Western Swing Authority (WSA) Unveils New Album, 12 to 6 Central
Western Swing Authority, the seven-piece band comprised of some of the country’s most sought-after touring and studio musicians has unveiled their album, 12 to 6 Central.
Produced by Grammy-winning producer and nine-time JUNO award winner Colin Linden, this record showcases the variety of musical personalities and stylistic approaches of each member in a raw and honest style. 12 to 6 Central boasts writing credits from more band members than ever before. The result is an emotional ride that is engaging in every way. From true heartbreak to upbeat and carefree. Inviting the listener to re-live these songs over and over again.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Shane Guse: My name is Shane Guse and I’m a part of a group called The Western Swing Authority. WSA started as a collaboration amongst a group of musicians who saw a lack of space in the Canadian music landscape for a style of music they loved and then went ahead and created that space. I am the founder of the group and Stacey and I steer the ship, but we’ve all been together as a band for a long time. Everyone in the band is a well-known musician and has played with several well-known, some iconic, Canadian artists. However, what we do together, is something unique. Western swing music is a hybrid of country, swing, blues, and jazz, so it leaves a lot of doors open for us musically and we can draw on everyone’s unique strengths. Some of us grew up playing country, bluegrass, and old-time music, while others grew up playing R&B, blues, and jazz. It makes for an eclectic mix and sound. We have been together recording and touring for almost 15 years now, always present, and doing our thing just under the surface of the mainstream. Slowly building our following and often being used to back several mainstream artists on stage or in the studio. I like to think we’re the most well-known band you’ve never heard of.
Stacey Lee Guse: Stacey Lee Guse, lead vocalist and 1/7 of The Western Swing Authority.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
Stacey: This new album of music is a bit of a coming-of-age for the band. 15 years together, 5th full project…a world emergency weathered. We just wanted to create something new. Something hopeful and fresh and perhaps a little unexpected. This collection really shows the diverse sum of all of our parts.
Shane: “12 to 6 Central” is a wonderful snapshot of the band and where we are right now. We have four previous albums that we are very proud of, but we wanted to do something a little different this time. That started with connecting with Colin Linden and him coming in to produce. We wanted an album that captured the various musical personalities in the band and something that would push us a little outside our comfort zone. Something that makes you feel like you’re sitting in the room with us while you’re listening. I feel as though we achieved all these things and more. Those who know us will find this album both familiar and surprising. I feel this album has more emotional variety to it. There are songs that are fun, and there are songs that downright heartbreaking. That’s the goal with music. You want the listener to feel something and connect with every song.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
Shane: I can’t say we have a definitive process. Every song is different. Sometimes we are co-writing with other people, so you will structure things a little more than if it is just Stacey and I. You’ll take on a bit of that person’s process. So, when we write with Jason McCoy or Carrie DeMaeyer, we will set a time, and sit down together in a more traditional Nashville style writing session. However, when it’s just Stacey and I, it can happen at any time, and it may just continue in bits and pieces throughout the day while we are dealing with kids or having dinner, etc. Often, we will start with an idea that was hatched a long time ago, that we never elaborated on. Stacey will often come up with a melody and just a few lines that suggest the theme of the song, and then we will sit and carve it out together. She is very clever and comes up with great melodic lines. She wrote a song called Spring that is my favourite cut on the record. It’s beautiful and melancholy, and I’m sure came from a place of longing as we were hunkered down during the pandemic. Jimmy sent a few lines of text to us one night that he thought might make a good song, and we wrote The Day That You Left Me based on what came to mind in those few lines. We used to have a picture hanging on the wall in our kitchen of a chicken that said happy chickens lay more eggs. I thought that sounded like something Louis Jordon would make a song out of. So, we did, but the original version of that song was heavy swing and ended up being more of a chicken pickin tune in the end.
