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Mary Chapin Carpenter
Musician, Songwriter
Tuesday, April 24, 2001; 3:20 p.m. EST
Musician Mary Chapin Carpenter appeared on the national music scene in 1987 with a new take on blending country, folk and pop music. Five Grammys, two best female vocalist awards from the Country Music Association and a best female vocalist honor from the Academy of Country Music later Carpenter is back with a new album, "TIME*SEX*LOVE*" -- scheduled for release on May 29.
Recorded at London's Air Studios in November 2000, the new recordings include several new songs from the singer/songwriter. The full title of the album is "Time is the great gift; sex is the great equalizer; love is the great mystery."
Carpenter was online to answer questions about her career and new album on Tuesday, April 24 at 3:20 p.m. EDT.
The transcript follows...
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
washingtonpost.com:
Mary, welcome. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Can you tell us about the ties you have to the Washington metropolitan area?
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Gosh. Lived here since 1974 and I was 15-years-old then. That was a time when Washington was considered bluegrass capital of the world and fell head over heels for bluegrass. Members of my family live here and I've always loved it and I feel that it's home. I've lived here longer than anywhere else.
Brooklyn, Conn.:
Hi Mary Chapin, is there a story that goes with the title of your new CD?
Thanks,
schnauzergal
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Yes. John Jennings and I were talking about the connecting threads of the record and he came out with this statement and I said "John it seems the songs are connected in some way... the passage of time.. sexual.. passion... or love." He said, "Time's the great gift, sex is the great equalizer and love is the great mystery." I just laughed and said "There's the title." And he doesn't remember saying it.
Manassas, Va.:
Hey Chapin:
Still like to play tennis?
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Haven't played tennis in years.
Manassas, Va.:
So, have you found your place in the world? If so, can I borrow the map?
Mary Chapin Carpenter: I love that. It's great. I think I"m zeroing in on it, but I say that with a caveat, that I do think it's like the song talks about finding your place in the world -- knowing what your purpose is. One of the lyrics is "To be alive is to know your purpose." There are more days than not I feel my identity is clear to me. I also have days when I don't know S---. I feel purposelessness, where I belong or what I'm doing. Hopefully I"m not asked on those kinds of days.
I guess Ii'd sum it up by saying that growing older and wiser is a gift. I feel less frantic about 'what am I doing and how am I doing it.' But if things don't go right I'm not losing my head.
I love that question. Wish I had a perfect to give back.
Karie, New York City:
You have performed with some amazing people. If you could perform with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Oh god! That's so hard.
Well, Eva Cassidy. One of the greatest singers on the planet.
Washington, D.C.:
Dear Ms. Chapin Carpenter:
I'm a huge fan of your music -- thanks for sharing it with the world. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the D.C. music scene?
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Well, I think one of the weaknesses is the Post coverage. Eric works hard to shine a spotlight on what's going on locally. But there could be far more coverage of local art and culture. We have the Kennedy Center and all these places that work hard to open up doors to going on locally, but it's not enough.
I remember working locally for years and not gettting the light of day. The reality is there's no scene unless it's supported. It's hard to know what the scene is if people don't get intrigued by it.
Sonoma County, Calif.:
Dear Ms. Carpenter,
I applaud your contributions to the Concerts and the Campaign For a Landmine Free World.
Has the experience of traveling to Cambodia and meeting survivors and potential victims of landmines influenced any of your most recent musical compositions?
Thank you.
Mary Chapin Carpenter: I haven't written about it and I it's not something I'd feel comfortable saying "I'm going to write a song about it." Life altering experiences tend to find their way into songs anyhow, whether clearly or under the surface.
I don't feel I'm eloquent enough to express what that trip meant.
Alexandria, Va.:
Hi Mary!
I'm a big fan of your music...your lyrics & melodies are incredible. Do you still consider DC home? Do you plan to write another book?
Look forward to your new release.
Hope your doggies are doing well...will they be joining the next tour?
take care
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Dogs are great. Fantastic. I expect them to be on the road with me this summer.
As far as writing another book, the two books I've participated in were children's books. In some ways I feel sheepish because it was Harper Collins to take the lyrics and illustrate them.
I'm currently working on something and I've been trying to spend time on it, but may not finish.
I still consider D.C. home.
Silver Spring, Md.:
How was it working with Blake Chancey? How did it change the production style that you and John have had together for so long?
