An Interview With Steve Moakler
Steve Moakler is a Nashville based singer-songwriter with a foot planted on either side of the river. A low key and kind sort, humble and creative all the while having his music recorded by the likes of Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen and Kellie Pickler. There is an inherent likability in Moakler’s tone and attitude. His songs and words prop up the cool and even tone of his vocal. The artist has somehow managed to take the elements that have made the musicality of Music Row s popular, while injecting his own stories and substance into the infectious guitar licks and steady beats.
Moakler swings through town at Cafe 939 on Friday April 29th and you can grab your tickets for that show right HERE. In the meanwhile, we caught up with Steve to talk about his music and how it manages to bridge sounds and audiences, his inspirations and creativity.
RLR: You are kind of an enigma in a way. Your music is adaptable and really has a range that spans across a broad spectrum of folks. Songwriters respect you for your keen sense of how to write a great hook and lyrics, but your music also has a pop sensibility that is radio friendly. I imagine you have a pretty good college following! You aren’t quite country, you aren’t quite rock n’ roll. Have you found that balance between genres and the way you can adapt your sound to be a pro for you?
SM: Honesty, I’m not sure. Sometimes it seems like it would be nice to fit perfectly into a box, but I’m starting to embrace the fact that I don’t. I think it has and will make for a longer road for me, but I’m not in a hurry.
RLR: Those one take videos. I tell you man, my wife and I have probably watched each about 100 times. Where did that idea stem from…and seriously, how many takes did “Play You Down” require to get it right? Man, the timing on that is brilliant! I love the concept of that, really organic and how the music is supposed to sound.
SM: Thanks!! I’m so glad you enjoy them. I’m really proud of them too…those were all done with my buddy Jeff Venable. Honestly, we had such a limited budget we were forced to be creative. The “Play You Down” one is definitely my favorite. It took a few hours to get everyone organized, but once we did, I think it only took us 3 or 4 takes. Everyone played a small but important role in the video and I think that’s what made its so memorable.
RLR: A big part of what Red Line Roots stands for is collaboration, community and bringing folks together and fostering an environment where artists help each other. How do you feel about that preservation of unity and family sentiment in the folk music community around your own town or city? How does it play into your own music and where you come from?
SM: There was a great little music community that I was a part of growing up in Pittsburgh, which surprises a lot of people. My high school band actually used to open for Dan of Dan + Shay’s high school band in the early 2000s. Now, 10 years later, he’s a star with hit radio songs and he’s been inviting me to come out and open up shows for them! Crazy. I think that speaks volumes about the strength of community both in Pittsburgh and here in Nashville around country music.
RLR: Last time you were up this way you were at Passim with Lori McKenna (great show by the way). What is your connection to Boston and Cambridge? With you being across the river at Café 939 (at Berklee) you have been on both sides of the Charles. Have you found any sort of bond to the roots of folk music in town in your touring travels?
SM: I’ve always loved Boston. I used to play up there a lot 5 or 6 years ago when I was hitting the college circuit really hard. I’ve probably played a dozen schools in the area, most of the shows were all pretty small, but I’ve always enjoyed my time there. Now, my strongest connection to the city is definitely with Lori McKenna. I’ve had the pleasure of writing with her at her house a few times now and she’s been real kind to let me open up for her. I also took a really fun history tour last time I was in town and I loved it! I’m a nerd about American history and Boston is obviously loaded with it.
RLR: If you could collaborate with anyone (dead or alive) musically, who would it be?
SM: Bruce Springsteen
RLR: What is a record that shaped you when you first started playing and also, who is a ‘lesser known’/independent artist (or an album) that you are listening to now that you think folks really need to hear about? Something that really digs deep.
SM: John Mayer’s ‘Room For Squares’ was a huge influence on me when I started playing guitar and writing songs.
As far as a lesser-known artist that I’m listening too, I would have to steer you toward Neal Carpenter. Neal is a friend of mine, and he made an amazing record called “Good Guys” last year that had some amazing songs on it. My favorite is the last track called “Perfect Time.”
RLR: Aside from making music as a full time career, are you able to make time for any pastimes or other activities in your life? What would you want people to know about you aside from your musical endeavors?
SM: I love spending time in the outdoors. Whether that’s on a golf course, a boat, snowboarding down a mountain, or just drinking a beer on a porch somewhere, I just love being outside and hanging out with people. That’s my happy place. I’m also a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan and try to catch every game!
RLR: Anything else you want to plug?
SM: My friend Tim and I started something called Free The Birds in 2012 to partner with our fans and fundraise for non-profits that are rescuing girls from the human sex trade. I build birdhouses that we sell, we take donations at our shows, and we sell t-shirts and donate all the proceeds. My fans have stepped up in a big way and we’ve raised over $25,000 to fund safe homes around the world. “God loved the birds so he made trees. Man loved the birds so he made cages.” That quote to me is a perfect metaphor that explains the human sex trade and what role that we as “the birdhouse” can have in the issue. It’s a heartbreaking problem but there is hope.
