The Music Doesn’t Stop #8: Barricades Rise

Do you like Folk? Do you like Rock? Do you like a band who exude a passion for their music? If so, Barricades Rise might be the band for you. This duo obviously love what they do and they do it very well, folk-rock that makes you sit up and take notice – at times it’s in your face snarling, at others it is a gentle but haunting lullaby. Read on for an introduction into the world of Barricades Rise and also a link to a FREE album download!

Hi Gentlemen, please tell us a little about Barricades Rise

Jonathan Coates – We are an acoustic duo from the Midlands and we describe our music as Acoustic/Folk/Rock. Michael and I have been making music together for around 15 years in various different bands spanning a few different genres, but found a love for the simplicity of two guitars and vocals.

Michael McEntee – Nailed it.

You have now written 2 LPs. Would you say Barricades Rise have found their sound?

JC – I think both albums captured the sound we wanted at the time. I would like to think that with each new album, our sound will continue to develop. That being said, I think you can listen to any of our songs and they do have a certain something that makes them a “Barricades Rise” song.  Not sure what that is, but it’s there.

MM – I think Jonathan’s voice is the main factor to how we sound. It’s a very powerful tool.

Please tell us how the song-writing process works within the band?

JC – We tend to write apart mostly. Once we have the bones of a song we will then bring it to the table and let the other chap put his stamp on it. On occasion we have sat together and jammed on ideas, but we find it easier to work alone for the initial ideas and then once the idea is good enough, share it.

The passion of the performance virtually leaps out of the speakers – is this important for you?

JC – It is the passion and energy of our live performances that tends to set us apart from most people on the acoustic scene, therefore if we can get 50% of that coming “out of the speakers”, then we are happy. I think it’s quite hard to capture that on record, but the way we record seems to allow us to do just that. Everything is recorded, mixed and produced by us in my home studio and in a very unprofessional manner. There are no vocal booths, sound proofing or racks of equipment, it’s just the two of us banging out the tunes in a tiny spare bedroom with a one decent quality mic.

I assume this makes a live Barricades Rise experience pretty full on?

JC – Yeah, as I say, we do put a lot of energy in to our live performances. I believe a Barricades Rise show is as much about the visual impact of two guys stomping their feet and head banging, as it is the music. Obviously on the acoustic scene you get a lot of singer songwriters who are gentle players and give a lovely tender performance and then we come on and crank it up a little. It usually makes people turn and take note.

MM – We pride ourselves on being different. A very visual band. If we have not left the stage in sweat from really going for it, we consider the gig a bit of a let down.

That’s not to say you don’t do subtle well. ‘The Great White North is a lovely tune – please tell us about it.

MM – That song out of all the slower ones has more of a story. I recorded a solo album at the start of last year. It was a passion project based on the life of Chris McCandless. I wrote recorded and released the album in 3 days. This was one of the song off it. Jonathan really liked it so we rerecorded it and stuck it on the album. It’s my lead vocal debut too.

There seems a very raw honesty in both your music and lyrics, such as in ‘Nod & Smile’ & ‘If You Were Here’. Is this a fair statement and has this honesty ever garnered any feedback from those who inspired the songs?

JC – I think it’s a fair statement to make, as some of our songs are extremely personal to us. We have songs about people we have lost, people we love, our own friendship together and many life situations we have faced.

MM – We tend not to let people in on what our songs are about, or who they are about specifically. Sometimes we even keep it from each other. We like to let the listener decide for themselves as they could associate the song to their own life.

I loved your covers on the Xmas EP – do you play any covers live? What’s your favourite cover to play?

JC – We have always been about playing our own songs live. Even going back to the days of our very first band at secondary school (1996), we didn’t start the usual way - which is to play covers; we dove straight into writing our own songs from the first practice. We only know a handful of covers all the way through and one or two make the set every once in a while.

I can imagine Barricades Rise being a great festival band. If you could curate your own festival, what five acts would you have on the bill?

JC – It’s strange, but we have played on a main stage of a big festival and we felt lost. It didn’t feel right, however, stick us in a small acoustic tent and we will get the crowd going.

With regards to my dream festival line up, a festival should be about creating a party atmosphere and for that you want bands that are going to make you move and play all the classics so. . . . Picture this, it’s the last day of 3 day festival and the sun is setting for the final five acts, a few beers have been drunk and you are feeling good. You get to the front of the festival field and the following five bands come on and blow you away . . .
1) The Rasmus – this is not a joke, they write catchy pop rock tunes that I can’t help but throw my Rock moves around; 2) Muse – wouldn’t class myself as a massive Muse fan, but my brother and I saw them last year and they are amazing live; 3) Pulp – Playing the complete works of His and Hers, followed by Different Class and select other few singles; 4) The Pet Shop Boys – The singles collection of pure pop and 5) The Music – Dance rock perfection

MM – As usual Jonathan has got it wrong. I’d stick Muse, Mumford and Sons, My Chemical Romance, Pulp and of course, Barricades Rise

How cool is the Banjo?

JC – Not as cool as the Ukulele, but it is pretty sweet. We currently have at our disposal three Ukuleles, a banjo, a banjolele, a banjitar, a mandolin, our guitars and numerous percussion instruments. It’s great to have all these different sounds available to us, all we need to do now is learn how to play them all :)

MM – It’s very cool. I think the more songs we write, the more it appears too.

What is coming up for Barricades Rise in 2012?

JC- 2012 is going to be a strange year for Barricades Rise. Michael became a Dad in January and my first child is expected in April. This pretty much means we are not gigging for the first half of the year. Despite this, we will be releasing our second collection of rarities called Repertiore II: Covers, Live and Demo’s in February. We also have a collection of Remixes done by a chap who goes by the name of ‘Soundtrack’, which will be released around April/May time. We have some gigs booked for later in the year and hopefully we will start demoing new tunes as the year comes to a close, ready for a possible early/mid 2013 release of a new album. First of all though, we are going to enjoy being dads.

(between interview and publishing the BR boys have actually released ‘Repertoire II – Live, Covers and Demo’s’. Click on the album cover to download for FREE!)

You guys seem to have embraced Social Media – how has this benefited the band? Any negative sides?

JC– Social media is an unsigned band’s best friend. If used correctly, the possibilities are endless. It has enabled us to get close with fans, gain new fans, get gigs, make contacts and so much more.

MM- This interview would not have happened, nor would a host of others and our gig schedule would be sparse. We both use it daily (@barricadesrise – Michael and @jc_barricades – Jonathan)

Who are Barricades Rise listening to at the moment?

JC – I can’t stop listening to the Editors second and third album at the minute. Also, a little bit of The Devil Makes Three. Oh, Absolute 80′s radio when I’m washing up.