Stacey: There isn’t only one way that it works, thankfully. Sometimes it’s a melody and a few lyrics… ( like Spring… that one was floating around for years before I finished it) Sometimes it’s just the idea or story of the song… like The Day You Left Me and This Old bar from our last album. Sometimes it’s a groove or signature musical lick. The fiddle line at the beginning of The day that you left me is something I have been humming since king before COVID… I never knew where it should land until Jimmy brought those lyrics to the table. It’s really exciting when two ideas marry so well together.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
Stacey: We have three CD release events coming up which will showcase the new album in its full form, and tell some of the stories behind the songs and how they were recorded. We are heading to Austin TX, in Feb as we are included in an award show celebration down there, and will be in a Q&A session for an amazing documentary on Western Swing Music. Spring and summer will be busy with more shows for sure…
Shane: Playing live is what we love best and that is what we are doing right now to promote the album. Our immediate release shows will have us playing the entire album from top to bottom, along with a collection of some past favourites. This month we are playing throughout southern ON, and also making a trip to Austin Texas where Stacey is nominated for an Ameripolitan Award for best western swing female vocalist. While we are in Austin, we’ll be promoting the new album and taking part in a Q&A session in conjunction with the screening of a new film documenting the history of western swing music. You may even catch a quick glimpse of WSA in the film. It’s very exciting. We have more shows coming up throughout the year and are booking more even as I type this.
The video for Happy Chickens is already out, but if you haven’t seen it, I hope you’ll go and have a look. It’s an animated video created by Italian video director Stefano Bertelli, who has done videos for artists like Mothe Mother, The Barenaked Ladies, and Frank Sinatra. It’s a really fun ride.
We will also once again be taking part in this year’s Country Music Association of Ontario awards where we will play a song from the new album and also back all of the other artists on the show.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
Shane: I’m not sure about turning points. Every gig, album, etc is an opportunity. Although, I feel like we are sitting on the crest of a significant turning point right now. As for highlights, there have been many.
For me, it’s been getting to meet some of my musical heroes. People who I may never have met if not for this band. We played in Austin once and Ray Benson (of Asleep at the Wheel) was there. After we finished Chappy came to me and said, “I just walked off stage and bumped into Ray Benson, and he wants to talk to you.” I got to meet Ray, have a full-on conversation and later we even ended up having him guest on a recording with us.
One time we got called to play at a birthday party for Bob Doyle. Our friend Jimmy Mattingly, who plays fiddle for Garth Brooks called me one night and said that they were throwing a party for Bob’s birthday, and he wanted a western swing band. They had asked The Time Jumpers to do it but they were already booked, so Jimmy recommended us! We ended up driving down to Nashville to play a private party for Bob and a guest list that included Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Steve Wariner. When you grew up hearing these people on the radio your whole life and seeing them play the biggest venues in North America, it’s an incredible experience to have them in the audience listening and dancing to you. They were the best audience too because they really got the music we play. They knew ALL the old songs. It was a blast and a night I will never forget.
One highlight I WANT to experience with WSA is to play the Grand Ole Opry together. We have played lots of great shows together, but that one is a major bucket list item for sure. To play that stage, with this group of friends, playing our music, would be a dream come true. Something I would love to see happen for all of us.
Stacey: I have been lucky enough to have a long enough career in this business to have been through many iterations over the years…many different paths have been forged but most memorable with WSA was certainly being asked to play for Major Bob Doyle’s 70th birthday party a few years ago down in Nashville. Looking out at the crowd and seeing Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Wariner and many other industry giants booping along to our version of Western Swing Music was surreal, to say the least.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
Stacey: Oh goodness… I think there are so many great artists doing great things now, not only in the Western Swing vein. Jake Vaadeland, Mallory Johnson, Callie McCullough… all are putting out great-sounding roots music. The Hello Darlins, and the Red Hill Valleys both are super cool groups riding the trad wave…Olivia Mae Graham is a wonderful new artist telling the truth in her songwriting… there is no way to mention it all, but I can’t wait to experience it. Nick Campbell is a cool new roots player just getting started…so exciting to consider where it’s all headed.
Shane: The first name that comes to mind is Jake Vaadeland. I don’t know Jake personally, but I love what he is doing musically, and he really seems to be catching fire. I really appreciate an artist who moves forward with a strong sense of where the music they play comes from, and he definitely does. If you don’t know his name already, you will.
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