Archive for the 'Artist/Band Interview' Category

Don Brownrigg – Wander Songs

Published by Trini on November 17, 2008 in Artist/Band Interview, Country, Folk, Singer Songwriter and blues. 0 Comments Tags: Don Brownrigg, Halifax, Wander Songs.

“Music with spirit. Music akin to roots, folk, blues, and country, Don Brownrigg is a musician’s musician…”

I’d like to take credit for finding this little gem but it was my lovely friend Chad from Canada that sent me this album along with a few others several weeks ago. We both have a love for music and more so a love of finding new talent that we can share with each other. I had Don’s album on my list of “albums to review” and never got around to it. I could kick myself now for not pushing play any sooner. This album is absolutely beautiful. It is a perfect melting pot of folk, blues, and country. He has a voice that stays with you long after the last tune has been sung. Needless to say he had me at the first chord. Thanks Chad and thank you Don for taking the time to do this little interview with us. I asked Don what song he would like for us to share with everyone and he said for me to choose…..ah the daunting task…they are all so good and I have my favorites but don’t just take my word for it, buy the album. (I’m having trouble uploading a song, will post it up later)

YCD: I was reading in your bio a quote that you are “inspired by people and natural things” and that you feel you are “living a generation or two too late”, is that still how you feel today?

Don: Yep, probably even more so! I’ve met a lot more people and have seen a lot more places since that first interview. I like the intimacy of simplicity.

YCD: Do you write your own music? What inspired the song “About Her”? When I first heard this song my heart skipped a beat. I wondered if anyone would ever feel this way about me. It’s truly a beautiful song.

Don: Thanks!
Yes, I write my own music. ‘About Her’ is an old song of mine. It was one of those songs that ‘wrote itself’. It just uses simple phrasing and chord progressions – but that’s all you need to get the right point across – if you are conveying the right mood and saying the right words. The song has connected with a few people on a different level and for that I’m very fortunate.

YCD: I always tell people I have an “A” job and a “Dream” life. Sometimes I feel that we are all in search of that thing that truly makes us happy and fulfilled. Would you say that music is your “dream” life? If you weren’t a song writer what would you be doing now?

Don: I am living my dream as my career. In a lot of ways, it is work and a job like any other – but there is not enough time in the day when you live your career. I’ve worked lots of jobs but that’s behind now. I’m lucky that I’ve discovered this thing that I can put all of my energy into and I can’t wait to wake up in the morning to work on it. I’d like for everyone to find that thing in their life. It’s tough. Discovery of that one thing in your life means you must take risks and just go for some things….step into the uncomfortable and un-ordinary, something you want to try, something different you need to do, etc. I hope more people do that. If I weren’t a song writer, I’d probably be something really practical, like a chiropractor or a carpenter.

YCD: What songs are you inspired by or cannot live without at the moment, yours or someone else’s?

Don: I am living in a city (Halifax ) that’s known throughout the country as being a musical hotbed. I’m fortunate enough to be a part of this thriving community and I am inspired by the talent, vigor, and hard work of the musicians here. I’ve gotten to work on albums by Benn Ross , Rich Aucoin , Jesse Dangerously , Caledonia , and Tanya Davis . Each one of those acts aren’t anything like each other and aren’t similar to my music and that’s what makes this community beautiful and healthy. The support system rather than any sort of competition in independent music allows a person to be so comfortable in what they’re doing because they have such a support system in their colleagues – we know we have our friends there to help out in any way, be it professionally or personally.

YCD: Who has been the biggest influence in your musical career?

Don: Tough question. I’ve always been a very practical person so when I was getting more and more serious about music as a career, my parents could have been more weary but they weren’t at all. They urged me to follow through with this music thing – to do what I wanted – to work hard – to see how it goes, at least. In the early stages, I wasn’t really telling people who knew me that I was playing music, that it was my dream, that I needed it. Their support from the get-go meant a lot.

Also, a little dark and morbid as it may seem. I’ve had a few people in my life die well before their supposed ‘time’. Also, I’ve never thought I was to live very long and I’ve always had this dream to make music. So I guess having those people’s time end so quickly propelled me in a certain way. Make my time count for me, ‘go for it’, why not?

YCD: With all the changes and uncertainties going on in the music industry today, what inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing and why?