MM – I’ve just found a band called Vandaveer. Beautiful.

Thanks for taking the time guys. Finally, where can people find out more about Barricades Rise?

JC – In all the usually spots – Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Bandcamp and the most important place: www.barricadesrise.co.uk here you will find links to all the places mentioned above and this is where we blog. I think we averaged around a blog every 3 days last year and love doing it. We obviously blog about the band, but also about anything we find interesting.

WEB: Visit our official website for our constantly updated blog and all things BR: http://www.barricadesrise.co.uk

FACEBOOK: Like us on Facebook for FREE music, Giveaways, Band info and a little witty banter: http://www.facebook.com/barricadesrise #

TWITTER – MICHAEL: Come follow the revolution with Michael – http://www.twitter.com/barricadesrise

TWITTER – JONATHAN: More from the revolution but from Jonathan :) – http://www.twitter.com/jc_barricades

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by jcverrall on February 17, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on February 17, 2012

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Album Review #1: Internet Forever – Internet Forever

When we are not stroking our chins to the latest tear jerker from some acoustic lovely, there is nothing more that we love than a bit of a racket. It thrills us to report that Internet Forever produce a glorious racket that brings a smile to the face and wipes years off our age.

We have to admit that Internet Forever were not a band that someofitistrue were familiar with before they came knocking at our drawbridge.  A cursory check of the internet suggested that they were going to be all a bit ‘indie-pop’- no bad thing, as we like a jangle as much as the next pop kid.  However, repeated listens suggests that this description sells the group a bit short.  Internet Forever are what this reviewer would call, a classic pop band built on a Spector(ish) wall of sound.  It’s all there – pop hooks, catchy choruses, sing-a-long verses and plenty of noise.  You can trace their sound back through this style from 2012 back to the birth of rock and roll.  There are bits of 60’s girl group, bits of Ramones, bits Jesus & Mary Chain, you get the aural picture, but its all got a nice 2012 punch to it.

Far from coming across all twee and shambling, Internet Forever positively crunch and there is even a bit of the epic / widescreen about their sound.  To these ears there is even a bit of late 70’s E-Street Band in the percussion to ‘Centre of the Universe’, when Bruce Springsteen was trying to create his own wall of sound imitation on Born to Run. ‘Pages of Books’ also has that epic sweep and a great introduction to match.

Internet Forever could never claim to have the most original sound, but someofitistrue think that having an original sound in 2012 is pretty much a moot point anyway.  We know most, if not all, things have been done before, probably before we were even born, but that’s not an issue for us.  Despite acknowledging pop history in their sound, Internet Forever are a thoroughly modern band.  They use typical ‘indie’ instruments, such as guitar and drums in a typical ‘indie’ style, but augment with current sounds, drum beats, percussion, dance club rhythms.  Lyrics are a nice mix of girl falls out with boy, but with modern touches about message boards, etc.

Pretty much every song here has something going for it.  ‘I Don’t Care’ starts at a pace and then builds, slows, then builds again, before finally it crashes over the listener in addictive waves of ‘whoo-hoos’.  It then repeats this again and again to give the listener a manic pop thrill.  If this isn’t a great catchy pop tune then I don’t know what is. ‘Happy New Year’ is another winner, starting with a fanfare and then shimmering along, backed by some neat drums and all over in two minutes.

I’m not sure what a modern group aspire to in this day and age, but in our dreams a tune as fine as ‘White Light Collision Course’ should be all over the radio for Spring and Summer of 2012. Inspiring people to both listen to Internet Forever, but to also form bands and create their own sound.  For me it’s the highlight of the record and is a great mix of ‘up’ music and slightly sinister lyrics. ‘I’ll sleep when I’m alive’ starts off a bit too close the Vaccines, but rapidly mutates into something quite different, again it’s said all it needs to say in just two minutes.  No messing around for Internet Forever; get to the point, get to the chorus and then move on.

Internet Forever should be commended for making a great modern pop record.  Its prefect for the Itunes shuffle generation, who get bored after 2 minutes, but it also works well as an entire piece of work, having a beginning – the stately instrumental ‘3D’, a strong run of tunes in the middle – ‘Pages of Books’, ‘Centre of Your Universe’ and ‘White Light Collision Course’ and then an epic finish with ‘3M’.

Recommended Listen  4/5

Review by @tvermar

 

http://twitter.com/internetforever

http://internetforever.co.uk/

 

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by jcverrall on February 14, 2012  •  Permalink
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Album Reviews: An Introduction

Whilst we acknowledge that someofitistrue ‘s growing global reputation is due to our love of that perennial favourite- the solo troubadour / singer songwriter, we will freely admit that our musical taste is pretty much all encompassing. We are happy to give anything a blast and will champion all sorts of different bands over the coming months. We are obsessed by music and bands, which for us tend to fall into two categories: love or ignore. If we don’t like it, we won’t listen or comment further – no haters here, we love much more than we find snore-inducing.

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by jcverrall on February 14, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on February 14, 2012

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The Music Doesn’t Stop #7: Foxes!

Indie-pop is in safe hands with the emergence of ‘Foxes!’, who released their self-titled debut album earlier this year. The call & response girl/boy vocals, retro-synth sounds and sheer variety make this album a real pleasure to listen to. Luckily for us, Adam from the band was happy to have a chat with someofitistrue

Hello ‘Foxes!’ – I hope you are well. Please tell our readers about yourselves!

Hi, I am Adam Bell and I play guitar and sing in Foxes!  My wife Kayla is the drummer and main singer and we are joined by Al Grice on bass guitar and keyboard and Matthew Twaites on guitar and keys. We all live in Brighton and just released our album on newly formed Brighton label Big Salad Records, which we are also running ourselves.

Why ‘Foxes!’

Foxes! is the cry of a rabbit as it runs to escape its potential doom. Hence the injured rabbit as our logo.

How has the album been received? Are you pleased?

Yes we’ve had some very good reviews, maybe some people weren’t so into the humour element, or slightly mistook that we can be tongue-in-cheek at times, but on the whole, I’m really pleased with how people are reacting to it.

I understand you have recently relocated from Oxford to Brighton – was this driven from a musical standpoint? How is Brighton treating you?

We started as a three piece in Oxford back in 2005 and moved to Brighton after the summer of 2007. Kayla and our original bass player Dan were studying in Oxford and finished their courses that Summer. We were drawn to Brighton by the past to some extent, as I had lived in Brighton during my teenage years, and Kayla had immediately loved it when she first moved over from Canada in 2001. It felt like coming home when we moved back, although Oxford was very good to us and we did love it there as well.

