Take inspiration when it hits you

Cris Cohen: In terms of songwriting, you had an interesting line where you said, “One of my favorite things about songwriting is that you have to keep your eyes open and take inspiration when it hits you.” What have been some of the awkward moments when inspiration hit, in terms of songwriting, and how did you deal with it?

Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers: You have to be willing to make a fool out of yourself. Just yesterday I was like… we’re visiting this community out here in Colorado. I had an idea for a way of singing a song in my head, so I had to go out and walk around the neighborhood and sing it out loud. You get funny looks and things like that. I think, in general -- and my wife is well-accustomed to it now -- it’s just kind of a glazing over, when something is in your head.

She’s like, “You’re thinking about a song.”

And I’m like, “Yeah, I have to go write this down or record this on my phone or something.”
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