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Music Interviews

Music InterviewsMusic News

Van Oasis

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based? Melbourne
How did you first start playing music and how did you progress into playing live?
I’ve been a drummer all my life and played various other instruments aswell but had an injury at one point three years ago that forced me to stop playing. Couple months when recovering I discovered Ableton and House music and started creating music. It was an alternative to playing actual instruments and aloud me to express myself musically still. Now I can play Instruments again and record them all the time in my tracks but without the injury I would of probably never picked up Ableton and started to make electronic house music.
 Please tell a little about yourself:
I am a Melbourne based Producer/DJ under the alias of Van Oasis. Creating music that is a reflection of my love for several genres and styles such as house, disco, Italo and worldly beats. Combining these with my background of percussion and drums, I create unique electronic pieces that cannot be reduced to a single genre.
Your latest EP release entitled “KILLERS//LOVERS” https://soundcloud.com/van-oasis/sets/killerslovers
 
 
Vanoasis is full of natural elements and grooving electronic grooves, where and when did you record?
I record this ep in my bedroom with the help of a few friends (producers) and some late nights I produced this really dynamic EP last year.
What programs and equipment did you use?
 
I use Ableton as my DAW with alot of Sampling from old bargain bin records. I started investing in hardware though as I really found you couldn’t compare the sound of a real Korg M1 piano with a plug in version. So a use of hardware like the M1, a tr-8 is great for laying down drum beats really quickly and have just acquired some new synths with a Roland Ju-06 n Jx-03.
 
What influenced the tracks on this EP?
 

Been Djing for nearly two years at the time I was opening my horizons to lots of house music and electro beats. So very housey drum beats and staby chord lines were things that influenced me from the dj side of things but before I started listening to house music I really enjoyed some ambient and moody tracks from producers like Taylor Mcferrin, King Kurle and Tame Impala so there is some influences from these acts I still listen to all the time.

How do you usually go about writing songs?
 
I have a bedroom studio and I generally like to find samples off old records, sample them and try vibe out something that comes to mind when listening. Sometimes I just sit at my piano or a synth for hours and play around without the intention of making anything and usually something will come out of it and I will try develop them. I like to only make music in the studio though as it becomes the place of creativity instead of taking a laptop around the place making tracks. It feels like a good area to develop sounds.
 
 
Have you been working on any new material lately? 
I have a next EP with another Melbourne Producer Tony Chocoloney – Together we have made an 80’s inspired disco house record full of fun grooving beats that will sure to tune some heads when it’s released. It is entitled ‘Body Balm EP’ and we are looking very forward to seeing what people think of it.
How has the collaborative process been with Tony?
 
Tony Is a musical genius and is really inspiring to develop music with. There is laughs and pure brilliants working with him. Together we really enjoy the same house and disco jams and discuss new releases and thing we could remix or work on together as we are just excited to make music for the fun of it.
 
How did the colab come about?
 
We just seemed know the same people and meet after been booked together on the same bill one night djing. Thought we would keep in touch and have a jam. When we did we wrote 3 of the 4 songs on the ep in 3 days. We just clicked so well together and will continue to do so.
 
Where will we be able to hear the new EP?
Well that one is under wraps when and where and how you can listen to it 😉 so you just have to keep on checking in on us to find out.
 
You run an event brand called HomeTurf, how’s HomeTurf going?
HomeTurf has been a really great way for me to experience and explore the music industry from a booker, promotor, manager and dj perspective. It has been a really organic and flowing journey learning about how a show runs or what is expected in the behind the scenes of running events. Slowly I will keep expanding the brand and hopefully create a label but for now we will keep doing what we are because it seems to be working. Party on!
How did HomeTurf start?

HomeTurf started after seeing a bunch of local talent around me not getting gigs because they didn’t know how to get bookings or where not involved in crews. So I just started running events with my friends and local artists. Then we went a step further doing free mixtapes of producers tracks as a hub to support and showcase some of their talent.

What do you have planned for the rest of 2018?

We have just started diving into booking international acts this year starting with Germans very own Black Loops we did back in January. Continuing to book some bigger acts and try get into as much different clubs and spread the word is the mission for the rest of the year. Hopefully turn HomeTurf into a record label next year though imprinting original records for vinyl aswell as still holding great parties around Melbourne.
 
Favourite food and place to hangout?

