Creative Q&A with Valley musician Clay Arnold

WASILLA — Local musician Clay Arnold recently participated in a question and answer interview discussing his relationship with music, coming back to the scene, and local talent.

Q: How long have you been playing music?

“Somewhere around 10, 15 years.”

Q: How did you get into it?

“I think I just needed something to do after I got out of school and I stopped playing hockey. So, I just picked up a guitar and a few instruments, just started there. I started writing poetry in high school. I realized I was kinda good at that so I just took it from there.”

Q: How did that develop?

“I must have been 24, 25. I spent a lot of time just writing different things, put words to guitar riffs, or whatever I had. I think it’s always been there… I’ve been struggling for most of life so it was just something I enjoyed doing.”

Q: Does music help you cope with everything?“Yeah, it takes me away for bits and pieces of time. It helps me to be able to put down in words what I could never get out otherwise.”

Q: What kind of music do you gravitate towards?

“I’m still kinda stuck in the 90s. I still go with Pearl Jam, Silverchair, I think probably Soundgarden is one of my favorites; Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, things like that… I don’t know how to say what kinda genre I put myself into or who I sound like, but that’s the kind of music I like to listen to.”

Q: How long have you been performing live?

“I’ve done it on and off for the last five years or so. I played in a band that we did for a while. More recently I’ve started getting out again. Because I’ve got kids, I took a little bit of a break… I used to do a lot of playing for the church for a while… It’s a constant learning process.”

Q: Where all have you played in the Valley

“I’ll go around and just do open mic nights here and there; Klondike’s Mikes, sometimes Floaters.”

Q: What are some of your goals for your music?

“I don’t know. It’d be nice for people to listen to it, to get it out. Now, I’m not really sure. I’m just trying to go wherever it leads me. We are in Alaska. It’s pretty limited up here.”

Q: What do you think about the local talent?

“We have some amazing local talent out here. Of course, Jerry Wessling, he’s always impressive. We’ve got people like Rocky Brown. Justin McCain is always fun to watch.”

Q: Did you grow up in the Valley?

“I grew up in Anchorage. I’ve been in out, but I’m pretty much here for good now. I’ve been here five, six years this time.”

Q: What would you like to see the music turn into someday?

“The one thing that would be nice is to not have so many things that are bar-related… It would just be nice for the local guys to get to be able to do their original stuff more, to be able to be heard. That’s what anybody wants as a creative personality, is to be able to get their stuff out there, to get it heard.”

Arnold is performing at the Susitna Bar and Grill Friday, July 23 at 2 p.m. For more information about his music, visit facebook.com/clayarnoldmusic.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com