Jeff Bates

Jeff Bates Interview

During the Golden Era of modern American popular music, from the late 60’s into the early ’70’s, American recording artists often sang of the life they lived. Artists’ whose songs appealed to audiences, simply because the audience could see themselves within those now classic hit singles of the era, became legendary. Therein lies one reason Jeff Bates is an American recording artist to watch. Why? Because Bates’ career as a singer/songwriter is just beginning. With the recent release of his debut solo album,” “Rainbow Man”, Bates is poised to make the ascent from regional entertainer, to an internationally known recording artist.

The new music on, “Rainbow Man”, contains compositions that vividly display Bates unique musical style.
The songs shine with an all-inclusive sound of rock, soul, blues and traditional country music, that incorporates those elements and lyrically, reveals a poet’s sensibility.

Bates speaks of his life

During the following interview, Bates speaks candidly of his life, his music and what he believes to be his own, “mission”, now that his shining debut “Rainbow Man”, has been released. Throughout the interview, Bates is refreshingly straight forward, with no air of pretense.

(Q)- With the music on your new album, “Rainbow Man”, you have created a style of music in which honesty seems to be the cornerstone of the lyrics.
Jeff Bates- I agree.

(Q)- How do ideas for songs come to you?

Jeff Bates- An idea for a song will just hit me all of a sudden. So when that happens I just grab a guitar and write it down or grab a tape recorder to record the music that seems to just come to me from out of nowhere. That’ll lead me into an idea. To me, there’s a spiritual side to songwriting that makes a song something special that I’m after. Every now and then you get to an idea then you connect, there’s no other feeling like that in the world.

(Q)- “Rainbow Man” is an important musical statement. You choose to write and sing songs, which are inspired by real life scenarios, some of which must be painful to sing about. Why?

Jeff Bates- If you can’t be honest with yourself, then how can you be honest with anyone else?

(Q)- Is your own personal story to be found within the lyrics to the music of your album, “Rainbow Man”?

Jeff Bates- This entire album if you like it or hate it, is my life and my life it’s honest. And, I don’t know how to be anymore honest then that.

(Q)- If you could another word to sum up the song lyrics which comprise the eleven tracks on your new disc, what would that theme be?
Jeff Bates- Survivor.

(Q)- Are you one?
Jeff Bates- Yes. I am a survivor.

(Q)-There is a lot of personal pain expressed within the lyrics to several of the songs.

Jeff Bates- That’s right.

(Q)-You’ve survived a rough life. You were adopted, you grew up living in rural Mississippi and you’ve known poverty. You not only survived a brief stormy marriage, you battled with your own personal problems as well. In addition to years spent touring and performing in nightclubs and bars.
Jeff Bates- I have.

(Q)- How has living a life of trials, tribulations and victories, found it’s way into your music?
Jeff Bates- That side of my life, is included in the stories I tell with my music. I’ve been through a lot in my life. I haven’t always been a, “good person”, in my life either. So I now have