'The Long Time Gone' is a newly released concept album by Sebastian Howarth.
The album features short, intimate tracks alongside some instrumentally wider tracks that represent the expanse of its setting and theme. Though the production has a rough around the edges, home-grown vibe, it does well to use this to its advantage in telling the story of a man who's doing the best with what he's got. Favourite tracks include 'The Great Escape' and 'The Great Disaster'. These two conflicting songs highlight Sebastian's ability to convey the opposing emotions and energies of a story that create dynamics both in the music and narrative.
Ben Barbic has a fairly large catalogue of success under his belt. There's a reason for that. His music is bloody good!
A fusion of genres you wouldn't usually expect to work together. His sound has the true rawness of acoustic music but the energy and passion of a hip-hop artist.
I was lucky enough to get an insight into the making of the music!
Where did your passion for music rise from?
I have always found music to be my creative release. Back when I was 5 years old I started recording my voice singing over songs and making little stories or dialogs. I always was into singing and remember about 6 or 7 years old watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon called “Hillbilly Hare” where he was basically flowing over the beat and from that moment on I was completely hooked. I started walking around the house making up my own rhymes and literally knew this was something I was good at and needed to push as far as I could.
Your music is a blend of a whole host of genres, all of them often considered quite different. How have you found yourself fusing these styles together?
I take songs where they need to go. I could start with a hiphop song and by the end it’s acoustic with little or no beat behind it. Really it’s the lyrics that tend to dictate where the music will end up.
What’s your songwriting process?
I wait for inspiration to strike. Where ever I am or what ever I am doing if that inner voice say to start writing I will get into the studio as fast as possible to capture the essence of the feeling which turns into a song. Usually I begin with a simple beat just to get the lyrics out and come up with the chorus. After that it’s about making the rest of the song which takes the longest. Lyrics will be rewritten until I feel like the message I am trying to give is finally achieved. When I feel it is finally there I will either mix and master and put it out or maybe look to a good friend of mine who is a bassist and guitarist to give it the polish it needs.
What success story are you itching to talk about?
A song titled “Radio” opened the door to my songs getting played on the radio. It’s ironic to hear the song “Radio” on the radio because it’s actually about not listening to the radio since it all sounds the same and watered down. That was the first song that got picked up. So to hear my song “Radio” on the radio was a great moment and just started the fast increase in radio plays and peoples awareness about my music. Now various songs have been on the radio in the US, Canada, Europe, Indonesia, and South America. So that first play has opened a lot of doors and made me excited for what is ahead.
Where do you see yourself taking your music in the future?
I see my music progressing forward as I keep making connections and creating music with an ever increasing list of talented musicians. I truly believe that the sky's the limit and I just need to stay grounded and authentic as this next phase unfolds.
Are there any projects coming up that we should look out for?
There are! I am finalizing the details of a four song package to be produced by an amazing producer who I truly respect for his accomplishments and insight into the art of making a great song. When these songs get released it will be one of the proudest moments of my musical career and I can’t wait to share them with the world.
What are your main inspirations behind your music? Are there any particular experiences that stand out to where you’ve just HAD to write a song about it?
The inspirations are found within my own struggles to achieve success and setbacks along the way. For example, I know that there is no choice but to pursue my music career for the rest of my life. This is what I am here to do. So from that I get inspired to make a song like “I Rise” which is basically saying no matter what I will not give up on my music. This is what I live for .
Where can we find you on social media?
You can find me on twitter @benbarbic ,facebook benbarbicmusic,
Soundcloud benbarbic , and Instagram benbarbic.
I want to thank you Amy for your Interview! It was a great experience and I look forward to talking again soon.
The Illusion of Free Will is a music project by Ricardo Vela. I caught up with him and learned about his process behind the music making.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
Well... I'm from Mexico, I was born in a small city close to the beach. I started playing bass at the age of 15, then I moved onto guitar a few years later. I love music, I'm the kind of guy who is always looking for new music/bands.
How has life influenced the making of your music?
I think that every day, every second can give you the opportunity to create something new, I mean, everything is full of life, color, emotions... so I want my music to be part of it, life, yours, mine, other people's life, so everyone can have their own interpretation of my music.
How did you start out?
I was playing in a band before tiofw, but when I realised that it wasn't going anywhere I decided to
quit, the next day I was creating some new songs with the idea of doing something really personal, like my own soundtrack.
