"Life is a very interesting thing if you open your eyes to it. All people are weird in their own way."

That's what Justin Townes Earle says about where he gets ideas for songwriting when speaking to Mary Lucia during an in-studio session at The Current today. In town to play at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Townes Earle stopped in to The Current for a warm and very open-book conversation with Mary.

On tour supporting his new album, Single Mothers, Townes Earle says the title is a nod to his own mother and also to all single mothers. But as he says, he's not much of an autobiographical songwriter. "My own experiences influence the songs somewhat, but they're not diary entries."

Listen to the complete interview to hear more about Justin Townes Earle's evolution as a musician, about his previous struggles with drink and drugs, about his wedding in the woods near Lake Tahoe, about his producing project with the legendary Wanda Jackson, and about his many influences that include such artists as Blitzen Trapper, Jason Isbell, Mark Knopfler and Fleetwood Mac.

Songs Performed

"Today and a Lonely Night"
"Wanna be a Stranger"
"White Gardenias"
All tracks off Justin Townes Earle's album, Single Mothers, out now on Vagrant Records.

Hosted by Mary Lucia
Produced by Lindsay Kimball
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Web feature by Luke Taylor

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