Lawrence Rothman on New Album, Bowie’s Advice, and Producing Others

Musician Lawrence Rothman released their new album "Here Lives Love/Sawdust to Stardust," completing a trilogy of Americana-rooted records that tell the story of their life and career. The album opens with "The Meaning," a song exploring the purpose of making music. Rothman discussed their growing production career, having worked with artists like Amanda Shires, Maggie Rose, and Tift Merritt. They described an immersive, "Method" approach to producing, standing in the recording room with artists rather than behind glass, and emphasized Americana as a forward-thinking genre that welcomes diverse styles. A pivotal conversation with David Bowie early in Rothman's solo career inspired the album's central theme. Bowie challenged them to be more direct in their songwriting, leading to a focus on finding meaning in art. Rothman also noted donating proceeds from "The Meaning" to the Trevor Project.