Don: I’m not sure. It is tough and a struggle in a lot of ways. Songwriters love and need the drama, don’t we? Like I mentioned earlier, if you’re living your dream as your career, a lot of the tough times can be absorbed easily. There are incredible highs and stifling lows. Each step is uncertain but once you’re confident the music you’re making is establishing a connection, it is worth it. The community of professional musicians I’ve surrounded myself with inspire me to continue. Fans inspire me to continue.

YCD: Wander Songs was released in 2007, is there anything new you are working on now?

Don: Yep, I’m still writing for another short while. In early 2009, I’ll start organizing for recording again. It’s a big process but I’m soon ready again. For now, I’m glad to be jumping in on other acts’ recording projects and shows when I can. I started off as a side-guy so I still have that. I also love to sing back-up and I’m doing more and more of that, on a more behind the scenes/supportive level. I need to support those people as they are supporting me.

YCD: For those readers who haven’t heard of you or your music before what would best describe your music?

Don: Organic, low-key, and created by one young unconfident fellow with a few good friends.

YCD: Thank you for your time. We are looking forward to sharing your music with everyone. I love your album it has such a timeless feel to it. I’m sure it will quickly become a favorite of our readers.

Don: Thanks a ton for having me!

Buy CD Baby
Official Website
MySpace
Sonicbids

Lucky Jim – True North

Published by Geordie on September 4, 2008 in Acoustic, Artist/Band Interview, Country, Folk, New Album Alert, Pop, Singer Songwriter, Soul and Unsigned. 4 Comments

I little while ago Olly, my fellow friend and blogging maestro sent me an email asking if i owned any Lucky Jim albums. When I replied I had pretty much everything by him he asked why I had been keeping him a secret? Well I wasn’t really but the reason I never blogged about him was because I presumed he was an extremely well known artist and probably didn’t need a little blog like ours promoting him. I don’t keep any eye on the charts but when you hear music this good it’s easy to presume that it’s already hitting a big audience. Also his song You’re lovely to me has been played on a commercial for the last couple of years now and this latest showing of it has put him back to the number one spot in the itunes folk category therefore allowing me to presume even more. However, I seem to be wrong in my presumptions, It would seem not so many people know him as I had thought. See, I live in Brighton and Lucky Jim (Gordon Grahame) was signed to Skint records (Fat boy slim ) which is a Brighton label. In fact he was the first non-dance act to be so and I guess because he was a name in Brighton I presumed he was everywhere else. I mean, don’t get me wromg, he’s not unknown but he’s not the big artist i presumed and this for me is a travesty. Sadly, and quite astonishingly, he is not signed at all right now. How can this be? Seriously, what the fuck is going on when a man this talented is not signed? One of the best songwriters I’ve ever heard in my life, certainly two of the best albums I’ve ever heard and his voice is so diverse, rather Dylanesque on the afore mentioned You’re lovely to me as well as others like Our troubles end tonight, Nick cave like on I know there’s a god from his latest album and elements of Leonard Cohen on his previous releases. There’s something about Lucky jim that you can’t quite put your finger on, like when you come across someone so talented you kind of try and work out where they get it from, do they know they are so talented? Thing is I think Lucky Jim knows he is and so he should do. I have complete faith that one day his music will break through to a much bigger audience and everyone will be able to come back and listen to his earlier work as well as whatever he will be releasing at that given time. One feeling I get when listening to this music is that he really puts his heart and soul into it, everything, especially on the albums All our troubles end tonight and All the kings horses, two albums that couldn’t be more perfect if you tried. I could randomly pick a song from either album to offer you as an mp3 and I’m sure you would love it. He has kindly sent me his new album, True North and I’m still indulging myself in it but two listens in it’s just as good as anything I’ve heard from him yet. To me it’s a real scoop to have him grant us an interview here on YCD. One day we will be able to sit back and read this when he’s playing packed out stadiums. I can’t tell you enough how much I love his music and how talented I think he is. I think a lot of people are talented, I think Lucky Jim is a genius, simple as that. Sorry it’s taken me this long to point you in his direction (I’m sure I mentioned him on the Ray board ages ago) but now I have I’m positive you will come to the same conclusions as I. Enjoy.

