“We were going for timeless. We were going for righteous. Those were the two words that we focused on while we were recording,” Cauthen says. “That’s it.”
You may have heard of Paul Cauthen as the frontman of Sons of Fathers– a “raucous” Texicana group hailed by NPR and Rolling Stone, whose music landed them in the Top 10 of the Americana Music charts. After a defining performance with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Cauthen recalls that he was inspired to shift focus somewhat. All artists all the time are looking for their next source of inspiration, like a drug, the next personal truth to express, and Cauthen does just that on “My Gospel”.
His latest solo album reveals him turning to his roots in Gospel music, and it suits his commanding, baritone voice quite well. He’s not a religious man, he says, but the timeless style and sensibility of Gospel music has a way of delivering emotions unlike other genres. The album is classic and, yes, “righteous”. It could have something to do with the fact that he recorded much of the album at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the world renowned studio where greats like Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter, and Aretha Franklin had their first hits. This is the gospel according to Cauthen- hop on the train and spread it.
Paul dropped by Studio 1A to showcase the new material before heading on tour with Elle King. (Catch them at Stubb’s October, 25. Tickets here!) Listen to his performances and our interview with him below.
– Sam Harrell
