Americanafest is an annual event organized by the Americana Music Association and held in Nashville, Tennessee. Americanafest 2019 will be held between Sept. 10 and Sept. 15 with the Americana Honors and Awards Show taking place at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 11. The five-day event will feature panels and performances at several venues in Nashville. Amund Maarud & Lucky Lips will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Analog at Hutton Hotel on September 12.
When did you start singing? My very first «performance» was when I was 2 years old. I sang at the old folks home that my grandmother was working at. So I have always been playing music. My singing took the backseat for my guitarplaying for many years as I found the blues aged 10. I have always fronted my own band and written my own songs. I started playing live on a regular basis aged 7. My brother played drums and my father played bass. Singing and writing songs has becoming more and more important to me over the past 10 years. Its not just about playing guitar anymore, its more about presenting a song and a feeling.
How would you describe your music? I come from blues and psychedelic rock and I always had a deep love for country music. So when my 6th solo album was being planned, I reached out to my favorite americana band; Lucky Lips, and asked them if they wanted to join me in our studio on thise songs I’ve written. It kinda blew my mind how good it sounded. Its a mix between their americana/country/bluegrass sound and my blues and rock influenced guitar and vocal. I call it Amundicana:)
Who are your musical influences? They span from Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Who via Dwight Yoakam, Ry Cooder, Little Feat, Blake Mills, Dan Auerbach and Tom Petty and Merle Haggard.
What is your favorite concert you have attended? What made it memorable? The best concert I recently saw was White Denim from Austin in a Norwegian Festival. They completely blew my mind with their eclectic genre mix. The best concert I have ever been to was Ry Cooder at the Notodden Blues Festival In Norway last year. I felt like he took me apart and put me back together and that he summed up the musical history of the South and presented it in such a heartfelt way that I will never be the same. I came for his guitar playing and left talking about his singing. It kinda sums up my own journey so far. Its the story and the energy of the song.
What is your favorite place to perform? What do you like about it? I´d say anywhere with Lucky Lips and Malin Pettersen, they have a way of making me feel so damn good about performing music and that rubs off on the crowd. I have played many places, including Russia, Germany, Holland, South Korea, Cambodia, Austin, Memphis, Tokyo and a lot in Norway. I´d say one of my favorite places is in Oslo and its called Herr Nilsen. Its a small venue when you can get real close to people and its like they are there for every note and every sentence. I did my first solo show there many years ago and I was so nervous about not having a band behind me I started smoking again. Then I quit smoking again and kept on playing live and making records.
Other than artists, who has been influential in your decision to become a singer? My wife Anne has been a big influence on me when it comes to being true to who you are as a human being and performer. I don’t separate the two, sometimes I’m more myself on stage than anywhere else. But I’m working on closing the gap. Sometimes you have to remind yourself that its ok to have confidence in yourself even without the guitar in your lap and the amp switched on. Its just that the music has been such a big part of my life that life itself has been something I spent less time on. But I’m real happy now.
What was the first song you wrote? I think it was an instrumental called John Deere Boogie, released in 1999 on our first album. Its an ode to my favorite tractor brand. Since I grew up on a farm it has always been an integral part of my life.
What is your favorite original song? I´d say its the opening rack on «Perfect Stranger» with Lucky Lips. The song is called «Change of heart» and its co-written with my dear friend Jace Everett who lives and works out of Nashville. The song is about my youngest daughter and is in short about unconditional love. I wrote half of it and the Jace sent me his edit and a whole new second verse. I was very moved by what he wrote and I’m really proud of that one.
What was the inspiration behind it? How your kids grow up and they are searching for their identity further and further away from you as a parent. It´s a journey we all want our children to have and at the same time you just want to hold them close and be their safe harbor. So the song is basically just to say, whatever you do or whatever the shape you’re in, you can always come back home to recharge.
What does it mean to you to be selected to play Americanafest? That means a lot to all of us. Malin Pettersen is also doing a solo showcase so we feel that we have been selected among artists we have been looking up to for many years. Feels a bit unreal, really. So all we can do is our best and try to lean as hard as we can into our music and see how people react to it. Being a live performer is all about making the best out of every night because the one thing that is the same is that nothing is the same. Playing Americana-infused music in Nashville will certainly be really special to us.
Anything else you would like to add? I am currently writing new music so there will be a new record out with Lucky Lips early next year. Also, I cannot recommend Malin Pettersen’s album and showcase enough. She is a true star both as a performer and songwriter. Having her on board as a part of Lucky Lips is such a bonus. Singing duets with her has really opened my ears. She won the Norwegian Grammy for her debut album this year and will be showcasing at the City Winery September 14th.
Where can people hear your music?
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4iBwhMgjKUJeB6Y9GEsErw?si=TYZM1L2wQUuU_dnei4MawA
iTunes:
Amund Maarud