Lucky Jim – Oh my love

05- Lucky Jim – lesbia

11-Lucky Jim – ode to blue

YCD - Hello Gordon, how’s it going?

LJ – Hiya, It’s going fine , stick it in a pot , stir it around , see what happens

YCD – Ok, might as well ask you now, promoting anything right now or recently released anything?

LJ – I just put out a new album called True North , it’s the fourth Lucky Jim album and the first i done entirely by myself.

When Lucky Jim came out I released Our Troubles End Tonight which was planned and thought out then Let It Come which wasn’t then All the Kings Horses which was and now I’m being spontaneous again . Don’t let this put you off – the spontaneous ones are the most original.

I think the best songs on it are I Know There Is A God and El D’Orado – I wrote I Know… as it was recorded and didn’t give it any thought but El D’Orado was a considered effort and – I think – really gets to the heart of my deeply flawed personality

YCD – I see you made number 1 on the iTunes folk list. Must be chuffed are you?

LJ – Yeah . That is nice – it’s not the first time – because of the advert my track is on . As soon as I get heavy rotation on telly I go up the chart . Of course the down side is hardly anybody actually knows who the song is sung by and I hear David Gates is very happy.

YCD - I also see you are currently not signed, I find this astonishing considering that I think you one of the most musicians I’ve heard, how frustrating is it for you and are you hoping this changes soon?

LJ – Tell me about it. I have had about four deals now so I wouldn’t say I’ve given up … but I do think it is a strange world we live in where instead of heaping the praise on Warhol we heap it on the soup cans .

Artists do change the world – not for the better – always for the worst.

And that is because they reveal a little more each time and the clever dicks bottle it and re-sell and re-sell and oh fuck I’ve lost my thread…

YCD – What are the biggest obstacles you feel an artist like yourself faces today?

LJ – Ego and the desire for wealth – there’s nothing funny here , it is simply true I am of course focusing on the word – Today –

Because it is a new phenomenon that , an artist , sees success as a very real possibility – and further more I mean artist in the broadest possible sense. And I also would like to add that I am talking about obstacles to the quality of the work…

YCD – What’s your guilty pleasure?

LJ – Smallville – totally addicted

YCD – What’s your best musical experience so far and why?

LJ – I played a gig with an Israeli musician called Aviv Geffen in Tel Aviv – he was very much a fan and organised a string section for me and brought me on halfway through his set to introduce me and have me play four or five of my songs

He outsells U2 in Israel.

I was interrogated for three hours by airport security when I was leaving the country – I tried not to let it spoil the experience

YCD – Who’s currently rocking your turntable?

LJ – I just bought some Nico , some Steve Earl and some Santana?! but I have been listening mostly to Songs For Silverman by Ben Folds which for me is very up – to – date .

YCD – What band/artist would you most like to play with?

LJ – Any artist with any sense would have the same answer as me – and that is The Stones or Bowie . I would love to do a rock and roll album with Angus Young on guitar . This is a serious ambition – I have the songs – I just don’t have Angus .

YCD – What are your hopes and fears for you in the future, musically?

LJ – That I don’t have enough time to Record my songs – when I say Record I mean that I in fact have done a hell of a lot of writing but I reckon recording is the hardest bit – let’s face it that is how we’re judged – not on the song – but on how it sounds .

I realised this when I was sat in a trendy bar years ago getting into Lenny Kravitz Mamma Said album – It sounded great but

I’d Walk Through Fire

Stand In the Rain

Go To Hell And Back

In A Plane

Ain’t to clever

If you’re gonna go to hell and back for a woman – don’t do it in a plane – it proves nothing – do it on your knees

YCD – What did you think the last time you looked in the mirror?

LJ – “Yes It’s True – How’s Your Blue Eyed Boy Mister Death – Ah The Lines Of Age – Have You Come For Me – How’s The Enemy? – Is There Time? – ” stuff like that

YCD - I remember a while back reading your MySpace blog when you were having difficulties with a girlfriend and you stayed in the Abbey hotel for a while. I live in Brighton and know what that hotel is like, sounds like times were pretty rough back then. Better now?

LJ – Yeah . That was a lower point . Highly recommended for those of you who think going without breakfast is a hardship . Then again those of you whom have lost limbs , family members etc may wonder the great hardship in living in a Hotel

YCD - And finally, are you working on anything at the moment? Tours, new albums etc?