What’s your process of songwriting?
It's quite relaxing for me, I grab my guitar and start playing, when a great idea comes out, I start working on that, once the general idea (guitar) is ready I record it and then I play it a few times so I can figure out how bass, drums and other arrangements will sound.
You do everything yourself, so how do you go about the production of your music?
That's the most difficult part, I think, as a musician I'm always worried about doing songs I like, but making a good record is a whole different world, it took me a lot of reading, practice and a lot of bad results to make it work, but in the end, when I listen to the final results I can say i'm pretty happy about them. It is also great to have full control of what you are doing, about your sound.
Do you have any projects coming up that we should keep an eye out for?
Actually, I just started working on the music for a new EP, I have some new songs and a lot of ideas, so I have a lot of work to do hehe, hopefully it'll be here when it's done.
What are your dreams for your future in music?
Dreams, I have a lot of them, but I would like my music to touch people, to tell stories... and of
course I want to play in the best venues or festivals because this is what I love.
Chloe Collins is a 14 yr old singer songwriter who already has a huge amount of work under her belt and writes songs way ahead of her age. We've had Chloe on the show this week and I was lucky enough to catch her after school for an interview.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, Chloe!
I love to sing. I am told I started singing as a toddler, and that my parents, and the parents of other kids, took notice of my voice. I started to play guitar when I was 8 years old. The first song I remember learning was a song I loved called “Butterfly Fly Away” from Disney’s “Hannah Montana” show which starred Miley Cyrus. I learned the guitar chords to that song so I could play and sing it myself. I loved being able to sing and accompany myself on guitar, so I practiced endlessly. In just a few weeks I was learning to play all the songs I loved by my idols like Taylor Swift.
What made you want to start creating music and how did you follow that dream?
Almost as soon as I started playing guitar I felt the urge to start writing songs. Then, I started performing my songs at school talent shows, coffee houses and open mics.
What drives your passion for music?
I love to write songs and sing and play guitar. I do it for hours and hours some days. Then, when I get up to perform in front of an audience and they enjoy my songs that really makes me feel great.
How do you balance school and music? Do you sometimes have to put homework to one side when inspirations strikes?
For the last few years I would sometimes get inspiration for songs while at school and I would have to scribble the thoughts into my notebooks or sing the melodies into my phone. Since starting high school this year, I am now studying through an online school which allows me more flexibility, and more time for my music and recording and performing.
How do you go about writing your songs?
Songs really come to me in all different ways. Inspiration is magical that way. Sometimes I just start strumming some chords and then I hear a melody and sing words. Other times I get a melodic idea first, and go to the guitar or piano to work it out. Sometimes I get an idea for a song title or a lyric, and that gets me started writing a song. The ideas come in all different ways and inspiration has struck me in all different places (at school, at home, in my room, and sometimes even in the car or on an airplane).
What was your inspiration behind the track Enough, which we have featured on our podcast?
By the time a song is completed it might incorporate many more experiences and ideas than when I started to write it. “Enough” is really a song about being fed up with how you are treated in a given situation whether it is in a friend or peer group or in a romantic relationship. This song was actually used in the ABC/Family TV show "The Vineyard" last summer in a scene where two girls are arguing over a boy. (wow)
Where do you hope to take your music?
I love performing and recording my songs, and I would love to have some hit records and get to go on tour performing live. My musical influences include Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Avril Lavigne - and I also listen a lot to records by older legacy artists like The Beatles, Billy Joel and The Beach Boys. I have written over 60 full songs so far, and I keep writing more. I am a big fan of Taylor Swift, so I would be fine having a career like she has had so far!
Any projects coming up that we should look out for?
I wrote a song called “Magical Christmas” which I recorded for the holidays and I made a video that I just uploaded to YouTube. I am working on several new songs in the studio that I hope to have finished soon.
Souvenir Stand are a New York based, 60s influenced pop band. They've only be going since 2013 but already have a number of successful releases and more in the pipeline. I suspect this fast growing band should be one to look out for, and we got an interview with Stephanie Cupo, the driving force behind it!
How would you describe the sound of Souvenir Stand?
