Hudson Mueller – “Money Vs Fame”
Americana Highways is hosting this premiere of Hudson Mueller’s song “Money Vs Fame” from his forthcoming album Welcome to Earth, which is due to be available on March 28. This song will be released on January 17. Welcome to Earth was produced and engineered by Mike Bloom at The Creamery in Brooklyn, NY with additional production by Quinn McCarthy. It was mastered by Kim Rosen at Knack Mastering in Ringwood, NJ.
We had a chance to chat briefly with Hudson about the song. The premiere appears just beneath the interview.
Americana Highways: What is this song about?
Hudson Mueller: My friend Shawn Parks told me a story about the best advice he ever received. He was a young upstart in the music business, working for Ray Wylie Hubbard. Ray introduces Shawn to Jerry Jeff Walker and says “this is Shawn Parks, he’s an aspiring songwriter.” And Jerry Jeff, without missing a beat said, “Get out while you can. It’s a trap!”
There’s this assumption that if you are making music a) you should try to sell it and b) you should try to get famous. I don’t think that’s necessarily always a wise path to travel down. Our materialistic society and the attention economy that we all participate in to some degree both tell us that we need to pursue wealth and fame, but there can be a spiritual cost and the pursuit of these false idols can distract us from the things that are truly important.
Personally, I’m not someone who needs a lot of money or desires to be really famous. At the same time, I do want to share my music with people, so that’s why I’m doing this interview instead of writing a song or practicing my instrument right now. That’s why I use social media and the other tools that are available to an independent artist. But there has to be a balance and every artist and every person has to find that for themselves.
AH: Who were some influences when it came to writing the song?
HM: Kurt Vonnegut has been my favorite author since I first picked up “Harrison Bergeron” as a 7th grader at Kealing Middle School. It took me a minute to understand what was going on. His style is conversational and informal, sometimes profane. But I soon came to recognize his voice and his unique sense of humor. Once it clicked for me, I couldn’t get enough. I burned through every Vonnegut novel/short story/essay that I could get my hands on. He’s definitely been a spirit guide.
Willie Nelson is another spirit guide. Not that I want my music to sound exactly like his (although some of it leans this direction) but because I admire his fierce independence. He’s always followed his instincts when it comes to his music and his life, even when those decisions weren’t always particularly convenient or legal. He’s an outlaw in the best sense of the word.
Then there’s John Prine — he’s probably my favorite songwriter — he had a unique way of turning a phrase and a wit that I’ve always found quite charming. If I had a magic lamp to rub, my first wish would be to be able to write songs like John Prine.
As far as this song, specifically — we wanted to make something that had a groove to it, but was also a little bit understated. I was listening to a lot of J.J. Cale at the time. I’ve always loved the sound of his records, so I think that crept into the production choices that Mike (Bloom, producer) and I made.
AH: Any funny stories from recording this song?
HM: We recorded the album at The Creamery in Brooklyn. It’s an amazing studio in many respects — great room, great gear, vibe always on point — but at the time we were recording this tune, it was not climate-controlled, and we were working through the winter. I remember walking into the studio some days, and you could see your breath. I would play drums for 30 minutes at the top of the session just to warm my body up. My memory of recording this song is being bundled up in a scarf and hat while cutting the vocal. (FYI: if you’re shopping for a studio, Quinn has now installed HVAC).
I also remember when we finally added Joy and Beccs (harmony vocals) to the track, just being completely knocked out. Mike said he had those harmonies in his head for months, and then the ladies came in and laid them down, and this imaginary sound suddenly became real. When I listen to the track now, that’s the thing that always grabs my ear — there’s an airy quality to those harmonies that gives oxygen to the fire and creates the lift on the choruses. Pretty magical.
Sounds magical. Thanks for chatting with us, Hudson. Musicians on “Money Vs. Fame” are Hudson Mueller on acoustic and electric guitars and vocals; Jeff Barton on drums and percussion; Quinn McCarthy on bass; Daniel Foose on upright bass; Elysse and beccs on harmony vocals; Roy Williams on piano, pedal steel, and organ; David Caldwell Mason on piano and organ; and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle.
The acoustic guitar and the piano are lovely on this song and the fiddle lends a dreamscape air, handing off to organ and back again. Hudson sings in authentic tones and offers lucid insights: “Fame is just a prison / With bars of solid gold / Money can be useful /But it’s poison to the soul / If you’re standin’ in the cold / Wishin’ you was dancin’ in the flame / Money vs. fame.” And the magical harmonies float on the musical breeze
Find more information here: https://www.hudsonmueller.com/
