"We didn't rehearse or play the songs to death before we recorded them, and that let us catch a freshness and energy level we've never really felt while making records"

Edie Brickell reflects on the creative process behind making an album, emphasizing the decision to avoid over-rehearsing or playing the songs repeatedly before recording them. By not subjecting the material to extensive repetition, the band was able to preserve a sense of novelty and excitement in their performances. Over-rehearsing can sometimes drain a song of its spontaneity, making the performance sound too polished or mechanical. Brickell highlights the opposite approach, embracing a degree of unpredictability and allowing for genuine reactions and emotions to surface during the recording process.

This choice to preserve the rawness of their songs contributed significantly to the overall energy of the album. There’s a distinct vitality that comes from playing music that still feels new to the musicians themselves. When artists are slightly on edge, not completely certain of every nuance, their engagement with the music often intensifies. The listener can sense this immediacy, which translates into a unique listening experience that feels alive and organic. The phrase “freshness and energy level we’ve never really felt while making records” acknowledges that previous recording sessions may have lacked this spark, possibly because of too much preparation.

Allowing space for imperfection can make performances resonate more deeply, as listeners are often drawn to authenticity and passion over flawlessness. For Brickell and her band, prioritizing spontaneity over precision enabled them to reach a new emotional height while recording. Their music becomes an evolving conversation rather than a scripted presentation. This method fosters a creative environment where inspiration can strike at any moment, and mistakes can become inspired choices. The resulting album is likely to possess a lively quality, inviting listeners to share in the thrill of discovery and invention that the musicians felt as they captured these songs for the first time.