Nostalgia-pop? Has that become a thing kids say yet? Can I pen that term? I’m not sure I can simplify it to a label, but I’d steer clear of “retro” since that has a very bad novelty connotation for some reason. I think we just take slight influence from a really wide spectrum of music and production of the 1960s and at the heart of it I’m just an insecure gal writing personal songs. I don’t
try to sound “60s” when I’m just hashing out lyrics and chords, I’m just inherently influenced since I spend all my time listening to the Beach Boys and the Beatles and the Zombies and dissecting what genius things they are doing...but then again I also do that with Nirvana and the Ramones etc... I think if you see us play our set you’ll hear a wide variety of styles, we aren’t just girl group pop, I even tried my hand at writing in the style of Danzig, it’s not nearly as bad ass but you know…
How did the four of you meet?
Well we’re sort of a wacky band, this is very reminiscent of the 60s since we’ve been a rotating cast of Wrecking Crew style characters...meaning there have been far more than 4 people involved in the band. There have been different cycles of people on the recordings (all of which are credited on the releases, thanks guys!) as well as a few rotations of band members that even differ from those on the recordings.
The moral of the story is it’s really tricky to put a band together for ultimately a solo writing project, but this is not the type of music that can be played solo, this is definitely a full band project and I can’t thank anyone who’s been involved enough for making my dreams a reality
(cheeseball time here, I know). Basically it’s all luck, between the power of persistence on craigslist, meeting friends of friends via facebook or just plain being friends with someone - Souvenir Stand has come to be!
As a relatively newly founded band, how have you seen your sound develop so far?
Our sounds has developed a lot in the short time we’ve been around. Just based on recordings alone I’ve really tried to hone in on the sounds I want on the last three songs we’ve recorded. I didn’t really know what I was doing as far as arrangement and production when I did the first 3 song EP. From that experience I learned so much of what I really wanted moving forward. “Wherever You Go” was a really simply recorded song because thats all it required. It was my first analog recording as well and it really shined without getting lost in layers of keyboards and auxiliary instruments. However from there I wanted to show I was more than just able to produce simple girl group anthems and I had the chance to really push myself to my creative limits working on “Fall” and exploring some of the darker production techniques while trying my very best to make a ballad anything but stock. I’m really proud to say I think we ended up with very unusual arrangements for both “Fall” and “Only Talkin’” that were just right. I suppose I’ve just been learning when you need more and when you need less and how to think outside of the box of how all of these things can be accomplished, I really look forward to future recordings to see how things can continue to develop.
What was your inspiration behind the new single, Surprise?
The inspiration for some weird reason is always the progression of time. The first song I ever wrote was “Day I’ve Spent With You” that cycles through the seasons and memories you share with someone special in all those times...and you know, all the pain too. And then I followed that up shortly after with “Wherever You Go”, still attempting to remember those days with a more upbeat summer motif...then I realized I had to break out of this pattern (clearly my psyche was hung up on something!), so naturally from summer you move to “Fall”.
These songs on SURPRISE aren’t about the passage of time (though basically everything is, if you think about it), but I think the sounds of the songs and the tone just make you think of fall. They are sort of eerie, comforting at times but essentially pretty damn cold and lonely. This single was a way to break out of the idea that everything was a summery pop song by sort of transitioning into the next phase, which conveniently happen to be fall. It was definitely a huge compliment to find reviews saying the single had a darker Twin Peaks aesthetic!
Who is the most involved in the songwriting process? How do you go about creating a new track and readying it for performance?
I am indeed the writer of the songs. This whole project started as me alone in a basement or hiding away in a practice room in college with my laptop recording demos with a midi keyboard and a built-in mic. Now when I come up with a new song for the live set I just record a rough demo of the vocal and keyboard part and send it out to everyone and when we meet up to practice we just run through it a ton and everyone contributes and arranges their instrument with little suggestions or ideas from everyone else. It really takes a talented group to be able to do that so again, I can’t thank them enough!
What’s significant about this release in comparison to your previous releases?
I think the significance is the maturity of the quality of the songs and just sort of expanding upon what this thing called Souvenir Stand even is! Also I wanted a chance after a peppy single, to show off a real vulnerable darker side without cycling through the seasons yet again and I’m really amazed with what we were all able to do at Silent Stereo Studios!
So now with a couple of singles and an EP under your belt, should we expect a full length album soon?
Gosh I hope so! That’s the tough part about recording analog, I will never want to go back to digital, but it takes a long LONG time to get everything done. I have a ton of songs ready to record and I’m writing all the time so I really hope to get a full length together in the near future! More realistically I hope to at least have a follow up single very soon!
