FOLIOAnders Osborne’s story is fit for a hit movie. Born in Sweden in 1966, he left home at 16, hitchhiking through Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States. In 1985, he wound up in New Orleans, where he put the years he spent in childhood idolizing American bluesmen, singer/songwriters and jazz greats to work in the city’s fertile music scene. Osborne dedicated himself to writing original material, and some of it was so good, Tim McGraw, Jonny Lang and Keb’ Mo’ scored hits with his compositions (Keb’ Mo’ even won a Grammy for Contemporary Blues Album “Slow Down” in 1999).
Since 2010, Osborne has released two raw Americana albums for legendary blues label Alligator Records, while turning his live show into a passionate juggernaut of hard-rocking, power-trio ferocity.
Osborne spoke with Folio Weekly about learning from his elders, raising a family, getting clean and surviving the storm.
Folio Weekly: How are you, Anders?
Anders Osborne: I’m great. If things got any better, I couldn’t stand it.
F.W.: Do you have a lot of experience touring in our state?
A.O.: Some. Florida always presents a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere — nice weather, and the people are laid-back. It’s a little bit like Louisiana.
F.W.: When you left Sweden at age 16, did you know that New Orleans was your goal?
A.O.: It wasn’t part of any plan — to be honest with you, I don’t think I really had a plan. It was all one day at a time. The very first thing I knew I had to do was to get out of Sweden. [Laughs.] I started hitchhiking and meeting people, and met a guy from New Orleans in Dubrovnik [in Croatia]. I had a lot of visions as a kid, of Southern California, the beach and skating and surfing. But when I ended up in New Orleans, there was an instant connection. It’s not something I can explain, either; obviously, it’s an attractive place, but there was something else about it. When I got here, I found out I had relatives in Lafayette; my grandfather also lived in New Orleans for many years. There’s Spanish and French heritage in my family line. A lot of things fell into place.
F.W.: You’ve written and recorded several hits — for yourself and others. Yet your live show has also been drawing rave reviews recently. Is it challenging to balance both sides of your career?
A.O.: I’ve always had a knack for recording, but it takes a while to figure out the nuances — really create your identity. That was a challenge that’s now getting easier, so I wanted to step up the live show, too. Now that challenges me. I’ve been touring so hard for the last three or four years, and it’s the same thing: It takes a while for things to come naturally and figure out your identity as a group.
F.W.: Your new album, “Black Eye Galaxy,” features several songs co-written with Little Feat’s Paul Barrère, who’s also performing in Northeast Florida this month. How was that?
A.O.: Truly a pleasure. It’s inspiring and flattering to have someone like Paul as a mentor. There’s a wise, calm nature in people of that generation — they’re really confident at what they do and they don’t sweat the small stuff.
F.W.: The new material also seems inspired by your recent challenges overcoming addiction. Has that clarity helped you realize your place in the universe?
A.O.: Exactly. There’s a sense of purpose, but, at the same time, it’s humbling to learn your insignificance in the big picture. You don’t take yourself so seriously anymore. It helps tremendously to be sober and part of the same world that most people live in.
F.W.: You also have a family now, so there is some significance to what you’re doing.
A.O.: Absolutely. They have a saying in the program, “to right-side yourself,” or “know that what you’re supposed to do is not always what you want to do.”
F.W.: Has New Orleans’ spirit been fully rejuvenated after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina?
A.O.: There are lots of areas where we could do better, but also lots of areas where we’re doing great. New Orleans is like the last frontier of the whole planet, and there’s a much deeper-rooted sense of community after the storm. We all have a common goal of rebuilding and improving, along with a sense of needing each other more than we ever did before.
Nick McG
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