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Grace Potter discusses the 'lost' soulful album ‘Medicine' and Otis Redding
Grace Potter discusses the 'lost' soulful album 'Medicine' and Otis Redding originally appeared on Goldmine. In 2008, Grammy nominee Grace Potter recorded the solo album Medicine in Los Angeles, produced by T Bone Burnett, but its release was sidelined by the commitment to her group Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. On May 30, the album was finally released by Hollywood Records. Also last month, close to 18 million people watched the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock, the largest viewership since 1989, and Potter kicked off the race with a stunning look and equally classy performance of the national anthem, stretching lyrics and notes with emphasis. That compelling delivery style is heard throughout Medicine. Goldmine spoke with Potter about songs from the album, plus we also kick off Black Music Month by discussing the inspiration of Otis Redding with her, and we'll continue our Black Music Month coverage in the coming weeks with the music of Sam Cooke, The Flirtations and The Chiffons. GOLDMINE: Welcome back to Goldmine and congratulations on the new album. You are a family favorite with a connection; both you and my daughter Brianna were born in the spring of 1983. She recently shared your version of Neil Young's 'Cortez the Killer' with me. Like songs on your new album, you gave it such a soulfully dramatic treatment. Speaking of soul, I hear an underlying tone of Otis Redding in your work. I was reminded of his version of 'That's How Strong My Love Is,' which was originally released as an A side, but was deemed to be the flip side, after 'Mr. Pitiful,' the original flip side of the single, outperformed it on radio. GRACE POTTER: Otis' music feels like home to me. As I imagine Brianna growing up in a house of music with you and your wife, my parents had a great record collection. I remember when I heard Otis Redding's voice for the first time. I thought that if I was a guy, that is what my voice would sound like. I was fully aware that the timbre of my voice did not match his, and I couldn't aspire to it, so I just had to sit back and enjoy it, but there was a fire and a humanity in his voice that is spine tingling and you don't know why. There were animal instincts and no phobia in sharing his emotions. It doesn't feel like there are any walls between you and what came out of his soul. Otis Redding Fabulous Flip Side: That's How Strong My Love Is A side: Mr. Pitiful Billboard Hot 100 debut of 'Mr. Pitiful': February 20, 1965 ('That's How Strong My Love Is' debuted three weeks prior) Peak position: No. 41 for 'Mr. Pitiful' and No. 74 for 'That's How Strong My Love Is' Volt V-124 'I remember when I heard Otis Redding's voice for the first time. I thought that if I was a guy, that is what my voice would sound like. I was fully aware that the timbre of my voice did not match his, and I couldn't aspire to it, so I just had to sit back and enjoy it, but there was a fire and a humanity in his voice that is spine tingling and you don't know why. There were animal instincts and no phobia in sharing his emotions. It doesn't feel like there are any walls between you and what came out of his soul.' – Grace Potter GM: 'Money' is very soulful. There are many instruments, trumpet, sax, trombone, plus background vocals, on the recording of this song that you co-wrote with David Poe. GP: Working with David was one of my favorite co-writing experiences that I had up to that point because he was such a New Yorker and I had never really hung out with true New Yorkers. His personality was what I envisioned in a college roommate, had I gone to school there, lived in a loft, reading Nietzsche, and being dead broke. I had romanticized that lifestyle, and he had lived it. As we wrote 'Money,' he told me, 'I lived that lifestyle, and I promise you that having no money and being broke is not romantic. The desperation can lead to some amazing art, but if you weren't starving, and you had a full stomach, maybe the lyrics would be better.' GM: Speaking of lyrics, yours are captivating on 'Colors,' describing 'clocks spinning backwards.' GP: I wanted to share with the listeners what it would be like to be on the inside of my head. At a young age I would observe the world around me and I thought that if the clocks spun the other way maybe my life would make better sense to me. I felt like I was part of another place and time versus what I saw around me. The more I existed on the planet, the younger I felt I was becoming. I was quite nonverbal as a child and later found my medium for communication through my lyrics. T Bone Burnett, as a producer, created the wonderful soundscape that was already the landscape in my mind for 'Colors.' GM: Regarding a different place and time, 'Colors' reminded me of Percy Sledge's '60s recordings, and with 'That Phone,' I feel it has the edge of Dusty Springfield's classic Dusty in Memphis album with Marc Ribot's guitar and the sax sounds from four players. Adding to that Southern sound, you give it some Wynonna Judd sass. GP: I'll take it! I love those combinations because I was just realizing at that time that country music was basically soul and R&B with a banjo and a fiddle. The cages and