LJ – I am recording 2 albums

One is a double called The Lovers

I have been sitting on it for Ten years and it is my Magnum Opus – I am releasing it for posterity .

Also I am recording another throwaway album ie spontaneous which you can hear demos from on www.myspace.com/luckyjimmusic

Many thanks for the interview and we here at you crazy dreamers wish you all the best for the future.

Orpheum Bell

Published by Olivier on August 31, 2008 in Acoustic, Americana, Artist/Band Interview, Country, Folk, Jazz, Uncategorized and World Music. 1 Comment Tags: Country, Eastern, Jazz, Michigan, Orpheum Bell.

I wish I was… in Carrickfergus ? No : Ann Arbor, Michigan. Without a doubt, the Great Lakes would be my musical preferred state. With Misty Lyn, Matt Jones – I’m eagerly awaiting for their debut albums – Chris Bathgate, Sam Corbin, Great Lakes Myth Society and since these last few months, Orpheum Bell … my list of michigan’s favorites is getting longer.

I’ve bought Orpheum Bell, first full length at the essential cdbaby.com a minute after streaming their first songs from their myspace page. Pretty as You, is both the album title and the intro track. It’s an irresistible banjo soft-ballad served by a great balanced vocal female/male duet.

Burned my fields and the red wind blows
Drowned my diamonds in the river below
Lit my tears and the flames burned blue …
Ain’t none of that as pretty as you

Words and Tones have been thrown… Welcome to the Orpheum Bell’s music world. Labeled as ‘Country and Eastern’, the Ann Arbor Quintet’s compositions are giving the listener this unique ubiquity gift in both time and place spaces ! From almost traditional country-ballads to gypsy waltzes, from the raspy vocals of Aaron Klein (à la Stuart Staples), to Merrill Hodnefield sweet – sweet and so beautifully placed – voice, for sure, you’re traveling with a first-class ticket !

With a huge amount of instruments ( accordion, banjo, clarinet, fiddle, guitar, ukulele, autoharp, double bass, mandolin, pedal steel, musical saw, and the rare Tiebel Violine, that looks something like a cross between a fiddle and an Edison-era phonograph ), you’ll have to face a real full band, giving to each notes a meaningful rhythm in some delicious instrumental tracks such as ‘Motor in the Weeds’ or ‘Two Over Ten’.
Along with Aaron Klein (vocals, banjo, ukuleles, tenor & regulation guitars), Serge van der Voo (double bass and percussion) is forming the heart of Orpheum Bell. Serge has granted us an interview. Enjoy our conversation while listening to two of our favorites tracks including the brand new duet ‘Goodbye is the Sweetest Word’ and the addictive ‘Pretty as You’.

Pretty as You - Orpheum Bell [3:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Goodbye is the Sweetest Word - Orpheum Bell [4:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

YCD : Hello Serge, how’s it going ?
Serge van der Voo : I’m well, thank you……..just gotta say up front that I really enjoy visiting your website…….it’s the real deal and always INTERESTING to read and listen to.

YCD : Thanks ! What’s the story behind Orpheum Bell?
Serge van der Voo : Aaron Klein (songwriter, vocals/guitars) and I met about 10 years ago, we’re both from the same area in Michigan but we crossed paths in Chicago where we started writing and recording with a band called Vernal Pool. Years later we found ourselves back in Michigan living just a couple of blocks appart. Merrill Hodnefield (lead vocals) responded to a “seeking vocalist” add that we had pinned-up at a coffee house………needless to say when we heard her voice and influences all three of us knew we had a band right then and there. Annie Crawford (violins) and Shaun Williams (accordion and reeds) fully round-out and complete the sounds we’re looking for. Our debut cd ‘Pretty as You’ was released last year and now we’re about halfway into recording a new one.

YCD : I’m really curious – and ignorant – : would you mind telling us about the band name ?
Serge van der Voo : We were trying to find the right net for our particular butterfly…

YCD : You’ve mentioned the Quintet of the Hot Club of France – with most renowned members incuded Djando Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli – as a main influence. From ‘Gipsy Jazz’ to ‘Country and Eastern’, what’s the process that creates such a singular music style ?
Serge van der Voo : Sheesh…….if that process was to be presented in some kind of diagramatic form it would probably look like a tangled-up ball of yarn!!! Yeah, listening to any of Django’s Q.H.C.F from the ’30’s moves me everytime……..then you add all the members influences and that’s when it starts to rattle.

