Y’all already know how special this interview is for us! THP 🤝 Mitch Rowland forever! Getting to sit down with Mitch ahead of the Texas dates of his North American Tour was incredible. We loved getting the chance to pick his brain about his debut album, Come June, his relationship with Erskine Records, and also getting to hear about the musicians that he brought on the road with him.
The Interview
So many songs from your album Come June are emotional-filled expressions of chapters of your life. How would you define your current chapter? What would it sound like?
Well, I think the album was made in many moments of stillness, which is not the case right now. There was some stressful stuff going on the other day, but someone said to me, “You’re very calm right now.”
And I think over the years, my wife and I have managed to stay calm through worst-case scenarios, which was not the worst-case scenario, but I think what I realized was that must be a skill I’ve adapted. But I think at the same time if I’ve written those songs during calm times, I quite like the busyness as well. I don’t know if I’m sitting down writing as much music, but it’s fun to have three shows in a row every so often. So, kind of keeps you in a groove.
You’ve previously spoken about your intentions and hopes for how your music transitions from the studio, to a record, to the stage. Which song, so far, have you most enjoyed bringing to the stage part of that life cycle?
Well, the song that’s kind of been really fun for me to play live is called ‘Goes With Everything.’ It’s a real shorty; it’s like the shortest song on the record. But I think the songs with more vocal harmonies and a touch of keyboard meant we needed to have a fifth member.
So using that part of the band and what I consider important parts of these songs, getting to replicate these kinds of signature things, these signature parts is really cool for me. Before, I thought I was going to take a smaller band on the road, and we’re going to have to sacrifice parts and songs, but it’s actually much better to play the record that we made.
Stepping out from an accompanying musician to now center spotlight must come with a certain level of vulnerability and nerves. How do you funnel that vulnerability into your journey?
Not drinking before the show. I think I would kind of self-soothe my nervousness before jumping on stage in front of a full stadium, and it’s actually more relaxing to not give in to that. But that’s the biggest thing I’ve noticed between remembering lyrics and staying in pitch playing. A lot of these songs aren’t strummers, so my hand’s busy, my mouth is busy. I got to just stay focused as much as possible.
You’re the first artist signed to Erskine, that is an incredible step for both you and the label in navigating the music industry! Now, with being under an emerging Indie label, how does this reflect your journey as a creative, and what are you looking forward to most with being supported by Erskine?
When I finished this record, and I didn’t know who was going to put it out, I think it was easy to kind of lean into the idea of prodding around some of the labels that put out some of my favorite records that are still going. But actually, when this all came together between Giant and Erskine, it was kind of a no-brainer: stick with your family, stay with people who have been supporting me. I owe them another record, and then I’d love to stay with them and continue to grow as they grow. So yeah, I’m in good hands. I’m very lucky to be under their care.
Speaking of songwriting, We’re always so curious and love to ask each artist we speak to about the process they take with an album. You’ve gotten to be on both sides of writing for someone else and also releasing your own project. When going into the studio, what is your preferred method of writing? Do you enjoy coming in blind, or do you like having a specific concept in mind?
I don’t know. I think everything, whether you mean for it to be or not, is kind of conceptual anyway. If songwriting is representative of how you go about waking up in the morning and getting through your life or your day-to-day, I consider even that just conceptual. But I haven’t done it yet… I kind of leave the door open.
I’ve kind of had a second record on my mind and without knowing what it’s going to be… not to be groundbreaking for the world, just groundbreaking to myself [and] to want to go to new places and not just make the same thing twice. So I kind of focus on that sort of thing and then see what happens.
You’re on tour, and we’ll see you in Texas this weekend! Taking inspiration from the cheering spotlight previously put on you as part of a touring band- can you tell us about your own tour band? Let’s spotlight them; how did these incredible musicians come together with you?
My wife Sarah said, “One day, you should make your record with Rob Schnapf.” And so I did. We were on tour with Harry Styles, and he invited us to open up two shows, Slane Castle and Wembley Stadium, and I had to think very quickly. But I thought, well, it would be foolish of me to debut this music with just a microphone and a guitar in front of 80,000 people.
So I got Matt [Schuessler] on bass, he played bass on the record, and Rob [Schnapf], who played a lot of guitar and keys on the record. I got them out, and we played these shows as a four-piece. I much prefer having people playing their own parts rather than getting a different set of people to go out on tour, so [it] just felt like the right thing to do, and they have stayed with me. They normally make records day in and day out; they’re taking a break from their studio, and we’re a moving unit until we’re not. And Sarah [Jones] played drums on the record, too, so everyone is doing their bit live, which is great for me.
You’ve participated in two world tours, one massive one that spanned around three years! You’ve also worked on three major albums which two have won GRAMMYs! What do you think is the biggest lesson these experiences have taught you as a musician?
[The biggest lesson would be that] I haven’t really strayed from who I am [and] what I like to play. I’m very lucky at the same time that I get to [do what I do]. Those records were made based on texting voice notes back and forth, and that’s not how it always goes. And I say I’m lucky because someone like Harry’s putting their trust in me and a few other people around him to make music with him.
Speaking of touring, how would you say prepping for a tour of your own differs from preparing for a tour where you are supporting another artist?
I’ve had to buy a lot of road cases, whereas, yeah, I’m in charge, which means a lot. But it’s good. I don’t know; it takes a certain level of organization, and I feel ready to take all this on and kind of be in charge of more stuff rather than just tagging along onto this massive machine. I think I’ll benefit the most, the more I kind of take responsibility for things and all the work that goes into this little one-hour show, you just want to have the best show possible. So whatever that means in terms of getting your ducks in a row before and after, I feel ready for the challenge.
With Come June out now, what was your favorite song when you were writing the record, and what is your favorite song today, if it’s changed?
Favorite song when writing? Well, I guess what comes to mind without scratching my head too hard is ‘When It All Falls Down.’ I was in London, and [normally] I am good at documenting song ideas, but I didn’t do it with this one. And so the song was what I was trying to remember what I was playing, but I was near it, so it was kind of a little gift to myself. I was quite happy with the song and how it turned out. It was not what I started out playing, but now I have this song. So it was kind of a cool, unplanned exercise.
Today, I’ve been really enjoying this song, ‘Goes with Everything’ live, and I kind of felt concerned about it leading up to rehearsals, not knowing [how it would go]. When I was writing it, I think I questioned, it’s really short, so I was questioning kind of the arrangement of it. Was it enough of a song to be on a record? And actually, it is one of my favorites. So, it’s interesting how those things pan out.
For our last question, other than your upcoming tour and your album, Come June, what would you like your current fans and new fans to know about yourself and your work?
I don’t know if there’s anything I want them to know except that this is new to me, and it’s new to them, and I think we’re all digesting it all together. Everyone listens so intensely so far, and it’s quiet in there. I’ve been at shows when people on stage have to shush the crowd because they won’t stop talking or they’re ordering drinks, too. So I got to give it to them for showing up and being there to listen. It’s kind of amazing for me.
How incredible was it to hear from Mitch Rowland about Come June, the musicians that he brought out on tour, and which songs are his current favorites to play live? We seriously cannot wait to see him bring these songs to life and to see where his career takes him! We just know he’s going to go so far.
Now, don’t forget to stream Come June! And don’t miss out on getting tickets to the tour here. Who will we be seeing at the Texas dates?
We want to hear from YOU! Let us know your thoughts on Come June in the comments below, or chat with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Discord.
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