Pete Price on Reinvention, Storytelling, and the Journey Through Pictures in Time Singer-songwriter
Pete Price has long been known for his heartfelt storytelling and introspective lyricism, but with his latest recently released album, Pictures in Time, he takes listeners on a deeply personal journey of growth, reflection, and reinvention. His new single, “This Time,” is a powerful anthem about breaking free from past limitations and embracing change on your own terms. In this conversation with Americana Highways, Price discusses the inspirations behind his music, the impact of legendary artists like Neil Young and Jackson Browne, and the evolution of his songwriting—from his days with The Fries Band to his current solo endeavors.
Americana Highways: Your new single “This Time” carries a powerful message of reinvention and self-discovery. Can you share more about what inspired you to write this song and what it means to you personally?
Pete Price: I walked around with a lot of errors in thinking for a number of years. One morning I woke up with “This Time” in my head. I grabbed my guitar and wrote it down while it was still fresh. The message is that you don’t need the permission and approval of others to live your best life. You are allowed to reinvent yourself whenever necessary. Other people are free to take you or leave you. That’s also part of the deal. I have these little morning mantras and this has become one of them- that you don’t have to stay the same for someone else’s benefit.
AH: “This Time” features Casey Davis on electric guitar and Allen Seals on mandolin. How did their contributions shape the sound and feel of the track, and what was it like collaborating with them?
PP: “This Time” was right in Casey’s wheelhouse and the electric guitar parts just came out of him naturally, almost in a single take. Adding Allen’s mandolin on the song was kind of a last minute decision. I felt the arrangement would really benefit from a little high treble instrumentally. Allen is an old friend and he was happy to come into the studio to record. I’d also like to add that John Lardinois on fiddle added some great lines and is on much of the album. He’s a great player!
AH: Pictures in Time seems to mark a deeper exploration of introspection and storytelling compared to your debut album, Department of the Interior. How do you feel you’ve evolved as an artist between these two albums?
PP: I don’t write songs with any kind of overall intention. For me the process of making an album is more like writing a bunch of songs, deciding which ones fit best in the general theme, getting into the studio and recording them along with a couple of “extras”, and then seeing what you have. I didn’t realize that there was sort of a chronology to the songs until I was done with most of the recording and was thinking about song order. I decided that I could have the album tell a story of one’s spiritual and life journey so I sequenced the songs that way. I’m old-school when it comes to putting out music and to me, an album is not just a collection of songs, but should have an overarching concept, just like back in the old days.
AH: Your music blends roots and Americana influences with heartfelt storytelling. Which artists have shaped your creative process for this album?
PP: Neil Young and Jackson Browne for sure. But also Bob Dylan, Dan Fogelberg, Gregg Allman, John Prine, Willis Allen Ramsey and so many others have influenced my songwriting and my music. I seem to be moving more toward storytelling in my current writing. I’ll probably never completely move away from introspective writing though. There’s usually good stuff there. Those songwriters influence me more indirectly than directly. I listen to their music and follow their lyrics, appreciating the imagery they use and I try to get my mind to think in that direction. I don’t want to copy anything, though. It needs to be 100% authentic Pete Price. But their music and orchestration seems to have become part of my DNA and writing primarily with a starting point of an acoustic guitar pushes my music in the same direction.
AH: Reinvention is a central theme in “This Time.” Are there other recurring themes throughout Pictures in Time, and how do they connect to your personal journey or experiences?
PP: Time is a recurring theme. The album is written in the first person and the songs are little snapshots of a life’s journey- past, present, future.The protagonist or hero of the album goes from a state of ignorance (broken relationships, competing desires and inner turmoil) to a state where he starts to figure out how to live and what’s truly important. Finally he starts feeling like he’s running short of time and will have to live with the understanding that he’ll never figure it all out, but he’s wise enough to know that it’s ok.
AH: As someone with a rich history performing with The Fries Band and 39 North, how do those experiences influence your solo projects? Do you approach songwriting differently when it’s just you versus a group Effort?
PP: My solo career is mostly separate from work with The Fries Band and so far with 39 North. I’ve been playing more solo shows lately and will continue to look for opportunities to do so in the future. Playing in different bands makes me wear several different hats but I’m happy with it. I usually take the cold weather months and concentrate on my songwriting and recording and then swing toward performing in the summer and fall because we play so many outdoor concerts.
AH: With songs like “This Time” carrying such universal and deeply personal messages, what kind of feedback have you received from listeners, and how does that impact you as a songwriter?
PP: It’s always rewarding when I read a review or get a note from a listener which affirms my intention in writing the song – that they got the message. It makes me feel like I’m getting through to some folks and keeps me working on my craft and on trying to get my music in front of more listeners. Most of the time, you have to be content with looking at the numbers on Spotify or if people are checking out your YouTube page- a more impersonal form of feedback. The real face to face comes with getting off your butt and doing shows! As an Indy musician, I wear a lot of different hats, songwriter, recording engineer, composer, performer, guitarist, singer, booking agent, promoter and more. I’d like to devote more time to songwriting but these other jobs are important too and if I neglect just one aspect, the whole thing grinds to a halt.
Find more details here on his website: https://petepricemusic.com
Enjoy our review of the album here: REVIEW: Pete Price “Pictures in Time”
Musicians on the album are Pete Price on acoustic guitar and vocals; Casey Davis on electric guitars; Steve Phelps on drums; Matt Scholp on bass; Jeff Tutt on keyboards; John Lardinois on violin; Dan Sage on acoustic guitar on “Long Lake”; Allen Seals on mandolin on “This Time.” All songs were written by Pete Price (ASCAP). It was recorded by Jeff Tutt at Triangle Road Studio and mastered by Sean Haney.