YCD : Which song from Aaron Klein’s lyrics is your favorite?
Serge van der Voo : ‘Rabbit Field’ has always been a favorite of mine. For me, the imagery totally fits with the music. There are some that will be on the new release which in my opinion are just as poetic……..’Pearls‘ and ‘Goodbye is the Sweetest Word‘ come to mind.

YCD : If you could share a stage with any band or artist who would you choose and why ?
Serge van der Voo : Whoa…….there’s so many bands so here it goes…..Rob Burger, Andrew Bird, Tin Hat, A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Marc Ribot, Benjamin Wetherill, and Rollie Tussing too. They all create music with effortless flow among genres. I like music that you can’t quite put your finger on….. it’s a good thing………that’s what makes music personal.

YCD : According to your myspace blog Orpheum Bell is working on a second album ?
Serge van der Voo : Yes, we’re working with Jim Roll and about half of the songs have been recorded already, the other half are in the process of being written/arranged. This one will be different then “Pretty as You” given that (so far) there are several songs that were written as a group collaborative.

YCD : Any other projects for the coming months ?
Serge van der Voo : Matt Jones has a new recording coming out soon called ‘The Black Path’ and he asked me to put down double bass on several tracks. The arrangements are lush and full with strings and horns, Jim also recorded that one and the production came out nicely. Matt’s a prolific songwriter so when we play live he has a rock (electric) set but then also his full acoustic set with a ten-piece band. It’s been a lot of fun so far and we’ve got some exciting shows coming up in the fall with the Great Lakes Myth Society.

Thank you so much Serge for taking time to answer !

Band : Orpheum Bell
Label : none
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
More appetizers : @sonicbids.com / @myspace.com / @youtube.com

John Craigie : a storyteller and his guitar

Published by Olivier on August 27, 2008 in Acoustic, Artist/Band Interview, Folk and Singer Songwriter. 0 Comments Tags: John Craigie, ondarock.

I wrote a couple of lines this last february about the unclassifiable and talented Californian singer songwriter : John Craigie. Since, I’ve received great feedback from this short review and I know that i’m sharing this addiction for John’s music with many of you !

A couple of months ago, I met Alessandra Reale. While I was seeking for some information about Chris Bathgate ; my web browser landed me on the Italian Ondarock website where Alessandra published a common interview of Chris Bathgate and Hezekiah Jones. We’ve shared a couple of our favorite artists amongst them : John Craigie. And the magic happened : She’s (Ale) been seduced in less time that I need to send her the precious myspace link… Jealous, Me ? Yes a bit ! We’ve decided to focus our common interest on this amazing talent and John was kindly granted us an interview which is now available.

If you feel more comfortable reading the Italian version, click here or read the english version here .

Feel free to launch the audio-player before leaving our site !

Portland Basement - John Craigie [6:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A short and light interview with Ben Sollee

Published by Olivier on August 23, 2008 in Artist/Band Interview and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: Ben Sollee.

I’m not the only one victim of this addiction for this talented Kentucky cellist ! NPR named Ben Sollee, “Top Ten Unknown Artists of the Year“, and my fellow blogger Susana has collected a great interview. Better twice than never : it will be the opportunity for me to stream another song : It’s Not Impossible (Boys Don’t Cry), an excerpt of a performance hold last year at Fourth Street Live in Louiseville. Delightful!

It's Not Impossible - Ben Sollee [3:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Thank you Ben for taking the time out of your busy tour schedule to answer a few questions for the youcrazydreamer.com readers!

YCD: You don’t see many lead singer, cello players. How old were you when you started and did you have doubts about it being a main staple in your music and live act when you started ?
Ben Sollee : I started playing cello in fourth grade in my public school, but I was never much of a singer. I did, however, have this personality that just wanted to sing all the time and I still do. It’s kind of embarrassing cause I don’t know I’m doing it sometimes. As for making it a live show, I couldn’t really help it. I love performing and I’d just find myself on stage doing it. By the end of college I was thinking about how to make a career of it.

