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Unafraid of Life’s Hardships, But Confused by the Happy Times
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have released their first album of new studio material, titled “Woodland,” jointly under both of their names. The album is named after their East Nashville studio, which faced major hardships over the last few years, including the Tennessee tornado of 2020 which tore off its roof, followed by the complications of the COVID-19 lockdown. This adversity is mirrored in the new album’s themes, as the songs reflect both personal struggles and broader cultural narratives.
Despite these challenges, the release of “Woodland” marks a significant moment in folk and Americana music. Welch and Rawlings have toured together for decades, and while they have worked on various retrospective projects and Grammy-winning covers albums, “Woodland” is the first collection of fresh material since Welch’s 2011 album “The Harrow & the Harvest.” Variety spoke with Welch and Rawlings on the day “Woodland” was released in late August.
Welch:
“It’s been a while since our last record, and it’s absolutely fantastic that people still care when we put a record out. During the pandemic, there was a moment when I thought nobody needed what we did — they needed food, not music. But I was reminded by a DJ friend that music is how we survive the worst times. That realization stayed with us throughout this album. The immense loss, destruction, and change we experienced were beyond what we ever imagined, and it shaped every part of our work.”
This sentiment of resilience and rebirth is embedded in all the songs on “Woodland.” The tracks are deeply personal but also reflect broader societal shifts. For instance, the opening song “What We Had” isn’t just about a romantic breakup; it symbolizes the disappearance of entire lifestyles and the ability to tour during the pandemic.
Welch:
“Our work always involves a dual narrative. Each song functions on multiple levels, a reflection of the complex times in which they were created. It’s not uncommon for us to write about people dealing with calamity or loss. That’s how we’ve always approached song-writing.”
Welch also touches upon the theme of weather in their music:
“Weather has governance over all of us. It presents itself in a song with a tangible structure. Our friend Barry Gibb suggested that every second verse could involve a weather event. In our songs, what happens in the third verse? Either death or the devil.”
Reflecting on the double hardships of the tornado and the pandemic, Welch notes:
“The full stop was fascinating. Unable to tour or record, we sat in our living room, playing music together. This reminded us of when we first moved to Nashville with no money or friends, just playing and singing in the living room. This pure, unaffected music-making greatly influenced ‘Woodland’.”
Welch and Rawlings made a conscious decision to release “Woodland” under both of their names to reflect their equal partnership. Welch admits:
“It felt absurd to continue deciding whose name to put on it. People of any sensitivity have known for a long time that we always work the same way, regardless.”
Reflecting on the 12-year gap between her last original-material album, Welch says:
“Time moves differently for me. Where Dave works in moments, I work in expansive chunks of time. But we always agree when we get it right.”
Welch elaborates on the creative freedom the joint billing allowed.
“Songs like ‘Hashtag’ would have been sidelined if it were just a Gillian Welch record. Dave’s lead vocals made everything fall into place. This dual billing lets us expand our palette in a way genuine to us.”
David Rawlings also comments on the relief of releasing a dual-billed album:
“There’s neither drastic change nor compromises in this new approach. It offered us challenges and inspiration that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. Trading off vocals felt refreshing and fitting.”
Welch and Rawlings faced various struggles rebuilding the studio:
“Worrying about leaks, keeping equipment dry, handling construction dust—it wasn’t ideal for a studio. And the feeling of loss and reconstruction was ever-present.”
Rawlings adds:
“There were so many emotional moments tied to rebuilding. I remember feeling anxious when the constant jackhammering finally stopped during construction.”
Discussing whether the trauma influenced songwriting, Rawlings remarks:
“Our songs often mix resilience with darkness. Experiencing collective hardship made us explore this duality deeply in ‘Woodland’.”
Rawlings reveals that they initially considered making a double album.
“We thought of various ways to release our new songs, but it all fell into place when I sequenced the 10 chosen tracks. ‘Woodland’ as a title resonated deeply, reflecting both the physical studio and the process we went through.”
Asked about releasing the album digitally before the vinyl and CD, Rawlings accepts it as a modern necessity:
“While I’d prefer simultaneous releases, timelines dictated otherwise. But now, as co-owners of a pressing plant, we have more control and can promise more exciting projects ahead.”
Reflecting on their enduring following, Rawlings says:
“We’re fortunate. Even in 1993, playing old-time-influenced folk was hardly a path to riches, but our loyal audience has always been there for us. Whether we have fifteen or 150 people, we’re grateful for listeners who connect with our music.”
Source: Variety
