Charlie Robison And Kevin Fowler Return From Iraq And Indie Labels Are Changing The Game

Light feet, more frugal approaches to recording, solid distribution channels, and the proliferation of Web-based marketing have all dovetailed nicely for the new Nashville indies. All of which translates to a faster return for both the label and the artist, and — pleasant benefit alert — a greater degree of creative freedom.

Fowler and Robison got a taste their last day, when a mortar attack was launched at Camp Anaconda in Balad.

“Charlie and I were out walking around and the warning siren goes off,” Fowler said. “Of course, we’re too stupid to duck. We’re looking around, like, ‘Where is it?’”

“It usually starts with a little flash of brilliance,” he says of his songwriting technique. “It could be a little something you know, a line or a word. The main discipline is to write it down right then and there. If you don’t, you will forget it. I don’t care where you are, whether you are driving a car. Pull off and write it down.”