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 all the time been fascinated with digital music since you may be your personal band with the usage of know-how. 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 performed all the things by myself with out anybody’s enter. I’m a disciplined individual as effectively. You could 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) supposed. I then, utilized that mindset into writing and finishing the compositions on the “Wherever EP” and the full-length debut album.
Your new EP, Wherever, 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 mission?
To be fairly trustworthy, 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 had been classic sounding sufficient that I used to be capable of choose different sounds that complemented the preliminary alternative(s). I attended a summer season live performance this previous 12 months 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 function in your music. What themes or concepts do you discover within the tracks on Wherever?
The songs on the “Wherever EP” take care of being remoted, which is mainly 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 monitor. It’s about touring (particularly with somebody whom you like) and experiencing one thing new and thrilling. I think about myself an skilled traveler as I’m fortunate to have visited fifty-three totally different international locations. I purposely wrote the track to sound upbeat and constructive as a result of, for me, touring lifts me out of my strange and predictable environment.
As a solo artist who writes, produces, and performs all of your music, what challenges and rewards include sporting 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 vitality. I’m involved there could also be sure regrets after a choice is made when all the things 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 significantly as a musician as, I imagine, I’m able to producing music by myself phrases.
With the EP Wherever serving as a teaser in your full album, what can followers anticipate from the remainder of the album that isn’t on this preview?
Followers could anticipate that the opposite songs are catchy, melodic, moody, atmospheric and lyrically trustworthy. 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 anticipate 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 might like to carry out at dance golf equipment, particularly firstly. It could 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 develop sooner or later.
Do you have got a particular course of or ritual when creating new music?
Melodies would typically seem in desires and would loop time and again. I might get up, take my cellphone and file me buzzing the melody so I don’t neglect it. I might later compose the bass line and add different musical components till a complete track 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 useless, who wouldn’t it be?
I might like to collaborate with Emma Anderson or Miki Berenyi from Lush. I love that band since their track “De-luxe” impressed me to be taught 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 ft away from me on stage and I knew all of the Lush songs they carried out. For somebody not with us anymore, it might 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 largest problem you discover in at present’s music trade?
The largest problem in at present’s music trade is to mainly stand out and be seen. I imagine my “model” is that I’ve performed all the things 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 had been my engineer and me. I say much less is extra, however I imagine that working with different individuals sooner or later will likely be a constructive studying expertise.
