Sugarcane Jane is Anthony Crawford and Savana Lee —Americana’s husband- wife duo from Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Between them, they have decades of rich musical experience: Anthony’s an in-demand multi-instrumentalist and producer who has worked with such notables as Neil Young, Steve Winwood, and Dwight Yoakam. The music they make together is simple and direct, rooted in country and rock, and anchored by their sweet and soulful harmonies.
What first got you into music?
A lightbulb moment early on in my life set me on a path like that of a hound dog to a scent.
Who inspired you to make music? .
Believe it or not, watching shows like Hee Haw’s Roy Clark or even Lawerence Welk had a guitarist named Neil Lavang who could play anything. Tony Rice was a great bluegrass picker influence for me as well. But these guys melted like ice when I was turned on to rock ‘n’ roll.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Mutt music. A great example of this would be our latest Sugarcane Jane record titled Ruffled Feathers; Songs in the Key of Me.
What is your creative process like?
It’s all over the map actually. Some days I can play my guitar and write a song out of nowhere just coming from out of the blue. Most days though, if I’m writing a song it’s because I’m in the studio and I’m just putting parts together, letting my mind just flow without any forethought involved. I let my sub conscience bleed into the music.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
My stock answer would have always been Paul McCartney because he’s a Beatle and I thought that he was the most talented in the group in terms of playing different instruments, however I would have to say George Harrison of the Beatles. He was so understated….what a great guitarist and a great writer. Ultimately it’s hard to give you a final answer to this question because there are many great people that I have been influenced by.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
We have been blessed with opportunities to open for Steve Winwood, Dwight Yoakam, and Randy Travis. These people are very famous and their audiences loved us even though they had no idea who we were. Sugarcane Jane was not even on their radar. Touring with Neil Young in his band I was witness to many opening acts dying a slow and painful death opening for Neil because his fans wanted Neil and only Neil so you gotta be careful what you wish for. Savana says she’d liked to open for Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings if any of us ever get back on tour.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Don’t expect us to just shut up and sing a song. Whether it be world events, politics, love, or religion, all things are on the table when you are a songwriter. If you love the music that Sugarcane Jane makes, accept us as fellow human beings with an opinion. Should that opinion differ from yours, please either silently go away or stay and support us if you will, but don’t make some public spectacle condemning us ..it’s very unattractive and I will bite back.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
No I don’t sing in the shower…. never have. However I might be known to practice my golf move once or twice if no one is looking.
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
This question is so hard for me to imagine because in my mind it is impossible to imagine a life any other than what I have lived. My memories are beyond what most people could even dream. The people I have met and the stages I have performed on cannot be purchased.
Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
I have performed all over the world but a few that come to mind would be Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Royal Albert Hall the Beacon Theater, The Jay Leno Show, The David Letterman Show … so many opportunities have come my way that it would take a long time to list them all out. I’ve been more fortunate than my talent lives up to. Least favorite venues…well, there are some but I don’t think I want to publicly call them out.
Immediate two shows for the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival (Flora Bama, the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach) on November 11 and 12, and more live streams from Admiral Bean Studio on our Sugarcane Jane Facebook page. 2021 is still up in the air but we have confirmed a couple of festivals not yet announced, one in Alabama and another in Pennsylvania.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
Especially during this year of 2020 it has become a lifeline for musicians. The touring industry has been shut down indefinitely. Being able to do a live stream via Facebook or YouTube has allowed many musicians to continue to survive. This would have been the stuff of a science-fiction movie back in the 70’s and we are living it these days.
What is your favourite song to perform?
At this present moment I am enjoying singing every song on Ruffled Feathers; Songs in the Key of Me. I am very passionate about this group of songs being that I felt like I had a co-writer in the Holy Spirit. It was an out of body experience for me to go in the studio not having a clue that I would come out six days later with nine songs fully produced and ready to release to the public. Truly amazing when you are passionate, the seeds of writing is like that of Jack in the Beanstalk.
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
I once shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.. ha..ha.. just kidding, that’s a great lyric though but generally I’ve been a good boy and have been drug and alcohol free from addiction. These are ingredients for disaster. I’m no prude by any means but just sayin…. Look at most people who make the news. They are usually doing something very weird and more often than not, drugs or alcohol are involved. When I was on the road with rock stars, we would pull into a new town and I would go and find a golf course and play golf all day on my day off instead of drinking or looking for weed like some of the others.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Several come to mind, one being “learn how to take a compliment”. Another would be “only ask for advice from someone who is smarter than you”…. I always liked that one.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? ·
I don’t have to change anything about the music industry because it has changed on its own. The internet has given the underdog a massive opportunity to create a path. When I was young in my early 20’s you had to have a record deal from a major record label to get anywhere. The Internet was not invented by Al Gore yet.
What’s next for you?
What’s next for me would be your guess is as good as mine because we are still in a lockdown when it comes to playing music live for people. Because of this, there are many venues that have closed and that will not be reopening. It’s sad, actually.
I do believe that after people relax, things will get back to some sense of normal. The question will be what will they tell us normal is?