Eliot King Smith talks about his new album ‘Short Life, Small Planet’

Eliot King Smith. Photo Courtesy of The Fame Culture.

Singer-songwriter Eliot King Smith chatted about his new debut album “Short Life, Small Planet,” which will be released on November 3rd.

Song selection process of the CD

Regarding the song selection approach, he said, “For me, since I’m always working on multiple idea and songs, song selection feels quite simple. On all my songs, I block out the song with a full arrangement on my digital audio workstation, so that I have a good sense of the feel and the direction of a song.”

“Then, I run it by my producer for his response,” he said. “He has strong opinions and doesn’t hesitate to give me the unvarnished truth from his point of view. Chances are, that if it doesn’t get by him, the song gets shelved for a while.”

King continued, “For Short Life, Small Planet, I selected songs that followed the key themes expressed by the title. Since it was a pandemic album, I found myself naturally drawn to lyrics and songs that expressed the spirit of the times.”

“The fleeting moments of intense feelings and the fragility of life coupled with the notion that our planet was shrinking, and that worldwide people were experiencing and sharing quite similar problems and dilemmas. You know, the smoke from fires in Canada travels to Europe, and viruses spread even more quickly,” he said.

Favorite song on the album

On his personal favorite song on the album, he responded, “Songs are like children to me; so my favorites can change depending on my mood and on their subject and its appeal to me at a given moment.”

“On this album, the title track is a very personal song since it is a tribute to my sister who died near the beginning of this project,” he said. “We have a special bond, and I think that I was successful in crafting a song that praised her without sentimentalizing her.”

“I notice that people’s reaction to the song is always strong and I think that I captured a universal truth about the ‘short life’ and the ‘small planet’ at the same time as expressing my love for her,” he added.

Music and songwriting inspirations

On his music and songwriting inspirations, he said, “As an older musician, my influences are diverse but I have been particularly influenced by songwriters who tell stories about situations and people, rather than just describe their own experiences.”

“So early influences like Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, and Stevie Wonder, influence my lyrical style. In terms of music, having come up as a professional musician in Oakland, CA, I love a good funky horn band, like Tower of Power, or Sly Stone, or James Brown,” he said.

“On this album, several songs are tributes to my musical influences; Stevie Wonder, and Steely Dan. Over the course of a lifetime, inspiration becomes a kind of wonderful musical blend of all those influences rather than a conscious imitation of a particular style,” he added.

The digital age

On being an artist in the digital age, now with streaming, technology and social media being so prevalent, he said, “When I sit at the keyboard in my studio I’m constantly amazed at the array of digital technology at my disposal. Man—what an extraordinary time to be a creator.”

“At a click, I can orchestrate with incredibly accurate samples, I can process my voice and instruments with fantastic effects. In fact, if anything, there are too many choices to make. That said, all creators are clamoring for attention in a dense forest of unfiltered songs. All this self-publishing is wonderful but chaotic and it is easy to get lost in the clutter,” he explained.

“That drives the engine of social media and artists trying to establish their narratives and personalities with fans—that can lead again to a viral environment that is fragmented and short-lived. You can end up feeling lonely in that crowd—but for me, it’s exciting and I love being a part of such a powerful revolution in sound and musical creation,” he elaborated.

Future plans

On his future plans, he said, “So many songs, so little time. For me, I plan on continuing the practices that make my life rich and fulfilling. Songwriting everyday, working in the studio, enjoying my family and friends, and releasing more music into the world. That’s a future that nurtures and sustains me.” 

Success

Regarding his definition of the word success, he said, “I think that ‘success’ can be a melody that brings a tear, a song that paints a vivid picture, a concert that draws a crowd, and a life well-lived and loved.”

“When I was poor, I used to be proud to have a full shopping cart at the grocery store and a regular job. Now as a retired guy, my success is often reflecting on my life as a teacher and as a songwriter and musician. And of course, a nice glass of wine never hurts that process of reflection,” he said.

Closing thoughts on the album

King remarked about the album, “I hope that people would listen to Short Life, Small Planet and take away the love and sense of awe that the songs express. I think that many of the songs tell a compelling story about my life as a musician and teacher.”

“I come from a musical family and with two concert grand pianos in our living room, music was always being lived and played rather than just listened to. That’s a perspective that is more rare now, as live music in the household is replaced by the recorded music on the radio and computer. And finally, I hope they get a good laugh out of some of the lyrics,” he concluded.

“Short Life, Small Planet” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.