I’ve seen the term C-86 used in reference to your music. What does it mean? Is it a fair reference?

Well, I think it represents the idea of lo-fi music that isn’t punk. It implies directness and innocence and home recording without caring so much for high production values. For us, we wouldn’t ever listen to that tape and couldn’t really name any songs on it that we are passionate about. Although I do like ‘Velocity Girl’ by Primal Scream.  I think it is a bit of a shorthand for a certain style and perhaps that has been an influence on us. I know that Dan, original member and contributor to the songwriting, was influenced by bands such as Beat Happening, and so we can’t deny that it has had some influence on the album. Moving forward, however, I don’t think that it is going to seem such an obvious reference point for the band, as we have so many other influences which are much more relevant to us.

Is that a Bontempi on ‘It’s Ridiculous, Adam’?

No, actually, it’s a Casio CT-310.


You may not be able to draw horses very well but your logo shows you have no problem with rabbits! As a new and upcoming band are you conscious of creating a ‘Foxes!’ style/brand or is it all pretty organic?

Kayla has a very distinctive art style and this is a big influence on how we  present ourselves visually. The Oh Rosie video probably illustrates this best. We also have a kind of fun live video style explored on ‘Who Killed Rob?’ and ‘The Panda Bear Song’, which was conceived by myself and Kayla. I think we have managed to express our personalities quite well without overanalysing exactly what and why we are doing it. I’d like to continue that way really, I’m not really comfortable with the idea of the ‘Foxes! brand’, though that is quite an amusing concept.

‘6 O’Clock’ is a great tune – please tell us about how this came together
Ok that’s the first song written for the album by some time. I wrote it in St Andrews on an acoustic guitar when I was 19 years old in the year 2000, even before I had met Kayla. It has always been an important song to me because I feel that it has a universal appeal and just stands up against any other material written afterwards. It was composed quickly, the lyrics just fell together and I think it feels more serious when compared the rest of the album. Strangely, it feels connected to ‘A Letter To A Mine’ somehow, though the original idea for that song was composed in Cornwall four years later. The only thing that significantly changed over the years was the line ‘Where is the taxi man tonight?’, which I think we changed in 2006, as previously it had been ‘Where are all the voices in my head?’ which seemed a bit generic. I like the mystery of the taxi man and its specific reference to our lives in Oxford at that time.

The album is bursting with different sounds and ideas – was there anything you really loved but had to leave out, as it didn’t fit within the context of the album?

Well, we drew a line on songs for our first album in 2008. While we were still recording we were writing new songs, but they are going to appear on our second record, in particular a song called ‘Sailors’, which is on the Elefant Records release that came out in April last year, was almost included, and written just after the tracklist was decided. There’s a really nice video that someone has made on YouTube of the original version of ‘Sailors” and I love that song. I think we are going to re-record it this year. A song called ‘Wild Geese’ was very nearly included. We recorded a demo version of the song in 2007 and there is a video on YouTube made around that time featuring rolling about in Oxford. Otherwise, the tracklisting was clear to me fairly early on and I don’t think it really changed much, the intro to ‘Apples To Apples’ became ‘Aisle No. 3′ and I liked how the album bookends around the sentiment of that song. Although ’6′O Clock’, the main idea for ‘Descartes’ and ‘A Letter To A Mine’ were all written earlier, all other songs were written between 2005-8.

What records are ‘Foxes!’ listening to at the moment?

I am currently listening to… Aqualung by Jethro Tull, Write Your Own History by Field Music, reliving the back catalogue of Pavement and an album by Department of Eagles called The Cold Nose.

What’s coming up in terms of live dates? What can people expect from ‘Foxes!’ live?

We currently have three gigs scheduled. The first is a headline show at Pavilion Theatre in Brighton on 16th February. Then we are back in Oxford for the first time in a while at The Cellar on 10th March. We are also playing a London show for Odd Box Promotions at The Wilmington Arms on 16th March.
We shall be playing much of the album and a bunch of new stuff too, and hopefully having a nice relaxed fun evening so everyone should come along!!

Love the handclaps on ‘Art Girl’. Can you recommend another great song with handclaps?
“Disconnect The Dots” by of Montreal

Where can we find out some more about you and the record?
You can ask us anything on Twitter and we will be sure to get back to you… www.twitter.com/foxesfoxesfoxes

I can confirm that ‘Foxes!’ is a fun, spiky pop record which is well worth investing some time getting to know. Why not pop over to their myspace page to hear for yourself? http://www.myspace.com/foxesfoxesfoxes

Liked this interview? Then please do sign-up to the blog for regular updates. Thanks for reading.

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by jcverrall on February 10, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on February 10, 2012

http://someofitistrue.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/the-music-doesnt-stop-7-foxes/

The Music Doesn’t Stop #6: Porquesi

At someofitistrue we like to bring you a bit of variety. This week whilst not creating captivating sonic soundscapes, walls of noise and hypnotic melodies, the guys from Porquesi have found time to have a chat.

My only live experience of the band was a great moment. On our last night at the Airwaves Festival in Iceland, Victorsson and I decided to catch Porquesi in a bar named Dillon. Through the crowd, we could just make out the band wrestling everything out of their instruments. It is fair to say we were quite literally blown away by the band, who attacked every song with unreserved passion. They play loud, the music is challenging, but is grounded in many a great melody. It is not always the case, but I am pleased to confirm that the band’s album ’This Is Forever’ does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the band.

Half Icelandic, Half British – how did PORQUESÍ come into being?

Basically, like all good stories, it started with a girl – or something a bit less dramatic! Russ moved to Iceland and befriended Skúli; a spark was lit. Russ’ friend Jonathan moved here to intern at a fancy magazine, then in Spring 2009, Skúli and Russ started to puzzle together some ideas and ended up bringing Jon and Egill (Skúli’s brother) into the mix. That’s how it happened – or something a bit more dramatic!

What does PORQUESÍ mean?

If you read it backwards it becomes ‘Iseuqrop’, which means ‘nothing’ in Russian. Nah, just kiddin’. But seriously, PORQUESÍ is Spanish for ‘just -because’, although in Spanish you would divide it into two words: porque sí. We took the artistic decision of gluing these words together ‘cos we don’t give a fuck. No just kiddin’, we respect a whole lot of things and people.

Tell us about the genesis of ‘This is Forever’.

It all happened pretty quickly in the Summer of 2009. Russ and Skúli put together ideas for 4-5 tracks which we brought into the garage along with Jon and Egill. Before we knew it, we had played a few shows here and there in downtown Reykjavík, and the following Winter composed the rest of what became the track listing for ‘This is Forever’. In the Autumn of 2010, we recorded the album over a two day period, then spent some time mixing and mastering before we released it ourselves in the beginning of December the same year.  

