Interview: Erath Old Completes His Long-Awaited Album “Sooner or Later”
Singer-songwriter Erath Old spent the last five years through hell and back to get to where he’s at today. With that being said, he’s completed his long-awaited project, “Sooner or Later,” available everywhere now.
You can read out the exclusive interview with Erath below.
What’s the inspiration behind your upcoming release? I originally wrote the song Sooner or Later, which comes out Friday October 15th, to encourage a friend of mine who had just overcome a huge battle in her life. It had actually taken her several years to get her act together and she was moving to Las Vegas to be on a TV show as a hairstylist/cosmetologist. So the idea of her packing her life up, heading west, toward the sunlight, and chasing her dreams was huge to me. It inspired me and encouraged me. I knew that Sooner or later whatever it was I was fighting for, if I didn’t quit I would eventually get there. I would find that thing I was looking for. It may not look the way I wanted it to, but, nonetheless, I would get there.
What’s your production process like? What’s it like making the song? It’s actually different now, but at the time of recording Sooner or Later which is actually the title track to a full album, I was going through a huge transition in my life. I was going through a separation with my wife, struggling to stay sober and trying to figure out what my next steps were. I was in the middle of trying to get back up on that proverbial horse. I wanted to pursue my life long dream in a new way, not knowing that God was going to use it to teach me to get over myself. When it came to getting these songs produced I knew I wanted to work with new people. People who I thought, at the time, were probably outside of my ability to work with. I wanted new experiences and I wanted new people around me. I found a great producer, Josh Bright, who was on his way up and is based out of Boaz, AL. He works in Nashville a lot. We teamed up with Grady Saxman and Sol Philcox and had several other cats play on the Sooner or Later song and album. I’ve never been that out of control haha. I personally wanted to do something where it forced me to let go. I wanted to experience collaboration. What I learned, after I got over myself, was that collaboration is beautiful, it’s necessary and if you want to be your best self it’s almost always going to involve someone else. Iron sharpen iron!
Who are your biggest influences? I’m a fan of anything that moves me, whether it’s a lyric, a melody, or just a groove. My tastes have changed over time just like a lot of us probably. I love the attitude of Heartland rock, think Mellencamp, Springsteen, or Tom Petty, but I also like the stories in country music. I love what pop music allows a melody to do. My favorite bands have been and are Black Hawk, Garth Brooks, The Eagles, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, Goo Goo Dolls, Cheap Trick, Greenday, Randy Rogers Band, Eli Young Band, Keith Urban, Butch Walker… It just depends, haha I’m a lover of good songs. I mean if someone played a CCR or Fleetwood Mac song I’d say it’s my favorite song. Then maybe Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis or The House That Built Me, Miranda Lambert. I mean I can’ t make up my mind who my favorite is ha ha I think Brothers Osborne is the shit!
In 5 years, where do you see your music career? Well, 5 years ago I started the journey of creating the Sooner or Later album. Most of that journey has been about me growing as a person not just as an artist. I am now finally ready to be the artist I’ve been trying to be my whole life. We’ve played 250 plus shows a year and I’ve written a lot since the inception of this album especially through the pandemic. I’ve surrounded myself with the greatest people, this life has offered me so far, personally and professionally. But I can tell you that 5 years from now, God willing, I’m going to put out 10 times as much music and play to 100 times as many people.