Mary Chapin Carpenter: I worked with Blake for the first time on Party Doll and had such a good time I wanted to make a whole record with him. John was really excited about the process as well. All three of us had a vibe together, mainly because we all laugh a lot. It was a very comfortable situation from the get-go.
Northwestern Va.:
I don't expect an answer to this, since it's off topic: did you ever own a paperback copy of George Orwell's Animal Farm with (I think) an orange and black cover? It has your name in pencil on the flyleaf, but there could be more than one person with your name.
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Umm, well, when I was in 7th grade I think I owned that book, so it's entirely possible that it's my copy. If it end s up on e-bay in the next month, we're gonna come after you!
Washington, D.C.:
Any apprehensions about using the S-word in the title of your album?
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Are you serious? Who's asking, Jerry Falwell.
McLean, Va.:
Hello Miss Carpenter --
Please settle an argument between me and my brother-in-law!! He says that no one from D.C. ever made it big in music without moving away and going to N.Y., L.A. or wherever.
I said that you had managed to do so without moving away, actually keeping your day job until your second record was released.
Who is correct?
Mary Chapin Carpenter: The person asking the question. What does making it big mean? What's the litmus test. One would want to know that and I feel like it's immodest to say "I made it big," but I never moved to NY to do what I was doing.
Apple Valley, Minn.:
Could you please tell me if you use an open tuning for "Come On Come On?" And, what it is? Also, when on tour do you restring your guitar each day? Thanks for the inspirational singing/songwriting.
Ginger
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Yeah, I do use an open tuning for Come on, Come on. I tune it to this: D/A/D/F#/G/D. I play it Capo'd on the third fret. Yes, my strings are changed every day because they get worn out. On like 6 or 7 guitars.
Birmingham, AL.:
Hi Mary Chapin
I love the lyrics to your new tune "Simple Life." When listening to the
song I feel like I am hearing bits of the Beatle's album Abby Road in
the melody of the song, is this my imagination or inspiration on your
part from recording in London and working with George Martin.
Cam
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Well, first of all, did not work with George Martin. He owns the studio, but I did not work with him.
And the song is a virtual clone of the demo, which was recorded in Springfield, Va. at bias where I've made all my records.
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Gosh, I love the Beatles and always have, but wouldn't be able to pick out what you're talking about.
Falls Church, Va.:
Hi Mary Chapin!
I was just curious what prompted you to record T-S-L at Air Studios vs. Bias Recording? All of your D.C. fans are looking forward to the Wolf Trap shows... Have a great summer!
Mary Chapin Carpenter: I had made every record up to now at Bias and it is home and a wonderful place, but I felt a need to take myself out of everything that was familiar with me and that included working with different people -- bringing Blake in. Just shaking things up. Any time you're forced to be somewhere different, you just respond differently, and that's why I chose to go somewhere different.
Pristina, Kosovo, Yugoslavia:
I haven't heard the new album yet, but what was your inspiration for the new material? Were there any new developments in your life, or changes, that had a significant impact on your songwriting?
Peter Pollis
UN Mission in Kosovo
(Royal Oak, Michigan)
pollis-un.org
Mary Chapin Carpenter: I've been to Kosovo, that's great you can be with us in this way.
That's a hard question -- it's all about the stuff you go through for me. I've always kind of scanned my internal landscape (laughing). It's very spiritual and personal exercise, so the songs reflect what I was feeling. I don't know how to go farther into it without feeling uncomfortable.
Suffice to say, I think there's always a very large part of you in your songs.
Falls Church, Va.:
Will you be playing at any smaller venues in and around Washington anytime soon? It seems that your appearances other than Wolf Trap and the occasional charity gig are too few and far between. Also, will you be using the word "sepia" in your upcoming album? Thanks.
Mary Chapin Carpenter: I don't think 'sepia' made the cut this time. We are playing at the 9:30 club on the last Wednesday of June, the 27th. That's a smaller place.
I don't know, I feel like we do play a lot around. We're in Baltimore the next night. I'm playing in Baltimore this Friday night at Loyola for a lecture series that honors women. Come on Friday.
That's definitely an intimate gathering.
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Thanks, we hope to see everyone this summer across the world and across the country.
washingtonpost.com:
That was our last question for Mary Chapin Carpenter. Thanks to Mary Chapin and everyone for joining this discussion.
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