Melbourne is overfilled with places to hang out and eat but I’d say Favourite bar : Palm Royale – Little cocktail bar in richmond that plays some disco tunes, knows my drink orders ( A Harvey Wallbanger with pineapple Juice) and has a tiki theme decor. Very Van Oasis style.  Favourite club : New Guernica – a cozy and interesting club with decor that changes as you walk through. One room is a Carnaval theme dance floor the other a Kitchen rave room, another a private country club quarters where you can have private conversations and relax, and favourite Food spot in Melbourne : Lazer Pig – Wood fire pizza with amazing choices I go there maybe every month with my girlfriend.

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Music InterviewsMusic News

Sam Feldt

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in the capital of my country Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.

Your new single Sam Feldt & Möwe – Down for Anything (feat. KARRA) is out, where and when did you record?

The track has been in the works for quite some time now, I think around half a year. Möwe approached me with this amazing vocal by Karra and the idea to make a track together. We hit the studio and connected really well creatively!

What influenced the song writing for this track?

Together with Möwe, we decided to create and produce a song that captures the feel of the warmer days that are ahead of us. We were really looking for a song that played well on the radio, has a catchy melody to it and sticks in your mind right from the beginning. Together with the sweet and poppy vocals provided by KARRA, I think we pretty much nailed it and we managed to get the results we were looking for.

How was it working with KARRA?

It was amazing, she has such a beautiful voice and she immediately knew what we wanted to achieve. It was an absolute breeze working with her. Next to being an incredible singer, she’s also one of the sweetest girls I know. I think we will be hearing a lot more from KARRA in the future.

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing the piano when I was around the age of 8, It didn’t take long before I decided I didn’t just want to play music, I also wanted to create it. When I was 11, I started DJ’ing for friends and family and before I knew it I was travelling with my dad across the country with my own drive-in DJ show. At age 17, I set foot in a club for the very first time. Right away, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue professionally. I wanted to be the guy who plays the records that people dance.

Your debut album From Sunrise to Sunset gained a lot of momentum just months after its debut in October of 2017, what influenced the sound of this album?

The Philosophy behind the two albums combined was to create music for each hour within a day. Whenever you listen to the album, you’ll find a song that perfectly matched the time of day. Sunset, which was released as a surprise album and is the follow up to Sunrise, tied the two albums together. Combined, they represent the 24 hours within a day, hence the title ‘From Sunrise to Sunset’.

How have things changed for you as a consequence of releasing Sunrise to Sunset?

I think releasing the album, shows the world the sound of Sam Feldt and is my gift to all the fans out there, It’s also the perfect opportunity to give new listeners a good idea what Sam Feldt is all about. I had so much music that I wanted to share with my fans, so I thought turning this music into an album would be the best way to do it. It also opened up the door to something I have been wanting to do for quite some time now and that is bringing all these live instruments that I use in my productions to the stage, together with my live band.

You supported the Sunrise Tour with the addition of band members and live instruments which led you to travel the world and play at the biggest venues. This year you will continue to travel the globe with your band in addition to your solo DJ sets. What do you find most enjoyable and challenging whilst touring?

The most enjoyable part about bringing the live band with me on tour is the extra dimension they add to the show. The energy goes through the roof and with the addition of live instruments you can really provide the audience with a complete different experience you normally wouldn’t be able to with just djing. The most challenging part might be streamlining all our agendas, because next to touring together we all have our own separate projects that also demand our time.

Do the crowds interact with you differently when you have the live band as compared to a solo DJ set?

Absolutely, when adding live instruments you get a much more dynamic performance on stage. People are not just looking at me to interact with but also the guys who are playing the instruments. In my opinion it gives the experience more depth for the people in the crowd, but also the interaction I have with the rest of the band takes it to another level and was something I always wanted to do. Seeing people play their instruments live simply adds that extra something.

In February you surprised us with your new remix album: ‘After the Sunset’ this is packed with 16 songs that are more club-oriented versions of tracks from your debut album, remixed by some amazing artists.  Who did you work with on this remix album?

The remix album is packed with so many great artists, like Calvo, Mesto, Breathe Carolina, Zonderling, Toby Green, DJ Licious, Redondo and many more awesome producers. I was blown away by the end result and the remixes they delivered. It’s so cool to hear your music being remixed by others and to see what they made of the tracks. I’m super happy with the remix album and I feel blessed by what they did to the tracks.

Why did you decide to release a remix album?