categories of genres are not for me. This was an opportunity to be a genre bender. Soul, R&B, and blues is a deep well to pull from, find a voice, and stand up strong. Every day, when we were in the studio with T Bone, Marc would switch guitars three or four times per song trying to pin down the sound. GM: In 2007, T Bone produced the Grammy winning album Raising Sand for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. I saw them and T Bone perform at Lake Tahoe in June of the following year. Robert spoke on stage about the underlying rhythmic sound of the songs, which I also hear on 'Losing You.' GP: Yes, that T Bone sound is very much heard on 'Losing You' and the title song 'Medicine.' I have described it as tribal, but I think it is biological. The beat of the drum matches our heart. We call it tribal because there are places in the world where music did not need to evolve beyond that. I have heard bands taking that African influence with lyrics woven like a web around those sounds, making for such a beautiful combination, and one that I had never had an opportunity to sing over until that point. T Bone brought his experience with Robert and Alison to the session, trying to make the song sound as primal as possible. What I learned from T Bone then was also reflected in future records that I made. GM: Drums are a key part of that sound. Growing up, while listening to albums, I would read the credits like the post-Beatles recordings, John Lennon's Imagine and George Harrison's The Concert for Bangladesh, both from 1971, and see the name Jim Keltner on drums, who certainly comes through on 'Losing You.' GP: Other than The Band's Levon Helm, the biggest drum influence in my experience as a songwriter is Jim, the drummer that I hear in my head when I am writing a song that I know is going to feature drums. All my drummers would give you a similar list of influences: Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, The Band's Levon Helm, and Jim Keltner. For studio recordings, Jim is more than a pilot of the airplane. He is the shipbuilder and then he's steering the ship. He is speaking with the tempo, engaging with it, like the thermal pressure that might lift you and bring you back down if you were in a glider airplane. I felt like a glider flying over the band the whole time that I was in their capable hands. GM: When I played Brianna 'To Shore,' she said your delivery reminded her of another Grace, Grace Slick, along with Jim Morrison's poetry with The Doors, which may explain why this seven-minute dramatic image filled piece is my favorite song on the album. GP: I was into Ry Cooder and his approach to the Paris, Texas soundtrack. At this time in my life, I was actively pursuing scoring films. I have always been a multi-denominational songwriter. The song is just the medium that I am choosing for that moment. That song is an expression of my filmmaking history. I was a film major at Sarah Lawrence College and with this song it comes to life, which is why the lyrics are so vivid. There is a sinking boat but also an opportunity to save yourself and not be dragged under by it. This allowed the band to take any number of liberties because I didn't need to anchor it with the lyrics, the words would stay on top of the water, and I think the band became the ocean. There is a mysticism to that track and it becomes a movie in a song. GM: I look forward to having 'To Shore' in my Fabulous 100 Songs of 2025 list, now that the album has finally been released. GP: In 2008, I was upset when it wasn't released. It was gut-wrenching to work so hard and bond with T Bone and the musicians. It had a lot to do with the forward momentum of my band, The Nocturnals, at the time and my blind loyalty to that, to make sure I didn't do the whole Big Brother & the Holding Company – Janis Joplin goes solo thing, because it was built into the band's atmosphere that I would be unflinchingly loyal, but behind the scenes, making that solo album was exactly what I was ready to do, yet the loneliness of being a solo artist didn't appeal to me. GM: You carried on with The Nocturnals and 2012's The Lion The Beast The Beat included your Top 100 single 'Stars,' which my wife Donna and I heard being performed on this season of The Voice by Naomi Soleil on Michael Buble's team. You received a lot of praise from fellow coach Adam Levine. GP: My guitarist, Indya Bratton, sent me that link. Leave it to my Generation Z girl to let me know what's going on. I wrote 'Stars' in an emotional time in my life when I lost one of my dearest friends. It has surprised me how much this has resonated with so many people, and never misinterpreted, always hitting in the same place in people's hearts. GM: You have touched many hearts and have helped a lot of people. In 2015, you received the ASCAP Harry Chapin Vanguard Award, carrying on his mission of fighting world hunger, also a long-time passion of Donna's, and inspiring positive change and fostering social justice. On June 4, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will follow in your footsteps and receive the annual award. GP: It's been said that I am a big walking around, breathing, singing heart. When I have even a moment of time where I can share something that transforms somebody's life, raising money, and doing good, it is the least difficult