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 strategy to digital manufacturing?
I’ve at all times been fascinated with digital music since you might be your personal band with the usage of 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 every part alone with out anybody’s enter. I’m a disciplined particular person as nicely. You will need to maintain that in thoughts when taking part in 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 type. Are you able to inform us extra in regards to 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 season 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 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 major position in your music. What themes or concepts do you discover within the tracks on Anyplace?
The songs on the “Anyplace EP” take care of being remoted, which is principally the theme of the debut album. It’s a way of being alone whenever you don’t wish to be. You attempt to join with good intentions however generally it simply doesn’t occur, so you are 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 completely different international locations. I purposely wrote the tune to sound upbeat and optimistic as a result of, for me, touring lifts me out of my peculiar 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 need to make all the choices. That takes loads of time and power. I’m involved there could also be sure regrets after a choice is made when every part is recorded (i.e., keyboard sounds, a line from a lyric, enhancing 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 severely as a musician as, I consider, I’m able to producing music alone phrases.
With the EP Anyplace serving as a teaser on your full album, what can followers anticipate from the remainder of the album that isn’t on this preview?
Followers might anticipate 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 categorical myself. The listeners might hopefully personalize the songs and apply them to their very own lives to create a significant connection. Additionally, the listeners might anticipate songs that characteristic 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 might like to carry out at dance golf equipment, particularly originally. It will be nice to be a gap act or co-headline with sure bands that I like and respect like Erasure, Pet Store Boys or Empire of the Solar. Hopefully the venues would increase sooner or later.
Do you will have a selected course of or ritual when creating new music?
Melodies would generally seem in goals and would loop time and again. I might get up, take my cellphone and document me buzzing the melody so I don’t neglect it. I might later compose the bass line and add different musical parts till a whole tune is created. I then add the lyrics afterwards. Different occasions, I sit on the piano and simply begin taking part in or strum the guitar to create chord progressions in no particular order.
If you happen to might collaborate with any artist, alive or lifeless, who wouldn’t it be?
I might like to collaborate with Emma Anderson or Miki Berenyi from Lush. I like that band since their tune “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 season. She was truly six toes away from me on stage and I knew all of the Lush songs they carried out. For somebody not with us anymore, it will have been nice to work with Burt Bacharach since he wrote extremely sturdy melodies within the following songs: “Stroll on By” and “All the time One thing There To Remind Me” (lined by the digital band Bare Eyes).
What’s the greatest problem you discover in immediately’s music business?
The most important problem in immediately’s music business is to principally stand out and be observed. I consider my “model” is that I’ve achieved every part musically attainable to create one thing alone. With some artists immediately, they work with songwriters and producers which is okay. I occur to meet each these roles myself. Throughout 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 can be a optimistic studying expertise.