Over the past 2 to 3 years, I worked so hard on creating my own album, which resulted in 24 tracks that represented the Sam Feldt sound, to the best of my abilities. Because I spend so much time on this album and having so much material, I not only wanted to share it with the fans, but I was also wanted to have other producers take my music for a spin and have them make their versions of some of the tracks. It’s just incredible to see this happen to you music and hear their interpretation of something that means so much to you. After receiving so much love from the fans from around the globe after my debut album and my supporting tour, I thought it would be the perfect gift to surprise them with a brand-new remix album, filled with tracks they know by heart, put into a more club oriented style. The album adds to the wide spectrum of music that Sam Feldt stands for and adds yet another chapter to the story I want to tell through my music.

What do you most enjoy about playing music?

In general, I think music is the ultimate universal language there is. Give people a bass drum and we automatically start to move. I think music is something we can relate to on a very deep and emotional level, so being able to play people music enables you to share a certain emotion and take them on a trip by guiding them through your musical journey. Being able to do that is such a magical experience.

To see the fans get excited and share their love for something you created is indescribable. You get so much love back from the people on the dancefloor and that on its own creates a very special connection that automatically strengthens itself, making me work even harder to deliver.

In March you returned to Miami Music Week with your Heartfeldt Poolparty. How was this show and how did the concept come about and come into fruition?

Miami Music Week on itself is always a special happening. This year we decided to do another Heartfeldt Poolparty like we did last year. Again, it turned out to be a huge success. We sold out pretty quickly and it was absolutely one I will remember for a long time. We had some incredible artists on the lineup such as: Goldfish, Hook N Sling, Jay Hardway and SNBRN. KARRA also joined me on stage to perform our newest single ‘Down for Anything’ together with me for the first time. Overall, we had the best time ever and the crowd seemed to love it from the moment the first records was played.

At the beginning of this year you hinted through an Instagram post about plans for a more sustainable world, please elaborate on this:

Traveling the world as a DJ has been what I wanted to do with my life from a very young age, but it comes at a cost however. With over 200 flights per year I consider myself to be among the most polluting persons in the world. In the upcoming weeks I will shed more light on the projects I’ve been working on lately. I’ll be announcing a way in which I’ll become carbon neutral from this day worth and who I teamed up with, in my pursue to these goals. There are a lot of projects I’m currently focusing on, so keep a close eye on my socials because more info is coming very soon. In the meantime, try to ask yourself, what it is that you can do to make a better world, starting today.

You run the App Fangage: How is this App progressing?

Very well! We are now hosting fan portals for over 35 top influencers in music and sports and allowing them to get closer to their fans. Right now, over 200.000 active users are using the application to access exclusive content they can’t find anywhere else and that number is increasing by 10% every month. We have so many cool new features in the pipeline that I can’t wait to show you guys!

What do you have planned for the remainder of 2018?

2018 is doing well so far, I’ve just released my brand new single together with Möwe and KARRA called ‘Down for Anything’, I’ve got a couple of other music projects on the horizon, which I can’t talk too much about. The festival season is also getting closer and looking at my tour schedule makes me super excited about the Summer months to come. We’ve got so many cool shows coming up, with my live band or as a solo DJ. I think the rest of this year is going to be awesome and I can’t wait to see my fans from across the world again

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Music Interviews

Black Stone Cherry

by the partae
written by the partae

What is your name and role within Black Stone Cherry?

-Ben Wells and I play Guitar

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

-I live in my home state of Kentucky. It’s beautiful here! The music scene varies from country, bluegrass, rock, and indie. It’s very diverse!

You’ve had huge success with your last LP Kentucky – and the Blues covers EP Black to Blues was also well received, where and when did you record Family Tree?

 -We recorded Family Tree the same place we did Kentucky and Black To Blues! It’s located in Glasgow, KY at Barrick Recording Studio. It’s a great place to record-great vibe and sounds! The owner/engineer, David Barrick is one of our longtime friends and is great to work with!

What programs and equipment did you use?

-We recorded to Pro Tools. As far as mics, I really can’t tell ya that… that’s not my department! Haha. But i used Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, and Gretsch guitars with a Budda SuperDrive 45 amp.

How did you first start playing music?

-Elvis Presley made we want to start playing music and entertaining   He is my biggest influence hands down! My parents gave me a guitar for Christmas when i was probably 7 years old. Never looked back!

The new album Family Tree was written, recorded and produced in a very organic fashion – all the band members participated in the creation of it (and all BSC releases)  – so very much a “family affair” what were the highlights of this process?

-Yes, we are all very much hands on when it comes to BSC. Highlights as far as writing would be the fact that we wrote most of this record while on tour on the bus. It was really cool because each day we would gather in the back lounge and come up with a new song! Recording is always fun. We don’t like a stressful work environment, so it was very laid back and fun!

