A version of this story appeared inthe April 6 issue of EW, on stands now.
Kacey Musgraves was thinking about Daft Punk.
Or at least, Daft Punk in the context of what it could bring to her songwriting.
Credit: Kacey Musgraves Twitter
LSD
“I went on a fun acid trip and ended up writing the song Mother.'
I started thinking about the cycle of moms and life.
Psychedelics can make you feel like a grain of sand.
It’s good for your ego.
I would obviously never want anyone to do anything that doesn’t suit them.
But it inspired me, and it ended up being a mainstay inspiration on the album.”
Currentsby Tame Impala
“I fell in love with the recordCurrentshard.
[Tame Impala’s] sound is a big inspiration.
I was sucked into the sonic aesthetic, but the lyrics have a lot of substance too.
It just feels good to listen to.
There was this storytelling-like quality at moments.
It was also my birthday.
It just felt like a time to be present and witness and take in what was happening around me.
It was just this special moment, and it felt really cosmic.
It added into the Zen nature of where I’m at.”
Disco
“I was listening to a ton of Bee Gees while making this album.
I feel like disco is back!
Marriage
“Getting married.
That’s a big one.
My world just completely changed.
I hear a lot of songwriters say, I’m happy now, I can’t write anymore.'
And I don’t really understand that.
I want to write about everything.
I don’t want to just write sad songs.
So, naturally, that new chapter brought out new sounds.”
Sade
“I grew up listening to her.
I feel like her musical sensibilities are imprinted on me somewhere subconsciously.
I appreciate the fact that she is an artist who makes no apologies or concessions to anyone.”
Sheryl Crow
“We got to record at Sheryl Crow’s house.
She’s got a recording studio that’s also a horse stable.
I’m a horse lover; I have one myself.
I just feel a peace and calmness around horses.
So on breaks, we spent a lot of time there.
We just really wanted to get away from the rat race of the Music Row scene.
It’s just not our thing.
So we would record and hang, and go down and ride or play with these beautiful horses.
She was so down-to-earth and incredibly gracious, letting us set up in her home.
Maybe it’s through a little osmosis, but there are some earlySheryl Crow vibes on this album.”