decision to make, and is the least that I can do. Whenever those opportunities arise, I find myself begging for more. Music for me has been a bit of a public service. When I was young, people would always ask me to sing to cheer someone up. I can provide that for others in a way I still don't understand. My time is short on this planet, and I want to do as much as I possibly can to contribute. I am so honored that you took the time to have me in your Goldmine series and to share your thoughts. I am impressed and blown away by the associations that you made. No one has ever drawn those threads together quite as accurately as you did and I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Related link: including upcoming shows with Johnnyswim and Chris Stapleton Fabulous Flip Sides is in its eleventh year For related items in our Goldmine store (see below): Click here for the Goldmine store This story was originally reported by Goldmine on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How Grace Potter Lost (and Found) a Solo Album, and a New Life
In May 2009, Hollywood Records announced that T Bone Burnett — the producer of the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss LP 'Raising Sand,' which dominated the Grammys earlier that year — had recently entered the studio with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals to produce the band's new album. The LP, which would be the Vermont-based bluesy roots-rock group's third, was slated to come out that fall. The label didn't mention that the album was in fact a solo vehicle for Potter, then 25, that she recorded with a team of renowned session musicians: the drummer Jim Keltner, the guitarist Marc Ribot, the bassist Dennis Crouch and the keyboardist Keefus Ciancia. 'She was like a ball of fire,' Keltner recalled of Potter in a phone call, 'and she was really fun to follow.' During an interview in March at her eclectically decorated villa in Topanga, Calif., Potter — a multi-instrumentalist whose soulful voice has earned her comparisons to Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin and 'a grittier Patty Griffin' — recounted her sense of anticipation over the release of the LP, 'Medicine.' 'It really felt like something exciting on the horizon,' Potter said, sitting on the couch in her living room dressed in a stylish forest-green jumpsuit. 'It was like the secret that we got to keep until it all came out.' Sixteen years earlier, she had described the record as 'more of a storyteller, kind of tribal, Motown, voodoo thing' than her earlier output. Then Hollywood shelved the album. The label wanted Potter and the Nocturnals to rerecord the songs with the producer Mark Batson, known for his work with Alicia Keys, the Dave Matthews Band and Dr. Dre. Potter blamed an A&R executive, whom she declined to name, for the decision. She also said that Bob Cavallo, then the chair of the Disney Music Group, which distributes the Hollywood label, was 'concerned that the record would age me.' She added, 'I'm a young, hot thing. He was like, 'We don't want her to seem like she's 46.'' (In a phone interview, Cavallo, now 85 and retired, couldn't recall the particulars of the label's move, but expressed regret that he couldn't help Potter 'get a giant career, because I thought she deserved one.') The switch-up blindsided Potter. 'I was totally heartbroken,' said the musician, who turns 42 next month. 'And I thought about T Bone and our connection and the triangulation of our creativity.' She added, 'Like, was it all for nothing? That seems crazy.' Grace Potter and the Nocturnals ended up working with Batson. The resulting 2010 self-titled record featured new versions of eight songs from the 'Medicine' sessions. It debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200, and included perhaps the band's most enduring single, 'Paris (Ooh La La),' a supercharged version of a 'Medicine' track. The band released one more LP, 'The Lion the Beast the Beat' from 2012, before breaking up three years later. Potter said the Nocturnals' dissolution was the result of intraband strife and her desire to go solo, not, as is widely believed, her divorce from the group's drummer, Matt Burr. And now, one decade, another marriage and three solo albums later, Potter's 'Medicine' is finally getting a proper release, via Hollywood, on May 30. Burr, who today runs a music studio in Puerto Rico and goes by Matteo, said that he'd always known that the record, with its 'mystical T Bone Americana magic,' was timeless: 'It was going to be something that you could grab a shovel and dig it up and put it out, and it would be as fresh as it sounded the day it was mastered.' Over the course of nearly four hours, Potter discussed the drama surrounding 'Medicine,' and chatted about her other musical endeavors and her colorful personal life. The singer, who occasionally sneaked a hit from her vape, proved as charismatic as she was voluble — 'endless fun,' as one of Potter's past collaborators, the country star Kenny Chesney, put it in an email: 'She sees every day, every moment, every little thing she's doing as a bottomless adventure.' Potter grew up in Waitsfield, Vt., the middle child of Peggy and Sparky, artisans who helped found Dream On Productions, which traveled the world putting on photo slide shows accompanied by music. Potter recalled a bohemian youth, which included dropping acid and two arrests for public nudity, none of which fazed her folks. 