Seth Avett
Seth Avett has spent the last nine years working on his solo record in between gigs with his band The Avett Brothers. in fact we caught up with him in NYC as he was passing through on tour this past summer. Seth’s solo album called FEATHE is out now and videos for each song are rolling out weekly…most recently for the single The Question of Evil/Next Century . the cover art for the album was shot by his gorgeous and gifted wife Jennifer Carpenter (her Bare feature here) so scroll on down and check our photo diary and Seth’s thoughts on the summers intense heatwave, main motivation for creating Feathe, spirituality, personal style, musical inspo and the weekly bare essential of Sundays with his family.
the bare magazine: what was your main motivation for creating this solo album?
Seth Avett: I find that life is better and that I am more useful to my family when I am engaged daily in healthy practices. In this way, working on a record is not that much different than keeping prayer, meditation, correspondence with loved ones and exercise happening regularly. The motivation is a desire to be alive and present and participating in this unbelievably beautiful dimension…if I am doing that, then every so often there will likely be some creative something that feels reasonable to share, like an album.
bare: can you describe some of the themes and messages the songs will convey?
SA: The record is pretty heavy on early fatherhood. References to that role and honor are a significant element, at times distilled down (naturally I believe) to the simple one on one communication with my son; this happens figuratively and literally on the album.
bare: who are some of your current musical and artistic influences and inspirations?
SA: I’ve been quite taken with Homeboy Sandman these last few years. In terms of content, perspective, delivery, creativity, originality, honesty, curiosity, he’s tough to beat…Luckily, he also releases new projects at a breakneck clip, so there’s always something new to check and absorb. I draw continuously from the wells of Tom T. Hall, Louis Armstrong, Doc Watson. I take in visual art regularly as well but not in as dedicated a way as with music. I love and admire Andrew Wyeth, Heinrich Kley, Sergio Aragones, Norman Rockwell, Anna Park, Serge Marshennikov, Mark Maggiori, Eric Fischl…
bare: would you say your spirituality comes through in your music more so now as you evolve?
SA: If aging is the vehicle, a growing focus on spirituality seems to be the inevitable passenger. At this point it's hard for me to write or even listen to any song and not hear about God. I can’t be a hundred percent sure but I have a feeling this state comes through in the music I make and share.
bare: you were on a little tour with The Avett Brothers when we met up to shoot - are they excited for this solo project of yours? are you planning to go on the road and play some live gigs?
SA: I am lucky and blessed to have such a reliable and sincere support network, from bandmates to family members to friends to touring crew members. It’s been nothing but total positivity on the subject of my releasing new music! On the live gigs front, its an exciting prospect but will take some creative thinking even just on the logistics front. We tour with the band quite a lot each year, and it would have to be a pretty curated calendar to figure out some solo performances…I’m not against it, but I may have to be a bit patient in finding the right situation to play some of these songs live.
bare: on your off time how have you been staying cool with this intense heat? what are some of your favorite side passions?
SA: I can’t take it! Lots of 100 degree days at home. I find that it’s best to just embrace it as much as possible. Going in and out of the air conditioning just seems to make the outdoors so much more unbearable, but if I just stay out in it and accept that I’m gonna be a walking puddle, I can actually enjoy it a bit. And as far as favorite side passions, anything I get to do with and for my family is center stage…from riding bikes and playing rummikub to breaking down cardboard boxes and gathering up limbs in the yard from last night’s thunderstorm.
bare: you have a great sense of personal style - can you describe it and some brands you love or spots you like to shop? are you a vintage collector?
SA: I’m generally a fan of simplicity, functionality and when possible, classic and clean presentation. Currently and for the last few years, onstage I’m going to be in what’s comfortable, durable, time tested and non-distracting…8-Hole Docs, APC jeans (new petite standards) and either a blank T-shirt (Billy Reid or Jason Scott) or a soft vintage tee; I like repping bands often if I’m wearing a shirt that has print on it, The Grateful Dead or Deftones or sometimes one of those goofball 80’s shirts with a saying or catchphrase on it.
On the odd occasion when getting a bit spiffier is in order, I like Rag and Bone and Sunspel for the standards (polos, khakis etc.), and for spiffy supreme I like RRL, Paul Smith and Gitman Bros. shirting; Alexander McQueen and Dries Van Noten suits…Burberry for all black tie needs.
bare: when your wife is off filming do you try to keep a good home balance and routine? do you switch off on child care duties? do you jump in and cook from time to time?!
SA: Jennifer and I keep the parenting/house-management roles pretty malleable. Either of us need to be able to jump in and knock out any of them at any time. I’m more likely to settle into food prep and take my time in the kitchen and try to enjoy it when possible (not dicing the first veggie til I’ve gotten some good supper-making music on the little speaker on the counter top), though both of us feel like we’re basically starting from scratch almost every single time we have to come up with a supper plan. As far as keeping a good balance, I feel like the best you can do is just try to keep the rain out of the house and just accept a certain level of messiness as protocol.
bare: please list your 6 top Bare essentials .
SA:
Slow Sundays with family
The Thomas Merton talks on Learn25
Good Matcha
Pecans
Laughter
The Tao (in an app on the phone and in print in my backpack)
Founder & Editor in Chief - The Bare Magazine
