Bridging the gap between modern-day Americana, ’70s folksingers and country rebels, Swearingen and Kelli croon about endurance, addiction, and getting things right the second time around on their third album, Cold-Hearted Truth. It’s the pair’s most collaborative album to date, merging the talents of two artists – both of whom enjoyed acclaimed solo careers before partnering up for Swearingen & Kelli’s 2013 debut – into a singular sound filled with close harmonies, swooning pedal steel, gospel piano, analog production, and storytelling both autobiographical and character-driven.
Dan Locke- “Hot Southern Nights” sounds like it was fun to record. And the video also looked fun. How long did it take to record the video?
We worked with a great filmmaker, Frank Weysos. Unbelievably, we shot the entire video in just a few hours. There were no paid extras on the set…they were all our friends, which made the set comfortable and fun, which he captured on film. We actually recorded three videos with Frank and his crew in two days here in Nashville! We act
Why is the album titled Cold-Hearted Truth?
This was the first song we wrote for the record. It paved the way for the rest of the songs and somehow it just embodied the feel of the album.
AJ- let us talk about your Appalachian coal miner upbringing. How many of your relatives worked in the coal mines? And how hard was it for them?
My great grandfather worked in the mines and my father followed in his footsteps. My dad had to duck walk in 30-inch coal…luckily a smaller mine, unlike the others where he’d be 5 or 6 miles deep. I knew early on that I didn’t want anything to do with it. Bethlehem Steel owned those mines, and he was promoted up the ranks into an office, which eventually uprooted the family to Bethlehem, PA.
Jayne – You hijacked your dad’s guitar? Tell me the story behind that. And what kind of guitar was it? Do you still have it?
This guitar is a treasure to me – a Martin D18 that my dad wasn’t playing much when I was 15. I took that into my bedroom and that was that. I’ve written so many songs with it. I discovered communicating through song is the best way I communicate (I can be really bad at expressing myself in the day to day). My dad was happy I was learning. He was a football coach/teacher (yes football coach came first), and I think at one point in his youth wanted to pursue music. The passing of the torch happened. He would be thrilled today to know the Martin is on the cover and back of our new album.
Tell me about your first meeting?
Jayne- I remember hearing AJ playing at a songwriters club called The Hideaway in St. Pete FL, about 10 years ago, and thinking…if this guy hasn’t made it yet, I feel better about myself. He was this breath of fresh air.
AJ- We became fans of each other’s music. Not to sound cliche, but when we first sang with each other, it was this effortless blend. We felt drawn to each other on an unexplainable wavelength.
Since you are a couple, I am going to ask you about couples in music. I would like you to tell me something about each couple.
Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash – “We got married in a fever”, We even sing a version of “Jackson”. We love Johnny and June.
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham – They were a huge music inspiration to both of us. Lindsay is a great guitar player and over the years I really studied his fingerpicking.
You have toured both the United States and Canada. What is it like to tour Canada?
It’s expensive to drink alcohol! And in the winter it’s extremely cold. But the people are nice, and how about Toronto and Vancouver? Cool cities!
Since you are a couple how is it working together day and night?
We share the same mission and are artistically in line. We get along on the road because there is this oneness of purpose and a great outlay of energy between us and our fans. Squabbles don’t really come up on the road…we become professional musicians first…and treat each other that way. The show and the fans are our concern. When we are home, it gets a little more difficult when you have your hands on all the other tasks of the business and it gets a little crazy in 650 ft²!
AJ -Jayne goes to the coffee house across the street for a few hours a day for a little bit of headspace.
Jayne -AJ and our Bengal cat, Diesel…are really distracting (and cute). Interrupting thoughts and crawling all over my keyboard.
AJ – We are very connected for sure. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We work so well together on tour.
What is your favorite meal to have together at home after a long tour?
AJ- Green curry chicken.
Jayne – Ha…we did this separately and came up with the same answer…that Thai green curry chicken. And AJ is our chef. He cooks all gluten and dairy-free (yup…because of me and my Scandinavian gut) and it’s delicious. He forgot to mention the coconut milk ice cream that follows this meal!
When we’re home, we try to eat all organic as much as possible. Both of us are chocolate lovers…so there’s a lot of that consumed every day.
How do you stay healthy on tour?
AJ – She works out in the hotel gyms and I usually lay in bed…haha.
Jayne – I also spend a lot of time researching gluten-free restaurants in the area so I don’t end up looking pregnant on stage!
We are definitely those people on the airplane washing their hands a lot and looking around to see who is coughing near us. It’s the one time you wish you worked in a cubicle because it doesn’t matter what your voice sounds like if you get a cold! We always travel with zinc, vitamin C and elderberry lozenges. It’s almost impossible to be a singer and not be a little bit of a hypochondriac when you’re on tour.
Anything in closing you like to say to your fans?
They’re the energetic cornerstone to the creation of our art. That first cathartic outpour of a song is the first layer, but the fans come next in connecting with it and allowing us graciously to share it with them. It’s a cyclical thing!
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