Describe your sound in 3 words
Somehow Super Eighties
Tell us a few things about your new song “Funk Right Off (Major C)”. What is the main idea behind it?
Well the whole thing started as some kind of concept on Logic Pro. I had this little bit I had stuck in my head, kept playing it randomly on various guitars. I figured it was high time to put it in something. The “B” section of the track was inspired by a number of tracks I had heard from Chaka Khan and (oddly enough) James Taylor. I have this software (well a demo of it) called “MIDI Guitar 2” and it’s really cool cause I can send the direct signal of my guitar, to my Focusrite Clarett, to this software which (simply put) has a chat with my Mac and then turns it into MIDI! I got creative and tried to do some sax but I knew I had to get a real player on board. Once I came up with, what became, the demo – I floated it to Cam (who plays bass on this tune). He, almost, immediately sent me back a pic of him, grinning, with his headless six string bass – he read my mind! Before he could do anything, I needed serious drums, so I contacted this absolutely lovely chap called Adam Wolfe (whom I met a couple of years ago at a Jam in Gwinett County, GA, USA). He was on board with it almost immediately too, so I think I did good! The final piece of this compositional puzzle came when I had to find a sax player and so it was that Nick Willsher fit the bill and I am thrilled that he was able to do it. Those folks, along with Nick Bowen’s amazing mixing and mastering (and all-around total legend-ness) made the track what you hear! Would you believe that I was massively annoyed when I wrote it? I went into the recording thinking it was gonna be some kind of angry-sounding rock tune!
What first got you into music?
I think I entered the world to “Eruption” by Van Halen, I kid of course, but I’ve always been surrounded by music. I was raised on classic rock and my journey to where I am now, began when I was 9 as I began learning the guitar – though I’ve never really stopped since you don’t ever stop learning (which is a great thing!). It wasn’t until I was 14 when I really began to take it seriously that things just progressed to where they are now.
What do you enjoy most? Writing music or performing your music live?
I would say definitely writing music, in my “career” I’ve done one gig ever. That was in my old band back in 201The great thing about writing music is – yeah, you could do it all yourself, but other people can do it better. Writing the music and getting the right people on board can, more often than not, blow whatever you thought in your head right out of the water and onto another dimension. I do want to get out there and play more but the current situation in the UK (at least) doesn’t inspire me with much confidence (in terms of health – ya know, that Covid thing?).
Tell us a song with a funky groove you wish you had composed yourself.
Since you asked, 100% it would be “Fire” by Ohio Players. Those guys are one of my all-time favourite bands. Really though, they did an absolutely killer job in the first place – I’d just ruin it!
Favorite music related film?
A toss-up between “This Is Spinal Tap!” and “The Rocker”, gun to the head I’d say the former. You’re not a musician or an artist until you’ve seen Spinal Tap, that’s the training video.
One last thing we should know about you?
I suffer from GAS (not what you think!) it’s called Guitar Acquisition Syndrome – I have 13 guitars, a bass… and a mandolin.
Thank you!
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