'The hardest thing about having really cool parents is that you can't out-cool your parents,' she said. Potter had a natural affinity for music, and it gave her a way to differentiate herself. 'I just wanted to be famous,' she said. 'Sounds so crass and weird to say, but at the heart of it, I really feel like it was the only thing my parents chose not to do.' Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, which she helped found at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York in 2002, was her ticket to that life. She dropped out after her sophomore year to focus on the group, but by the time Burnett expressed interest in working with her, Potter was yearning to strike out on her own, much to the chagrin of her bandmates: 'They would always say, 'Don't go Gwen Stefani on us.'' For years after recording 'Medicine,' Potter resisted that urge. In 2014, she and the Nocturnals began working with the producer Eric Valentine, and over time, she and Valentine developed feelings for one another. 'I really enjoyed hanging out with Grace and making music with Grace,' said Valentine, who by this point in the interview had joined her on the couch. 'But I wouldn't let my brain make that leap to, like, 'OK, I think I'm in love with this person.'' Potter, who had been married to Burr since 2013, said she was similarly reluctant when it came to Valentine, who is 14 years her senior and was also in a long-term relationship. After much angst and deliberation, she and Valentine ultimately hooked up. Potter was eight-and-a-half months pregnant when she married Valentine in December 2017. Valentine has produced all of his wife's post-Nocturnals solo records, including her most recent, the twangy and soulful 'Mother Road,' which came out in 2023 and Potter described as 'an original motion picture soundtrack to an invisible movie.' When Potter decided she wanted to make 'Mother Road' into a 'visible movie' — she is now in the pitching stage — she got to thinking about the 'Medicine' album. 'That record has so many cinematic gems,' she said. 'So much of it is a sonic movie.' So she had her manager reach out to Hollywood, which still had a digital recording in the vault. 'It was so good,' Potter said of listening to 'Medicine' again after so many years. 'I was like, 'This is wild that this didn't get out.'' Hollywood, she said, readily agreed to release it. Potter, who sang the national anthem at the Kentucky Derby earlier this month and will open for Chris Stapleton at Madison Square Garden in July, said she intended to tour behind 'Medicine.' She described the impending release of the long-shelved album — which strikes a moody, more ethereal tone — in empowering terms. 'I don't owe anybody loyalty to stick around or not stick around,' Potter said. 'I don't owe people a well-behaved or an ill-behaved version of me. I don't owe it to myself to do my makeup and look beautiful for the world or gain or lose weight or have a baby or not have a baby.' Those were all choices she had the power to make, she added. 'But the choice I didn't get to make about 'Medicine,' I now do, and that feels very — I can't say it's enriching or comforting, but it's important,' Potter said. 'It's like, don't pretend it didn't happen,' she continued. 'Don't sweep it under the rug. Why would you? It's such a beautiful piece of broken glass.'
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
American Idol prize money: How much will John Foster and Jamal Roberts get if they win?
The American Idol Season 23 finale on Sunday showcased Breanna Nix, John Foster, and Jamal Roberts vying for the title. Soon after the contestants put up their performances, it was time for host Ryan Seacrest to announce the top two. Breanna Nix was ousted from the race, with John Foster and Jamal Roberts going to the top 2. One among the two - Foster or Roberts - will take home the American Idol title and a whopping prize money. No 2025-specific prize details were explicitly revealed before the show. Here's a breakdown of how much the winner can take home based on past seasons. Winner's Prize: According to a Newsweek report from last year, the winner gets a record contract with Hollywood Records. They receive $125,000, and then an additional $100,000 after they complete an entire album for a total of $250,000, according to the report. Newsweek further added that the American Idol winners 'have a budget of as much as $300,000 to record that album, which is given as an advance that they will have to pay back against future earnings'. This structure has been consistent since the show's early seasons, adjusted for inflation. John Foster or Jamal Roberts, if crowned the 2025 winner, would likely receive this amount, pending contract fulfillment. The American Idol winner for Season 23 is determined through a structured process centered on public voting during the live finale, with specific rules governing vote collection and tallying. Votes are cast by the public during the live American Idol finale. Voting occurs in real time across the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Voters must be at least 13 years old. Online and app voting require an ABC account, while text voting incurs carrier charges.
