Hailing from Bucks County, PA (not too far from Philadelphia), R.P. Mixon releases his second single, "Shades," a country-infused psychedelic love song with a Jerry Garcia-inspired guitar style and hints of Country & Western twang in his singing voice. The song begins with a groovy guitar riff that sits neatly between early '70s Jerry and Déjà Vu-era CSNY, cascading into an Americana-Southern-Rock vocal that would feel at home on stage supporting Josh Ritter or Jason Isbell at the Troubadour.
Grateful Web sat down with R.P. to discuss the new song, his love of early '70s Grateful Dead, how opening up songs and improvising like the Dead inspires him, and what listeners can expect next from the band.
Grateful Web: "Shades" is a "psychedelic country love song" -- can you tell us what inspired you to infuse a country love song with psychedelic guitars?
R.P. Mixon: I credit the Grateful Dead with introducing me to great classic country music. Songs like “The Race Is On,” “El Paso,” “Mama Tried,” “Me & Bobby McGee,” and even “You Ain’t Woman Enough” hooked me in, and I began to explore the catalogs of all the great country artists of the '60s and early '70s. The intro guitar riff for my song, "Shades," was inspired by "Dark Star," and I wanted to write and record a song that captured my musical soul.
GW: We can hear a lot of Jerry Garcia in your guitar playing. Can you tell us how Jerry inspires the opening guitar riff and how that motif plays throughout the song?
R.P.M: My first introduction to Jerry was an Egypt tape, and his style of playing, tone, and note selection took me to places I never knew existed in music. The first riff is more of a psychedelic hook inspired by "Dark Star," but the guitar that weaves throughout the song is more reminiscent of how Garcia would add flavor and play around the lyrics and vocal melodies. I would also say that I am a huge Dickie Betts fan, who was also inspired by Garcia, and there’s a fair amount of Betts-inspired flavor in the guitar that plays through the whole song.
GW: We understand you're a Deadhead! Which Grateful Dead songs inspire your songwriting? Which is your favorite era of the Dead?
R.P.M: I don’t know that specific songs directly inspire my songwriting, but the concept of opening up songs and taking them to different places really inspires me. Some of the longer songs on my record will show some of that improv ethic. My favorite era is probably 1972-1974, where the most exploration seemed to take place in some of my favorite songs like "Dark Star," "Playin’ in the Band," "Eyes of the World," and "Bird Song," but they had some mind-blowing and iconic performances in all of the songs from that era.
GW: The lyrics in "Shades" seem to be a straightforward declaration of love. Tell us a bit about what inspired this song and how you juxtaposed the Country/Americana vocals with the psychedelic guitars.
R.P.M: I am a very plain-spoken lyricist. In "Shades," I just put it all out there, pouring out my love without trying to be clever. The music has always been a means to create that organic, earthy vibe that sets the stage for the lyrics. I’ve always been a bit of a hippie at heart, and so this is also my hippie love song.
GW: In addition to Jerry, we can hear Ruston Kelly, Josh Ritter, and Jason Isbell in your songs. Is it fair to say that R.P. Mixon's songs are Country/Americana/Roots Rock like the aforementioned songwriters? What do you feel are some similar threads between you and those songwriters?
R.P.M: I appreciate those references. All of those writers are unpretentious and respected, and their vocal approach is sincere and soulful. I hope that’s what people say of me and my writing and singing. I think we could play in the same venue on the same night, and the crowd would find us in a similar vein.
GW: You are from Bucks County, PA, not far from Philadelphia. How does your hometown influence and inspire you as a songwriter?
R.P.M: Bucks County isn’t geographically far from Philly, but it is a world away in terms of feel and culture. Much of Bucks County is rural, more laid back, and a whole lot less gritty, with wide open spaces, forests, and farms. To me, it feels like a bridge to a more southern rock sound, which has definitely influenced my music.
GW: We understand that you will be releasing a full-length album in the not-so-distant future. What can we look forward to on an LP from R.P. Mixon?
R.P.M: This record is going to be a musical journey. You will see a depth of writing that goes deeper and deeper into my influences and into my sensibilities. My first two singles, “Thank You,” and now “Shades,” were released to set up the rest of the 12 songs that will feel a lot like dropping a needle on a double album from 1973. It’s been a long time in the making and will be worth a serious listen. Tons of '70s-style guitars, keys, and big vocals.
GW: You've got some interesting guitars – they look like Telecasters, but they've been modified. What's important in a guitar's build that helps capture the sound that defines R.P. Mixon?
R.P.M: As a guitar player, I love to create my own instruments. I am not infatuated with super-expensive vintage equipment. I am more interested in curating sounds that suit what I am trying to say musically. The two Telecasters are strikingly different: one with '50s-era Gibson-style humbuckers, and the other has a brighter '50s classic Telecaster tone.
Listen to “Shades” here.
R.P. Mixon will be releasing his debut album in the fall of 2024. He’s supporting Joe Pug on August 18th at 118 North in Wayne, PA, and will be adding more dates throughout the year. For more information on the music and tour dates, be sure to follow him via Instagram (@rp_mixon) and find him on Spotify.
