Micah P. Hinson

Tue 11th Nov, 2008 in Features

Some singers have the right mix of tragedy, romance and abuse. We instantly think of now legendary icons like Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin and Towns Van Zant. They lived hard, drank hard, smelt the oil grease of the road and even served time.

So in this digital age it seems almost inconceivable to imagine such characters still in existence. Yet out of the isolation of Abilene, Texas, emerges Micah P. Hinson – a young man of only 25 who has managed to squeeze in some jail time, homelessness, stints in mental institutions, heartbreak and drug addiction all in the space of a few wide-eyed years.

However, it is music that has been the Texan’s saving grace. The world weary singer’s debut album The Gospel of Progress ranked in many UK music magazine’s top 10 favourite albums of 2004. His second album The Opera Circuit was hailed as a – œtour de force’ in the US. This is music born from honest human suffering. However, even with the struggle of back pain and the exhaustion of touring, Hinson continues to deliver old world country hymns and orchestral ballads with a whiskey-aged voice far beyond his own years. Micah was gracious enough to answer a few questions after recently recovering from illness. Bless him.

You’re about to release your third full-length studio album The Red Empire Orchestra on Full time Hobby. How do you feel the music has differed since recording Gospel?
I think the music is generally the same, while still moving onward. My records will always be about life – whether that be sad or happy times. I suppose the main difference with this one is the fact that, now I am married, I feel I can speak of love as something I know and not something as imaginary as it once was. I believe fully that it is easier to sing and write about things you know and know completely.

What was the creative process with your latest album and who was responsible for producing and engineering?
I wrote The Empire over the span of a year. I took off and planted my feet in Austin, Texas with my now wife. Some things in my life needed to be changed and overhauled. So writing this album and recording these songs reflect that time in my life. The majority of the recordings were done at home, before I even went into a studio. The studio was for re-recording things and making it move a step up. I got help for this through a pal, J. Congleton – a real smart lad with amazing ears.

As a singer/songwriter, what drives you to write such heartfelt tunes? Do you always write from experience?
To me, it only makes sense to write from the heart. I can’t really see any other point. Music, to me, is about becoming a better person. By writing songs that deal with such personal things, things and situations can be overcome. I generally always write from personal experience. Some of my songs do deal with things outside my general experience, but they still deal with the human condition. I find this important.

I heard Opera Circuit was recorded at your home while you were recovering from major back surgery. What happened with the back and how is it now? Does this affect your performance?
The back is still a fucking mess. Nothing has changed and the surgery was a failure. It’s a very frustrating thing for me, so I keep on the meds and pray to the gods every night for some peace, but honestly it doesn’t come. I have to be aware of what I am doing with my back, so yes it affects my performance and touring. It’s really just a matter of being as calm as possible.

I have also read that during your rehabilitation you were forced to take prescription painkillers, something that was once a demon in your past. I can imagine this was a difficult time for you. How did you get yourself through that tour?
Oh, the drugs have not gone away. It is clearly something I need to be able to live a somewhat normal life. Pain clogs the mind and I need mine clear to work and live. I don’t have a manager or tour manager or any of these things, so I have to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When listening to your music I get a sense of nostalgia. There’s an old world feel to the music, as if Johnny Cash or Hank Williams are going to leap from the stereo waving their fists and ranting about hard times. I believe you’ve done some hard times in the past yourself. Is this where that authentic sound of yours comes from?
I suppose so. However, I didn’t grow up listening to Cash or Williams, so I ain’t sure where the sound comes from. I suppose it is hard times. I also suppose it’s just from being from the south. There’s a lot of good spirits around here and a lot of good things to experience.

Micah P. Hinson And The Red Empire Orchestra is out now on Pod through Inertia.