By Rick Teverbaugh
February 21, 2008 06:45 pm
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Indiana ’s own Carrie Newcomer has never been afraid to speak her mind.
While that might be true of many artists, it is the manner in which she speaks and the commonality of her message that continues to set this artist apart as she releases her 11th Rounder album, “The Geography of Light.”
This new album, with 14 songs all penned by Newcomer, has already been receiving critical and fan praise.
“I’m very excited about this album,” said Newcomer in a phone interview from her home in Bloomington. “I think it is my strongest work to date. I think it is wonderful to have a trail of 11 albums. This one is close to my heart. I believe it is a warm album.”
That isn’t exactly a new feeling for Newcomer of her body of work.
She grew up in Elkhart and credits being from this state as one determining factor in forging her sound.
“I feel like I’ve embraced my Hoosier roots,” she said. “I’ve come to see myself as kind of a nice Midwestern lady. I’m the one who brings the casserole when someone’s sick.”
Her music has always been at its most absorbing when she is finding important meanings in everyday occurrences.
“That’s just how I experience life,” said Newcomer. “We’re such busy people in our daily lives. When we peel back the layers of distraction, we find what’s important and fulfilling in our lives. I love walking in the woods with my dogs and having lunch with my daughter.”
The disc opens with a tune, “There is a Tree,” that explores her belief in the power of song and its value within the spirit of each soul. It has as its chorus: “There is a tree beyond the world/In its ancient roots a song is curled/I’m the fool whose life’s been spent/Between what’s said and what is meant.”
Some might think it a tremendous task to say something compelling and important within the limitations of a song format. Newcomer isn’t one of those people.
“I think of it as the joy of writing that way,” she said. “There’s something about that compact format that I really love. Every line has to lead to the next. If you lose the listener for one line, you’ve lost them for five. But it can’t just be an outline because the listener wants more than that.”
She tries hard not to just recreate what she’s done before when crafting a new release.
“I think there are two themes in this album,” said Newcomer. “First of all, I love the musicians I’ve worked with on this album. This album is a bit more acoustic than the one before it.
“But a second theme is about asking good questions. This album is a little more up front spiritually. There’s always a spiritual content in my work because there is in my life. I think people are ready for that conversation.”
But that spiritual feeling is very nondenominational from a religious perspective. She also doesn’t want to cross into a territory where the listener feels a sermon coming on.
“I try to write in a way that’s inclusive,” she said. “That’s an important line for me not to cross. I think I’m one of a growing number of artists who don’t put sacred themes in such a context.”
Newcomer is hitting the road to support this new disc and late next month will have a album release party in Indianapolis at the Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St. She will be playing on March 22 at 7 p.m. in quartet form.
Tickets are $15 and $20. More information can be obtained by calling (317) 636-9378 or at the following Web site: www.eiteljorg.org/ejm_WhatsHappening/SpecialEvents/details.asp?id.
“There’s nothing like a live performance,” said Newcomer. “I get to experience an audience very personally. An audience will always send something back. I’m lucky because I get to play college workshops, Borders (book stores), churches and some event halls.”
While Newcomer has been very popular by a folksinger’s standards, she hasn’t crossed over to the point where she can no longer play the smaller venues.
“I’ve never been in this to be the next Britney Spears,” said Newcomer. “If I did I probably would have dropped this a long time ago. I’m grateful for my fans and it makes sense for me and the type of music I’m playing.”
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