Singer/songwriter Kate Campbell is a Samford University alum that now calls Nashville home. On Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, Campbell will return to her alma mater for two performances. On Saturday morning, Campbell and Dr. Wayne Flynt will collaborate in a 9:30 a.m. “Live At The Library” music and literary event. On Sunday evening, Campbell will give a 6 p.m. concert in Brock Recital Hall. Speaking by phone from the New Jersey Turnpike on the release date of her latest CD, Save The Day, Campbell spoke by phone to the Weekly’s Brent Thompson.\
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BT: Kate, thanks for your time this morning. It’s exciting to speak with you on the day that coincides with the release of Save The Day. How did the material on this disc evolve?\
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KC: It was written over a couple of years. Usually, I’ll have an idea and I’ll write towards that theme. But this time I just started writing different songs and they ended up going together with the idea of “Save the day.” It was a little different for me.\
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BT: You have some notable guests on the disc including Mac McAnally, Nanci Griffith and John Prine. If you will, talk about those collaborations on Save The Day.\
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KC: It’s amazing, really (laughs). I’ve been fortunate to have met these people along the way. Nanci and Mac have sung on some of my previous songs. With John Prine, we got into the studio and I thought John would really be good on “Looking For Jesus.” I figured all he could say was “No,” so I just asked him. When “Fordlandia” came up, I really heard Nanci’s voice on that and I really think that Nanci sounds cool on that tune.\
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BT: Having so many talented musicians so close by must be a huge perk of living in Nashville.\
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KC: Nashville has its faults, but that is a good thing about Nashville. You can call people about 10 layers deep and they’ll still be fantastic. People like Mac and John just live down the street, so if they’re not on tour it’s easy for them to come in. There aren’t a lot of cities in the world where that could happen.\
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BT: If you will, talk about the role of technology in music given the emergence of the Internet, iTunes, satellite radio and customized ringtones. Some artists tell me it’s the best time ever given direct access to fans and some say it’s created over-saturation in the market.\
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KC: The technology is incredible because you can have direct distribution. Ten years ago, if you didn’t have a record label, you really didn’t have anything. They controlled the distribution channels. There is saturation now, but I feel a little ahead of the game because I got in the system when there was distribution. I don’t know how it’s going to come out in the wash. I like that my fans can go to katecampbell.com or download any tune off iTunes\’a0 – they can find me where they couldn’t before.\
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Tickets to the Sunday evening show are $20. Visit www.samford.edu for addtional information.