Chucky Trading Co beats with the heart of Laurel Canyon, bringing timeless new folk-rock songs in a dynamic collaboration between songwriter CS Taber and producer Everett Young. The first CTC album, released December 1, 2021, contains 15 heartfelt songs that explore love, life, and human nature. From the opening riff of Grace through the rattlesnake shake of the tambourine on Tumbleweeds, Chucky Trading Co delivers soulful arrangements, magical hooks, and images that touch your core. CS Taber brings to his music a wide range of experiences and influences.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Chucky Trading Co, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What have you been up to over the past year in this big old mess?
Oh, man, it’s great to talk with you! This past year has been crazy. I wrote and recorded this album during COVID, so it was recorded in many different places by isolated musicians and then all magically put together! Friends in Kansas, Florida, Georgia, New York, and Tennessee all contributed.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
This project was done over the internet. I keep in touch with all of my musician friends electronically over the internet. Marketing and distribution have been revolutionized by the internet. It is a brave new world from when I first started making music in the 1980s. And there’s good and bad in this.
Your latest song is 'Sweet & Sour'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
Sweet & Sour is about what happens when you play a song for your partner that you have written about another fictional lover. I actually wrote a love song called Grace (the opening track on my album) while I was apart from my partner for a few months, and she texted to me “who the hell is Grace?” That led me to writing Sweet & Sour!
Like all the songs on the album it was recorded separately. I laid down acoustic guitars (6 and 12 string) and basic vocals in Kansas. Friends then added keyboards, bass, drums, electric guitar, and backing vocals in other places. Then a few of us came together in Atlanta to do some final tracking. The whole project was produced by my good friend Everett Young.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Whoa, that’s a great question! If I pick one it would be Jeff Tweedy. I love his quirky, intelligent lyrics and his music is always fresh and interesting.
How useful has social media been for you?
I have met some incredible indie artists through social media. Big influence! I also do a lot of promotion through social media.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
Finding time to be an artist! I have a very challenging full time career on the side, so getting time to make music is the biggest challenge.
What is your creative process like?
I sit and noodle on my Martin D15. Sometimes ideas come, sometimes they don’t. It’s always fun. Some of the songs on this album came like a revelation from above, which was the first time that had happened to me. Weird to have a song form and come together in 5 minutes.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Ooh, if I could bring him back, how about Elliott Smith, maybe in a twin bill with Beck.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Be yourself and be proud in your skin! No reason to be anyone else.
What are your plans for next year?
I’m working on the next album! Can’t wait.