A full album release from Dustin Dale Gaspard gives off a warming and honest recollection of chapters in one man's life in the form of genuine country songs with a gorgeous array of instrumentation and plenty of heart to go around.
There is something about the Hoping Heave's Got a Kitchen album that makes you feel good. Songs make you want to get up and dance because you can't deny the grooves, the swagger and energy involved.
You get soul, country, rock, and the songs are lush and full with organs gospel style backup vocals, and twangy guitars performed with attitude.
These songs are bursting with everything you love about real authentic music that comers straight from the soul and it exudes character with every passing second.
All the players on this record have this mature musicianship but a youthful gusto that all becomes so addictive its nuts.
You also get beautifully woven ballads that give off classic songwriting styles and a heavily cinematic undertone.
The album and Gaspard himself have class. It's pristine and brimming with passion the entire time. You might come out of this a different person. You get lifted, you listen, you feel, and you think.
This was a game changer by the means of taking vintage songwriting approaches and making them all his own while putting everything he's got into each one. Attention to detail is all over this thing and it has one hell of an impact.
With the release of such a graceful record, we had to have a chat with Dustine Dale Gaspard to find out where all of this actually came from.
Here's what happened.
RAG: Okay so let's start with the Hoping Heaven Got a Kitchen album. This record has a genuine country soul to it! Where did this album come from?
-This album is all about my grandparents, my home and being raised in Louisiana. My mawmaw and pawpaw were so influential on my upbringing, my values and my musical taste, so l wanted to write a record dedicated to their legacy
RAG: So how did this all begin for you? When did you fall in love with music really?
-I remember dancing to music, and always enjoying melody and where it could bring me but when I fell in love with music, I was 17 at a hookah bar venue in Lafayette. There was a singer songwriter, just an acoustic guitar and his voice, telling stories about his tunes. And the magic it made me feel just had me wanting to recreate it and allow others to experience what I felt
RAG: Who is in your headphones right now?
-Honestly, I rarely listen to music and when I do is movie scores, or lo-fi. I hear songs constantly in my head, and play for a living so I prefer to have music playing that can drone in the background and subconsciously inspire
RAG: What inspires you to write a song?
-many things but often it’s one liners. Maybe I’ll read a book and it’ll trigger some philosophical metaphor, I’ll kind of swish some melody in my mouth until the inspiration takes audible form
RAG: I'm hearing some great styles on this song. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
-I’d say for this record, a ton of vintage soul artists like Bill Withers, and Percy Sledge with a ton of modern folk songwriters like Foy Vance and Ray Lamontagne
RAG: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
-I’m a bit of a fitness geek. I like feeling good and exercising. to keep the body right is good for the mind
RAG: Who are you listening to right now?
-Leif Volbek and Hiss Golden Messenger
RAG: Would you say live performances are a big part of what you do?
-absolutely, it’s in live performance that you can deliver the sincerity of the song and explain what made its heartbeat into existence. Until it’s performed live, it hasn’t become a song
RAG: This record feels like a big undertaking, is there any advice you'd give to other up and coming artists out there?
-keep all you’re references. You liked a vocal harmony from one song, and that weird sitar sound from another? KEEP TRACK. You enjoyed the drum crunch and syncopation from a vintage pop tune? KEEP TRACK. Reconciling all the influence and make the song every bit of what u want
RAG: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
-short burst tours throughout the US. Trying to expand out of the south. And expect to hear new songs at those shows
RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
-the significance of you listening to these songs will never be undervalued. These are not my songs; they are our songs. Just by giving them 10 genuine seconds I feel immense gratitude and I hope to be able to continue this vocation til I die
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