowledge!"
For almost 20 years, Isbell has been making music on his own terms. He may not get the notoriety of some other artists, even though he is arguably more talented, but he doesn't particularly care either.
"[Music Row] and I have avoided each other in dressing rooms since the beginning of time," Isbell quips.
Isbell's latest album, Foxes in the Snow, was released in March.
