Permanent Ability

-Hi Permanent Ability! Let's start with the name of the band, why did you choose this? Well I had this philosophy. We are all conceived with a god given gift,  in my case being able to create art and music, which is permanently rooted in me for life; and even if I wanted to get rid of that talent, its an ability that will always be mine, and its up to me to decide whether to use it, abuse it, or let it go to idle. So based on that philosophy, I thought Permanent Ability was suitable for my band name, and the creative abundance given to us as individuals, when we unit as one unit, has proven that we are using such gifts to inspire hearts and minds and using them as our canvas. 

-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you? I make music music because I sincerely & passionately LOVE doing it...more specifically making Funk Rock music. I would like to refresh the genre and bring it new life and i feel Permanent Ability has done that thus far. I'm not going to lie, fame and money are also other cognizant injections of motivation as well...but i'm realistic and have my priorities in a row. 

-A new album ("Love You To Death") is about to be released, is there a link between it and your last one ("Bring It On!") which received Grammy Nominees in five categories (Best Rock song, Best Alternative Album, Best Package Design, Best Performance by Group, Best Producer)? I wouldn't say there is a link more so a mature continuation portraying growth. I feel on "Love You to Death" you will hear a more mature band. My lyrics are well written and not as perverse as some of the songs on Bring It On! which were written in my early twenties. I want to prove that i am a good song writer as well as lyricist on this record. I also take some risks vocally and Im trying different ideas that i wasn't in the mind set of with Bring It On!. You can hear some of the this new style starting to bloom when listening to Bring It On! with the songs "Last to Know" & "Shades of Gray." 

-Talking about working on the record "Bring it On!" it was produced by Jim Wirt (Incubus, Hoobastank, Peter Case, etc). How much he has influenced your work? Jim brought tons to the table back in 2010, but it was already set, so to speak. He simply helped define the sound, and captured it with Bring It On!. With my first EP ‘From the Womb to Hollywood,’ I felt it failed to capture the original sound that I was looking for, and the overall tightness which can only be achieved when taking the time to make a real record. With Bring It On! we worked and worked the songs before recording and had already developed the sound. So when Jim Wirt stepped in, it was easy for him to refine it if needed, and then implemented his producing style to it. I was with him daily for twelve hours, twelve days straight just soaking up all the knowledge like a sponge, asking questions, making mental notes, etc. The final outcome was priceless, and the knowledge he shared, along with resources I now have moving forward to create music, it’s finally becoming second nature. Using what I learned by working under and studying Jim I now have the ability to Produce my records the same way, using the same methods and team, minus Jim. Fortunately, I had a great teacher and the new record "Love You to Death will be produced by yours truly. It's all second nature at this point to me.

-Many reviewers talk about you as the new Red Hot Chili Peppers. What do you think about it? It's insanely flattering. The Peppers have casted a long shadow, and getting out of that shadow has been challenging because we DO have an original sound. However, being compared to such an iconic band is VERY positive, and because few bands ventured successfully down the Funk Rock road, someone will always debate the originality of Permanent Ability. But thats cool. The colorful list of achievements my band has already accomplished in such a short time,  I can say with confidence that we are definitely moving in the right direction.  I mean the Grammy Nods alone make me keep doing what i'm doing, and maintaining a steady speed in this direction is the goal. 

-If it was up to you, how would you define your sound? Original. I sincerely feel Permanent Ability has a uniquely fresh and original funk rock sound that keeps evolving. 