Eli Purks is a young star with big dreams. He's just working his way into the industry with his debut, self titled record. We caught up with Eli to find out why he is one to watch!
What’s your story? What made you want to make music?
A: I wanted to make music because I am a very deep thinker, and I have a lot to say , and I just enjoy the production and creating a masterpiece, and then seeing the outcome. And my story is that I come from a small town in Texas nothing really happens there, and I’ve always been a dreamer and I’ve always lived in fantasy land, so music was my escape to that world.
How would you describe your sound?
A: I would say my sound is a different from what’s being played on the radio, I listen to all types of music genres, I listen to different sounds, and I incorporate those different sounds and those different genres all into one, if that makes any sense.
What were your inspirations behind this EP?
A: Well I wanted to make a project because I had A LOT to say and I had just graduated from hell (High School) and in a way I felt free to do whatever I wanted and to get out into the world and live my dream, and do what I want and make music without any barriers, without any limitations.
Who have you worked with to develop your music and sound?
A: I worked with tons of vocal coaches, engineers, and the producer for my record was a guy named Carl Dennis, he lives in New York and we just started working together, he made the beats for record, produced it, etc.
Can you explain your songwriting process to us?
A: It took a couple months to finish writing all the songs because the record only has five songs, so basically my producer created the sounds, and the instruments and the beats and he gave me about ten beats and I hand picked five of them, so I just wrote to the beats and the rest is history, and I feel its easier to write songs that way, to already have the instrumentals it makes it less stressful.
What are your aspirations? Where do you intend to take your music in the future?
A: My aspiration is to be the biggest star ever, I really want it. I want to make music that everyone can enjoy, I want to take my music to a larger scale and become a larger than life megastar, and I want to inspire people to do great things with their life, and hopefully pave the way for a new generation of singers the same way Michael Jackson and Madonna did to the singers of today. This is the beginning of a long, impactful, remarkable career.
Do you have any future projects in the making that we should keep an eye out for?
A: I hope to do another project, I’ve already started writing but I’m not gonna release another record too soon, I’m trying to market myself, and show people who I am as an artist and my brand. But anyway, if you ever need to check any of my music out you go to bandcamp and search for Eli Purks, and my twitter name is at @Eli_Purks, or just google me you’ll find A LOT of stuff.
Brian Fortner has had some truly inspiring and emotional life experiences to influence his songwriting. Ranging from raw and heartfelt material, to the fantastic Firefly tribute (fellow fan here) Fortner's diversity is incredible. And we were lucky to have a nice little chat with him.
What musical influences do you draw your inspiration from?
Nick Drake became a major inspiration to me shortly after deciding I was going to start writing and eventually performing my material Senior year of High School… though I seem to have found motivation from a fairly mixed bag of ear candy as the years have gone by… a few including The Strokes, Colin Hay, Alabama Shakes, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, and so many more it would be silly to list them all!
Starting right back in high school, how has life changed and developed your songwriting?
Oh my well that is quite a question, it's been a whirlwind of tramping and surviving while wildly gripping the tether connected to my pursuit of happiness through my music endeavors, I try to see it as paying my dues though it sometimes feels like I’m fighting outside disturbances to continue writing and sharing my love for what I do. I have found myself through it all though and have become stronger than ever. I am currently working every moment to advance my career with the motivation of my newborn daughter who I am currently being denied any time with by her mother and grandparents. I foolishly allowed myself to become a domestically abused spouse and now I am fighting for custody of my beautiful daughter alone. I believe in love and that if I never give up in my dreams and goals I will be able to soon have quality time with her and one day she will be proud of me :)
When recording or writing, do you ever work with other musicians?
I have always worked alone for the most part save for a couple of good friends that are in my circle. I’m currently planning on working with Julia Smolka and have a long standing partnership with my drummer/producer Jordan Borders
You’ve already got an EP and a bunch of single releases under your belt, what more should we be expecting from you over the coming year?
Well I can confidently say that there will be many more releases continuing to come out at a more rapid pace in the coming month and throughout the year, as my songbook is always growing and I'm realizing I need to release these songs as fast as I'm writing them. 147 compositions and counting, I have a bit of catching up to do! Also in tune with my official releases there will be youtube videos.
What’s your favourite experience or encounter at a live show?
