A Conversation with Liam Russell

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PERFORMANCE WITH ART OF TIME?

My first collaboration was the holiday show in 2015.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED?

I had heard about the ensemble a year prior through my friend Tom Wilson, and as luck would have it was asked to participate the next year. I was thrilled to take part.

WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WITH ART OF TIME, AND WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO KEEP COLLABORATING WITH THE COMPANY?

As a roots singer/songwriter, it's very rare that I get an opportunity to perform with an ensemble of this instrumentation. It's a real treat. On top of that, the arrangements are really interesting! I love everyone involved, so it's a no-brainer to continue collaborating. As long as they keep asking me, I'm in!

WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS WHO'VE HAD A GREAT INFLUENCE ON YOU?

Willie P. Bennett, Lucinda Williams, Blake Mills, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, and my dad Brent!

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES?

Baked goods... I have a serious soft spot for baked goods... It'll be the death of me.

IF YOU WEREN'T WORKING IN YOUR PRIMARY MEDIUM, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

Probably something creative with my hands.  Either woodworking, or sculpture and pottery. My mom was a ceramic artist for most of her life and I have a big interest in that, and always wished I had learned more and practiced it.

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

The Name of The Rose by Umberto Eco.  It's a crazy detective novel based in a medieval Benedictine abbey. Eco used a ton of Latin words in the writing, so it's a real challenge language-wise but still super engaging.

WHO ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOU'D LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE?

Daniel Lanois, Blake Mills, and Lucinda Williams. Maybe all at once!

WHAT'S ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES YOU'VE SEEN RECENTLY?

I saw Case/Lang/Viers at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville this summer and it blew my mind.  It's an amazing combination of very stylistically different artists. They came together to make a much larger and unique sum. And to see them and their amazing band in a historical venue like the Ryman was heavenly. Very moving - and great songs too.