Have a listen to the album here http://porquesi.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-forever

I always get through the album and then suddenly realise that there have been no vocals. Do you find that it is harder to grab the listener’s attention without a vocal?

Not having the vocal element definitely forces us to take certain measures. For this type of music, being kind of minimal and repetitive, it is important not to overdo it, finding the right balance in number of repetitions; for example before adding something new. We have been told many times after shows something like, “cool stuff boys, but you should add vocals, that’d do the trick”. In the beginning we were very determined to play only instrumental music. I think all of us, at that time, listened to a lot of instrumental music, and it influenced us and made sense to us. Now, I think we are a bit more open to the idea of adding some vocals. You can’t deny the effect it has on the music. At the same time, it is a fragile thing; you can easily fuck it up.  

Will vocals be introduced on future records?

As a matter of fact, the only track that is completely ready for our upcoming EP has a small vocal part. So yes, we’ll introduce some vocals, although we still consider ourselves as an instrumental band first and foremost. 

For a newcomer to the band, which track would you recommend they listen to, and why?

Well, we have a video for ‘Obvious Harmony’, which is probably the heaviest track of the album. It’s the ‘hit single’. For something a bit softer, check out ‘Slowdown‘ or ’12-8-12′. And for a bit of both we recommend ‘Curfew and Crowded Streets’ or ‘This is Forever‘. The first and last tracks (the only ones with Icelandic names) are thought of as an intro and outro.

Is the balaclava a regular feature of the ‘live’ show?

Haha no, it was only a surprise element of the Dillon show during the Airwaves festival. It was supposed to increase the effect of our ‘rebellion song’, ‘Curfew and Crowded Streets’. Also, we wanted to do something special for the last Airwaves show. We also had a guest appearance from our friend Clyde Bradford from Human Hands. He played guitar for ‘Obvious Harmony’. That was a super fun performance! Definitely one of our favourites from Airwaves 2011 – this can actually be found on YouTube. 

Airwaves was awesome and Iceland seems to have an amazing music scene – what’s it like to be involved in it?

Yeah, it’s a great music scene over here, and super diverse too. It definitely has this ‘community’ vibe about it, with bands willing to help each other out. We love playing with other like-minded Icelandic bands, and those who have never heard of us. It makes us strive to play a better show.

What bands have influenced PORQUESÍ?

This Will Destroy You, Caspian, At the Drive-In, Mogwai, and Converge to name a few. 

What would be your dream festival line-up?

Tricky question. At the Drive-In reunion and Mogwai of course. Um, Jon would love to see Meshuggah, Russ would say Radiohead, and Egill would say Metallica. Haha. And probably a bit of Blink 182 to get drunk to. 

Are you playing in the UK any time soon – what are your future plans for gigs?

We have nothing booked in the UK yet, but we have talked a lot about going there this year. When the opportunity will present itself, we will grab it. It’d be awesome to do a tour in the UK. We’re working on it. Stay tuned. 

Where can we find out more about the band?

Our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/porquesiband is the most active. There you can find links to Myspace, SoundCloud, and more. 

When can we expect new music – what form will it take Album, EP etc?

We are currently working on a 4-5 track EP, which will hopefully be released this spring. It’s going to be a lot darker and structurally more complex, but will also have some signature PORQUESÍ melodies.

Thanks to the guys for taking the time to chat. If you liked this blog, or any of our other interviews, then please do sign-up for regular updates.

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by jcverrall on February 6, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on February 6, 2012

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The Music Doesn’t Stop #5: Zoë Brownrigg

Anyone who knows me well will have heard me singing the praises of Union Music Store in Lewes over the past 12 months. Of the many artists they have introduced me to, local girl Zoë Brownrigg has proved one of the most interesting. Obviously standing out as the only female in the excellent Early Ghost, Zoë has also released her first solo EP ‘Not Once Did I See Your Face’.  Her strong yet ethereal voice, ear for a great melody and always interesting songwriting, make the EP a real gem.

Zoë very kindly agreed to have a chat with someofitistrue. I hope you like what you read and please do give Zoë’s EP a listen.

How did the solo EP come to be?

Well I had been gigging the songs for a couple of months, when I managed to secure an in-store at the Union Music Store in Lewes – a shiny, new shop selling country/folk/Americana CDs, instruments and their paraphernalia. I played my usual set with my partner Sam Allan accompanying with various instruments (mandolin, second guitar, hand clapping, etc) and apparently caught the attention of the owners, Jamie and Stevie Freeman. Pretty soon after we were discussing recording and releasing me on their label. Following a couple of months plotting, scheming and recording it was released on September 10th 2011.

It has a very fine cover – did you design it yourself? What does the mask symbolise?

Why thank you! Sam took the cover shot in his living room and then edited it to get that floaty misty-pink feel.  I’m wearing the mask to mirror the title ‘Not Once Did I See Your Face’ (which is a line taken from the song ‘Ahead of us Yet’) which reflects on how, certainly in my dreams, people’s faces tend to be ever-changing or perhaps not there at all and yet you can have a really strong sense of who that person is.

What, to you, is the pivotal song on the EP and why?

Although quite a simple song, I think ‘Smooth Edged Stone’ has a particular significance on the EP- it has quite a strong message of independence and determination. I think it also sums up the sound of my first couple of years as a musician with the use of harmonies and finger picking.

Your song writing seems way beyond your years – any ideas why?

Isn’t it true that everyone’s maturing quicker these days? However, I have read a lot from a young age; fantasy or period novels taking centre stage. I think I learnt quite quickly that sometimes you don’t want to read or hear about normal, every-day stuff, that poetic language provides a beautiful escapism. I love finding my own meanings in other people’s songs and I hope people can find theirs in mine.

What is going to be your next musical output?

Well, alongside recording a debut album with my other musical project Early Ghost- a six piece experimental-folk-rock-type-thingy band, I’m writing for a second solo EP which I think will have a slightly different sound; I want to experiment with different instruments and effects and try and give a bit more ‘atmosphere’ to my songs. I think I’ll also go under a more inclusive name, like a band name, as I want to start collaborating a lot more and think ‘Zoe Brownrigg’ is too limiting almost, I want it to be a group effort.

Is Lewes a good place to be for an aspiring musician?

It’s certainly a nice, safe little cubby-hole to incubate creativity in- there are limited venues (some pubs, a converted church and the Union Music Store’s shop window), but they’re comforting and familiar and there’s a strong community spirit in Lewes- especially when it comes to music. There’s also a convenient rail line to Brighton or, if you’re feeling really brave, London. But it’s always nice to come back to Lewes.