I hear that the Album was influenced by all the music that you all grew up with such as Cream, Led Zeppelin and The Faces plus blues legend Muddy Waters, please describe your usual song writing process:

 -There really is no method for us. Most of the time a song starts with a guitar riff or melody, then everything else falls into place as long as everyone in the band likes the particular riff. Someone will come up with an idea, and the rest of us will dive in! Or sometimes a song will come from jamming all together at soundcheck, which is really cool!

The theme of Family is very strong with Black Stone Cherry – you have been together a very long time and are a really tight unit.  Your drummer John-Fred’s dad is in a band (still going) called Kentucky Headhunters –and BSC as a young band rehearsed in their practice house.  How did BSC form and why did you think BSC has lasted so long?

-We formed in 2001. I met the guys in June of that year. The other 3 guys went to the same school-I was from another county over. When we all jammed the first time, it was instant chemistry! We knew we had a band. I think we all just shared the same common goal and focus to be friends and make music together. We have stayed together so long because we are family first-band second.

Legendary musician Warren Haynes is a guest on the album – and singer Chris’ 5 year old son sings backup on a track, how did both of these guests come to be on the album?

-Chris’ son was a very spontaneous thing! Chris’ wife and son dropped by the studio one day and he has been singing that song so we basically put a mic up to him, stood him up in a chair and had him sing it! It was so cool!

Warren has been an influence on us for many years. We met him several years ago and have always been fans. We knew he would sound great on “Dancin in the rain” so we asked him if he wanted to be a part of it. He said, absolutely, so we sent him the tracks to his studio and he knocked it out of the park! Very honored to have him on this record!

What do you have planned for the remainder of 2018?  

-Touring and promoting the new album is the plan!

Will you be returning back to AU?

-We hope to return very soon! We have really enjoyed the past two tours we have done in Australia and can not wait to return!

“Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On”

Ben Wells

WEBSITE           FACEBOOK         TWITTER           INSTAGRAM 

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Music Interviews

Dave Hole

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Perth

How did you first start playing music and what do you attribute to long and fruitful career as a musician within Australia and internationally?

I started messing with guitar when I was eleven after becoming smitten with all the twangy guitar sounds I was hearing coming from the family radio.  I retired at the age of twelve but took it up again when my friend roped me into a high school band he was forming.

   My long career in Australia before being ‘discovered’ internationally is probably due to a combination of bloody-minded perserverance and not being much good at anything else!  My international career came about by virtue of a lucky break when the right people heard and liked my first album.  For many deserving musicians this just never happens.  I feel very fortunate.

When it comes to playing guitar, do you have any tips for the best method of practice?

 I’m told that it’s just about putting in all those hours and being disciplined about it.  In my late teens I did sit for hours on end in my bedroom listening to all the blues greats and jamming along with them but I now practice only spasmodically.  I do like to improvise and experiment on stage, however, which I guess is kind of like practising on the job.

Who are some of your favourite guitarists – both Australian and international and why, dead or alive and why?

OK – my list of Australian greats would have to include Kevin Borich, Peter Walker, Phil Manning, Mal Eastick, Jeff Lang, John Meyer, Kent Hughes, Ian Moss, Lindsay Wells and Dutch Tilders.  Apologies to all those I’ve left out.  What I like about these players is that they all have uniquely identifiable styles.

  Internationally some of my absolute favourites would be: Elmore James, whose recordings inspired me to take up slide guitar; Robert Johnson, who pretty much ‘wrote the book’ of blues standards; Buddy Guy, who can ring more emotion out of a Strat than just about anyone I know; Albert Collins, who had a unique style, was absolute ‘master of the Telecaster’ and a hell of a nice guy; Freddie King, the most powerful force of nature ever unleased on a blues guitar; and then there’s Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan – what can you say about them? They took blues guitar playing to it’s zenith and then some!  These guys are only the tip of the iceburg.  There’s been so many.  Of all living guitarists the one I most revere is Derek Trucks.

It’s been a few years between releases, what do you like doing away from music?

I like to play tennis, go to the movies, hang out with friends, go for a run, spend time down on Western Australia’s southern coast – basically just living like anyone else.  Being out on the road all the time can be great fun but it’s not ‘real life’.

How has the music scene changed since you first started?

