Folk musician Brad Yoder has been a staple of the Pittsburgh scene for 30 years. Brad’s new album “Somewhere In The Constellation” sees his return to the studio for the first time in a decade.
Brad recently spoke with WYEP's Joey Spehar.
How do you describe your sound?
Singer-songwriter, folk-rock. I'm usually playing solo, acoustic, so that's pretty folk.
Tell us more about the song "As Easily as Birds." What inspired you to write it and what does it mean to you?
"As Easily as Birds" has been around a while, and I don't remember it being inspired by one thing. I remember playing it early on at a wedding for two friends, who were both teachers, and the officiant, who was also a teacher, commented that "you don't know how far the ripples travel" is a good thought for a wedding of teachers! I like how the different sung parts all happen at once at the end of the song. (It's also fun to do live and get the audience to do the sing-along part.)
What was the first album that really changed your life?
Oooh, that's tough! I'm going to go with checking "Elton John greatest hits Vol. 1" out of the public library as a kid, on vinyl. There are so many amazing songs among that early Elton material.
Who are some other Pittsburgh artists you think more people should listen to?
Also, SO MANY! Mirabelle Skipworth and Morgan Erina (who both just sang harmonies on my album release show last Sat., and made everything sound better. I ended that show with a song I wrote with Mirabelle.) Kaston Guffey (of My Politic) and Georgia English, who moved here from Nashville. Adelaide Estep, and her band, Van Gilder. Really, there are so many great songwriters in town right now, and it's inspiring. (I get to be somewhat "venerable", as someone who's still doing it...)
Any other super interesting things about you we should know?
In September, I celebrate 30 years of playing original songs in Pittsburgh! Also in September, there will be a digital release of a compilation of friends covering my songs (almost all local friends, just a couple exceptions), and the digital-only compilation is now up to 44 songs, which totally blows my mind. (As in, 44 different folks recorded covers of 44 different songs of mine. Kind of "highlight of my life" material...)
