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Marcus Hummon. Photo Courtesy of Marcus Hummon.<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Marcus Hummon chatted about his latest country studio album \u201cSongs For Emily: The Album.\u201d<\/p>\n The album is available via his son Levi Hummon\u2019s 3686 Records. Inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson, the project re-imagines her most iconic works through a contemporary musical lens, blending country, folk, and literary tradition.<\/p>\n How did you approach the song selection process for the new album?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n When\u00a0Emily passed away in 1886, they found nearly 1800 poems (no one knew she was that prolific)! I have not read them all but am pretty familiar with about 200 of them. <\/p>\n I narrowed it down to 10 of my favorites for the sake of the album, and included a few of her most well known pieces, like \u201cHope Is The Thing With Feathers,\u201d \u201cWild Nights\u201d and \u201cBecause I Could Not Stop For Death.\u201d<\/p>\n Were you going for a certain theme?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I did not have a specific theme other than trying to re-imagine some of Emily\u2019s best-known poems as popular songs in form, using my own musical sensibilities. <\/p>\n Many have noted that a good percentage of Dickinson\u2019s poems were written in hymn meter, the same meter as \u201cAmazing Grace\u201d; so, in a certain sense the poems were already songs\u2014or songs waiting to happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n It is also notable that as a young girl Emily demonstrated a talent for improvising on the piano. It is quite possible that she set some of these as songs.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your personal favorite song on there?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I don\u2019t have a favorite; I enjoy all 10 of them!<\/p>\n What inspires your music and songwriting?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Everything inspires my songwriting because I look at songwriting as a way of life. I often say songwriting is less of an occupation as it is an avocation, or even a calling. <\/p>\n Basically everything I feel or observe finds its way into my songs or musical theater works.<\/p>\n How does it feel to be an artist in the digital age?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n On the positive side, I enjoy being able to release music through streaming platforms as part of a small independent label, and in this digital age artists can reach their audiences directly\u2014I enjoy the connectivity of the digital age.<\/p>\n The negatives for me are that the digital revolution seems to feed on shallow consumption\u00a0of art; that is art is engaged\u00a0as \u201cclick-bait,\u201d as opposed to in depth.\u00a0<\/p>\n What do your plans for the future include?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I may do more development of the \u201cSongs For Emily\u201d album in some theatrical form.<\/p>\n I do quite a bit of musical theatre writing, and through-composed work (technically opera) but I feel there is some other theatrical form for these songs. <\/p>\n Beyond that, I keep writing and co-writing with young artists, and probably record another project or another musical before long.<\/p>\n What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Doing work you love, and being able to make a living at it\u2014that\u2019s certainly one measure of success. <\/p>\n Doing something, good, kind, beautiful and loving is another\u2014doing the work you were intended to do is still another.<\/p>\n What would you like to tell our readers about the new album? (What\u2019s the one thing you want them to get out of it)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I think I\u2019d love it if my album initiates an interest in Emily Dickinson\u2019s poetry and life for anyone who was previously unfamiliar with her. <\/p>\n Emily is a fascinating character in American history, and one of our greatest poets!<\/p>\n \u201cSongs For Emily: The Album\u201d is available on digital service providers by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n To learn more about Marcus Hummon, follow him on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n