Interview: The Dirty Shirts

1: How did you decide on the name, “The Dirty Shirts"?
I feel like The Dirty Shirts is a way for me to be entirely myself, rough edges and all, and I wanted the band’s name to reflect that attitude. Cam Moreland, my songwriting partner, came up with it after we had the first few songs written, and we immediately connected with it. I also thought the aesthetic of the band would be a big part of it, and I loved the irony of “Dirty Shirts” with a glam, highly-stylized look.
2: What inspires you to create?
The Dirty Shirts started in the middle of the pandemic, so I had nothing to lose by not just being myself and exploring what that meant musically. And I’m like a kid in a candy store when I’m putting a song together. There’s nothing I love doing more. I’m a firm believer that inspiration hits hardest with intension. It always seems to come when there’s a guitar already in my hands.
3: What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in a creative profession?
Be honest and uncompromising to your vision. If it means taking a shitty job to pay for studio time or whatever, take the shitty job, get it done, and move on. Don’t get put off by the slow roll, just stay true to yourself.
4: Do you feel open minded about what you listen to? Do you like going out of your comfort zone?
I try really hard to. I realized a few years ago that I stopped being open to new music, and I had no idea what was out there. I try and listen to a little bit of it all. But Marvin Gaye and The Strokes were still at the top of my Spotify wrapped haha
5: What outlets do you find out about music from? (Record stores, magazines, samplers, etc.)
There’s some great record stores in Dallas – Red Zeppelin and Spinster Records, for a couple. They have a great mix of new and classic music. KXT Radio in Dallas is also great for new music from all over. And I’m just always on the hunt online for something new that’ll blow my hair back.
6: What is your favorite format to listen to music on? (CD, Vinyl, etc.)
Vinyl will always be my favorite way to listen to music, but it is nice to be able to hit a button on my phone and have the entire Gorillaz discography on shuffle through the house. I’ll listen however I can get it.
7: How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?
Like I said, we started in April of 2020, so we had to embrace the online platform immediately because we couldn’t play shows. But I think it helped us establish ourselves and made for a great jumping off point. It’s easy to get very old-man, “Get off my lawn” about the industry and the internet, but it’s allowed tons of artists and creators to have a larger platform for their music. I don’t like the way it can be very pre-packaged depending on whatever trend is hot that month, but I don’t think you have to look far to find some really incredible music and the people creating it.
8: Who was the first band/artist that became your favorite band?
It’d be a tie between Michael Jackson and Van Halen. My parents played both on their turntable a ton growing up. Both blew my tiny little mind when I was a kid, haha, but in the interest of honesty, my first favorite song by all accounts was “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer. I have no regrets.
9: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I’ve gotten to work with some really great female artists through the years, and I’d love to keep that up. Billie Eilish would be a bucket list collab, and Alison Mosshart (The Dead Weather, The Kills) is one of the coolest and most talented artists/singers out there. Past them, Julian Casablancas is a genius that I’d love to work with, and doing a song with Bring Me the Horizon is definitely up there. I’d also love to do a fashion collaboration with The Struts – their music and style is mind bafflingly amazing.
10: What was the inspiration for your song “Shake”?
I wanted to write something that sounded aggressive and punk-rock, but that also felt anthemy and could work in a club. Who knows if we got there haha lyrically it’s about infatuation. Seeing someone at a show or club that you’ve never met before, and probably
won’t see again, but that you instantly have a connection with and you become obsessed with. I think we’ve all made eyes with someone and in ten seconds you can already picture your life together without having said a word. And when you walk out the door, the haze clears and you move forward.