INTERVIEW
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Musician and songwriter Norman Collins of Norman Collins & the Tumblers invites listeners to indulge in his latest single, “I Wanna Rule Somebody,” a progressive Americana record.
Hailing from Cornwall, New York, Norman Collins now lives in San Francisco, California. In his youth, the musician relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where he learned guitar and took in the blues, country and soul influences of the area. He went on to perform in bands at age 17 and never looked back.
From Madison Square Garden to Philadelphia’s Spectrum, Norman has graced many recognized stages alongside big names. At one point, he recorded in the same studio as Jimmy Buffet of “Margaritaville” fame (and little did he know then how famous his peer would become). He also co-wrote for Chess Records under the eye of Hank Ballard.
Over the years, the Tumblers have seen players come and go due to scheduling conflicts and life’s demands. While teaching 50-plus songs to new players is a trying experience, “it’s a good way to meet people,” according to Collins.
Having played for live audiences all over, Collins can attest that it’s the audience involvement that makes all the difference.
“You can have 4-5 people enjoying it and it’s more fun,” he shares. “Or you can play state fairs where no one pays attention.”
His latest single, “I Wanna Rule Somebody,” is an ode to power and those who use it for their benefit.
“It’s a sarcastic song about using power to feel good about themselves,” clarifies Collins. “Weak people really need power to feel good about themselves. It leads to wars and all kinds of evil. People will see the sarcasm and truth of people using power over other people.”
One notable aspect of the song is the aggressive rhythm strung throughout. The section of the single that speaks most to Collins is the intro, where the slide guitar comes in.
“It sets the whole song up to move along pretty well. It starts with the electric guitar playing rhythm, then the whole band comes in.”
“You don’t hear much guitar solos in music these days,” comments Collins. “Back in the ’60s and ’70s, you had your blues guys and Hendrix. Today’s music is slick music. It sounds good but there are no emotional feelings for me. I want real drums, real guitars — people really playing instruments.”
Leaning on his tried-and-true songwriting method, Collins begins with the music and lets the words be informed by the instrumentals.
“Sometimes it takes months to come up with words,” he adds.
While he is often the solo writer for the band, bandmates will occasionally contribute a line or two or suggest meanings they find in his work. The songs begin from a structured guitar rhythm or chord change, and then the melody emerges.
“If that seems to flow well, I’ll come up with the words later,” adds Collins. “It’s like an ice sculpture — you gotta work at it to get it out.”
Since its May 2024 release, the single has performed well across the world, particularly in Brazil and Mexico. Norman’s upcoming album, Front Porch Philosopher, contains a wide variety of styles across 10 tracks.
“The single has an aggressive rhythm, but the rest of the songs, not as much. There are other country-type songs, folk-rock types — a big variety. All styles come together and don’t stick to one style.”
Norman hopes listeners can appreciate the different styles on his latest CD and that his messages resonate with people.
“I’m hoping you feel better knowing someone else went through it — the disappointments you may have and can relate to. It’s nice to know you may be helping someone by singing about it. Trouble or tragedy, sharing might help someone feel better,” he adds.
Make sure to stay connected to Norman Collins on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