When I started out the pubs were in full swing all over the country.  Now that they’ve all but disappeared we lost that excellent training ground for young performers to learn the craft of playing live.  Nowadays you get these amazingly talented kids coming straight out of their bedrooms and onto national TV etc.  They may have great songs and great voices but I don’t hear much instrumental improvising from them.  That is something that only playing lots of live gigs with other musicians seems to foster and I confess that I miss it in today’s music.  The other huge change is the digital revolution which has changed the way music is recorded, delivered and listened to.  In some respects the internet has prised open the vice-like grip of the major record companies and been somewhat liberating. A really good artist doesn’t need a major these days to be heard.  Unfortunately, neither does a mediocre one!

What is your setup when recording and playing live guitar, pedals, amps?

Over the years my use of pedals has diminished.  I have three on stage at the moment: a Roger Mayer Axis pedal, an Ibanez CP9 compressor and an Australian made MI Audio Blue Boy Overdrive.  Most of the time only the Axis pedal is on.  My amp is either a Fender 1962 Bassman Head or a Marshall Silver Jubilee.  In both cases the speaker cabinet is a 4×12 Marshall with 25 Watt ‘Greenbacks’.

Who are what influences your songwriting and playing?

This is hard to answer.  I never really know where the songs come from.  John Hiatt reckons that they’re just in the air and if your antenna is up at the time when one is passing you might catch one.  I tend to agree.  If I start out with a guitar in my hand you can bet that it’s going to be a blues and what comes out will be fragments from a lifetime of listening – half remembered bits and pieces that get subconsciously combined into something that might be considered new.  Lyrically I’m influenced by people and events around me that I observe.  Quite often I’ll write about someone else in the first person which can lead to some misapprehensions on the part of listeners.  When I’m performing I try to give free reign to my emotions and let all and any of my musical influences just flow.  That’s part of the excitement of flying by the seat of your pants and doing so much improvising.  The other part of course is not knowing just when you’re going to fall flat on your face.

How do you keep the creative juices and desire to perform live going at the sexy age of 69?

I don’t know.  It’s just still there, as strong as it ever was.  I take heart from the fact that John Lee Hooker and BB King were still producing great music well into their eighties.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Bukka White, The Alabama Shakes, Rory Gallagher, Lake Street Dive, Ali Akbar Khan, Little Feet, Steve Winwood.

Does living in Perth (the most isolated capital city in the world) help or hinder your creativity?

Well it probably does both in different ways.  I think it’s helped a lot of us from over here to be a bit more individual.  We don’t have quite as many other musicians around us to copy or to learn from and  so we just go our own way – for better or worse.  It probably helps you become proficient a lot quicker if you’re able to see great musicians all around you but if you don’t have that you tend to come up with your own musical solutions.

What do you have planned for the remainder of 2018/19?

It’s been hectic getting the album out, so after the May tour I’ll take a couple of months off to relax and do a bit more writing  I would like to tour Australia again in October to get to some of the places we’re missing this time – Adelaide, Canberra, regional centres etc.  I won’t be going overseas until 2019 and even then I won’t be doing an all-states US tour. It just takes too long.  I’m at that stage in my career where I’ll only do things that are really enjoyable – so some selected US and European shows but not the long list of one-nighters

(album out April 27 via Only Blues Music)  Dave touring Australia May 2018 – check website for details. US tour likely for later in year.

FACEBOOK        WEBSITE

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Music Interviews

Bruce Mathiske

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I live in Newcastle but because I am a touring act I am not really part of the local scene however Newcastle is undergoing huge change I am led to believe it is developers with curfews versus  music venues and artists. But ultimately, I think change is good and I hope the scene will flourish again.

How did you first start playing music?

I used to watch my older cousin, Trev, strum a few chords. Then at age seven I started lessons and learnt those same chords, then wanted to play “that other fancy stuff” which was lead guitar. From that wherever I found a teacher, classical in Bendigo, Jazz on The Gold Coast and Sydney and whist still playing in rock bands, I just loved to play and learn.

How would you describe yourself as an artist and your musical styles – you have covered such a diverse range of music:

Guitarist/Composer with “world music” flavours, it’s a real melting pot but I like rhythmic music.

How did you come to compose for other instruments and an orchestra? What are the greatest challenges?

It’s all instinct and hearing a melody or counter melody then assigning the appropriate instrument. I do love the deeper instruments like Cello and Bassoon and the beautiful chords a brass section can play.

Was it a risk stepping outside the comfort zone of guitar?  Is that what appealed to you?

