Fred Hostetler

We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed indie artist, American musician, singer-songwriter and author Fred Hostetler; greetings and salutations, Fred! Before we dive into the proverbial Q&A mosh-pit, how is the freshlyminted Pacific Northwest autumn of 2023 treating you?

Ah, tis’ a beautiful fall. The colorful leaves are falling and I enjoy the crunch of walking on those grounded dried leaves. I played five local gigs this month in small venues and two outdoors in the cool but sunny late afternoon, all of which were very satisfying.

Major congratulations on your incredible new single Rain Walking which is set to be released this October 25! What inspired this beautiful new tune?

I live in a very small town where you can jaywalk or stroll down main street without worry about being arrested or being hit by a car. I try to walk twice a day and it clears my mind. I often remember things as I’m walking and that is how the song came into being. I might add that it is often raining here in the Pacific Northwest in the USA. As you well-know, rain creates certain different moods in different people. For me there is a certain bittersweet quality to it that brings out both joy and sadness from past experiences.

You self-produced Rain Walking. What are the benefits to serving as your own producer?

Total control over the content of the song without outside interference. But it is a lot of pressure to go it alone and there is plenty of room for failure.

In your humble opinion, what differentiates Rain Walking from the Distinguished Competition on the 2023 music landscape?

There’s sort of a 90’s rock kind of ambience to it. But two reviewers compared the song with John Lennon Mind Games era. Of course that’s going back in time even further. There is so much out there right now by talented artists. Where I fit in can be seen by those few people who actually listen to more than 30 seconds of music.

Rain Walking was mixed by the capable hand of Eric Troyer who also provided additional vocals and keys on the new single! What was your collaboration process like with Eric while working on the new tune?

Eric Troyer founded ELO Part 2 with former members of the original band, which is now known as The Orchestra. We grew up together in northern Indiana and played in bands on the West and East Coasts. He has recorded with the John Lennon, Celine Dion, Kiss, Meatloaf, etc. Because I produce myself, I’m delighted to hand the final mix over to someone with great experience and fresh ears and whom I know! He helps tweak things and makes up for my engineering faults. Sometimes requesting me to redo or add another track. Here is an example of long distance mixing from opposite coasts:

Rain Walking Mix notes for Eric:

:23 -Lead guitar disappears for a moment

:59 - Lead guitar line a touch low

2:02 -lead guitar a touch low again

2:12 - right after vocal Rain Walking , maybe that bubbling synth thing could be heard through that section. Or see if the lead guitar might come up a bit 2:35 -2:43 the guitar line that answers the vocal might come up or ‘just brightened a taste’, but I don’t want to mess up what is there.

3:27 Lead up or is it too messy to work there as the tracks goes out.

How is Rain Walking similar to some of your past music such as You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know? How is it different?

“You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know’ was called an anthem for our times done in .what one reviewer called psychedelic blues style. Rain Walking is more personal, moody but somehow joyful and universal.

On the heels of the October 25 release of Rain Walking, can fans look forward to an EP or LP release from you in 2024?

Absolutely! Maybe even by December but more likely around Jan 10, 2024. Rain Walking is the title track and it will also include two singles from 2023. Orphan Blues and Where is Bob Marley.

What does your touring/performing dance card look like in the coming weeks and months?

I don’t leave the island where I live that much. As I said earlier I played in September and have some upcoming local solo acoustic dates. Nothing else is planned right now.

Who inspires you musically?

Veteran performers who have that spark and carry on through all kind of difficulties and family life. Taylor Swift breaking down barriers and standing up to dubious record company practices. John Forgerty getting his songs back, and the tremendous output of indie artists worldwide. Young people here on the island who try to find a way to express themselves live and experiment with the use of social media to promote their music and themselves.

You hail from Goshen, Indiana and now hang your fedora in the beautiful state of Washington. How do those seemingly disparate roots inform you as an artist and as a person?

I would say the roots are not that disparate. So many people here in the Pacific Northwest trace back to midwest locales. I even have relatives scattered all over this area. There is a rich and diverse creative vein to life and music here. The confluence of gospel, blues, folk, jazz, rock (in all its diverse forms) creates a forest of potential experience and enjoyment. So I feel relaxed but challenged at the same time even though I am not in an urban environment.

At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to Rain Walking?

It would be great if they simply could relate to the song enough to see that our efforts and failures and the resulting growth can end in the resolve to keep walking through it all, one step at a time. Still standing, moving on with a sense of gratitude for an experience thathas ripened into a valued moment in time.