Q & A with Ghosts I've Met

After featuring Sam Watts' project Ghosts I've Met's debut album, From A Spark, I was given the opportunity to ask Sam a few questions and he so graciously answered.

CFM: What is the origin of the name Ghosts I've Met?

SW: I found a book from the 1880's in a payphone in Reno,Nevada that was called "Ghosts I Have Met." I read the whole book cover to cover that night and was so amazed by it that I thought I would use that as a working title. I of course shortened it to "Ghosts I've Met".


CFM: What inspires you to write in general?

SW: I read a great deal of poetry and when I do I feel the need to write my own which I often do on the inside jackets of all of my books.


CFM: What inspired From A Spark?

SW: Living in Marfa,Texas and the relationships I had there over those few years and the idea that the people stay in one place whether you are around to see it/them or not.


CFM: Is there a specific theme?

SW: I would say that I needed to flush out a lot of songs from that part of my life and begin working on a new chapter. So really the theme is that ending point/starting point...Also I worked on recording this record while my wife and I were expecting our first baby. His name is Easton Sparks Watts so in a way the title seemed perfect for many reasons.


CFM: What is your creative process like?

SW: I tend to write the most when things are the most "Up in the air" in my life. I find a great deal of comfort in writing something that I have never heard before. It usually starts with a sentence or two and grows from there into a melody/chords etc.


CFM: Did it change in any way during the making of From A Spark?

SW: Yes. On "From A Spark" there is no bass guitar and no drums with the exception of the percussion on "Slanted Light." This was done for many reasons but the main reason was to try and record the songs without hiding behind fall back arrangements such as Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric Guitar, etc.


CFM: How would you describe your music and songwriting style?

SW: I wouldn't be able to. I maybe could have when I first started writing songs but now I just write music.


CFM: In a sense From A Spark is a fairly melancholy album, what is the saddest song you've ever heard?

SW: "The Mission" soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. The strings on that album are among the most beautiful sounds I have or will ever hear.

GHOSTS I'VE MET'S upcoming shows:
August 27th @Columbia City Theater in Seattle,Wa with Dolorean and Pearly Gate Music
September 9Th@ The Neptune Theatre in Seatle,Wa Opening for The Antlers.
October 9th@ReverbFest in Seattle,Wa

Ghosts I've Met: "Winters Ruin"