Back with a new album, the singer-songwriter answers your questions on the Coen brothers, John Paul Jones, and having David Cameron as a fan
What do you think is the legacy of the massive success of O Brother, Where Art Thou? for you and roots music in general? HenleyRegatta
I don’t think a lot of people realised they liked that kind of old-time mountain music until they heard it in the film. I’m proud to have brought the music of Ralph Stanley to millions more people, in his lifetime. It was my first production credit as associate producer and the soundtrack was like my record collection coming to life. We really clicked with the Coen brothers. Joel asked if I’d make a cameo in the film. We were on the road, so I got two hours’ sleep after the show, then had to get on a red eye to Mississippi. I got in at dawn and the shoot was at 10am. I thought, “I’m gonna look like holy hell,” but they put me in the makeup chair and darkened the circles under my eyes to make me look even worse. I guess they wanted that authentically tired look.
At what point in your life did the Appalachia in you make itself apparent to the SoCal persona to which you were born? douglasdavis55
I was adopted and grew up in southern California, but my people are from North Carolina. When I was eight or nine I asked for an acoustic guitar and would lock myself in my bedroom singing Carter Family songs. It just felt very natural, like I’d inexplicably gravitated towards it. Then after high school I had an epiphany when I heard [bluegrass musicians] the Stanley Brothers. I’ve always listened to electric music, but it’s too loud for me to play. Whether it’s vacuum cleaners or hairdryers, I’ve never liked loud noise.
