Questions w/ Jeremy Casella (part two)

Here is part two of Questions w/ Jeremy Casella. Enjoy the interview and be sure to check out the links at the bottom to learn more about Jeremy!

StSL – Let’s talk a bit about your songwriting process. Do you have any specific methods or places you go to for inspiration?

Jeremy – I write on guitar and piano. Usually starting there while getting whatever I’ve been hearing in my head out on a certain instrument. It’s usually music first and then the words for me. Often times I’ll have all the music written, even backing parts and melodies before the lyrics start to materialize. And then I edit edit edit.

Honesty is your best ally in songwriting. That’s where the good stuff is—and if you are doing your job it will move people. It has to move me first though if it’s something I want to share with someone else. I want my songs to feel a certain way. Hard to describe beyond that.

StSL – Who would you count as some of your influences?

Jeremy – Rich Mullins was a big one. Especially his later material. Also Daniel Lanois, U2, Brian Eno, Beatles, Brian Wilson, Dylan, Neil Young, Jackson Browne. Those are some of the foundational influences. Lately I’m listening to School of Seven Bells, Dave Rawlings, The Swell Season, and Massive Attack.

StSL – Whether a song is labeled as “Christian” or not, faith and art are certainly often intertwined. How does that dynamic play out for you?

Jeremy – I think it’s pretty simple—if a piece of art is great then it’s probably extraordinarily honest and particularly beautiful. Everyone has a worldview including artists, of course...so in my life and work, I’m trying to reflect the world that is and create the world that ought to be. I want to live in Truth. Breathe it deep and sing it out. In the last few years, my music has some of that in it—Truth, Beauty—I want more! So that’s what I’m after.

StSL – Let’s step away from music for a second. What’s your favorite movie quote?

Jeremy – “I saved Latin. What did you ever do?” -Max Fischer, Rushmore.

StSL – I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing several members of the Square Peg Alliance. What’s it like for you to be a part of that community?

Jeremy – I’m thankful for my friends. We’re all such different writers and artists and the mutual respect runs deep. We’ve had some great times together—like last Summer we played Cornerstone Festival—and all rode up together in a rental van. Felt like summer camp condensed into 48 hours of laughter and music! And then last August we all gathered at Eric Peters’ house for a huge party to celebrate the release of Chrome. I loved it!

Kierstin (my wife) and I are about to invite all the Pegs over for an Italian feast at our house next month. I was waiting until (Andrew) Peterson, (Andy) Gullahorn, and (Ben) Shive got back from tracking Andrew’s new record.

So—it’s good to be connected and in community with those folks. I love them a lot. And personally—I’m sort of an introvert artistically so I really need those relationships more than I often realize.

Thanks so much to Jeremy Casella for taking the time to talk with us. Visit the links below to keep up to date on his upcoming new E.P., and join us right back here in two weeks when Questions returns with Ten Out of Tenn founder, Trent Dabbs!

Jeremy Casella Official Site
Jeremy Casella on MySpace
Square Peg Alliance