New Artist Spotlight: Eric Church

New Artist Spotlight: Eric Church

By Peter Cronin

Eric Church's songs are loaded with honesty, conviction and most importantly, Eric Church.

"If you listen to this [album], you'll find out who I am," Church said. "When I was 13, I started writing, and I thought, 'If I'm going to play for these people, I'm going to have to learn how to play guitar.'"

While at Appalachian State University, Church got his first gig at a local bar. With the temporary name the Mountain Boys, Church, his brother and a couple of friends performed their first gig knowing only 14 songs, but they held the audience through a four-hour set. Soon, they were playing their original songs five nights a week around the region.

When he finished school, Church made the essential move to Nashville. As excited as he was about finally getting to Music City, he remembers his first few days as being a bit scary.

"I didn't know a soul," he said. "I didn't know the publishing companies or the industry. I just had something inside me saying, 'You have to be there.'"

Church immediately grabbed a phone book and began calling record companies.

"Once you've been here, you know it doesn't work that way," Church said. "I guess a lot of it was being young and stupid, but there's a lot to being young and stupid."

A year after he moved to Nashville, Church signed a publishing deal with Sony ATV Tree and hit the ground running, demoing 60-70 songs.

"I figure they're paying me to be a songwriter and that's what I'm here to do," he said.

Church began making contacts around Nashville, one of them being producer Jay Joyce. "We clicked instantly," Church said. The songs Joyce and Church began writing eventually led to Church's signing to Capitol Records Nashville. His debut album, Sinners Like Me, was released July 18.

"I think we've made an honest record," Church said, "I don't think there's a song on there that's not me."

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

What CD is in your stereo right now?

"The Black Keys."

What book is on your nightstand?

"The Bible."

What do you sing in the shower?

"Whatever I'm currently writing."

What's your pet peeve?

"Questionnaires. Just kidding."

What song do you wish you had written?

"'Good Ole Boys Like Me.'"