We caught up with Detroit’s Bonny Doon ahead of the release of their debut album to chat writing, inspiration and the ‘Longwave’ lifestyle.
Bonny Doon’s self titled debut album is out now via Spunk Records.
Take A Listen: https://soundcloud.com/spunkrecords/sets/bonny-doon-self-titled-album
What is your name and role within Bonny Doon?
-My name is Bill Lennox III. I play guitar and I sing in the band.
Where are you based?
-We live in Detroit, Michigan.
How did you start?
-The band started because Bobby and I shared a studio together. At the time we were both working on solo albums so we would help each other record and bounce ideas off one another. Instead of finishing our solo albums we decided to start a band.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
-We try to get away as much as possible to write and record. We have escaped into the Michigan wilderness on several occasions and holed ourselves up in cabins. That is how we recorded our tape from 2015 and how we conceptualized a lot of the material from our upcoming album.
What are you working on right now?
-We are in the process of putting the finishing touches on our second album. It was tracked at Key Club recording studio in western Michigan last fall and just returned from Portland Oregon where we mixed at Jackpot Studios. I also have a solo project called Chardonnay Bill where I mostly sing about the television show Frasier.
What is your gear setup?
-Bobby has a few vintage fender amps and we all play fender guitars. Josh has an Ampeg fliptop bass amp. Jakes drumset is rad but I don’t know much about that stuff. We used to spend a lot of time processing our guitars through an echoplex. We record on Josh’s Otari 8 track. We don’t use many pedals or effects, a few but it’s minimal.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
-I usually skateboard and go to work and travel if I can get time off. Besides that, I try to make furniture and things out of wood. My dad is a woodworker so I go to his woodshop when I can to fuck around. I play in a few bands so I’m jamming a lot of the time.
How would you describe your music genre?
-Our music is Longwave. I wouldn’t call it a genre it’s more of a state of mind.
Do you know any music theory?
-I took some theory classes in high school. I went to this art school in the afternoons in high school and everyone was a way better student than me. I never really had the patience for theory, my approach to music is and always has been pretty DIY.
What are your plans for the future?
-Just going to lean into the lifestyle and spreading the Longwave vibe.
How did you get into music?
-My dad played a lot of Neil Young in the house when I was a kid. That was the first thing that really resonated with me and made me want to play music.
What are you listening to at the moment?
-Been listening to a lot of Lucinda Williams. Like every day. She is my favorite. Also really loving the new Tops album. Jamming the new Milk Music record all the time. That band is great. Solange too.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
-Lucinda, Berman, Evan, Bobby, Mom
