Landon Pigg is a normal guy. He enjoys kicking back at a coffee shop with a newspaper and a mug, and opening a pack of Gushers while reveling in the dewy nostalgia of Saved by the Bell reruns.
It just so happens that this 23-year-old has a record deal with RCA and gets to write and sing songs for a living, but talking to him, as I did during a 30-minute interview that seemed more like a chat between two friends, you wouldn’t detect the slightest hint of celebrity.
Pigg seems remarkably unfazed by his young bid for stardom. In the liner notes of his first major label album, appropriately named LP, he refers to music industry legend Clive Davis (who owns RCA and has launched the careers of some of music’s biggest stars) as a kindly grandfather. He talks frankly with journalists, confiding that he craves apple juice much more than its orange, pulpy counterpart.
He appears surprised by the attention his fledgling career has afforded him. “It’s a strange thing,” he said. “I would much rather [discuss] the little details, [like] ‘Do you like Tabasco sauce?’ That’s what I like to do with my acquaintances.”
This unabashed modesty could be a product of his upbringing. He grew up in Nashville, Tenn., where thousands of aspiring artists flock each year to plead their case for celebrity. The fact that all but a few of them meet with failure is something Pigg, whose father worked on the technical end of the local music industry, doubtless knew at an early age. He has an appreciation for the fragility of fame, and therefore learned to respect music for its own sake. “It’s fun to write music,” he said, “but a lot of people can do it; you just happened to call my number,” he said slyly.
Pigg paid his dues along with the hundreds of other aspiring artists who migrate to Nashville, their musical Mecca. He played the traditional circuit of coffee shops while waiting for his big break. When he remembered his earlier days, he laughed, recalling the “espresso machine grinding louder than your voice.”
His experiences in Nashville, far from leading him down a country-fried path, prompted him to avoid being pigeonholed into dime-a-dozen labels, including country crooner and mopey collegiate with a guitar. “[I went in the] opposite direction . I didn’t want a singer-songwriter album.”
LP certainly goes out of its way to avoid the pitfalls of the usual angst-ridden singer-songwriter fare. The songs are all from Pigg’s prolific pen, and the album represents “a collection of things I had written over the course of three years.” Pigg’s earnest, pleading vocals and honest, introspective lyrics are surrounded by slick scenery provided by a trio of radio-ready producers, including Clif Magness, who has worked with a long line of pop royalty including Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne.
His next album, which he will be writing material for in the coming months, might represent more of his native influences. “I’d like to do something a little more stripped down, a little less produced [next time].” In order to embark on this new venture, Pigg has slowed down, abstaining from touring and intense media exposure. “My songwriting comes in spurts,” he said. “It kind of feels like sleeping, [I need ‘rest’ to write].”
Listening to Pigg talk, one thing becomes clear; he has a natural thirst for artistic expression. Pigg isn’t writing music to save the world or to be the next big thing; he’s doing it because it’s what he loves.
Pigg said that he is most often inspired to write while driving through the streets of Nashville on his way home, “I find that driving . is a break from your day . it allows your mind to roam,” he said. Apparently, he even favors one street in particular as his creative stomping ground: Granny White Pike, which cuts through the heart of suburban Nashville.
In a tone that betrayed his gleeful passion for music-making, he commented that “the melody is the easiest part and the most fun.” He said that he loves to sing and, when he first writes a good song, he can’t get enough of it. “When they’re fresh . I listen to them all the time,” he said.
A young artist who is still contemplating where he falls on the musical spectrum, Pigg has yet to define a specific muse for his writing. “Bob Dylan [would say] politics or war, but I don’t have one.” Instead, he culls his material from many of life’s facets, although he does admit that “some [songs] are about me.”
For Pigg, writing a song is like creating a time capsule. He crystallizes an issue, but leaves it grounded in reality. “[Songwriting] doesn’t really help me overcome an issue,” he said, “it just helps you document what the issue is.”
One recurring theme that does sneak through Pigg’s work, at least on his debut, is the confusion that accompanies the onset of adulthood. “The album is about being on the fence and trying to figure out ways to get off the fence.” This undecided mentality is apparent in LP’s lead single, “Can’t Let Go,” in which Pigg is paralyzed by a relationship that failed before it was able to flower. In the song, and in the album, he is stuck at a crossroads.
Reflecting on his future as an artist, Pigg seems ready to get off the fence and choose a direction. He burst forth with ideas befitting his youthful passion. Among his ultimate dreams is having the chance to perform alongside some of his biggest musical influences. “I’d love to tour with Neil Young, Bob Dylan or Paul McCartney.” Aside from those objectives, Pigg is reflective, looking forward to thoughtful development. “I plan on enjoying the ride . [and] formulate my opinions [as an artist],” something he also suggests for aspiring artists.
Not to be fenced in by the boundaries of pop music, Pigg also plans to branch out. “I want to be part of some movies [musically],” he said. This goal may come to fruition soon, as he plans on writing music for a children’s cartoon which is currently in development.
Landon Pigg is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. While his music comes bubble-wrapped in hypnotic, hook-laden pop, the skeleton is driven by the midnight musings of a soulful artist on the rise. He’s got a winning personality and a talent for writing memorable melodies with thoughtful lyrics. It will be interesting to watch as he “gets off the fence” and moves forward.
