© 2026 WFAE

Mailing Address:
WFAE 90.7
P.O. Box 896890
Charlotte, NC 28289-6890
Tax ID: 56-1803808
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Butch Walker Creates Music From Ashes

Butch Walker in Studio on World Cafe 1/29/09

Within every cloud of tragedy exists a silver lining, and for producer-turned-songwriter Butch Walker, his is Sycamore Meadows. In 2007's California wildfires, Walker lost his home and many personal possessions, including masters to every song he's recorded. The album, named for his home address, shifts toward subtle acoustic instrumentation, painting the scenery of his personal loss and heartache.

Rather than dwell in sorrow, however, Walker retains his upbeat pop-rock sound. Sycamore Meadows incorporates dashes of gospel, folk and rock, while experimenting with a more stripped-down and emotional approach. Here, Walker joins host David Dye to explain how losing his possessions actually helped free his mind and overcome writer's block.

Copyright 2009 XPN

Tags