Who are your key influences as a songwriter?

I honestly don’t know, as I don’t think I can hear much of the artists I listen to in my songs! But I suppose it must come from somewhere, so I’ll list some of the artists I’ve listened to a lot over my song-writing years so; Jose Gonzales, Johnny Flynn, Beirut, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and Laura Marling. Of course, I didn’t grow up listening to these songs so they are recent influences, I could play the usual ‘The Beatles, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan’ cards as they were frequently played by my dad in the times before I discovered S Club 7 and the usual pre-teen rubbish. But I think I preferred jumping and dancing on the table to his various compilation albums such as ‘We Love Life’ or the 60s classics ‘Peace and Protest’.

What were your favourite Albums of 2011?

The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy

Paul Thomas Saunders – Lilac and Wisteria

Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Ever thought of auditioning for X Factor?

No.

Any New Year’s resolutions you are still managing to keep?

No.

What are your hopes and fears for 2012?

I wouldn’t want to start the year with any fears! I never think about limitations, only what I want to achieve. Over this year, I’m hoping to release a second EP and be part of a house concert tour of the UK.

Zoë’s EP ‘Not Once Did I See Your Face’ is out now on the Union Music Store record label www.unionmusicstore.com

Thanks for reading and please do click the ‘Follw Blog by Email’ link for regular updates.

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by jcverrall on January 28, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on January 28, 2012

http://someofitistrue.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/the-music-doesnt-stop-5-zoe-brownrigg/

The Music Doesn’t Stop #4: Alice Gold

In ‘Seven Rainbows’ I believe Alice Gold created one of the best albums of 2011.  Don’t take my word for it, give it a listen and then let me know what you think. It’s a diverse beast, which constantly turns an unexpected corner leaving you, the listener, wondering where the hell it’s going next! Victorsson loves Alice and he is well versed in these things.

In March, Alice’s tour will be passing through Brighton’s Green Door Store and she very kindly agreed to have a chat with #someofitistrue.

How did you get into music? What are your artistic roots and is the direction you are currently taking the one you always wanted to follow?

I got into music because I’ve always written songs. I wrote my first complete pop song at 8 years old with an imaginary band in my head. I taught myself guitar at 12/13 and grew from there really. I started performing solo in my local town at 15 and in bands at 16.

I always aim to write accessible pop songs with a strong melody and meaning that other people can interpret in their lives. I hope I achieved that partly with Seven Rainbows and am in the middle of writing the follow up record…and have that aim at the forefront of my mind.

How much, and what sort of preparation, goes into a tour/ gig – on a personal level, not logistically that is?

Lots of preparation goes into Touring. I spend time visualising the show in my head and thinking of ways to showcase the song writing etc. Bringing across the lyrics and feelings of my songs is really important to me so that the emotional elements are shared in the best way for everyone to share and relate to. Fitness is important too, especially on this next tour with 5 consecutive nights. It can be very draining if you give everything of yourself each night; one has to be relatively fit physically to cope with that well. This was learnt the hard way unfortunately…I followed the Eels around Europe in 2010 playing solo…I was driving myself sometimes 8 hours a day and performing every night…and was drinking Jack Daniels and smoking with them most nights, but they could fall asleep in their buses and wake up in the next city! I broke down on gig 8 in Vienna and had to start looking after myself better.

‘Seven Rainbows’ is very eclectic record – I just cannot pin it down (this is a great thing in my book) – did you always plan it this way?

I didn’t plan that at all. We just recorded the songs the way they came out – whatever felt right. Many people believe it’s eclectivity is why it hasn’t gone mainstream. But, like you, I love it for this very reason and wouldn’t have it any other way. The songs were all written quite a few years apart, because of the journey I had been on trying to release my music. A previous deal with EMI had fallen through and I had been a travelling hobo before that…so the album had to represent that journey somehow…it’s a very honest record.

‘Orbiter’ is my current fave – can you share an interesting fact about that tune?

It was the last tune written for the record and is about the power belief in each other has. How when someone believes in you, you spread your wings and become everything you are – it’s so easy in life to stoop our shoulders and not fill our potentials. It’s an uplifting song, and great to play, trying to capture those ideas.

Now the record has been out a while, do you have a favourite track, and if so why has it taken on that extra importance?

‘And You’ll Be There’ has always been the most important track to me. It is all about having hope about getting to where you want to be and finding the inner voice in yourself. I wrote it for a friend at the time, but I guess I was also soothing myself when I wrote it. Whether you do ever reach the garden, with sunlight in your hair, with everybody there, we’ll never know…but trying to get there and believing it is possible is the message I wanted to convey.

What were your favourite records of 2011?

Connan Mockasin ‘Forever Dolphin Love’ & Thurston Moore ‘Demolished Thoughts’.

What does Alice Gold do in her spare time?

Read lots of poetry before bed. I’m no good at long books because I’m quite impatient and love bite size poetry. I love going out in London to different events and exhibitions, art galleries. I also love escaping London to the country for long walks and long lunches with mates!

What’s the toughest gig you’ve played?

Too many to mention.

Have you played Brighton many times before? What’s the reception like?

I’ve played many gigs in Brighton over the years…last year I did an acoustic set outside during the festival and the reception was fab…lots of friendly faces in the sunshine. You have some cool venues…so it’s always a pleasure especially with a brisk walk along the beach after sound check usually.

We are looking forward to welcoming Alice back to Brighton at the The Green Door Store in Brighton on the 14th March: http://www.thegreendoorstore.co.uk/index.html

Find out more about Alice: http://www.alicegold.com/

If you like this post then please do sign up for regular updates.

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by jcverrall on January 20, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on January 20, 2012

http://someofitistrue.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/the-music-doesnt-stop-4-alice-gold/

The Music Doesn’t Stop #3: Stylusboy

Hailing from Coventry in the UK, Stylusboy plays Indie-folk. His ‘Whole Picture EP’ is a very fine listen and he must surely be one of the hardest working musicians on Twitter! Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome Stylusboy to the blog and do give his music a listen – it is well worth your time.

Who is Stylusboy, what does he do and where does the moniker come from (assuming it’s not your real name!)?

No you’re right it isn’t on my birth certificate! My name is Steve Jones and Stylusboy came about when I was creating an email address. I wanted a memorable address and using my name in my email meant it had loads of numbers in it! At the time I was in front of a well-known printer and thought stylus sounded cool and then just added the boy on the end. When I started writing and recording these folk songs I put them online as Stylusboy, as I felt it sounded a bit more interesting than using my name!

