David Mead: Songs, Fatherhood, and the Freedom to Let Go

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer-songwriter David Mead for a wide-ranging conversation about singing, record-making, fatherhood, and the changing place of music in our culture.

David takes me back to his earliest experiences as a singer, from hearing his mother sing around the house to studying with vocal teacher Norris Brandstrom. Those lessons began to make sense when David heard Jeff Buckley and discovered how classical vocal technique could open the door to a more adventurous, expressive way of singing.

We also get inside the making of January San Fernando. David explains how working with musicians such as Larry Goldings and Val McCallum helped him relinquish some creative control, trust the instincts of the people in the room, and recognize the energy that can live in an early take.  He also shares news of another record made with the same core group of musicians.

Some of the most meaningful parts of our conversation are about family. David reflects on how becoming a husband and father changed his relationship with ambition, identity, mortality, and creative work. We close by discussing his beautiful version of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” the childhood memory behind it, and how a low-pressure recording project became the album Indiana.

Key Takeaways

• David is grateful that he learned to sing, play guitar, and write songs before music became inseparable from today’s constant flow of digital content.
• Vocal teacher Norris Brandstrom helped him understand that singing and speaking are extensions of the same natural process.
• Hearing Jeff Buckley gave David a contemporary context for the classical vocal technique he had previously resisted.
• While making January San Fernando, David deliberately gave musicians such as Larry Goldings and Val McCallum room to follow their own instincts.
• He prefers the energy and discovery of early studio takes, especially when working with musicians who have not spent too much time studying the songs.
• Fatherhood helped David separate his love of music from the pressure to define himself through a recording career.
• His version of “Human Nature” grew from a powerful childhood memory and the creative freedom surrounding the making of Indiana.

Music from the Episode

• Nashville - David Mead
• Bedtime Story - David Mead
• Indiana - David Mead
• Human Nature - David Mead

About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast about music, creativity, and the people who devote their lives to making sound. I sit down with musicians, songwriters, composers, producers, engineers, and other creative artists to explore their work, their influences, and the experiences that continue to shape them.

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