SXSW Interview: Paisley Fields

Another week, another week closer to our favorite week of the year as music fans… SXSW. We’ve still got some time to prepare, but as usual, we are going to get the previews going super early so we can fit them in prior to the festival. Today I have another interview from Brooklyn based artist James Wilson and his project known as Paisley Fields. Please hit the jump for responses.

ATH: Whats the name of the band/group? Where are you from?

JW: Paisley Fields – I split my time between Nashville & Brooklyn.

ATH: Describe your groups sound.

JW: Country with a good dose of honky tonk piano.

ATH: What was your most recent release? Any planned releases from 2020?

JW: Our new song, “Ride Me Cowboy”, will be released next week. We have more music coming out later this year.

ATH: For most SXSW sets, you get 30 minutes to leave a lasting impression. Whats your plan of attack? You have a set list mapped out yet?

JW: We aim to put on the best show we can every time we are on stage. Our plan is to play our best songs and do our usual honky tonk thing.

ATH: Lets say your band has been booked an official showcase at a pop up venue somewhere in the middle of 6th street. The lineup features thrash metal, hip-hop, spoken word, and you. The sound is horrible, the lineup is not your style, and the crowd is growing ancy. How would your band deal with such a situation?

JW: I’ve played to many an antsy crowd when I was working piano bars in NYC. Confidence and a great song usually does the trick.

ATH: There are tons of bands coming into town. Of the 1000+ bands coming into town, who would you ideally like to play with. Which band friends will be here?

JW: Mercy Bell, Secret Emchy Society, Mya Byrne, Jason Hawk Harris, Pokey LaFarge, Lizzie & the Makers, Mal Blum, Margo Price, The HawThornes, Kelsey Waldon, Vandoliers, Sarah Shook, Lee Baines, & lots more. There are so many good bands playing this year.

ATH: What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?

JW: We’ve been listening to a lot of murder podcasts.

ATH: Describe your perfect festival, real or not? Whos headlining? Wheres it take place? Etc.

JW: A country music festival that features a lot of queers, women, & people of color.

ATH: Whats on the bands rider? If were bringing you food and booze, what can we bring you?

JW: Good cabernet & a charcuterie plate.

ATH: The band gets to create their own taco pop-up shop at SXSW? Whats the name, and what sort of tacos will you have? Any sides?

JW: I’m from the midwest so I love a walking taco. For those unfamiliar, it’s taco ingredients in a small bag of chips; usually Doritos or Fritos. Honky Tonkin Taco’s has a nice ring to it.

Thanks again James!

Paisley Fields currently only has an official showcase scheduled for Thursday, March 19th at Beerland.

And here is a stream of Paisley Field’s last album Glitter and Sawdust:

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