Tell us about your latest EP ‘Whole Picture’

Whole Picture EP is a 6 track EP that was released in June by Lazy Acre records (http://lazyacrerecords.blogspot.com/). It is a pay what you want release where you name your price for it via bandcamp or at gigs.

I recorded with my friend Chris in his studio over lots of evening and weekends. Chris was brilliant to record with, as he really challenged me musically and creatively. The songs are about my family, forgiveness, loss and hope and all sorts of other things.

The physical EP comes in a handcrafted cover which I make myself. When people buy the EP they also get a second copy of the EP to pass on to someone else who they think will enjoy it.

Have you found that you return to recurring themes in your music? If so what are classic themes in Stylusboy lyrics?

I ask a lot of questions of life in my lyrics and make observation and comments I guess. I talk a lot about my family and things like hope, love and loss.

I think my favourite tune on the EP is, ‘Beyond the Flags’, what is the story behind that song?

Beyond the Flags is inspired by a story I read about an Australian swimming in an open water swimming club. In this club he was always told that he had to swim inside the flags, but no one ever explained why. After a few years he kept asking if he could swim beyond the flags, but was never allowed. So after a while, he left the club and decided for himself where to swim. So the song talks about doing things differently and actually how the swimmer found more happiness and peace when he did things a little bit differently to the way he was always told to.

I love a vocal harmony and you do this very well – who do you sing with on this EP?

I sing with Rachel Grisedale who is a good friend. I met her a number of years ago when I recorded my first EP ‘Fingerprint’, and I asked her to sing on it. After that she sang at some of the live gigs and now we are writing songs together. Beyond the Flags was actually a collaboration too.

There is lots of interesting instrumentation on the EP – what instruments can we find on there?

On Whole Picture I play acoustic guitar, bass, glockenspiel, a little bit of banjo. My friend Chris played the keyboards and Tim played drums. Another friend of mine Pete played Cello too.

What is your musical history/background?

I learnt to play guitar when I was a teenager and I have been in a couple of loud guitar bands that did pretty well. I’ve also played in a band called Kanute who are still around. They are an amazing hip-hop/dance band. I can’t read music and a lot of what I what write are chords that I work out that sound good together!

Stylusboy seems quite a mellow chap – does he have a hard rocking alter-ego?

I guess I am pretty mellow really! In terms of music I like all sorts of music and some loud guitar bands like Idlewild, Pearl Jam and Switchfoot. I still have my telecaster and amp which one day may make an appearance!

I became aware of your music via Twitter – how has the new social media helped you as an artist?

Twitter is brilliant. I love how it allows people to connect with other people and build friendships. For me as an artist it is great to write, record and perform songs and before things like Twitter I could only connect with fans while at the gig or through email. Now I can ask people about songs when I demoing, then after the gig too. However, I also just enjoy getting to know people generally and I discover an amazing amount of creativity through Twitter like singer songwriters, bands, photographers, bloggers (like yourself), artists and film makers.

You’re always up to something original – living room gigs, remixes etc. What else have you done/do you have in the pipeline?

In the New Year I am going to be releasing a remix EP and a little live album which I have recorded at the house shows I played earlier in the year. I recorded the shows on a little hand held digital recorder and they have a great bootleg feel to them. They are not perfect recordings and they are not meant to be by any means, but they have a lovely vibe about them.

Please tell us about your video project

I am going to be making a video with my friend and film-maker Laura Meades, who I actually met through Twitter. A number of people are currently remixing the songs from my Whole Picture EP and the video is going to be for the remix of ‘Something Worth Keeping’. Last Christmas one of my favourite bands, Sleeping at Last, asked people to send in film of Christmas things for a video they were making. I contributed some and it features in the video, so I was inspired by this idea. I have asked my fans to send in photos of things that are worth keeping, things that are special to them. People have now sent in some lovely photos of things like special places, their first car and wedding rings. I am beginning filming with Laura in the New Year which I very excited about.

What’s coming next in regards to musical output?

As I release the remix EP and live record I will continue to write songs for my album. I currently have 5 songs written and am now working on more. I am not planning a time scale for this as it is not something I am going to rush. It will be recorded and released some time in 2012 hopefully!

Do you have any gigs coming up? Where can we find out about them?

Yeah I have a number of gigs booked for 2012 included the Warwick Arts Centre in February. This is a lovely seated theatre venue. You can find out about my gigs by joining my mailing list or looking at: http://www.Stylusboy.co.uk

You can follow me on Twitter (@Stylusboy) and ‘like’ my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Stylusboy

Musical Influences – who would you say are your top 3?

Although it’s not obvious in my music, Elbow are a huge influence on me – I just love their songs; the emotions that they portray and the interesting melodies and rhythms. Also I am a big fan of Laura Marling, I think she is an incredible talent. Last night I was listening to Document by REM for a new blog project I am involved with and I realised how much they actually influence my music. Lyrically, I like Michael Stipe’s imagery and style of melody. My influences change quite a bit!

What have been your fave records of 2011? 

I think Laura Marling’s album is brilliant and one of my highlights definitely. I have been listening to a lot of records that I already own this year. I am involved in a project on a blog called Compact Discussion, where I am listening to and writing about an album a week I already own which is great!

Is there a big/strong music scene in Coventry? Who else should we be looking out for?

Coventry has a very strong music scene, but sadly the masses are not always that interested in it. There are a number of brilliant singer songwriters around like Al Britton, Wes Finch, David Sanders, Cliff Hands and Kristy Gallacher. There are some great bands like The Shackletons, Shockparade and Sympathy State.

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by jcverrall on January 7, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on January 7, 2012

http://someofitistrue.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/the-music-doesnt-stop-3-stylusboy/

The Music Doesn’t Stop #2: Mat Gibson

I was lucky enough to catch Mat Gibson play the Union Music Store’s Saturday in-store a few weeks back. Mat had been down a few months earlier to play the aforementioned shop’s Roots Night and I had heard many great things. I had also been followed/started following Mat on Twitter, so was very curious to see the man himself.

Mat Gibson playing at Union Music Store

I am very pleased to say that all the praise was justified. The gig was one of those great moments, when an initially quiet and unassuming character starts to play his music and everything is transformed. Mat was absorbed in his craft and the crowd were more than willing to be drawn in with him. A mix of new material and tracks from Mat’s last EP, ‘Forest Fire’ kept the audience captivated throughout. There is an intensity to Mat’s performance and this has been captured excellently on ‘Forest Fire’ – it is engaging on first listen, but also hints at hidden depths, that only repeat listens will help you discover.

