Gregory Page discusses the “Eurocana” style of his new album, Love Made Me Drunk, in Part 1 of Folk101’s exclusive interview.
Gregory Page has long been a staple of the San Diego music scene. As an independent musician, he has written, arranged and produced more than a dozen of his own albums while working with such notable artists as Jason Mraz, Jewel and Tom Brousseau.
With the release of his latest album, Love Made Me Drunk (Seedling Records), Page takes listeners on a tour of Paris and its diverse musical landscape. Many of the songs reflect the influence of such legendary figures as Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and other torch singers from the 1920s to 1950s.
Page recently discussed Love Made Me Drunk and what it is like to be an independent musician with Folk101. Here's what he had to say in his first interview about the new album:
FOLK101: For someone who is unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your music?
GP: I came up with a term the other day, someone asked me what style of music I play and I said it's not really "Americana," it's more "Eurocana." It's a tricky combination of the two, because I'm still an American in Paris. I'm still seeing Paris through an American viewpoint. I can't remove that from me, you know. So initially when I started creating Love Made Me Drunk, I worried that it would be too French for Americans and maybe not French enough for the French. But my label just told me that there is a very nice radio station in France that's playing it, and it's seeing some air-time over here too. So, for some reason, people do seem to connect with it."
FOLK101: How did Love Made Me Drunk come about? What was it about France that you found so appealing?
GP: I was inspired by the street musicians and what I would hear as I walked around the streets of Paris. I was also certainly inspired by the architecture and the depth of cultural beauty that that city provides. It's the easiest city for me to write and feel creative in.
FOLK101: How did being around another language affect your songwriting?
GP: I make an effort to try and speak French while I'm there. I even had some people try and help me. I wanted to sing a couple of those songs in French, but they are so particular about their language. So there's just no way I could ever attempt it without feeling like a dumbass.
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