by: Rick Landers
Stacy Hogan – Sin Shake Sin
Clearly, Sin Shake Sin‘s new release, “The Masquerade” rages against exploitation and the charismatic manipulation of many, driven by political greed-driven news cycles and page juicing media outlets. It’s an anthemic statement, musically connected to the life rhythms of one of Nashville’s finest singer-songwriters, producers, publishers, and recording artists, Stacy Hogan.
The last time Guitar International spoke with Stacy at length was after the global pandemic hit.
When the rules of engagement of live performances dramatically changed, the group’s tour throttled back to a full stop, and the trio headed back home to reflect, ponder and react to a new music work stoppage, where gigs were cancelled, when many jumped on Zoom, some drilled into practicing their song-craft more, oftentimes, alone, isolated from friends and fans.
As venue doors begin to re-open, outdoor gigs welcome families and six-feet distanced customers, we remembered Stacy Hogan, and wanted to reconnect with him, especially having hearing “The Masquerade” and its convulsive emotional heft.
Living in Music City U.S.A. (Nashville, Tennessee), Hogan is surrounded by novice performers and music legends, all drawn to traditional root music, hot licks and modern riffs that push the envelope of sound, melodies and lyrics audiences yearn to hear, old and covered, and new.
The lyrics and punch of Stacy’s new outing, speaks to the unifying and divisive forces we encounter today and gives voice to our frustration, anger, as well as to our hope.
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Rick Landers: The last time we spoke we talked about your Sin Shake Sin album, that you were ready to cover on tour, but the pandemic forced you to head back to Nashville. Your recent track release, “The Masquerade,” seems even more relevant with mask protocols, distancing and other new social behaviors. You highlight and expose the cynicism of political manipulation, human and environmental exploitation. But, more critically, you launch into a “We The People” type theme. How’d the song come about and why did you hold off releasing it?
Stacy Hogan: Great to speak with you again, Rick. I wrote “The Masquerade” way back in 2012 before I ever created “Sin Shake Sin”. I was experimenting with my writing to see where I wanted to take this new project. I was starting to find the message I wanted to convey thematically in the lyrics, but the song was a bit heavier than anything else that would make up the Lunatics and Slaves album.
So, I ended up letting a signed band use the song for their album, under a different title.,and licensed my version to a few TV shows/movies to get the song heard, without actually releasing it. After revisiting it this year, after the pandemic, the masks, and the pathetic political circus surrounding it all, it seemed more relevant now than when I wrote it. It felt like a good time to officially release it.
Rick: How’d you pull it off in the studio with others or virtually, or was this a solo project? What gear were you using for this track and the album?
Stacy Hogan: All Sin Shake Sin songs are me just writing and recording it in the studio by myself. I write best that way when I can already get in producer-mode, lay down tracks, and write to them. Getting in there, moving parts around, getting inspired by something as random and trivial as an effect, it can really take you in a direction you didn’t expect.
Rick: “Masquerade” is a fisted response to manipulation and exploitation, and the lyrics are rooted in the traditional African “call and response” style. I get the idea that you weren’t totally focused on Black Lives Matter issues, but the disillusionment of centralized authority that’s just not working for many. Greed seems fundamental to the thrust of the song. What did you intend and how are people responding?
Stacy Hogan: It always surprising to see how easy it is for billionaires to get on TV and convince middle class people to hate poor people. This distraction technique is used every day, because it works. This song is not anti-rich or anti-capitalism.. but there’s a noticeable lack of outrage i.e. when $2,000,000,000 (yes, 2 trillion) in tax cuts are given to the top billionaires who pay less in taxes than any of us, or when we’re already #1 by a long shot in defense spending then we use $1.7 trillion of our tax dollars to build just one fighter jet plane.
Sin Shake Sin St. Louis LIVE!
Stacy Hogan
Yet, we are told we as a nation can’t afford healthcare, like every other major country can. I live in Tennessee. You’d think the richest man in my state would be one of the many publishers, hit songwriters, famous country stars, athletes, business owners, etcetera. No, the richest man in Tennessee is a billionaire in the health care industry.
It’s no coincidence. People are free to believe what they want, and that’s a wonderful thing. It’s just frustrating when I’m surrounded by people who believe one ignorant Facebook meme over the life’s work and experience of an entire globe of scientists and doctors, or those who say they’re pro-life, but don’t care about the planet that sustains our lives or using our resources to feed impoverished children once they are actually born.