Mat very kindly agreed to answer some questions which I hope you enjoy – please also take the time to listen to Mat’s music – I truly believe the effort will be well rewarded.

Who is Mat Gibson, what is his musical history?
I’m a bit of a late bloomer I think, I’m 31 now and only really feel like I’m now hitting my stride so to speak. But I’ve been involved in music all my life really in various ways, playing drums in bands as a teenager and then learning the guitar in my early twenties. It took me a while to find a voice of my own, but I can certainly say that I’ve never felt more strongly about my music than the way I do now and I feel more confident as a performer.

Who would you say are your greatest influences and why?
Bob Dylan and Neil Young without a doubt. But I’m a massive fan of Jeff Tweedy, Thom Yorke and Jim James from My Morning Jacket, as they are all very individual singers and songwriters.

Have you always wanted to be a solo artist?
It was something that came to me as an idea, after seeing people like Ryan Adams and David Gray have such success back at the turn of the century. It just made so much sense to me at the time, as I’m sure it does to many others.

Is it fair to say that, like many great musicians, there is a seam of melancholy in your work? Do you mine it on a regular basis? Does it drive recurring themes that come up in your work?
Through trial and error I’ve discovered that I’m better at writing darker, more provocative and ethereal songs than anything more sunny and rosy. It’s not necessarily a direct reflection of my soul, thankfully! But I feel more at home with moodier themes and I think that matches the times we live in today. I feel the urge to bring up stuff others shy away from, to really cut to the bone. I’d say that it’s only through experimentation that I’m improving how to make this darkness more engaging and appealing to the listener.

You played quite a few new tunes at your recent in store – please give us an insight into your writing process. Do you have a fave?
I’m a sort of fits and spurts kind of writer. It’s not something I do on a regular basis, or even plan to do. It invariably just comes to me in the right environment. I have to be ready to ‘receive’ the song in a way and then channel it out. The whole process fascinates me to be honest. It’s very mysterious how songs develop.

How soon do you know if a song has made the grade?
I’ll usually know after writing the first line of a melody and lyric if its going somewhere or not. If I make it through the first chorus and still feel excited by it, then its a keeper!  A good verse and a chorus is enough to work with as a foundation and expand upon more strategically from that point.

You mentioned you were looking to place a song on radio – can you tell us a bit more about this process, does it affect the writing or how you go about crafting a song?
Not really, the song I had in mind I wrote a while ago,  but it didn’t fit with the crop of songs on Forest Fire. It’s more of its own song so it suits a single. It’s definitely more ‘radio-friendly’ than anything on ‘Forest Fire’, but it carries an underlying global message, so radio is definitely where it belongs I think!

Please share some more information around the inspiration for ‘Forest Fire’
I guess it was my break up album, but not just a break up album. I mean, I wanted it to be more multi-layered. At the core its a break up album but the references are subtle, even if the mood isn’t. But it’s also about leaving a place you’ve felt at home in, and what if you’re forced to leave a place for economic/environmental reasons, how does that make you feel? What is it to feel nostalgic about the natural world? A place you’ve come to love which is so easily destroyed? Those are the kind of questions that were swirling around my head at the time. Questions which I felt were relevant to the world we live in today, questions that people can relate to.

How did you find your way to country music?
My stepmother’s family, in Boston, Mass, who I’d visit in holidays from the age of 18 or so, first got me into roots music but I’d heard shades of it already in the stuff I’d listen to as a kid, like The Lemonheads, R.E.M. etc. They all had alt.country tones in their music.

I hear shades of Ryan Adams in your voice – have you had this comparison before? Is he an artist you admire?
Ryan Adams is one of my heroes indeed. I really engaged with the three albums he put out in 2005 and knew that was the direction I needed to head. I fell in love with the space and roominess of those records. I was listening to a lot of Ryan Adams when I started out as a singer/songwriter so he has had a big influence on my vocal delivery and phrasing for sure.

I really like, ‘Where Demons Go’, partly because it reminds me of Steve Earle – what’s it all about Mat?
I grew up going to Church schools and a strong sense of right and wrong, not that it stopped me from doing things that weren’t always well-perceived, so I guess it’s the voices in my head telling me what I’m doing wrong and what not to do. Maybe it’s also a bit of a wake up call to others to not waste their chances on this planet to make a difference.

What’s your favourite cover version to play?
I don’t play many covers, but probably something by the Low Anthem, or Neil Young. Actually this might come as a shock, but I’m thinking of covering that song ‘Video Games’ by Lana del Ray. I saw her sing it on Jools Holland and it really stuck with me!

What would be your dream festival line up? (you have 5 bands to choose from)
Neil Young headlining (best gig ever so far), My Morning Jacket, The Low Anthem, The Felice Brothers and A.A. Bondy (on the basis that his new album sounds very, very good).

Is there a circuit / strong network for artists such as yourself – is it a challenge to get your music heard initially?
There’s a community of like minded people in the UK for this kind of music, which is a great springboard for bigger and better things. We’re lucky that there are so many people out there passionate about similar music and willing to sacrifice their time, and often money for the love of the music.

How does social media help/hinder up and coming musicians?
Well I don’t think anybody really knows what the cut and dry approach to social media is as an up and coming musician. I think it helps more established artists more than up and coming ones. It can help to spread the word, but I think people find it too obtrusive sometimes, so it can potentially have a negative effect if you over use it I think. Twitter is definitely where it’s at right now though, the interactivity of it all.

So, what’s next for Mat Gibson?
Well, I’m planning to release a single in February and hope to have a new album on the shelves by April. I’m feeling very prolific all of a sudden!

And finally, where can we go to find out more about Mat Gibson?
Check out the website for sure – http://www.matgibson.co.uk, but there’s some videos on YouTube and some reviews on google that you can read. But please come and say hello on my Facebook matgibsonspage and twitter @youngmatgibson

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by jcverrall on December 2, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on December 2, 2011

http://someofitistrue.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/the-music-doesnt-stop-2-mat-gibson/

The Music Doesn’t Stop #1: Peter Buzzelle

Peter Buzzelle was the first musician to follow my Twitter feed. I’d only been ‘tweeting’ a while, so was obviously excited enough to check out his (at the time) latest record ‘To Telescope’ and I enjoyed what I heard. I kept an eye on Peter’s tweets and when the recently released ‘Museum Of’ came out, I gave the album a listen and to my pleasure, found the guitar driven indie rock striking a chord with me. As I was going back to the record time and again, Peter became my first choice for the inital ‘The Music Doesn’t Stop’.

I’m in Brighton and he’s in Boston, so our chat was conducted over email and Twitter and I make no excuses for just asking the questions that I, as a fan, wanted to know about the man and his music.