YCD : When i was a child i wanted to be a ?
Ben Sollee : There was a time when I wanted to be a dancer, then I wanted to compete in gymnastics, then a major league baseball guy. All were big dreams, but the one that has stuck with me longest is making music for Disney movies.

YCD : What song are you inspired by or cannot live without at the moment, yours or someone else’s ?
Ben Sollee : I can’t live without Patty Griffin’s Mother of God from her Impossible Dream CD.

YCD : When meeting a fan, one of the first things they say about your music is, or that it reminds them of ?
Ben Sollee : There are so many different reactions, but mostly people feel connected and they say there’s something in the performance of the songs that take them away. People give just as much to these songs as I do, but I’m glad I can be their Dick Van Dyke and draw a little sidewalk drawing in which they can leap.

YCD : With all the changes and uncertainties going on in the music industry today, what inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing and why ?
Ben Sollee : It’s never been about the music industry in my thinking, but we musicians must make a living somehow. For a brief window of time, we have the chance to experience real democracy in music. People vote by purchasing and/or sharing your music with others, and things are relatively equal. Soon the labels and other related businesses will get it all figured out and we’ll be back in the game of hearing mainly what’s being propelled by the giants. That makes this time extremely fertile.

Artist : Ben Sollee
Label : SonaBlast Records
Where to buy : Sonablast, Emusic.com

Serious Sam Barrett – The Yorkshire Rambler

Published by Geordie on August 7, 2008 in Acoustic, Artist/Band Interview, Country, Folk, On Tour and blues. 1 Comment

I bought myself a beautiful 1976 Pioneer pl-510a turntable very recently and my first thoughts when i bought it was ‘That deserves summat old played on it’. Ok 1976 is not that long ago but it’s still long enough and that was the main way to play music for most people back then. Having had most of my vinyl stolen one Christmas eve about fifteen years ago i wasn’t sure what to play on it as my collection is pretty sparse now . I thought about playing some of my Neil Diamond as that would fit perfectly with the date it was made but I then had a call at the door by the postman (Have you noticed how late the postmen come these days?) and he had in his hand my Serious Sam Barrett vinyl E.P which he had kindly sent me, Sam not the postman. It seemed fitting that that would be the first record i should play on my new turntable (I have since been pre-occupied wondering what the first ever song played on it was, something i will never know of course). From the first track Tongue Tied Blues and it’s sliding folk/blues railroad riff and some lovely picking asking where his sweet heart has gone I was instantly hooked. Lately I have heard nu-folk, anti-folk, Homicidal-folk (My personal favourite), metal folk and yesterday came across something called Laptop-folk, wtf? What you get with Sam is folk, Pure and simple and all the better for it if you ask me. From Addingham in Yorkshire, his father is also a folk singer and his Mother a lover of the music of Guthrie, Leadbelly and Dylan so it’s no surprise he has crafted songs in that same style. However, he also has a love of 80’s Madonna records as well as Hip hop and Reggae as you will read in the interview below which he has kindly granted us. Also with Sams kind permission he has given me a couple of Mp3’s for your downloading pleasure but please if you like it buy his E.P (Preferably on Vinyl) form the links provided or from your nearest Independant record store who will either have it or can order it for you. A rising star on the folk scene in the UK and is about to embark on a UK tour, go see him play when he visits your area, offer him and his friends a place to stay if you can as their sleeping arrangements at the moment as far as i can gather is an old battered Ford Escort. For me personally it’s so refreshing to hear music like this still being made. Some people say it’s all been done before but who says music has to progress all the time? Perhaps the most perfect music has already been made and all we need to do is keep playing it and making it in that style? Enjoy.

You can buy Sams E.P from these following links

www. outofstep. co. uk -
www. jumborecords. co. uk -
www. rhythmonline. co. uk -www. normansrecords. com -
www. clear-spot. nl (Netherlands)

YCD – Hello Sam, or shall I call you serious? How’s it going?

SSB – Alright man, thanks for asking.

YCD – Ok, might as well ask you now, promoting anything right now or recently released anything?

SSB – Yea my first record finally came out in May this year. It’s called the Yorkshire Rambler EP.

YCD – So where can we get a hold of this?

SSB – It’s being distributed by cargo so any independant record shop can get it for you if you ask nicely.