There are two that come to mind, the first was in Fort Myers, Florida at Rock StarZ heavy metal bar.
I booked the gig, made the trip, and was suddenly standing in front of forty metal heads with very confused looks pointed at the young (20 at the time) man in white shorts and a pink button down holding a fender acoustic electric plugged into my Marshall Soloist.
I played my heart out for an hour and a half and by the end of the show they were all graciously complementary and treated me as if I had just given the loveliest show they’d seen in a while.
I found it to be very uplifting to see the appreciation of my music, instead of the prejudgments I had expected to be my downfall when I arrived.
And the second was two years ago at Ziggies bar in Columbus, Indiana. After a three set gig as basically an organic juke box for the drunken crowd only wanting to hear songs they knew, I ended the show with originals and shortly after, a man came up to me while I was packing up my gear and told me: "I've listened to guys trying to do what you are doing for thirty years in bars all around this country and you are the only one I’ve had the need to say something to, do not ever give up, you have something in you, your own voice, please don't ever stop as it would be a tragic waste of what could affect so many peoples lives in a real and life changing way, you've changed mine already and I thank you.” Then he walked out and left.
That was a major moment in realizing full belief in myself as a singer songwriter.
What beautiful and inspiring stories! I wish you the best of luck with your daughter and of course your future releases.
Where can we find you on social media?
Simply search @brianfortner on Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Tumblr / Google + and of course you can find me on Facebook and add me as a friend or like the fan page , basically any search for my name on google will help you find me around elsewhere (reverbnation, soundcloud, brianfortner.blogspot.com)
All official and new track/albums will be exclusively released on the Brian Fortner page at Bandcamp for the foreseeable future :)
Rainmaker are an acoustic britpop duo from Lincolnshire UK (my home, yay) who are bursting into the scene with a young, new and refreshing sound. They're pretty damn good and we're playing them on our acoustic podcast so make sure you stay tuned for that!
What are your influences? (other bands, life situations etc.) Hetty: I listened to a lot of crap pop when I was younger – like the Spice Girls and S Club 7. I liked that the songs were fun and simple. It was my older sister who introduced me to britpop (thank god). These days we're most influenced by indie, blues and funk. My guitar heroes are Graham Coxon, Johnny Marr, Bernard Butler, Nile Rodgers, and my dad, who is a Jazz guitarist.
Matt: I’ve always had an affection for the britpop movement – which in itself lead me to so many different genres of music. Since being in Rainmaker I’ve had the opportunity to really broaden my influences. We go to the Cleethorpes Jazz Festival every year, where the level of musicianship always leaves me inspired. I like a lot of blues music, ska, soul, allsorts - but I'm most influenced by brilliant songwriting in general.
What is it like working as a duo together? Have you ever had any disagreements? Matt: We both worked in full bands before Rainmaker so we're used to having loads of ideas being chucked around in rehearsals. But a lot of the time it was a 'too many cooks' kind of scenario. We often have disagreements but I think that's healthy - both in a working relationship or otherwise. I like to think we balance each other out.
Hetty: 'Disagreements' is an understatement! We're not nearly as bad as we used to be though. We used to row over which songs we wanted to cover and things like that, but we're more open-minded to each other’s suggestions now. I still like to wind Matt up from time to time about questionable albums I find in his CD collection.
When songwriting, do you work together, does one of you write the lyrics, the other the music, or does one of you come up with a song? Tell us the process. Matt: Usually I'll think of a verse or chorus, record a demo and send it to Hetty on Facebook. Then Hetty fills in the blanks, structures it into a song and sends it back for me to complete the lyrics. Then in rehearsal we'll kick it about until it sounds right. More recently though we've started writing songs from scratch in rehearsals, and Hetty has taken to writing lyrics as well which is a great thing!
Hetty: Sometimes we just hit a brick wall and get stuck with half a song for ages. Our latest song, 'Still Young', is the result of two half-written songs stitched together. There have also been a couple of times where just one of us has written the song in full and we work on it together from there.
How has having a home studio affected your songwriting and recording process? Do you feel it’s given you more freedom? Hetty: It's more of a glorified spare room to be honest! The recording process is brilliant though, because there's no pressure to get all the takes down in a certain amount of time. I play in the tracks one instrument at a time so it's a really time consuming process when we're doing a record that's got drums, bass, synths, 10 million guitar parts and god knows what else. I'm learning all the time about producing though, which I might not have got the chance to do had we recorded in a proper studio.