Rule 1 – Have no fear! As I really compose for myself first, I am pretty good at saying this is how it must be, it sounds and feels good.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I don’t listen to much music as I like to keep my ears fresh. I hardly ever listen to guitar music. Currently in my car, I have Cold Chisel and Mumford & Sons.

What or who influences your songwriting process?

I love Ennio Morricones “The Mission” and Pink Floyds ‘The Wall”

Who are some of your favourite guitarists – both Australian and international and why?

Ian Moss for his tone and phrasing

Leo Kottke – I just love his pieces

Django Reinhardt – The raw gypsy energy

Who are some of your favourite composers and why?

Ennio Morricone and Roger Waters as they write very emotionally, sometimes dark. As a composer, I am not supposed to Like Andrew Lloyd Webber but sometimes it takes courage to write a simple, happy piece and not complicate it for the critics.

What do you have planned for 2018 / 2019?

2018, new solo album and tour and beyond that I don’t have any plans at all and I find that exciting!!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love hanging out at home with my wife and pooch and also riding my motorbike to the beach.

I seem to always end up at Thai when we dine out but sometimes you can’t beat a good old fashioned roast.

WEBSITE 

FACEBOOK 

Bruce touring Australia April thru June – check website for details and tickets.

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Music InterviewsMusic News

Taao Kross

by the partae
written by the partae

How did you first start playing electro and progressive house?

I started very young and at home, I imagine that like almost everyone. First trying to mix with cassette and later with turntables!

What do you attribute to your success?

I believe success in life in general, and at a professional level I still have a long way to go, although I

am working hard to achieve it!

Your recent track ‘Evolet’ is out now, where and when did you record it?

Evolet came up very quickly, the sound came to my mind and I shot it in the studio. It’s a club sound,

now I’m just working in another direction.

What inspired the songwriting for Evolet?

I needed to transmit something fresh, with punch, with much joy and it was achieved.

You had a massive touring schedule in 2017, what do you find most rewarding and challenging of maintaining such a busy schedule?

I love to be on tour continuously, this year we have the obligation to overcome 2017 in everything.

I have to keep doing a lot in my career and I do not want to stop. I want more shows, more

productions, more collaborations and even more interviews … hahahaha

 You had a massive residency at Pacha, how did you prepare for each show?

I really like to improvise, I am one of those who look at the track and give them what they ask for.

Although after so many shows at PACHA I already know the public well and I like to drive them crazy.

 What do you think think is the key to a successful string of residency shows such as the Pacha shows?

Hard work, passion, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of excitement … all this is what TAAO KROSS adds up

every day to keep taking steps in the industry.

What do you have planned for the rest of 2018 in Ibiza and the rest of the world?

Keep working, soon I can reveal that you will be with me at IBIZA, but there are very nice things,

many shows in many countries and a lot of music to play

You have all the info on my website … www.taaokrossmusic.com

Are you or will you be working on new music?

I’m working on a lot of music, on incredible things that excite me a lot, on completely new sounds, I

want to innovate in the electronic scene and I have to get there!

What influences your songwriting and sound as a whole?

It influences me from my life day to day, experience, the family … I try to relate the sounds to

everything that surrounds me.

 Favourite place to hangout?

IBIZA I adore her for all that she has given me, for all that she gives me and for all that we are going

to do together.

 What hobbies do you have outside of music?

Enjoy the family, my friends from my city and the other life outside the shows and music.

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Music Interviews

Albert Savage

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
 
New Jersey. The US of A.  The music scene here is really good.  We have a lot of talented people here in the North East, and a lot of music to listen to.  You just have to look for it.  I can’t say for other states, but it’s a little competitive in NJ.  Music I think is meant to build a musical community, it goes further when that is in play.  Lots of – this is mine, and this is also mine.  We don’t like that philosophy. We try to keep the big door open as much as other will allow us to, and share our accomplishments with our peers and fellow musicians.
 
What is your name and role within Albert Savage?
 
My name is Mike Frank, and I write, sing, and play guitar in the group.  I also bring the snacks. ? 


How did you first start playing music?
 
My Father bought home a guitar from a yard sale when I was a pup, and he played in a country band while I was growing up. So one could say he started all this and you can thank him for all of it.  I was always in pubs, and places when I was a kid.  I picked up on music at a young age. 
 
Pup, that is what they call a kid down under right?
 
You played festivals in the summer, did you have a favorite festival of the summer? If so, which and why?
 
