Moments in life are a lot like flowers. They bloom for only a brief time before disappearing, often never getting the chance to be fully appreciated for their beauty and preciousness.
Logan Richard is finding the joy in those mundane moments on his latest EP, Learning To Love. Crafted mostly at the upright piano in his Prince Edward Island downtown apartment, the three track project showcases Logan’s bluesy, bright, and soulful sound.
We chatted with Logan about the lead single, “See Me Like This,” the making of the EP, and what’s to come!
What inspired your new EP, Learning To Love?
The EP was inspired by an experience I had a few summers ago. I was renting a cottage on PEI with some friends, and close to this cottage was a big field of lupins. Lupins are a wildflower (technically a weed..) that grow on PEI in the early days of summer. They bloom all over the island and bring their stunning shades of light blue, pink, and purple to our gentle island. They change the way our island looks, but within weeks of them blooming, they die off. I was standing in this field of them, and started thinking about how beautiful they are, and how sad it is that they come and go so quickly. I then got to thinking about what else in my life might be like these lupins. What other things in my life might leave before I take a second to stop and appreciate it? This thought is where the song Learning To Love came from, and where the EP was born.
How did you get connected with your producers Adam Gallant and Colin Buchanan?
I met Colin and Adam many years ago. I worked with Adam when I was 16 years old or so, in a rock band called The Elusive Kings. From there, we kept working together. He produced my first EP and my debut self-titled album. I met Colin somewhere along the way, and we quickly became buds. He helped me write and produce my 2019 single “Running (feat. Vince The Messenger),” and we even play around town in a cover band together. I had such great experiences working with both of them individually, I wanted to see what we could come up with if we all worked together on something.
What was the production process like for the EP?
The first two songs on the EP were written in my downtown apartment, on the upright piano that was here when I moved in. I loved the way that it sounded, and I wanted to capture as much authenticity of the songwriting as possible, so we decided to record. We set up mics on the piano, and for a week I did piano takes of the songs. After the week, we met in the studio and picked our favorite takes from each song, and built the songs from there. ‘In The Days To Come’ was a last-minute addition to the EP. I wrote it while we were working on the other songs, and felt that it was meant to be with them. We recorded it live in the studio shortly after.
You have such a nostalgic sound. Who and/or what inspires your music?
I grew up listening to and playing the blues. I loved Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, and all sorts of classic bluesmen. The Allman Brothers and Steely Dan also were a big influence and of course John Mayer. I have played in a few different bands over the years, each with different genres, and I think the sound I have found for myself is sort of an amalgamation of all of them.
What inspired the lead track “See Me Like This”?
“See Me Like This” was written at a time of my life when I was spending a few too many nights out late on the town. It touches on these nights, and how I don’t want the people that see me in that state to think about me that way. The second verse touches on a real conversation I had with an uncle one Christmastime. I am sure he didn’t mean any malice, but he asked me how my music was going and if I was able to make any money doing it. The second verse is all about how I don’t want him to see me as a nobody chasing some silly dream, but rather as a hardworking and dedicated artist.
You recorded the video for this single yourself. How did you come up with the concept and what was it like to record it?
The whole EP was very authentic and raw. I wanted to keep this feeling present for the video. I thought it would be neat to have different versions of myself singing the song, in different settings, and in different outfits. From there, I lip-synced a few takes to my DSLR camera and sent it to my friend Colin Kelly who pieced it all together for me. I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and think it suits the song and the EP to a tee.
Do you have a favorite memory of recording the EP?
As we were recording takes of “In The Days To Come,” Producer Adam Gallant joked that we would keep doing takes until one made him cry. After 4 or 5 takes, we thought we had one but decided to do one more just in case. I closed my eyes, played the song from top to bottom, and when I opened my eyes at the end of the song, a few tears were falling from his face. I will never forget this moment, and that take is the one that made the EP.
If you could set fans up in the perfect environment to listen to the EP, what do you imagine it looking like?
A lamplit, cozy living room with a fireplace ablaze. A hot cup of tea, or a cocktail of your choice, and a good set of speakers.
What can fans look forward to next?
I am currently working on a new album with producers Josh Van Tassel, and David Myles. It is shaping up extremely nicely, and I am super stoked to start sharing singles later this year.
What is one quote that you have heard or that you go by that you want to ECHO out to the world?
No stigma, no shame.