Shelley Short

Captain Wild Horse (Rides the Heart of Tomorrow) is the new playfully titled full length from Chicago songstress Shelley Short.  The former Portland native took some time out from her busy east coast tour to talk to us about the record and her upcoming projects.

You got to work with a lot of great musicians on your latest album Captain Wild Horse.  How did you hook up with guys like Cory Gray and Rachel Blumberg?

I’ve known Cory for years. We met at a show and he asked me if I would sing on a Desert City Soundtrack record.  He also played sometimes with a band I was in, in Portland, called Nervous and the Kid. He played on Captain Wild Horse (I had already recorded a draft of that song in Portland in his house studio) without me being there at the Type Foundry in Portland, Oregon. I know Rachel because she is one of my favorite people in the world, we lived together for a few years and cooked lots of food together. She is an amazing drummer, she always knows exactly what to do.

From your perspective, what are some of the ways your songs have changed between Oh Say Little Dogies, Why? and Captain Wild Horse?

I think they have become more fully formed as songs. Dogies was not written with the intention of making a record.  I was just trying out the song writing process and the recording process, which was new to me, and since 5 of the songs were written and recorded out in New Mexico while I was visiting my friend Larry, yes, we didn’t have a big time constraint and it was kind of an experiment. Dogies took probably 9 days total to mix and record, and with Captain Wild Horse I tried to work on the songs until I thought they were just finished enough. The recording process was very different as well. It went on over the course of a year. I recorded at Carterco Recording in Chicago, and we spent a lot of time making sure the songs felt right.

What lyrical themes and ideas did you focus on for this album?  How do you normally go about choosing lyrics for your songs?

I just write about whatever I’m thinking about at the time.  It changes around a lot, so one day it could be about the weather, one day it could be about love, one day about a movie…but the lyrics are pretty vague.  I like them that way so they can be interpreted in different ways by different people. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m talking about.

How did you get in touch with Hush Records?

Chad is a friend of mine from the Portland days. He is a great guy.

You are currently in the middle of a brief tour in support of Captain Wild Horse?  Who else are you playing with and how has it been so far?

Actually we are in Boston right now.  The line up is Jamie Carter on drums, Tiffany Kowalski on violin, and Gary James, who is filling in for Andy Rader for the time being, on upright bass.   Today we woke up late and there is computer access here so I thought I’d do this while I got the chance.

We played in Pittsburgh on Saturday and had a great time. Then in Philly at the Silk City Lounge, it was a great venue, then New York which was great. We also played at a place called Rothko on the lower east side. It was so amazing to play with Ida, Jennifer O’Connor and Malarkie. 

We played a house show in Boston last night and were on our way to Burlington, Vermont today.  Then back to New York and then to Akron, Ohio.   A couple weekends ago we went to Iowa City and played at Gabes, which was great.  Omaha, Nebraska was amazing because Tiffany used to live there, so we got to meet and play with her friends.  We also played Minneapolis at the 400 Bar.

Where there any records that stood out to you in 2005?  What are some albums in your stereo right now?

Well in my stereo right now is Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, the Kinks, David Bowie, Lester Young and Edith Piaf. As for 2005, I’m not sure, I dont know what comes out and when. I’ll have to think about that one.

You’ve lent your voice to a couple of releases over the past few years.  Do you have any other guest appearances scheduled soon?  What are your plans for the rest of the first half of the year?

I sang on some of Cory Gray’s new songs (his solo project is called carcrashlander) and I’m really excited about that.  I also got to sing on one of the songs on the new Norfolk and Western record which is so exciting.  I might sing on some recordings in Chicago.  One so far that might happen is with a band called the Race.  They will be recording a new record this year that I might lend some harmonies to. As for the rest of the year I’m working on some new songs and plan to do a lot of touring. Oh and there is also the day job.

Links
www.shelleyshort.com
www.hushrecords.com