I think all of them are our favorite.  Festival times are the times that you get to play for people wanting music in a big open setting.  Mad Summer Melt Down 17′ had some cool acts to be on a bill with, but so did all of the festivals. Kung Fu killed it.  We played 7 festivals last year, and we really got to meet some talented musicians in 2017.  Musikfest was good this past year because there was a baby grand piano we got to pull up and use.  I remember wondering who has to lug that thing around at the stage company?  I also remember not having two of the same socks at that show, and some how that effected my performance. 
 The band went to the video shoot with Relix magazine in NYC where you also recorded, how was this experience?
 
The experience is one that we all really kind of marked as a accomplishment.  Get into a major publication was on our band bucket list. Relix magazine started to cover recording the Grateful Dead back in the 70’s and just went on from there so, it was cool to be in a office with all the staff working in their nice office set up, you know, covering music and reporting on all these musical endeavors.  Setting up and playing in a office was weird to myself, I can’t speak for the rest of the band, but imagine you go into an office and a band sets up in a room surrounded by desks, and plays some music while you are drinking your morning coffee checking email.  I wish I had that at work.  I thought to myself this must be a cool place to come to work everyday.    
 
You played Musikfest in 2017, the biggest free music festival in the USA, how did you prepare for this gig and how was it playing such a massive festival?
 
We practiced a lot, and then some more, and then made a set list on a napkin 5 minutes before went on.  Musikfest is always a shot in the dark for some to get in.  Obviously you will get selected if you keep submitting, but it’s a process yearly.  We had to play on the street on their doorstep for a year to get some recognition.  What I mean by that is, there was a art studio we would play free demonstrations with the glass blowers, and we kind of got in through all of those shows for the glass guys.  We watched some awesome glass be created in front of us, while playing to a open bay door in Bethlehem Pa.  They must of heard it, cause they hired us for the festival.
 
How did all these festivals come about?
 
All the festivals came about by meeting the right people, and reaching out through websites with press kits.  A lot of sending, and little response in that world. For every 10 emails, if you get 1 back then you did well. These festivals are flooded with submissions year after year, and most the groups all have chops to back their requests to get on the stage.   One of our favorite promoters we met is Grateful Dick. He really helped us get into some other places, and out of Jersey for a hot minute.  I think once you are “in” with the Dick’s of the world, people like him enjoy bringing music to people and placing people together in bigger events.  It has to be cool to run a festival like Lockin. That is one festival we want to be at!  We would like to get out of the USA and play some festivals in other parts of the world, I think that is on the list.
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
 
Medeski, Scofield, Martin, & Wood – A Go Go
 
Please tell us about your album?
 
The album “Savage on the High Seas” is on ITunes right now, and I don’t think to many people know about it.  So this is good. The recording session was a big accomplishment for the band in early 2017 because we did the whole CD in two days in a state of the art 24 track studio.  We recorded live in Asbury Park NJ, a place that Bruce Springsteen made famous back in the day. Although we sound nothing like him, it was cool to record our new record in the same town.  New Jersey bred musicians here…  
 
What equipment and programs did you use to record?
 
All of our own gear instrument wise was used. Guitars, Bass, Drums, Organ, Percussion.  We recorded digitally this time, through a 71 Neve Console.  The one like Dave Ghrol uses.  The last album was under my own bands name Mike Frank & Friends, and we recorded to 2″ tape.  The sound was fat.  That album “A Doorway Beyond” was mostly the same group.  It is a good listen as well.  Our engineer Tim, he did a good job of keeping us moving during the two 8 hour sessions.  Again, lots of practice is needed for the studio cause it can get expensive. 
 
What or who influences your songwriting?
 
The people in my life influence the thought process on the songs when I write.  “Are you gonna be on time today?”, is a lyric that I ask myself everyday at 5am.  There is a little inside joke of a story behind most the songs, and some are just straight up fiction that come from outer space.  I sit on my roof with a net, and scoop the songs out of the air.  Maybe it’s a little turbulence and change that are a factor as well, and sometimes our favorite groups pop in and out of our playing collectively.  The songs call for a internal perspective, that sounds kind of ambiguous and vague, but we all have a perspective.  Really it’s a mix of all of that.  Life influences the songs, so I suppose that is why it is the living art.  I like Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zepplin and good music is good music.  I like it all.  Panella likes Medeski, Martin & Wood and other rock like the Doors, and some other jazz stuff.  Steve and I always share the music of the Grateful Dead, and Phish, but he likes the funk a lot.  Gotta have that funk!  Todd is into the classic rock bands as well as jazz, and blues.  He attended music school, and knows the theory of it all pretty well, as does most of the band.  Sometimes I don’t know what I’m playing at all, and he’s like, “Son, this is actually what you are doing right here.”  I know the Who is one of his favorites.  Rakow draws on a lot of  golden classics as well, but turns anything on guitar into his own ripping guitar lines. He really has his own style.  All of these influences make our sound pretty unique.   
 
