Greg Copeland has a comfortable yet candid way with words, and his new EP, Empire State, is a welcome addition to his catalog of music. He has a natural ability to conjure up spare, graceful melodies and evocative lyrics that resemble plainspoken poetry. His genuine sentiments and strength of character, together with the intricate nuances of these musical compositions, create a vividly illustrative sound that sheds light on difficult circumstances.
The collection of songs exudes a sense of urgency and presence. Empire State takes place right in the present. It opens with "Boon Time" on a seemingly quiet note before quickly turning into a wake-up call with the lyrics, "gunshot ringtone / honey what do we do now?" It feels like the opening scene of a movie, foreshadowing violence in what Copeland calls "our rude political awakening." The subtleties of the percussion and slide guitar mirror the twists and turns of fate: "Boon time, bound to come and go."
"We the Gathered" could fit well as a soundtrack for a Cormac McCarthy story, with its foreboding quality and haunting lyrics: "From the cardboard tents to the city on the hill, they say you better surrender, like hell I will, nation in pieces, people in pain, systematic bullsh*t, thick as sugarcane." The vivid imagery continues: "There will be razors in the reeds, choppers overhead, Maseratis spinning in the riverbed / somebody’s suitcase scattered in the vines, with the snakes, and the gators, and the valentines / You’re going to want that machete / Put down your heavy load.”
Greg describes the inspiration behind "We the Gathered" to Glide Magazine: “This song is a kind of hymn from about two years from now. Hymns are especially weird. I would bet that, at least in their original words, the world’s religious texts, the regional handbooks, are all pretty much alike: Just be kind. That’s about it. Don’t take more than your share, and don’t hurt anybody. Then you look around, and it’s like you’re speaking Navajo.”
In "4:59:59," the protagonist digs ditches as a way out of addiction, earning respect for hard work: “Oxy cotton candy owned me, flesh and bone / I burned other people's bridges / so I could be alone / It took a worn-out pick and shovel / for me to find a stepping stone.”
On "Coyotes," the fourth track, coyotes recorded by Copeland in his backyard literally speak for themselves, setting the scene for the EP’s title track, which closes out the project. "Empire State" tells the story of a songwriter who left her boyfriend, New York City, and the American Empire all at once—bearing the scars to prove it. She made up her mind about what she wants and simply does it. “It's just baby talk / and baby steps / until it comes down / to the Silvertone / and your fingertips / Everybody's got their own little jukebox, this is mine.”
Copeland’s characters and narratives "volunteer" themselves to be revealed through song, often recurring throughout his music. Like a sentinel keeping watch, his songs act as a report to the listener, with inspiration bubbling up from within. Copeland says, “When the odometer clicked over to 2000, I somehow started writing again. Don't know why, I just had to, and the three subsequent recordings are what matter to me most at this point.”
After a 26-year hiatus (long story) since his 1982 debut, Revenge Will Come, Copeland returned to the studio and reemerged with his second release, Diana and James (released in 2008 on Jackson Browne’s label Inside Recordings). This inspired new writing, which led to his third album, The Tango Bar, in 2020.
Empire State is out now, released on September 6, on Copeland’s own independent label, Franklin & Highland Recordings, and internationally through Hemifrån/Paraply Records (non-U.S. territories).
Both Empire State and The Tango Bar were produced by Tyler Chester (Madison Cunningham, Sara Bareilles, Margaret Glaspy) and feature longtime collaborator Greg Leisz on pedal steel and mandocello, among other instruments. Chester, a multiple Grammy-nominated producer, session musician, multi-instrumentalist, and composer, also plays keys throughout Empire State and bass on the first track. Returning from previous albums to join them are longtime Jackson Browne sideman Val McCallum on electric and rubber bridge slide guitar, Jay Bellerose (Joe Henry) on drums and percussion, and Jennifer Condos (Joe Henry) on bass. Sara Watkins joins on fiddle for a track.
In an interview with Medium’s Donna Block about Empire State, the inspiration behind his music, and his return after a long hiatus, Copeland was asked what he wished more people understood about songwriting. He said, “It's mostly a question of just truly showing up. You’re as much a receiver as you are a sender. You get what you’re willing to receive.”
For more information, visit www.gregcopelandmusic.com & www.facebook.com/GregCopelandMusic.
