The Steel Wheels Talk New Album ‘Sideways’, Songwriting And More

Virginia-based Americana/Folk five-piece The Steel Wheels will release their new album ‘Sideways’ in February 2024. They chatted to us all about their new record:

Who is in The Steel Wheels and what do they play?

 Trent Wagler- Guitar, Banjo, Vocals

Jay Lapp- Mandolin, Guitars, Vocals

Eric Brubaker- Fiddle, Vocals

Kevin Garcia- Drums, Percussion, Keyboards

Jeremy Darrow- Bass, Vocals 

You will release your new album ‘Sideways’ on your own Big Ring Records in February 2024. How did you want to approach the making of this album?

We had been recording so much during the pandemic in isolation from one another, I think we wanted to embrace being in the same studio together as much as possible. My memories from the recording process were mostly the joy of feeling and hearing each other playing in real time. It’s not a live record, but we wanted to record as much as possible live and be impacted in real time by each other’s presence. We were also holed up in Maine in the studio for a full 11 days of recording. That’s my favorite way to do it. Just eat, sleep, and record.  

Where did you record it and who produced it?

We recorded at Great North Sound Society in Parsonsfield, ME with Sam Kasirrer. Sam is a great producer who seamlessly can become like a member of the band one moment, a pinpoint listener engineer the next, and pull together the macro vision of the album or song at the moment you’re about to lose perspective. I love his expertise, vibe, and I’ve learned so much from him.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Harrisonburg, VA – mountains, valley, scrappy, friendly, poultry

Your latest single ‘Wait On You’ is out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the song?

After my first year of college, I was supposed to catch a train to Kansas to work on a farm and be with family for the summer. I had just read Noam Chomsky for the first time. I was thinking big thoughts. You know that feeling where you go around looking at people wondering, how can they just be standing there talking about the weather?! There are huge things to talk about in the world!! That’s where my mind was. Well, in the midst of that academic intensity, my friends and I failed to secure a ride to the train station and we learned the hard way, that if you don’t think about certain details, it doesn’t really matter what books you’ve read. The train will leave without you. 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, pedals, effects?

I’ve been enjoying playing my Huss & Dalton Singletree banjo through my Line 6 M5 Stompbox Modeler. I’m relatively new to using effects on the banjo, and I like to keep it from sounding too weird, but I’m enjoying the experiment. I’ve got a sub octave fuzz setting that is surprisingly fun, and some cool tremolo and reverb presets that allow me to expand the voice of the instrument in some really fun ways.

How do you look after your voices?

Sleep, sleep, sleep. For me, the ability to hear myself onstage (shout out to JH Audio In-Ear Monitors), and getting a good night’s sleep are the two biggest factors for keeping my voice ready for the next show. I can sing every night without fail if my sleep schedule stays strong. Conversely, if I miss a good night’s sleep two nights on the road, I can get behind and sometimes never recover on tour.

Do you have any plans to support the album release with any live dates in the UK/Europe in 2024?

Ooooooh, what a good question. I hope to make that work. Unfortunately we haven’t had a lot of luck making it over to the UK that often, but we’ve been talking about that priority in the near future. Keep your eyes glued to our schedule.

Are there any specific themes that you tackle on the record? Was it a difficult album to write?

 I think the record is predominantly about letting go of the illusion of control in my world. Some of it was very personal and connected to the pandemic. Some of it has been in the process of being a parent to kids that are growing up and becoming their own independent persons. I think the last few years knocked me sideways and I couldn’t help but write about the ways I was careening off kilter.

What makes The Steel Wheels happy and what makes you unhappy?

Happy- coffee 

Unhappy- no coffee

Happy- Thai Food

Unhappy- Only food with cheese right before singing

Happy- Great sound systems

Unhappy- People really proud and talkative about their sound systems