On the song selection process for her album Be Myself, she said, “Interestingly, it was the easiest record I’ve ever made. We basically wrote it and recorded it in between school drop-off and school pick-up. How rock-star is that!”
Crow continued, “I wanted to make a record that was fun, loose and felt like my early material. I wanted it to be honest and uncalculated, and that was the only pre-condition I had.”
While she does not have a personal favorite song on the album, she is drawn to “Roller Skate,” especially since her kids sang on it. “I like what it says about being detached from your gadget, and being present for your kids,” she said.
Today, Crow released her new music video for her single “Halfway There,” where she collaborated with Gary Clark Jr. The video was directed by Gus Black.
The acclaimed songstress will be featured on the PBS concert series Front and Center, where on June 26, she will be playing at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York.
On June 28, she will be performing at the iconic Beacon Theatre in New York City. “We do a lot of old songs, and we do a lot of new songs. We try and do the hits, as well as six or seven new songs. They work really well, and they sound a lot like the older material,” she said. “I am really excited. I love the Beacon. It’s one of my favorite places to play. It’s going to be a great and inspiring summer for me.”
Each day, she is motivated primarily by her kids. “I get up in the morning, and they are the first thing I think about, and they are the last thing I think about at night before I go to bed,” she said. “That simplifies a lot of things. Luckily, the kids love touring, and they love being on the road with me. They are excited about this summer. They are at a great age: seven and ten, so they are enjoying it.”
She collaborated with country singer-songwriter Will Hoge on his new single “Little Bit of Rust.” “I love Will. He’s really great. He’s a great songwriter and just an authentic guy. I really love him,” she said. “I was really honored that he asked me to perform on it.”
Speaking of collaborations, she listed Stevie Wonder as her dream male duet choice. Earlier this week, Jeff Timmons from the Grammy-nominated group 98 Degrees had listed Sheryl Crow as his dream female collaboration choice in music, and shared that he would love to write a song with her. “Oh wow! That’s amazing,” she said. “I’m honored, and I could do that. You never know. I’m always up for writing songs.”
“It is one of my favorite places to play. I have great memories playing there. The last time I played at the Beacon was with The Allman Brothers. It will be very special and emotional for me to be back there. I’m looking forward to it. I hope people will come out,” she said.
Crow had some beautiful words for the late Seattle rocker Chris Cornell. “Chris and I were on the same label, and we got our start at the same time. It just really hit me. I’m really sad for him and his family. I’m wishing his family the best and I’m keeping them in my thoughts and prayers,” she said.
For Crow, the key to longevity in the music industry is “Not going away.” “I keep working at it. The more I work at it, the better I get. That’s true of anything that you do,” she said.
Be Myself is available on iTunes by clicking here.
To learn more about Grammy winner Sheryl Crow, her new album and touring schedule, check out her official website.
