Charley Crockett, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Drayton Farley Share a Night of Music and Connection
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An excited crowd of country music festival-goers and Palm Springs locals looked on as Charley Crockett kicked off a night of songs and conversation by asserting a truth that any songwriter knows: “It’s easy to start a song. It’s a lot harder to finish one,” he said. Stephen Wilson Jr. and Drayton Farley, seated on the intimate stage next to him, nodded in agreement. Rolling Stone’s Senior Editor Joseph Hudak opened the night by asking the three groundbreaking country music artists about their songwriting process in the latest installment of the Rolling Stone Writers’ Room, presented by George Dickel.
The three artists have each paved their own paths in the genre through expert songwriting, and the night brought them all together to delve deep into their process and learn how they tell a story through words and music.
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Crockett’s prolific place in Americana country has been cemented by his incredible work ethic as a singer-songwriter, releasing nine records in five years. In many interviews, Crockett has talked about how much being on the road inspires his music, but his struggles with living on the street and busking made him the artist he is today. “When I was playing out on these street corners, I learned how to play in front of people,” he said. “I’m proud of that and they can’t take it away from me.”
Performing his song “Dream Come True” for the first time at the Writers’ Room, Farley spoke about how he fully committed to music after years of working on a factory line to support his family. Taking the leap to pursue his art full time was one of the hardest decisions he’s ever made: “I jumped out of an airplane with my family strapped to my back, and I wasn’t sure if there was a parachute,” he said. But it paid off. “My dream was to do what I’m doing today”. The soulful Alabama native also performed “Pitchin’ Fits” and “Dreamer.”
As for Wilson Jr., the self-proclaimed “recovering microbiologist” — he was a scientist in a previous life — and Indiana native quit his job in a lab and chased his dream of becoming a musician even amidst the grief of losing his father. The grunge-country artist performed “Cuckoo” first, captivating the crowd with his gritty vocals and aggressive rhythm. After a series of dry-witted introductions that had the crowd laughing, Wilson played “The Devil” and “To Be Young (1994),” captivating the Palm Springs venue as well as his stagemates.
Photo Credit: Derek Oxford
As the exhilarated crowd toasted, laughed, and cheered along with each artist, Hudak reminded everyone of the importance of songwriting itself. All three acts agreed — some songs take months, even years out of you, and some take less than an hour. “I always write my lyrics first, the music comes later,” Wilson Jr. said.
Crockett surprised the crowd by revealing, “I don’t write my lyrics down. It’s all in my head, so I’ve got to play it over and over to get it down.” Performing the unreleased songs “Game I Can’t Win” and “One Trick Pony,” as well as the title track to his latest album, $10 Cowboy, Crockett had the audience in the palm of his hand. Crockett was releasing $10 Cowboy the day after his Writers’ Room performance, but the audience was lucky enough to hear the song early.
Photo Credit: Dina Douglass
George Dickel is a historic, 160-year-old whisky brand revitalized by its innovative General Manager and Distiller, Nicole Austin. Based outside of Nashville at Cascade Hollow, their award-winning eight-year Dickel Bourbon is a testament to successfully combining the best of whisky tradition with new and innovative techniques.
By creating new ways to enjoy bourbon, rye and more, Dickel roams tradition with a new edge, and pays homage while pushing the craft to create beautiful whisky. Much like these artists, it’s confident, authentic, and unwavering in the product that they create.
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