'Museum Of' by Peter Buzzelle

Hi Peter, what is the new record ‘Museum Of’ all about? Are there any thematic links to its predecessor ‘To Telescope’?

‘Museum Of’ is a collection of songs I had written over the period of about two years. I was just writing what came out. A lot of themes of family and being human on this planet are what emerged. The song ‘Living Together’ really sums up what I was trying to get across with this record.

The record opens with a great ‘car song’, ’67 Mustang’, do you actually drive one?

No, it was actually an 82 Datsun station wagon, my first car when I was in high school. As a young man growing up I was obsessed with cars, the 67 Mustang being my favorite. Maybe I’ll afford one someday.

I’m sure there must be a rich musical tradition of car themed songs. If there is then my favourite is The Clash’s version of ‘Brand New Cadillac’. What’s yours?

Well, I’ll take it one step further, being from Boston, one of my all time most favorite bands is The Cars. The hand claps in 67 Mustang are a tribute to them.

The track ‘Somerville Hospital’ ends with a great refrain (at least I think that’s the term), ‘gonna get a good job, save some money and marry you’. Did you get a good job, save some money and marry this person?

Yes! Everything in that song is true :)

Do you play the blistering solo on ‘Soul Clinic Bible School’? It’s cool!

That is my brother in law/record producer :) Chris Zerby, it is my favorite moment on the record.

Tell us about where you’re from and your musical background. How have the two impacted your current album?

My first instrument is the drum set, I started taking lessons when I was an early teenager. The local youth group in the town I lived in at the time, Coos Bay, Oregon was offering free drum lessons and I decided to give it a try. I think my teacher, Tom Beckstrom questioned my commitment at first. But, once I traded my boom box for a set of drums I was on my way…it was a nice boom box. I was involved in no music program in high school, but practiced the drums relentlessly every day after school. Upon graduation, I attended a local community college and took my first music class. Learning music theory as a drummer was definitely a challenge. I then attended the Musicians’ Institute in Hollywood, California the following year. In 1996 I attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. I studied music composition and audio engineering and graduated in 98′. It was during my time in Olympia that I really found myself as a musician. I was the drummer in a band called Frequency dB. Being in the Northwest during this period was incredibly inspiring for me. Frequency dB played hundreds of shows with many bands including: Screaming Trees, Goodness, Hovercraft, The Posies, Sweet 75, Sky Cries Mary, Sage and many more. I was composing music on the piano, guitar and computer with vintage analog synthesizers in college during the day and performing and rehearsing with my band in the evenings.

I moved to Boston, MA in 2000 and have spent most of this time raising a family and writing. The time I have spent here and the life changes it has brought me are reflected in the music I wrote for ‘MUSEUM OF’.

Have you always been a solo artist?

Other than drumming in various groups, yes. When I decided to do my own thing, it started more as a recording project and has evolved into me being a ‘solo’ artist. In retrospect I wish I would have come up with a name for the project other than putting my name on it. The idea of being a solo artist feels like more pressure than being a band.

You are the first Buzzelle I’ve met. What are the origins of the name?

Welsh! But I’m mostly of Scottish descent. It was originally spelled: Buzzel, but the ‘le’ was added when my ancestors came through Ellis Island.

I hear influences of the likes of Matthew Sweet and The Replacements when I listen to your records – is that fair?

I’ve got the Matthew Sweet comparison before, it’s flattering because he is so talented. Curt, who played bass on ‘Museum Of’ is a big Replacements fan, maybe a little of that got into my music. But, yes those are fair references for sure, I’m a big 90′s indie rock fan.

I also noticed you mention Morrissey as a touch point for your music, is he a big influence?

Yes, I love Morrissey, although I don’t believe I sound like him at all. I’m just inspired by his style and how he phrases his singing. I also think his lyrics are always fresh.

Who then have been your greatest influences?

Depeche Mode is my biggest influence, although, again, I sound nothing like them. I want to be their drummer! PJ Harvey is another huge influence, the Pixies is another, Elliott Smith, John Vanderslice, Johnny Cash.

What bands interest you today, why?

I really dig Band Of Horses, Ben has a voice given to him from the angels, Wilco are still great, Arcade Fire are inspiring and unique in this modern world of pop music.

I’m from Brighton in the UK and we have a thriving music scene – even in this time of recession – is that the case where you are?

Boston is full of talented musicians. The Berklee College Of Music is here and it is a big draw for musicians all over the world to come study here. But, I do think I was spoiled from my time being in the Northwest scene. There’s nothing like that here, the Boston scene is more fragmented between tribes, very provincial.

Best gig ever – one you’ve played and one you’ve attended

Best gig for me is always the last one I’ve played, so….last night was my best gig.

Best gig I’ve attended was The Police reunion show at Fenway Park here in Boston about four years ago. I loved The Police growing up and never got to see them in their prime, but they sounded incredible.

Do you have any live gigs planned?

I am planning a CD release party in mid-January 2012 here in Boston. Check out my website for updates: www.peterbuzzelle.com

Talking of live music, what would be your dream festival line up (you have space for 5 bands on the bill)?

Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Lennon, Nirvana, INXS

How have websites such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, BandCamp, etc impacted musicians like you?

They have given us a platform to reach people all over the world. You would have not found my music if it was not for Twitter :) Bandcamp has been a great place for my music to be presented and heard.

What are the Pro’s & Con’s? Does it help sell records/reach a larger audience or help consolidate a local following?

I think it does both, it is my philosophy that the way to get exposure for low budget indie music is through licensing music for film or TV. But it is insanely competitive, I have placed nothing yet! It is impossible to compete with the large amount of money major record labels put behind bands to gain them exposure. The internet social platforms certainly help the indie artist. But it all begins with making music someone wants to listen to.

I really like the artwork for both, Museum Of’ and ‘To Telescope’  and was curious as to where can we find the ‘To Telescope’ sign in real life?’

Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles, CA, if it is still there. I took that photo about 12 years ago and they have since renovated. It is where ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ was filmed in the 50′s.

What is the biggest compliment somebody could pay your music?

That it moves them in some way and has changed their life for the positive.

Finally, where can people buy your records, find out more about you?

CD Baby, itunes, Amazon, http://peterbuzzelle.bandcamp.com/

All links to my social networking are at: www.peterbuzzelle.com

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There you go then. Thanks so much to Peter for indulging my geeky questions and giving us an interesting insight into his music and influences. I am really enjoying ‘Museum Of’ and would definitely recommend giving it a listen.

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by jcverrall on November 18, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by jcverrall on November 18, 2011

http://someofitistrue.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/the-music-doesnt-stop-1-peter-buzzelle/

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