A song a week: Elise Davis’ star rising | Jeff’s Band Notes

Elise Davis – Traveling Man
Elise Davis – What’s Real

By Jeff Sistrunk

Elise Davis never planned on having a prolific musical career. When she started playing guitar at 11 years old, she said she was petrified by the prospect of live performance.

Then a high school choir teacher encouraged Davis to step outside of her comfort zone by playing at a school chapel service, and from there, her career took off.

Since then, the Fayetteville-based singer-songwriter, who is also a senior creative writing major at the University of Arkansas, has performed in several bands (the first was a high school outfit called the Sandbox Lizards), been a semi- finalist in the annual Arkansas Times Musicians’ Showcase, played a gig at Little Rock’s high-profile Riverfest, and released three studio albums.

Davis shows no signs of slowing down.

Davis and her eponymous band – guitarist Jordan Trotter (whom Davis calls her “musical counterpart”), bassist Trevor Ware, and drummer Joshua Tate – have a packed schedule for early 2010.

They’ll be playing another Arkansas Times showcase Feb. 4 (you can visit The Arkansas Times’ Rock Candy blog for more  details) and have a slate of live dates lined up. In addition, Davis said she’s hoping to have her fourth album, tentatively titled “Blind Dreams,” completed in the spring for a summer release.

I recently sat down with Davis at the University of Arkansas student union to discuss her roots and songwriting process.

Tell me about how you first got into songwriting.

It’s kind of a funny story, the first time I ever wrote a song. One night, when I was 12, I got grounded by my parents and I ran away. They didn’t come after me because they knew I would just come right back home, which I did. So I came back home, grabbed my guitar and went to my room, and I wrote my first song that night. I never planned on singing and writing songs, but ever since then, I’ve been writing about one song a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.

Which singers have had the biggest impact on your style?

When I was in the fourth grade, I was Jewel for Halloween (laughs). I’ve always liked female singer-songwriters. I liked country when I was really little. When I started writing my own music, though, I was really into jam-band hippie music – Widespread Panic, Phish. Classic rock, too. As far as female musicians who have influenced me, I would say Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, and Jewel. I’m not ashamed to admit it. For some reason, Jewel gets a bad rap.

What influences your lyrics?

All sorts of things. When I’m in my room alone, I’m always thinking of melodies. I write a variety. Some days I’ll write songs about relationships that have never existed. Other times I’ll write about relationships I’ve actually been in, and about breakups and being in love, as cliché as that sounds. I have a mom with severe (multiple sclerosis). That influences my songwriting too, thinking about family and health.

What are some of your favorite gig experiences?

My favorite from recent memory was the first gig I played with my new band. Over Christmas break, we played at Juanita’s (in Little Rock) as the headliner and drew about 350 people. That’s the most I’ve gotten to a show. It was packed, and people were singing along to some of my old songs.

What’s the plan for recording the new album?

It’s hard, because I’m in school and the guys in the band all live in Little Rock, and the studio is in Nashville. The guy who’s going to engineer the album was the assistant producer on three Alison Krauss albums, which is awesome. We’re thinking we’re going to be in there in the end of February or beginning of March. In the meantime, we’re working on perfecting the material so we can just go in and lay it down.

Is the material on this CD a departure from your older music?

Yes. It’s a whole new sound. It’s a little more edgy, a little more rock. I think with every album I record, the older I get, and the more I play live, I learn more about what I can do and what sounds cool instrumentally or vocally. I’m really excited about this next album. I think it’s the most mature sounding of all my albums.

Does the new CD have a title yet?

I was thinking about using ”Blind Dreams.” Just the whole concept of blind people dreaming… I could go on for a whole other story about that. It’s just something I thought of, and I think I’m going to stick with it.

Who would you take on a dream tour?

That’s an interesting question. I’m in love with Brandi Carlisle – I’d love to tour with her. She’s a current influence of mine.

What does music mean to you, in one phrase?

I was thinking about this the other day. I get really anxious sometimes. I worry about everything, and it’s distracting. I’m very indecisive. I had a bad day with that the other day and I finally had a break to go in my room and sit and play guitar. I noticed for that hour or so that (playing) music is the only time I don’t care about anything else. It’s natural, and it’s been that way since I picked up a guitar. I would go crazy if I didn’t have music! (laughs)

Upcoming Live Dates

Feb. 11- George’s Majestic Lounge (w/full band)

March 14- Common Grounds (Elise Davis solo)

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