You’ve transitioned from classical piano to digital music. What impressed you to make this daring shift, and the way has your classical coaching influenced your method to digital manufacturing?
I’ve at all times been fascinated with digital music since you might be your personal band with using expertise. As a classical pianist I’m alone when performing so I’m used to proudly owning the stage. With digital music I wrote, organized, programmed, produced, performed and sang all of the songs, which is uncommon these days. By default, I’ve achieved the whole lot by myself with out anybody’s enter. I’m a disciplined individual as effectively. You will need to hold that in thoughts when enjoying Bach or Mozart as a result of the written music is correct in entrance of you. You respectfully play what the composer(s) meant. I then, utilized that mindset into writing and finishing the compositions on the “Anyplace EP” and the full-length debut album.
Your new EP, Anyplace, showcases a synth-heavy pop fashion. Are you able to inform us extra concerning the classic synths you used and the way they formed the sound of this undertaking?
To be fairly sincere, I used a keyboard module and my laptop computer. Storage Band has a great deal of sounds and I selected those that suited the general vibe of the songs. Fortunately, the sounds have been classic sounding sufficient that I used to be in a position to choose different sounds that complemented the preliminary selection(s). I attended a summer time live performance this previous yr and Thomas Dolby, alone on stage, used his laptop computer and Storage Band. He projected the sequence onto the display screen behind him and it was an added visible bonus to his efficiency. Good to know that what he achieved is what I’m doing.
Existential lyrics appear to play a big position in your music. What themes or concepts do you discover within the tracks on Anyplace?
The songs on the “Anyplace EP” cope with being remoted, which is principally the theme of the debut album. It’s a way of being alone while you don’t need to be. You attempt to join with good intentions however typically it simply doesn’t occur, so you’re feeling misplaced. The exception is the EP’s title observe. It’s about touring (particularly with somebody whom you’re keen on) and experiencing one thing new and thrilling. I take into account myself an skilled traveler as I’m fortunate to have visited fifty-three totally different nations. I purposely wrote the music to sound upbeat and constructive as a result of, for me, touring lifts me out of my unusual and predictable environment.
As a solo artist who writes, produces, and performs all of your music, what challenges and rewards include carrying so many hats?
The challenges for me as a self-contained artist is that I have to make all the selections. That takes loads of time and power. I’m involved there could also be sure regrets after a choice is made when the whole lot is recorded (i.e., keyboard sounds, a line from a lyric, modifying and mixing, and so on.). The reward can be that each facet of the music got here from me, and I’m more than pleased to tag my identify onto the work afterwards. One other reward can be for the world to hopefully take me critically as a musician as, I consider, I’m able to producing music by myself phrases.
With the EP Anyplace serving as a teaser in your full album, what can followers count on from the remainder of the album that isn’t on this preview?
Followers could count on that the opposite songs are catchy, melodic, moody, atmospheric and lyrically sincere. The aim for writing and recording the debut album is for me to lastly specific myself. The listeners could hopefully personalize the songs and apply them to their very own lives to create a significant connection. Additionally, the listeners could count on songs that function acoustic and digital guitars since I’m additionally a guitarist. I want to not be pigeon-holed as a keyboard musician.
What’s your favourite venue to carry out at?
I’d like to carry out at dance golf equipment, particularly originally. It might be nice to be a gap act or co-headline with sure bands that I love and respect like Erasure, Pet Store Boys or Empire of the Solar. Hopefully the venues would broaden sooner or later.
Do you’ve a particular course of or ritual when creating new music?
Melodies would typically seem in goals and would loop again and again. I’d get up, take my telephone and document me buzzing the melody so I don’t overlook it. I’d later compose the bass line and add different musical components till a whole music is created. I then add the lyrics afterwards. Different occasions, I sit on the piano and simply begin enjoying or strum the guitar to create chord progressions in no particular order.
For those who might collaborate with any artist, alive or lifeless, who wouldn’t it be?
I’d like to collaborate with Emma Anderson or Miki Berenyi from Lush. I love that band since their music “De-luxe” impressed me to study to play the guitar. This was throughout my classical piano period. Emma and I briefly corresponded on Fb, and I noticed Miki’s new band, Miki Berenyi Trio this summer time. She was really six ft away from me on stage and I knew all of the Lush songs they carried out. For somebody not with us anymore, it could have been nice to work with Burt Bacharach since he wrote extremely robust melodies within the following songs: “Stroll on By” and “All the time One thing There To Remind Me” (coated by the digital band Bare Eyes).
What’s the largest problem you discover in at present’s music trade?
The most important problem in at present’s music trade is to principally stand out and be seen. I consider my “model” is that I’ve achieved the whole lot musically attainable to create one thing by myself. With some artists at present, they work with songwriters and producers which is ok. I occur to satisfy each these roles myself. Through the recording classes for the debut the one individuals within the studio have been my engineer and me. I say much less is extra, however I consider that working with different individuals sooner or later shall be a constructive studying expertise.
