I first became aware of Lannie Flowers on one of the Big Stir Singles comps. "My Street" was the song, and I was quite taken with it: a slice of life set to jaunty, indie, American rock music, with happy, contented lyrics. Now there is Home,the album, which bears out the promise of "My Street." It expands on the single musically and delves deeper into the characters, all of whom might live on his street.

Lannie was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Andrea Weiss: For those who don't know your music, could give some of your history?

Lannie Flowers: Started playing in bands when I was 12 years old. Played in the Pengwins for most of my young life. Got to see a lot of places and almost got a major label deal a couple of times. Along the way I was always writing songs. Unfortunately, never finding an outlet for a lot of them. So when I got off the road, I built a studio in my garage and just started recording all of those songs. Just for fun. I put together a CD to give to friends, called Same Old Story. My friend and former bandmate Alan Petsche had an indie label in Arlington Texas. So in 2009 we put it out and surprisingly got good reviews. So we just went from there.


AW: Who are your influences?

LF Early on, of course, The Beatles, Kinks, Who, Rolling Stones. As I got a little older I started listening to David Bowie, Mott the Hoople, VU, Stooges. Also there was Badfinger, Big Star, all of that stuff. Then punk rock came along with the Clash to Elvis Costello and everything in between. Then as time went on, it was the Replacements to Bob Dylan to old country to soul, etc. Music was my drug. I couldn’t wait to find the next big thing, that was gonna change my life.


AW: This seems to be a concept album about people going home or leaving home, even if their home is a state of mind. I like that, but could you elaborate a bit more?

LF Home can mean a lot of different things. It can mean joy or pain or just some place you go after work. For some people, they want to be free from home and others want to be free to go home. I really wanted to leave a lot of it open to interpretation. Especially songs like "He’s Going Home."


AW: Some of your characters seem to live lives of quiet desperation, others, happy ones. Did you plan that contrast as part of the concept?

LF: It’s just life. No two people have the same story. So, these are just stories about different people with different circumstances. But to answer your question. No there was no big plan in my head to show contrasts. The songs are about different people. So you’re gonna get a different view of their situation.


AW: I like how the music flows so clearly and directly, and is also quietly powerful. Was that how the songs evolved?

LF: There was a conscious effort to make it flow and be quietly powerful. I was a rock and roll kid. So it was hard and also fun to try to make a more acoustic record and not sound too quiet.


AW: I like the single "Running" a lot, and the B-side, "My Street,” as well. Since "My Street” is the Nashville version, would you say your songs have an alt-country side to them?

LFI think this record more so than the previous ones. I did grow up in Texas. So you can’t really get away from some of those roots.


AW: How did the joint release with SpyderPop and Big Stir come about?

LF: I met Rex a few years ago in L.A. and told Alan Petsche and Victor Erwin at SpyderPop about the Big Stir thing. That’s really about all I had to do with it. They took it from there. I think it’s a really great thing.


AW: What advice would you give someone just starting out in music?

LF: Don’t do it unless you have a real passion for it. Because it’s not an easy life, but a very rewarding one. Also, figure out what you do best and what really speaks to you, and run with it.