Matt: Hetty's mixing abilities have saved us a lot of money as a band! Plus it's great - when we have quite a clear idea of how we want to sound – to be able to cut people out who might distort that idea. The only downside really is that we never know when to stop!
What made you both want to start making music and how did it all begin? Matt: I just always wanted to write my own songs. It just seemed like the perfect opportunity to say the things you wouldn't be able to in normal conversation. I used to fill books with poems – then I was shown a few chords on the guitar. I immediately went home and strung them together to write a song. I could never see myself being a solo act though – it just doesn’t appeal to me.
Hetty: I'd been playing music for years before I met Matt but I never thought I'd be able to write my own music – I was in covers bands and that was all I knew. We met at college when Matt needed a guitarist for a one-off acoustic gig. Everything fell into place really quickly from there. We still do loads of covers and I love putting my own twist on the arrangements, but it’s great to work with someone who has faith in my original ideas as well.
Would you say the Lincolnshire area offers a vibrant music scene?
Hetty: If there is a vibrant scene in Lincolnshire, we haven’t found it yet. We get tired of playing in bars and clubs where people really take the piss. Not the audiences but the venues themselves. The saddest thing is that some artists don't know any different so they never challenge it. The only positive we can take from it is that it's encouraged us to put on our own nights. We joined a lovely group of young people called the Riverhead Producers who program events at the theatre in Louth. We work so hard putting on the events and we're really proud of them because the audiences appreciate the music and the acts get treated properly - and that's the way it should be.
Matt: Living in a rural area it's hard to get people to come out and support local bands – but I don't think we should pin the blame on the people. We shouldn't make people feel morally obliged to support the scene – if the music is enjoyable and entertaining enough then eventually the word will get round. Or at least that’s the plan…
Should we expect to hear more from you in the future?
Definitely! We’re yet to conquer the world of YouTube, so our next mission is to get some videos up. We’re working away at new material for our live set too. We’re also planning to set up a monthly music night in the area which we’re really excited about.
You could say the Koniac Net was formed in a similar fashion to that of Foo Fighters. Both their first albums were written and performed entirely by a guy called Dave before they realised they needed to tour the album, and therefore needed a band. But today isn't about Mr. Grohl. Today we were lucky enough to catch and interview with the lovely David Abraham to get an insight into how one man can form a band that would achieve many successes.
What was it like going through the transition from a one man, to a five man band? Were there any bumps along the way?
The only issues that I faced were that of scheduling. All of us have very different daily schedules, so trying to plan out meetings, rehearsal timings, etc. can be a pain (but this is an inconvenience that any & all bands face), and of course, considering I have been used to wriitng my own music, by myself, since I began in 2000, it was a bit odd having other musicians contribute to the writing process (in reference to our new “Abiogenesis” EP).
But all this pales in comparison to the variety and fantastic ideas that my band members have brought to the table (ideas that I would never have come up with). And performing live with people who believe in your music AND who are very close friends is an experience unparalleled by any other. So, the pros outweigh the cons by a landslide.
What’s your proudest achievement in terms of your music?
There are a number: I have been able to get my music featured by GQ Magazine (India), Vogue (India), and on an Australian comedy/drama TV show called “Flat Whites.” We recently won a runner-up prize in the Hard Rock Rising contest (against over 10,000 bands worldwide; being the 1st Indian band to ever achieve this); nominated as “Best Rock Act” at the VH1 Sound Nation Music Awards; both my debut album & EP have received 10/10 ratings by Irelands U&I Music Magazine, as well as other amazing & extremely positive reviews from magazines & blogs in the States, U.K., Germany, France, Canada, etc.
My music has also played on over 114 stations across 30 countries.
I think overall, it would be the fact that I’ve been able to achieve all this by myself, from my house. Also, the entire process of meeting amazing people from all corners of this planet who have become fans… all this is quite humbling, and I am therefore quite proud of it.
Any exciting upcoming projects that we should be looking out for?
At the moment, we are doing a national tour (sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe, after we were announced runner-up winners). We are also trying really hard to somehow get signed to an indie label in the States, U.K., Canada, or France (so we can play live internationally), and are planning on recording a few new songs for our fans (to keep them happy until we begin working on our 2nd album at the end of this year).
Where has been your favourite place to perform in your music career so far?
