Introduction
In this insightful and wide-ranging interview, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Dwight Yoakam discusses his return to the studio with Three Pears, his first album in seven years. The conversation explores not just the making of the record but also Yoakam’s personal and artistic journey through decades in the music industry.
Yoakam reflects on his early years in Los Angeles, where he moved in the late 1970s after leaving Ohio State University and spending a short time in Nashville. He talks about his early jobs delivering freight and checks before his music career took off. Though raised in Kentucky and Ohio, Yoakam explains that he “grew up” in California, finding his musical identity and community there during the thriving country-rock scene inspired by artists like the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris.
He explains why Nashville didn’t work for him early on—at the time, it was focused more on songwriting than live performance. In contrast, Los Angeles allowed him to build his career through clubs, blending traditional country roots with the “cowpunk” scene—a raw, energetic mix of punk and honky-tonk.
Yoakam also talks passionately about his love of reading, crediting his Appalachian upbringing and his mother’s emphasis on grammar and biblical reading for developing his language skills. He references books such as Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and The United States of Appalachia, which helped him better understand the cultural forces that shaped him.
The origin of the album title Three Pears (spelled like the fruit) is revealed through a quirky story: Yoakam was inspired by a clip of John Lennon wearing three pairs of sunglasses in a documentary by Martin Scorsese. That image sparked the song and the title, blending humor and homage to the Beatles.
Throughout the interview, Yoakam comes across as thoughtful, articulate, and deeply rooted in American musical traditions, blending intellect, artistry, and humility.