What do you like to do outside of music?
 
I know we all do our own thing outside of this little group.  Todd enjoys a good sailing trip on his boat, and spending time by his woodstove.  He collects corn cob pipes and enjoys a smoke with a glass of something good by the fire in these dark winter months.   At heart Todd loves his family time. Something about that just sound comfy.  Panella is very into the arts with his Glass projects. I swear he is never not busy, and is always on the move working with musicians who play hammond organs.  He knows Hammonds inside and out, and repairs them for touring acts.  The stuff Panella creates in his spare time is really awesome, and he teaches glass students on a regular basis.  if you meet him, and spend time with him, you will probably get recruited into assisting him in the shop.  Steve is a music fanatic, and attends open jams a lot to keep his chops up when it’s not hibernation time.  Even in his down time he likes to create.  Steve’s last project was a electrified wash board for when we play acoustically.  He hooked it up to a wah wah pedal, and well, it sounds like a wash board through a wah wah pedal.   Rakow brews beer in New Jersey at River Horse Brewing Co.  Although it is his Job, being the head brewer I think takes up a part of his social life as well with all the craft shows. We always have fun playing the brewery events.  I know he is very smart when it comes to electrical components too, I need my q-tron fixed, and I keep forgetting to ask him to fix it.  My self, I enjoy my garden, treasure hunting, and learning new skills for when the end of the world is upon us.  I grew so many tomatoes and veggies last year, I was giving them away.  I like cooking, and doing the family thing, and hanging out with my girl friend.
 
What do you have planned for the remainder of 2018?
 
We want to do some music videos this year, a bunch of music videos, obviously play shows and keep up the grind work.  How about a trip to Australia?  We’re all down to play down under.
 
Favorite food and place to hangout?
 
Pizza…. duhhhh!  What else is there? Sushi, nahh… I think sun flower seeds are the food most like the music industry.  A lot of work, and little pay off.  Strangely satisfying.   Do they make bags of pre-shelled sun flower seeds?  I’m just kidding there, I enjoy seeing people smile when we play.  That is what it’s all about.  The hang outs of local musicians and open mics are always fun to shoot the breeze.  I haven’t been to many lately, but that is going to change coming up here shortly.
 
I like to hang out in the garden and turn on the tunes, watch the bees and the butterflies do their thing.   It’s relaxing and people need more of that.  People need less artificial light and cubicles.  Kick off your shoes and let your feet be in the dirt for a minute.  Have some friends over and watch the plants grow, and eat together.  That is good for the soul.  If more people did this, we’d understand more about each other and less hungry.  All of it, music, art, socializing, reading, learning useful practical skills, sailing, that is what it’s all about.  You have to do your own thing to make music.
 
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Music Interviews

Anderson East

by the partae
written by the partae

Your new album Encore is out now, where and when did you record?

We recorded it in the restoring RCA A studio in Nashville Tennessee (where I live, as well) with my friend, Dave Cobb producing it. We did all of over 2017 but it was in sporadic bursts since we were on the road so frequently.

What or who has inspired the songwriting and sound of Encore?

We were very inspired by all sorts of classic and modern sounds but we had the intention of making every song have the ability to be played as the encore during a live performance.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

NPR mostly, Howard Stern, Travis Meadows, Foy Vance.

How did you first start playing music?

It came from singing in church as a child but when I was in my early teen years, I received a 4-track tape record and the fascination of making records is what ultimately maintained my interest in making music.

Encore features the singles All On My Mind and King For A Day. Encore is a strong mix of blues and soul, with a Nashville twist. Where did the blues and soul influences come from?

Probably growing up in Alabama.

 What programs/equipment do you use? 

I’m all over the place when it comes to that. We use a mix of modern and vintage recording equipment. We track to tape but then dump to ProTools for quick work flow.

What do you enjoy most about playing music?

The community, be it other musician, engineers, songwriters, etc…. but the greatest is the community with the audience.

How do you prepare for each show?

I usually have dinner, do about 20 minutes of yoga, warm up the throat, listen to some loud music with the fellas, have some Jameson and then rock and roll.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

Usually Thai…

The bus.

 

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