This year marked the eagerly awaited release of ‘Colfax’, the debut album from The Delines, a country-soul group featuring stalwarts of the Portland, Oregon music scene, featuring novelist and Richmond Fontaine frontman, Willy Vlautin. The Delines are led by vocalist Amy Boone (The Damnations), alongside the keyboard work of The Decemberists’ Jenny Conlee, fellow Portlanders Sean Oldham and Willy Vlautin (Richmond Fontaine) and pedal steel player Tucker Jackson (Minus 5). 2014 also marked the publication of Vlautin’s fourth novel, ‘The Free’, published by Faber & Faber. Born in Reno, Vlautin is currently based in Scappoose, Oregon.
Words: Craig Carry
The LP that most affected you growing up in Reno?
WV: Willie Nelson’s ‘Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be)’.
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Your most precious Country record?
WV: (The same).
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The best Punk album?
WV: Ha, if you call X punk it would be: X ‘Under The Big Black Sun’.
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Favourite Dead Moon album?
WV: I’d have to say ‘Unknown Passage’.
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The ultimate songwriter’s album?
WV: ‘Small Change’ by Tom Waits.
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The greatest story-telling song?
WV: ‘Ode To Billie Jo’ by Bobbie Gentry.
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Favourite Willie Nelson song?
WV: ‘Bloody Mary Morning’.
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The Bruce Springsteen album you most identified with?
WV: ‘The River’.
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Your personal favorite Calexico record?
WV: ‘Feast of Wire’.
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Your favorite Richmond Fontaine song to perform live?
WV: ‘Two Alone’.
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Your favorite Soul singer?
WV: Candi Staton.
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The album that you always return to?
WV: Dolorean ‘You Can’t Win’.
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The song or album that would best soundtrack ‘The Free’?
WV: The song ‘Fawn’ by Tom Waits.
‘Colfax’ by The Delines is available now on Decor (UK/EU) and El Cortez (USA).
https://www.facebook.com/thedelines
http://decorrecords.com
http://elcortezrecords.us
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Willy Vlautin’s fourth novel ‘The Free’ is available now, published by Faber & Faber.
http://willyvlautin.com
http://www.faber.co.uk
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