I would have to say the Bacardi NH7 Music Festival (the very first time we were invited to play for this festival) - the crowd was unbelievable, and relatively large. It was the first time I heard a roar of cheers for us… I got quite taken back. Nothing more outstanding that the roar of a crowd for your music & band.
How did this all start for you and what made you want to pursue music?
I was born into this world with a love for music… quite literally. Even though I remember, even as a 3 year old, being completely enamoured by music, I started realising how in love I was with it at the age of 8, and my obsession towards good music (be it heavy metal, hip hop, grunge, shoegaze, indie, or even new funk/paris house) only got stronger with each passing year. Although I was quite late when it came to learning how to play the guitar, I composed my 1st song in 2000 (the song “Simple,” which made it to my debut album “One Last Monsoon”).
I finally was able to pursue & study studio production and composition in New York (White Plains) during my college days, and have been doing music since. However, I never planned on releasing an album commercially until 2011 when I was house-ridden for 4 months after I came down with a severe case of typhoid. Hence, I figured I might as well use that time to record an album and see how it would be received abroad especially.
What are your ambitions as a band or a solo artist in the future?
My main goal (that I’ve had for many years) is to somehow play live in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc., and to especially put on shows in the cities (of the radio stations, blogs, etc.) that have played & supported my music. That would be a dream!
Leave The Lights, Adeline Hotel's single, has officially released today! We were lucky enough to catch an interview with the maker behind the music!
You can listen above, and buy the single over at his BandCamp page. It will also be featuring on our upcoming weekly podcast, so make sure you stay tuned for that!
And just as a side-note before we begin, I'd recommend purchasing it. There are two tracks on the single, and both of them are fantastic. AND if you like what you hear, the debut album will be available later on this year. So without further ado, here's what the brilliant Adeline Hotel had to say...
First of all, how would describe the sound of your upcoming debut?
I usually approach writing from two different angles, one more guitar focused, and the other more conventional songwriting structure. I've always struggled to fit these two side by side, but this particular batch of songs had a strong thematic spine tying them together which made it work. Both sides are well represented here, and I'm happy with the way they interact with each other and hopefully bring out something more than the sum of its parts.
After recording demos DIY style, what’s it like to be recording with a range of musicians in the studio? How has it affected the process?
It changed everything for me, really. When writing and performing alone, you really begin to lose perspective, and working alongside producer/engineer Danny Rose was crucial. When I’d bring in musicians to play, I refrained from giving them too much specific musical instruction—it was more like “here are the lyrics, here’s the feeling I'm trying to get across” and gave them freedom to interpret that and express it themselves. I got to meet and work with some incredible people, including Mike Brenner of Magnolia Electric Co. (one of my favorite bands), and it’s really through these collaborations that I was able to develop the more unifying sound I mentioned above.
You’re based in Brooklyn, but you spent a few years in London and Belfast. How has being in the UK developed your songwriting?
I spent about 6 months in each, and they’re both pretty special to me. London is really where it all began, in terms of playing my first solo shows. Belfast, three years later, was the starting point for this particular project, Adeline Hotel -- it’s where a number of these songs started to take shape, and where the theme of this record was established.
Where has been your favourite place to perform, home in Brooklyn, or over in the UK? Why? Most of my time here in Brooklyn has been spent in the studio actually, but we’re getting out there playing now and it’s been a blast. I loved Belfast though, it has such a vibrant arts community and is super supportive. I got to meet some incredible people while I was there and I hope to get back soon.
Can you explain to us your songwriting process? How does a song grow from an idea, to a fully formed single?
It’s changed a lot over time. I used to be able to write something start to finish in an hour, but it’s slower going now. Things almost always start with the guitar for me - I just record tons of ideas that I hang onto until something kickstarts a lyric or melody, which can be months or years later. When that comes though, things usually happen all at once and I’ll be able to make headway on 3-4 songs at a time. I’d like the writing process to be a little more collaborative for the next album, which I've already started on.
Have you recently released an album, EP, or some other project? Or maybe you're just looking for a little bit exposure? Is there something about your music, your projects and your lifestyle that you really want to talk about? We're looking for bands, musicians, producers, venue managers, event organisers, and anyone else involved in the indie music scene to have a chat with. So if you'd like an interview, send us an email with the subject 'interview', tell us a little bit about yourself, and we'll be in touch.