YCD – So you’re from Leeds right? Do you try and make music that reflects your landscape?

SSB – Well I’m from a village called Addingham originally which is a bit North of Leeds on the southern tip of the Yorkshire Dales. I’ve lived in Leeds for about 3 years now though. Yea, The older I get the more I try and put what it means to be from Yorkshire into my music, that is really important to me.

YCD – What are the biggest obstacles you feel a folk singer like yourself faces today?

SSB – An industry that favours the bland, dull, overproduced kind of folk music that you tend to hear nowadays. That’s what pisses me off anyway.

YCD – Ok, I don’t know if you are aware but they have recently found an old law that says all musicians since time began are allowed to take any song from anyone they like from any moment in time and claim it as their own, which one are you having then? Only one mind you.

SSB – Man that’s tough, as far as non-traditional songs go I wish I’d have written “Prove It All Night.” by Bruce Springsteen. That’s a beautiful song

YCD – What’s your guilty pleasure?

SSB – I’m not guilty about any of the music I listen to that a lot of people consider crap. I really like 80s Maddonna records.

YCD – What’s your best musical experience so far and why?

SSB – Going from Nashville to New Orleans with one of my best friends was amazing. We spent about 2 days pretty much in silence because it was such a moving experience finally being there.

YCD – Who’s currently rocking your turntable?

SSB – An old Scruggs style banjo compilation on the folkways label. A bunch of hicks on that record like the Stanley brothers and stuff. It’s ace.

YCD – What band/artist would you most like to play with?

SSB – I really like playing songs with my friends Mike Rossiter and David Broad. They inspire me more than anyone else who’s around nowadays to be honest. The only new music I really like is Hip Hop and Reggae. To me, that’s the only stuff that has the power and sincerity that old blues and folk records had.

YCD – What are your hopes and fears for you in the future, musically?

SSB – I hope to break even and keep travelling around playing songs to people. I only fear that one day I won’t be able to do that any more.

YCD – What did you think the last time you looked in the mirror?

SSB – I’m a greaseball.

YCD – You have a sound that is not dissimilar to the likes of Guthrie, Leadbelly and that depression era. Is this the kind of music you were brought up with?

SSB – Well yea, my Dad is a folk singer too and my Mum loves Woody and Dylan and Leadbelly. I’m a lucky man to have had such an amazing musical upbringing. My parents introduced me to loads of obscure folk music as a child.

YCD – And finally, are you working on anything at the moment? Tours, new albums etc?

SSB – Yup Myself, David Broad and Mike Rossiter are doing a UK tour in early November so check the myspace for the shows on that. I also have a new EP of Yorkshire songs coming out pretty soon. It’s going to be 3 traditional Yorkshire songs and also a song I wrote about growing up around here. I really wanted to make a record that is about where I’m from and the music from here so I’m really exited about it. It’s coming out on an awesome new label started by the guys who currently run Art Goes Pop called Yadig?. It’s sort of a DIY label with a folk/country/roots feel and I’m really happy to be a part of it because it looks really exiting.

YCD – Many thanks for the interview and we here at you crazy dreamers wish you all the best for the future.

SSB – Thank you for having me man, much appreciated.

Mr D – WINGS & WHEELS

Published by Geordie on July 22, 2008 in Acoustic, Americana, Artist/Band Interview, Country, Folk, Pop and Singer Songwriter. 1 Comment

Let me introduce you to Mr D, otherwise known as Paul Mclinden. This is his debut album and if you didn’t know he was from Glasgow like i’ve just told you, you would immediately presume he hailed from the sun drenched west coast of America. From the very first note on the opening track fools fall in love what we have here is sweet and lazy country pop at it’s finest. He’s picked a great day to grant YCD an interview as today looks like it could be the beginning of our so far awful summer. I’ve got this album blasting through my speakers, window down with the sun belting through and about to pour my first beer of the day, perfect. I would like to say there are bluejays singing their lonesome tune and lovers canoodling on the lawn outside just to put the finishing touch to this setting but the truth is there are seagulls going mental in someones left out garbage. Still, the music is loud enough to drown most of that out, hopefully more album sales will be generated from the whole of the street hearing it too.

