(Photo Credit - David Lemon)
We had the opportunity to interview Cowboy Diplomacy who just premiered their new music video for their single "Mountain Man" with Alt Revue this week! If you haven't checked out the video, do it! It's a great track and a funny video, but first read our interview with Austin's own Cowboy Diplomacy!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I started playing music with my best friends in high school and have been playing ever since. Never really took it seriously until Brad (bass) and I decided to move to Austin and really try and pursue a career in music. We've been in Austin a little over 4 years now."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"The writing process for me personally can happen anytime anywhere. Most of the time being by myself in a quiet house on the couch with a notebook and my acoustic guitar is how it goes down. But sometimes I’ll be at work and humming a melody or making up lyrics in my head, and immediately write them down so I don’t forget. Long drives also come with lots of inspiration. Voice memos while driving are so clutch. Then sometimes all the boys are together in the rehearsal space and someone comes up with a catchy lick or lyric. We all just feed of that and the energy in the room, and 10 minutes later we got a song."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Dallas Greene, Kaleo, The Allman Brothers, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, and many others." 4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"We love Fender guitars and amps. Also use Gibson, reverb pedals, distortion. Just straight rock n' roll."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"The vibes at our show are typically electric and high energy. We enjoy the people when they come out. And a great mix on and off stage."
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"I want the public to know that our music comes straight from the heart. There is no cookie cutter bullshit. It’s real. It’s emotional. When I sing my songs it comes out exactly how it comes out. The reason I like to write music is because I’m not the best communicator, so writing songs helps me get out what I’m actually trying to say."
7. Can you tell us about the inspiration for your “Mountain Man” music video?
"Our buddy Geoff Gan who directed our "Follow Me" music video, came up with the main idea. Alex Chod directed and produced it. Brad, Alex, and I all came up with some ideas as well. The inspiration is being broke and not having enough money to take a girl out for the night. The boys and I take to the streets of South Congress in Austin to raise money by busking, drawing caricatures, giving tarot card readings, writing poems, and selling doobs."
8. Can you tell us about the writing, recording, and promotion process for your debut album Burn Down the Road?
"Matt Leslie, Brad Bentley, Philip DeVries, and myself all made this thing happen. We recorded in Austin with Chris 'Frenchie' Smith at The Bubble for a couple of songs, and finished up at Studio 601 with Eric Harrison and Michael Ingber. It’s rock. It’s roll. It's in your face. And it was a pleasure putting it all together with the boys."