Exploring the creative collaboration that led to the album ‘That Wasn’t A Dream’ : NPR

Bassist Pino Palladino and producer Blake Mills have spent a lot of their careers rooted in radio-friendly in style kinds — working with huge names in rock, pop and R&B. However after they play collectively, their music challenges these classes.

This week, they launched their second set of genre-defying tracks collectively, That Wasn’t A Dream.

Palladino’s resume is nothing in need of exceptional. The 67-year-old Welsh bass participant has left an indelible mark on in style music over the previous 4 a long time, recording with Don Henley, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Aldele and Erykah Badu. He was part of the John Mayer Trio and had stints touring with D’Angelo, The Who and 9 Inch Nails.

“I am identified for taking part in on all types of various data and kinds of music.” Palladino mentioned. “I believe when me and Blake get collectively, it turns into one thing distinctive — which is a phrase that is most likely overused to explain issues. However I believe I might like to stay with that phrase for this.”

Practically 30 years Palladino’s junior, Mills’ star has been rising since getting his begin as a guitarist and vocalist with the Southern California rock group Simon Dawes (now referred to as Dawes). Together with a collection of acclaimed solo data, he is additionally labored as a producer for artists akin to Fiona Apple, Conor Oberst and Alabama Shakes.

Forging a musical partnership

The duo rapidly shaped a musical kinship in 2016, when Mills introduced Palladino and drummer Chris Dave into the studio for a session with John Legend. Palladino invited Mills to spend a day engaged on a few of his songs in progress.

“That day became two years of engaged on his music,” mentioned Mills. The collaboration led to the duo’s 2021 album, Notes With Attachments.

Whereas Palladino is well-known in lots of circles of in style music, he scoffs on the thought of making an attempt to categorize his work with Mills.

“I do not know the place you’d put it genre-wise and I do not notably wish to,” he defined.

Their compositions blur traces between construction and improvisation and likewise the hierarchy of a track. “Taka” is pushed by Palladino’s swirling, but hyper-focused bassline.

“I got here up with that bassline and that melodic thought just about vibing alone,” Palladino mentioned of the observe. “I really like African music — West African music particularly. And that was the inspiration from listening to numerous that music and sort of internalizing it.”

The collaborative course of 

The inventive course of is really collaborative, each males say — one in all them will introduce a bit of a track in progress after which ask the opposite for concepts.

Palladino factors to “Contour,” the opening observe from their new album, for instance. He initially wrote the primary a part of the track on a Spanish, nylon-string guitar.

“I did not know the place to go subsequent on it to finish the piece,” Palladino mentioned. “Blake, he had one thing instantly — like a chord change and a improvement of the melody.”

When figuring out components and track concepts, the duo tends to work with out different musicians. Mills notes that the absence of a drummer is not problematic when he is with Palladino.

“There’s nonetheless such a way of rhythm,” Mills mentioned. “It seems like there’s an imaginary ensemble taking part in with us, and I simply sort of lose myself and neglect that I am simply taking part in with one different individual and go into this trance of rhythm.”

Commissioning a brand new instrument in Mills’ sonic ‘vocabulary’

Whereas making the album, Mills was searching for a technique to maintain notes on a guitar. He’d used a tool referred to as an EBow, however was annoyed by its limitations. Ultimately, he found the work of guitar maker Duncan Value, who was experimenting with creating uncommon six-stringed devices with no frets.

The result’s what Mills has dubbed the “fretless baritone sustainer guitar.”

“Since I’ve had it, I’ve used it on all the things,” Mills mentioned. “On each file I’ve produced, I’ve ended up selecting it up and utilizing it in a roundabout way.”

Whereas Mills says the instrument’s sound is now a part of his musical “vernacular or vocabulary,” he is not precisely dedicated to the wordy title he is given it.

“Till we give you one thing that may match on a lapel pin, I believe we’re making an attempt to maintain it nonetheless in a prototype section.”