This album has a real 70’s country sound to it with the Eagles being the first band that springs to mind especially on Island Girl, as an influence, also maybe some byrds too. If you wanted a more modern day comparison you would perhaps look towards The Thrills but where i think they maybe found country later in their lives i get the feeling Mr D has been listening to this stuff all of his. His soft gentle vocals are kept at just the right level to compliment the lush acoustic melodies which are maintianed from start to finish and even the instrumental Ode to Geraldine keeps you interested with it’s heavier bass line, Strings and some great acoustic guitar work. The 10 songs on this album in total make up just over 31 minutes with the longest track coming in at a staggering 3.26 !! It’s actually quite refreshing to hear 3 minute pop songs again just like you did back in the times when albums that sounded like this were around. Anyway, rather than me try and describe to you the who’s, the where’s, the how’s and the when’s of this and other future albums let’s hear it from Paul himself.

YCD – Hi Mr D, How’s it going?

Mrd D – Hi it’s all going great at the moment…but for how long I wonder.

YCD – Ok, might as well ask you now, promoting anything right now or recently released anything?

Mr D – Yes I’m currently promoting my debut solo record ‘Wings & Wheels’ and am in the process of getting myself ready for the follow up.

YCD – So where can we get a hold of this?

Mrd D – It can be bought from all the usual places: iTunes; Emusic; Amazon etc. All the info is on myspace.com/misterdreadmusic or www.mrdmusic.com – to be honest though someone’s probably making it available for free somewhere else online but I’m not gonna help you find that.

YCD – You are from Scotland so what or who influenced you to make sunshine coast country music?

Mr D – Well I think it’s no coincidence that I and a lot of my fellow Scots make music that’s influenced by the country/Americana scene. I reckon country music is very closely related to Celtic folk music and both use much the same techniques so it’s always seemed very natural to me. I try not to sing in an American accent though…

YCD – What are the biggest obstacles you feel a singer/song writer like yourself faces today?

Mr D – It depends really what you mean by obstacles. It’s always been quite a hard game to make any headway in but i don’t let that get me down to be honest. I think as long as you’re getting your music released you’ve managed to hurdle all the obstacles out there. Sometimes when i look at big star’s; their success seems to have become the biggest obstacle. Hard work is the key. As a great man once said –hard work only beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

Mr D – Well this answer would change every few weeks but right now id love to have written Owed T’Alex by Captain Beefheart. What a song!

YCD – What’s your guilty pleasure?

Mr D – Listening to ‘They Don’t Know’ by Tracy Ullman on repeat all night. Winston Churchill used to play the same songs over and over all night as well so I’m in good company.

YCD – What’s your best musical experience so far and why?

Mr D – Sitting with a bottle of wine listening to ‘In the Wee Small Hours’ because it’s unadulterated Sinatra and never fails to impress me. Its one of my favourite ever albums.

YCD – Who’s currently rocking your stereo?

Mr D – Grauzone, Willie Nelson, Sluts of Trust, George Jones and many others.

YCD – What band/artist would you most like to play with?

Mr D – I was playing bass guitar for a guy who lives near me who is in my opinion a genius and I don’t use that word lightly. For various reasons he has withdrawn from making music just now. It’s very sad for me to think that the world won’t get to hear his music and if I achieve any sort of success I will be trying hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

YCD – What are your hopes and fears for you in the future, musically?

Mr D – My hopes are to be in a position where i can keep making music and putting it out the way i want to. I also feel it’s important that I make a better record than the last one each time. My fears are that someday that won’t be possible.

YCD – What did you think the last time you looked in the mirror?

Mr D – The last time i looked in the mirror? Oh that’s a hard one. I try and avoid eye-contact as much as i can – even with myself.

YCD – And finally, are you working on anything at the moment?

Mr D – Yes i’m working on my next record and hope to go in sometime before the end of the year to begin recording it. Think Billy Rae Cyrus meets Garth Brooks and you will be on the right track.

Many thanks for the interview and we here at you crazy dreamers wish you all the best for the future.

Archive for the 'Artist/Band Interview' Category

Don Brownrigg – Wander Songs

Lucky Jim – True North

Orpheum Bell

John Craigie : a storyteller and his guitar

A short and light interview with Ben Sollee

Serious Sam Barrett – The Yorkshire Rambler

Mr D – WINGS & WHEELS

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