I’m surround by people who say they’re Christian, who shout “socialist” at anyone trying to use our funds to help the poor and instead hold prayer circles for a rich-born TV game show host, who literally shits in a golden toilet under a portrait of himself that he had painted with the very funds he stole from a charity he’s now banned from running. It’s a bit puzzling.
“The Masquerade” tackles the idea of standing up for what is right, not what you’re told to be angry about today on your favorite news channel. You mention Black Lives Matter, there are some really confused people who think by saying “Black Lives Matter” that it somehow means the same as “ONLY Black Lives Matter”, which no one is saying. These people then feel they need to shout “ALL LIVES MATTER” as an automatic response rather than letting people shine a spotlight on a particular injustice that’s going, yet again overlooked. I wonder if these same people go to Cancer fundraisers and shout “ALL DISEASES MATTER.”
Stacy Hogan: 2021 has brought a lot of change. I’m going to enjoy the rest of 2021, now fully vaccinated, and get back to traveling and enjoying seeing friends again. I believe 2022 sounds like a great year to get back to touring. That said, you never know what surprises may happen before then.
Rick: I recall you were in Cleveland, Ohio, when your tour was called off. If you head out again, will you begin again where it ended or will you have to start all over again?
Stacy Hogan: It will be an entirely different tour, lineup, and schedule next time around. As of now, we’re not sure where we will end up, but look forward to it for sure.
Rick: Once you’re back on the road, who’ll be performing with you and what do they bring to the group, as far as music and character?
Stacy Hogan: I really enjoyed going out as a three-piece this last tour. Having both Lauren Phillips and Johannes Greer as my dynamic duo by my side is my ideal lineup. They bring such an energetic passion to the live show. I couldn’t be more happy with the chemistry we all share on and off stage. They’ve both been amazing friends of mine for years before joining me on tour, so it’s a win-win all around.
Stacy Hogan: Absolutely. Look how much changed in the ’60s when people weren’t afraid to speak their minds with their art. Everyone is so worried about offending someone or getting canceled, we end up with music that takes no risks. My music does not alienate you based on your beliefs. Each of my releases have been under a different president. The problems I speak about are systemic. Deep-rooted. I have Republicans and Democrats sharing my songs all the time.
I really try to talk about the things we all want to change. Unlike what your favorite news channel will have you believe, we do still have so much common ground. It’s just all the daily social media and 24-hour cable news reaffirming that you need to be afraid of this or scared of that which keeps everyone on high octane level of paranoid and micro-manipulated on an hourly basis.
Rick: Why’d you decide to release the track now, rather than push out another album – striking while the iron’s hot or were you personally compelled to get this music statement out?
Stacy Hogan: I knew it’d be a good minute before I had an album ready, and I may just do a few singles like this or an E.P – to mix it up a bit here in the near future.
Rick: I have to laugh, I get the impression there’s this Dr. Jekyll and Hyde thing going, you come off as a nice, maybe quiet guy, but then some of your music is crunch, angst and in your face. Are there two of you?
Stacy Hogan: [Laughs] I definitely don’t walk around and yell about my disappointment in the American government when ordering from the fast food window or anything like that. I rarely ever make political posts on social media. Sin Shake Sin is my outlet to get my thoughts and beliefs out. Through music, they can be interpreted in many different ways and related to in ways I could have never imagined when writing it. It’s much better that way, in my opinion.
Rick: “The Masquerade”, and some others you’ve produced, could readily be placed in media combat games. Any plans to develop and launch your own game?
Stacy Hogan: I’ve never thought about it, honestly. People ask me all the time to use my songs in their video game/Twitch channels, so it must be a thing. I’d definitely be too distracted hearing my own music to be able to play a game at my best. So, if you want an easy way to beat me, you know the secret now.
Rick: So, what’s in the hopper for your next release or your next project? I’m guessing you must have a ton of creative ideas that you’ve yet to nail down. What comes to mind?
Stacy Hogan: I can’t wait to dive back in. I do have plenty of lyrics written that I haven’t paired with melodies yet. I’ll definitely release new music before the year is finished. I’m excited to experiment and see what happens with the next chapter.
