Singer-songwriter Kim Ware, the central force behind roving collective The Good Graces gave me some insight into her incredible upcoming album, Set Your Sights. It’ll be out on July 7 and you’ll hear more from me about it then! For now, see what Kim has to say.
1.
It seems like the Good Graces is a mostly rotating cast of characters.
How did that help your recording process and did that also hinder it in
any way?
It seems like the Good Graces is a mostly rotating cast of characters.
How did that help your recording process and did that also hinder it in
any way?
I
think it helped because it made things a little more open to
possibilities. Nothing was ever set in stone when we started (and some
things weren’t until the 11th hour), as far as instrumentation or who
would do what. That made it fun to construct (and then sometimes de- and
re-construct) the songs. It all felt really organic, like the songs
evolved as they were supposed to. That said, it did mean recording took a
lot longer than I think it could have, and it can be a little stressful
for me – as I tend to like to overplan – to work in a way that’s less
structured.
think it helped because it made things a little more open to
possibilities. Nothing was ever set in stone when we started (and some
things weren’t until the 11th hour), as far as instrumentation or who
would do what. That made it fun to construct (and then sometimes de- and
re-construct) the songs. It all felt really organic, like the songs
evolved as they were supposed to. That said, it did mean recording took a
lot longer than I think it could have, and it can be a little stressful
for me – as I tend to like to overplan – to work in a way that’s less
structured.
2.
You’ve described Set Your Sights as your “midlife crisis” album. Was
there any event in particular that sparked this theme for you?
You’ve described Set Your Sights as your “midlife crisis” album. Was
there any event in particular that sparked this theme for you?
I
wouldn’t say there was an event in particular. I think for me it’s
mostly about my age and things I’m experiencing or reflecting on, and
how I’m processing all of it. I’ll be 45 in a couple of weeks. I think
for women (or at least for me, and well, probably men too), when we hit
40 or so we start to take stock and question where we are, if we’re
spending our time on the things we want to be, etc. I’ve been doing a
lot of that and I think that might have come out in some of the songs.
But also, and this might sound cheesy, but I kinda feel like I lost and
then found myself through making this album. We spent 4 seasons on it.
So it’s like that thing about relationships, it’s important to spend 4
seasons with a person to know if they are right for you? I agree. And in
4 seasons, you go through a lot. I did a lot of processing while making
this album. It’s basically a record of that.
wouldn’t say there was an event in particular. I think for me it’s
mostly about my age and things I’m experiencing or reflecting on, and
how I’m processing all of it. I’ll be 45 in a couple of weeks. I think
for women (or at least for me, and well, probably men too), when we hit
40 or so we start to take stock and question where we are, if we’re
spending our time on the things we want to be, etc. I’ve been doing a
lot of that and I think that might have come out in some of the songs.
But also, and this might sound cheesy, but I kinda feel like I lost and
then found myself through making this album. We spent 4 seasons on it.
So it’s like that thing about relationships, it’s important to spend 4
seasons with a person to know if they are right for you? I agree. And in
4 seasons, you go through a lot. I did a lot of processing while making
this album. It’s basically a record of that.
3.
The songs here are pretty bleak (but in the best kind of way, of
course) — would you say you’re a glass half-full person who uses your
music to process the low times, or are you a glass half-empty person and
this is just the way life is?
The songs here are pretty bleak (but in the best kind of way, of
course) — would you say you’re a glass half-full person who uses your
music to process the low times, or are you a glass half-empty person and
this is just the way life is?
I’m
definitely a glass half-full person. I’m a really happy person who
happens to write a lot of sad songs. I once took a personality test that
concluded that I’m “drawn to sad things”. I always have been – be it
songs, movies, stories, etc. The sad stuff just speaks to me, I think
maybe because it often comes across as a little more honest and real.
And I think happy or sad, it’s just all part of the same equation. The
yin and the yang. You have to have the bad to appreciate the good, and
part of my dealing with the bad is attempting to turn it into art, I
guess. I think there’s something important about acknowledging
challenging times and confusing feelings and at least trying to put them
into words. Maybe it’s part of my nature to try to deconstruct things
and figure them out. Writing the songs does help me sort through it.
definitely a glass half-full person. I’m a really happy person who
happens to write a lot of sad songs. I once took a personality test that
concluded that I’m “drawn to sad things”. I always have been – be it
songs, movies, stories, etc. The sad stuff just speaks to me, I think
maybe because it often comes across as a little more honest and real.
And I think happy or sad, it’s just all part of the same equation. The
yin and the yang. You have to have the bad to appreciate the good, and
part of my dealing with the bad is attempting to turn it into art, I
guess. I think there’s something important about acknowledging
challenging times and confusing feelings and at least trying to put them
into words. Maybe it’s part of my nature to try to deconstruct things
and figure them out. Writing the songs does help me sort through it.
4.
In “Too Old For This” you sing that you’re “much too young to regret
things I’ve missed.” At what age do you think it’s appropriate to start,
because I know I’m full of ’em already. And when you get to feeling
like this, what do you do to pull yourself away from these thoughts?
In “Too Old For This” you sing that you’re “much too young to regret
things I’ve missed.” At what age do you think it’s appropriate to start,
because I know I’m full of ’em already. And when you get to feeling
like this, what do you do to pull yourself away from these thoughts?
That’s
an interesting question! For me, I’m far more likely to regret
something I did than not ever do it in the first place. I think that’s
part of what I’m trying to say there. When it comes to major life
changes or big experiences, I like to think I take calculated risks. I’m
not to a point yet where I’m looking back and thinking “I wish I would
have …”; and I can’t imagine I’ll have a lot of those — if I think about
doing something for long enough I’m pretty stubborn and I figure out a
way to at least attempt it. I do have some things I’d like to do before
I’m on my death bed (mainly places I’d like to travel to). If I never
get to, I guess that will be a bummer, but I’ll bet it won’t be because I
didn’t try. It’ll be because of some sort of outside circumstance. And
I’m ok with that. If I do get to feeling regret about something I’ve
done or didn’t do, I guess I write a song about it! But I think as part
of my whole glass-half-full thing, I try to think of it as something I
needed to go through in order to grow.
If you’re in the Atlanta area, you can catch the Good Graces’ album release show at Avondale Towne Cinema this Saturday at 8 PM!
an interesting question! For me, I’m far more likely to regret
something I did than not ever do it in the first place. I think that’s
part of what I’m trying to say there. When it comes to major life
changes or big experiences, I like to think I take calculated risks. I’m
not to a point yet where I’m looking back and thinking “I wish I would
have …”; and I can’t imagine I’ll have a lot of those — if I think about
doing something for long enough I’m pretty stubborn and I figure out a
way to at least attempt it. I do have some things I’d like to do before
I’m on my death bed (mainly places I’d like to travel to). If I never
get to, I guess that will be a bummer, but I’ll bet it won’t be because I
didn’t try. It’ll be because of some sort of outside circumstance. And
I’m ok with that. If I do get to feeling regret about something I’ve
done or didn’t do, I guess I write a song about it! But I think as part
of my whole glass-half-full thing, I try to think of it as something I
needed to go through in order to grow.
If you’re in the Atlanta area, you can catch the Good Graces’ album release show at Avondale Towne Cinema this Saturday at 8 PM!
The Good Graces — Official, Facebook
Want to hear Kim’s favorite songs about regret? Become a Patreon member at $5+ a month for her top 10 and other great goodies!