April 10, 2008 issue
Tift Merritt Writes Her Ticket Home to Carolina
Story by David Brewer
After she won the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest in 2000, Raleigh native and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt connected with the manager of alt. country darling Ryan Adams, began touring extensively outside her home state and was on her way to becoming one of the most successful artists to emerge from the Triangle’s fertile music scene. Hot on the heels of the release of Another Country, her third solo release and first for Fantasy Records, Merritt and her band are set to return to the event that helped send them around the world.
“The MerleFest contest is the only contest I’ve ever entered,” said Merritt from her van en route to perform in Chicago. “It was the first time I received a lot of attention outside North Carolina.”
Written largely while the singer-songwriter escaped the touring life in Paris, Another Country is an introspective and reflective 11-song gem that relies on Merritt’s conservative melodies and meticulously crafted narratives to engage the listener during repeated spins. While the instrumentation is classically simple in its approach, it’s the flawless execution of the arrangements that buoy Merritt’s compositions with bubbling energy and lilting grace.
“These songs have an expansive quality to them and they come alive on stage,” said Merritt. While 2005’s Tambourine signaled a shift for the artist away from a staid strummer to a sultry soul-rock show woman, Merritt is finding new and exciting challenges in the live presentation of Another Country. “[Playing these songs] is a much more emotional experience, which leaves you a different kind of drained, but also invigorated.”
Currently on a world tour to support the new CD that will take Merritt and her bandmates all over the United States and throughout Europe, the artist is fresh off an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and looking forward to returning to Wilkes Community College and parking the van at MerleFest for couple of days.
“It’s such a wonderful event that I’m really just looking forward to seeing so many great acts and bumping into other musicians,” said Merritt.
According to Merritt, another untold joy of playing at music festivals is having kindred spirits who simply understand life on the road and enjoy swapping war stories.
“When you’re on tour, you’re sort of in this band bubble,” said Merritt. “You’re just keeping such a grueling schedule. It’s such a mad dash marathon.”
As if globetrotting weren’t enough, Merritt is also hosting The Spark, a monthly interview program that airs online, as well as on NPR station KRTS 93.5 from Marfa, Texas. The show allows Merritt to chat with artists—both musical and non-musical—about what inspires them to make great art.
While many musicians always seem to be anxious to move on to their next big project or record, Merritt is firmly entrenched in Another Country, ready to sing and play its songs for all who will listen.
“I don’t know what comes next,” said Merritt. “I’m just going to enjoy this one. I feel very attached to Another Country. I put myself into that record very deeply.”
For more info on Merritt, click to www.tiftmerritt.com.
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