I think what Jason is saying here is that he doesn’t write with the thought “hey this will be a huge radio hit and make us tons of cash”. He writes from the heart based on what needs to come out. This is why true artists change and evolve over time and each album is different from the next. If i were writing songs today they’d be much different than what i would’ve written at 25. I’m a different man now with a different perspective and reality.

I’m not as good at it, but this is why I write songs. It’s never been for anything other than a mental and emotional release.

I haven't listened to him before but want to now, since I really like his viewpoints on art.

Motivation

2nd greatest living songwriter after Mr. Zimmerman.

I got a message saying The full interview isnt available” at your website

Writing is the point. Just like painting, you have to get it out. Except sometimes songs take 20 years to write.

hmmm

Im an absolutely massive Isbell fan...ask my friends...but to suggest he has surpassed Springsteen as a songwriter is absurd. But hes well on his way. I would say the best songwriter of this generation...And much more to come.

Idk I don't buy that. I love Jason Isbell and have listened to all his work, he's one of my favorite artists. However, he can come off as pretty pretentious and certainly does so in this bit here. Jason Isbell has literally been a professional musician his entire career. He joined the Drive By Truckers at age 22, has played music professionally since then yet says "I didn't want to be a writer, I wanted to write. I was writing songs before I knew what songwriting was" Huh? If that sounds like talking in circles to you, that's because it is. If you listen to Isbell's early work and his work now, it is VERY CLEAR that his songwriting got better because he worked at it, focused on it, and obviously WANTED to become a better songwriter. This BS about "NEEDING" to make the art he is famous for, needing to happen is just that----BS. It happened because he very much so wanted to become a great songwriter and worked very hard to achieve that goal, which took decades. His most famous song "Elephant" is a fictional tale about a cancer patient. He needed to write that...or what? What would have happened? It's not a true story about someone in his life. I guarantee you he crafted that song thinking "Hmmm what's the saddest thing people experience? A loved one dying. Now....what's the worst way to die? Cancer. Ok let's write a sad song about cancer" And the song is brilliant. And Jason Isbell is one of the greatest songwriters who ever put pen to paper. But don't give me this BS about how he doesn't care about what he writes about, just has to do it, and people "happen" to enjoy his work. He very clearly has worked hard over years and years and years of making music to improve his songwriting, and write songs that more people will connect to. That doesn't happen by accident/chance.

Mike Cooley disliked this

25,000 views after six years tells you all you need to know about this punk