LifE+StYLEconcertsI’m not constantly trying <strong>to</strong>reinvent <strong>my</strong>self,” Eric Himandeclares. But even if he’s nottrying <strong>to</strong>, it’s what he seems <strong>to</strong>do.Himan might disagree, seeingeach new phase of his career,each new album, as a naturalprogression. But even he wouldconcede that working on his latestalbum, Gracefully — whichcame out just last week, and forwhich he kicks off his national<strong>to</strong>ur in <strong>Dallas</strong> Aug. 17 — markedan evolution in his way of working.It’s only logical that it would.Himan has been at the musicgame for 12 years, spreading hisrockabilly influenced sound. Afew years ago, he teamed upwith a brother and sister act —calling themselves Eric Himanand the Adams — and added anelectrified edge <strong>to</strong> his typicallyacoustic-laden songs.He split with the Adams in2011. Then last year, Himan marriedhis husband Ryan (they justcelebrated their first anniversary)and simultaneously launched anonline fundraising campaign <strong>to</strong>finance a new CD.“We raised $16,000, and Istarted [recording] in Oc<strong>to</strong>ber,”Himan says. “It had more of arock approach, but it didn’t feelrefined <strong>to</strong> me — it was like I wasgiving away demos.”That’s when he did somethingthe old Eric never would have: He began againfrom scratch.“I’m the kind of guy who typically says, ‘Let’smake the best with what we have.’ So it was<strong>hard</strong> for me <strong>to</strong> start over,” he says.Through a series of lucky breaks, Himan got anew producer who booked him in<strong>to</strong> the famedJim Henson Studios in Los Angeles. “This wasthe studio where they recorded ‘We Are theWorld,’” Himan says, still as much a fan of musicas a maker of it. “We were recording with, basically,Alanis Morissette’s band. There are four[bays in the facility]. That week, it was me, theGoo Goo Dolls, the Jonas Brothers and JustinBieber, who I kept bumping in<strong>to</strong>.” One day,Chaka Khan barged in<strong>to</strong> Himan’s studio andSOUL SISTERS | Eric Himan teams with back-upduo Soultré Sisters on his new album and <strong>to</strong>ur.(Pho<strong>to</strong> courtesy Jere<strong>my</strong> Charles)SoulEric Himan reinvents himself (again) with a funky, neo-soul vibe on his new CD, ‘Gracefully’asked <strong>to</strong> commandeer it for just a few minutes.He was delighted <strong>to</strong> accommodate her.But even that didn’t give him what he wanted.The sound wasn’t there. Yet.“It was <strong>to</strong>o rock-oriented. It broke <strong>my</strong> heart [<strong>to</strong>walk away], but I came back <strong>to</strong> Tulsa,” he says.And that’s when things finallystarted <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong>gether.“I hooked up with LeonRussell’s drummer [Brandon],and once I started recordingwith him, everythingchanged,” Himan says. “Noone ‘got’ me the way Brandon did. I was overwhelmed.I wanted that Bill Withers, Earth Wind& Fire [vibe], or Richie Havens; Richie Havenswas <strong>my</strong> first album I bought. He was ridiculous —acoustic but soulful.” The album that proceededin fits and starts for six months was quicklyfalling in<strong>to</strong> place.searchingARNOLD WAYNEERiC HiMANPoor David’s Pub, 1313 S. LamarSt. Aug. 17. Doors at 7:30 p.m.$15. FrontGateTickets.com.“It was working up with people who got it,”Himan says — the core of what he’s alwayswanted <strong>to</strong> do.You can sense Russell’s influences on thealbum, which combines elements of ’70s neosouland Southern funk with a pop-countrycrossover appeal. It’s eclectic but addictivelygood and radio-friendly.“Suddenly, this album I was trying<strong>to</strong> squeeze out quickly but was takinga year came <strong>to</strong>gether in just the lasttwo months,” he says. Himan evengot <strong>to</strong> open for Russell in concert recently,a personal highlight of the experience.“If you said <strong>to</strong> me [before I started], ‘Here’sthe road you’ll have <strong>to</strong> take in order <strong>to</strong> reach theend,’ I don’t think I would have taken that road.But the experiences that led <strong>to</strong> this CD are why itended up the way it did,” he says.Himan is sharing the experience with hisJONESLife+Style Edi<strong>to</strong>rjones@dallasvoice.combackup singers, who are billed as the Soultré Sistersand add depth <strong>to</strong> his songs while reinforcingthe sound he’s aiming for.For economic reasons, “I had the opportunity<strong>to</strong> bring either a drummer and a bassist or thegirls; I had <strong>to</strong> bring the girls,” he says. “Theyhave this amazing gift <strong>to</strong> add <strong>to</strong> the music withoutany equipment. It makes for an interesting‘evening with’ thing.”And rising <strong>to</strong> the level where Himan is worthyof “an evening with” title is kind of the point.“I love Ani DiFranco, Leon Russell — I thinkconsistency is what those artists possess. Two of<strong>my</strong> favorite people are Sade and Natalie Merchant:To me they are the best at doing what theydo. They don’t placate or do any gimmicks. Theyare just artists. It’s not about people being a flashin-the-panor taking your clothes off. It’s aboutlongevity and talent and being consistent aboutwho you are. And this is where <strong>my</strong> heart is.” •16 dallasvoice.com • 08.09.13
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