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 expertise. As a classical pianist I’m alone when performing so I’m used to proudly owning the stage. With digital music I wrote, organized, programmed, produced, performed and sang all of the songs, which is uncommon these days. By default, I’ve completed all the things alone with out anybody’s enter. I’m a disciplined particular person as effectively. You could hold that in thoughts when enjoying Bach or Mozart as a result of the written music is true 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 model. Are you able to inform us extra concerning the classic synths you used and the way they formed the sound of this venture?
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 have been classic sounding sufficient that I used to be in a position to choose different sounds that complemented the preliminary alternative(s). I attended a summer time 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 behind him and it was an added visible bonus to his efficiency. Good to know that what he completed 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 principally the theme of the debut album. It’s a way of being alone if you don’t wish to be. You attempt to join with good intentions however generally it simply doesn’t occur, so you’re feeling misplaced. The exception is the EP’s title observe. 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 completely different international locations. I purposely wrote the music to sound upbeat and constructive as a result of, for me, touring lifts me out of my atypical and predictable environment.
As a solo artist who writes, produces, and performs all of your music, what challenges and rewards include carrying so many hats?
The challenges for me as a self-contained artist is that I need to make all the choices. That takes loads of time and power. I’m involved there could also be sure regrets after a choice is made when all the things is recorded (i.e., keyboard sounds, a line from a lyric, enhancing and mixing, and so on.). The reward could be that each side of the music got here from me, and I’m very happy to tag my identify onto the work afterwards. One other reward could be for the world to hopefully take me significantly as a musician as, I consider, I’m able to producing music alone phrases.
With the EP Wherever serving as a teaser to your full album, what can followers count on from the remainder of the album that isn’t on this preview?
Followers might count on 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 categorical myself. The listeners might hopefully personalize the songs and apply them to their very own lives to create a significant connection. Additionally, the listeners might count on songs that characteristic acoustic and digital guitars since I’m additionally a guitarist. I want to not be pigeon-holed as a keyboard musician.
What’s your favourite venue to carry out at?
I’d like to carry out at dance golf equipment, particularly at the start. It will 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’ve gotten a particular course of or ritual when creating new music?
Melodies would generally seem in goals and would loop again and again. I’d get up, take my telephone and file me buzzing the melody so I don’t overlook it. I’d later compose the bass line and add different musical parts till a whole music 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.
In the event you might collaborate with any artist, alive or lifeless, who would it not be?
I’d like to collaborate with Emma Anderson or Miki Berenyi from Lush. I love that band since their music “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 time. 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 robust melodies within the following songs: “Stroll on By” and “At all times One thing There To Remind Me” (lined by the digital band Bare Eyes).
What’s the greatest problem you discover in right this moment’s music trade?
The most important problem in right this moment’s music trade is to principally stand out and be seen. I consider my “model” is that I’ve completed all the things musically potential to create one thing alone. With some artists right this moment, they work with songwriters and producers which is ok. I occur to meet each these roles myself. Throughout the recording classes for the debut the one folks within the studio have been my engineer and me. I say much less is extra, however I consider that working with different folks sooner or later will likely be a constructive studying expertise.