Economic Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 2: Release date, what to expect, cast, trailer and where to watch
Hulu is bringing back The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for a second season. The new episodes will continue to explore the lives of the #MomTok group. The story focuses on past drama, changing friendships and ongoing personal issues. The season will be available to stream on May Season 2, the return of one member changes the dynamic of the group. Miranda McWhorter, Taylor Frankie Paul's close friend, comes back to talk about past cheating rumors. This surprise leads to mixed reactions. Demi Engemann says anyone returning now may only want attention. Jessi Ngatikaura openly rejects Whitney Leavitt's return, calling it a bad idea. Whitney, who stepped away from the group last season, shares her opinion. She believes the group should not take things too seriously. Her comment creates more tension. Meanwhile, Mayci Neeley says the group is dividing quickly. Also Read: Call of Duty Got Your Six Event: Here's start and end date, timings, duration and leaked rewards The second season features returning cast members, Taylor Frankie Paul, Demi Engemann, Jen Affleck, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews and Whitney Leavitt. Miranda McWhorter joins the group this season. Her involvement raises new questions about past events. Taylor's story remains central. Her relationship with Dakota Mortensen faces more pressure. Concerns about Dakota's sobriety come up again. These struggles play a major part in the and Hollywood Records have released a theme song for the series. 'Secret Temptation' and its remix are now available on music platforms. The music matches the tone of the show is produced by Jeff Jenkins Productions, 3BMG, and Walt Disney Television Alternative. Executive producers include Jeff Jenkins, Russell Jay-Staglik, Andrea Metz, Elise Chung, Ross Weintraub, Reinout Oerlemans, Danielle Pistotnik, Georgia Berger and Lisa Filipelli. Also Read: SkyMed Season 3: How to watch medical drama? Here's release date across regions, plot, cast, trailer and where to watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 2 will premiere on May 15. All 10 episodes will be available at once on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.Here is the trailer. When does Season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives come out? Season 2 will be released on May 15. All 10 episodes will be available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ the same day. What is the focus of Season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives? The season focuses on changing group dynamics, Taylor's relationship struggles, and the return of a cast member linked to past scandals.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 2: Release date, what to expect, cast, trailer and where to watch
Season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premieres May 15 on Hulu. New conflicts emerge within #MomTok after a cast member returns to address past scandals. Ten new episodes will be released together. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What to Expect Cast Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Production Team Season 2 Release Date and Where to Watch Trailer FAQs Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Hulu is bringing back The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for a second season. The new episodes will continue to explore the lives of the #MomTok group. The story focuses on past drama, changing friendships and ongoing personal issues. The season will be available to stream on May Season 2, the return of one member changes the dynamic of the group. Miranda McWhorter, Taylor Frankie Paul 's close friend, comes back to talk about past cheating rumors. This surprise leads to mixed reactions. Demi Engemann says anyone returning now may only want attention. Jessi Ngatikaura openly rejects Whitney Leavitt's return, calling it a bad who stepped away from the group last season, shares her opinion. She believes the group should not take things too seriously. Her comment creates more tension. Meanwhile, Mayci Neeley says the group is dividing second season features returning cast members, Taylor Frankie Paul, Demi Engemann, Jen Affleck, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews and Whitney Leavitt. Miranda McWhorter joins the group this season. Her involvement raises new questions about past story remains central. Her relationship with Dakota Mortensen faces more pressure. Concerns about Dakota's sobriety come up again. These struggles play a major part in the and Hollywood Records have released a theme song for the series. 'Secret Temptation' and its remix are now available on music platforms. The music matches the tone of the show is produced by Jeff Jenkins Productions, 3BMG, and Walt Disney Television Alternative. Executive producers include Jeff Jenkins, Russell Jay-Staglik, Andrea Metz, Elise Chung, Ross Weintraub, Reinout Oerlemans, Danielle Pistotnik, Georgia Berger and Lisa Filipelli. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 2 will premiere on May 15. All 10 episodes will be available at once on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.Here is the 2 will be released on May 15. All 10 episodes will be available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ the same season focuses on changing group dynamics, Taylor's relationship struggles, and the return of a cast member linked to past scandals.