-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they born? Do you have a favorite one? What is most important for me this time around is that I wanted this record to have a less-is-more approach. I felt with Bring It On!That a lot of the music was way too busy, as if we were playing live. I felt it had a dated drum sound, and there were tons of mistakes for the amount of money I paid for it. This time around I have more control and get to explore the concept of having each musician play what is right for each song. When I write the songs, I know the musicians well enough and write the parts with them in mind, and also am aware of how can we can pull it off live… although the bass and drums on my records are always cut together live to keep that feel just a bit. This record, I feel, will be my greatest one to date. The slow song Only Rain ventures out into using different layers, including pianos and violins, as well as, a Pearl Jam Yellow Led Better lullaby guitar tone. I also wrote a song called Punch A Bitch… despite its title, its about an argument I got into with Chelsea Handler at a grocery store in Los Angeles. She put me on blast on her show too, so this is my creative rebuttal. It’s tastefully done, too, and I’m proud of the outcome. Just Another Day is my lyrical unveiling, aimed directly at the phoniness of Hollywood and the music industry. I hate it! I wanted it to be an assault, and expose it for what it truly is… so it had to hit hard for me. I needed the motivation to fuel my anger and deliver an intense performance. This record is more mature, with solidified concepts – and it’s lyrically well-written, as well, I feel. A lot of the songs on Bring It On! I wrote in my late teens and early twenties like i said prior… and that album does have its immature moments, but that’s where I was at the moment. There are some solid songs on that record that kinda peak into Love You To Death’s writing style, though. I felt Love You To Death had the ability, for me, to prove evolution has begun within me as a writer, both lyrically and compositionally. I now arrange the songs without insecurity, and stay true to my creed of saying what I want and doing what I say. Good At Losing was actually supposed to make the record Bring It On!, but I felt it didn’t fit collectively with the rest. I’m glad i waited to release it too. It was recorded [back then] too, but I decided to re-do it. The final song exceeded my expectations, and Orlando’s solo is killer in it too! Some interesting facts regarding the recording of Love You To Death: We were able to use tier vintage equipment on this record. I had access to a 1964 Gretsch drum kit owned by Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The kick drum alone is 28 inches… and it sounds massive! Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters also lent my drum tech 4-5 different snares for us to try, too. 

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most? Our influences come from a wide variety of artists, ranging from LL Cool J to Led Zeppelin and everything else in between. Keeping our ears diverse to all styles of music is important to us, and also lends to a vast source of creative ammunition. So when I say we listen to everything…we sincerely do!  

-You come from Los Angeles. What do you think about the music coming from your city and country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them? Permanent Ability is unique because our sound is geared towards the genre Funk-Rock. Which makes us stick out like sore thumbs cuz our style is incomparable to the rest of these dime-a-dozen, clichéd acts found in commercial music today, as well as, here in the LA music scene. We are not taking an easy road though; trying to make this indie, hipster music like everyone else, cuz it’s “IN”, or cuz they want a record deal. Permanent Ability revives the fossil of funk, and takes the genre into a new modern day direction. Simply listen to the radio and you will hear, there isn’t one band on the airwaves that currently sounds like Permanent Ability. Plus, our live shows are immensely explosive, showcasing radio-friendly songs which also sets us apart from other live acts both signed and unsigned.

-What's your favorite artist and song? The Chili Peppers. I'd have to say anything off of BloodSugarSexMagik.

-Wanna talk us about your collaboration with bassist Mario Pagliarulo of Serj Tankian's solo band? He is a good friends of mine but we never got to collaborate together and I felt he was meant for this particular body of music. We work great together and we have fun collaborating too. I am very fortunate to have such great guys to be apart of this record too. Having him attached to the record helps our recognition and show a level of professionalism. He was also supposed to perform on my first record "From the Womb to Hollywood" which is currently being redone for re-release by the end of February in my current style now. Unfortunately, Mario was unavailable at that time back in 2008 and Lige Curry bassist of Parliament Funkadelic stepped in andI was fortunate for that humbling experience as well being such a long time fan of Funkadelic.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most? Dave Grohl, Brandon Boyd of Incubus....I know im missing a couple more. There really isn't much more to choose from in my opinion. All the iconic bands will soon be extinct, and I am not buying into all that hipster shit neither. Most of the bands today are flashes in the pan so labels can survive on that fast revenue. Start a band we need rock music! Or just sign Permanent Ability already.

-How much does the live element matter in your music? That's the MASSIVE and one of the most important aspects of Permanent Ability. So much so that we record live to capture that vibe and energy. Usually starting with bass and drums as solid takes using vocal and guitar scratches. Then once the bass and drums are locked in then we add guitars and vocals last. Even when I write the songs i always think, how can we pull this off live. Having that mindset when writing is also key.

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose? The Red Hot Chili Peppers...only with guitarist John Frusciante in the lineup.

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays? Wanna talk us about your experience with the labels? And what would you say to all the young bands looking for a record deal? Get a good lawyer. Now-a-days you don't need a label, you CAN do it yourself. It is hard work, but it beats the restrictions and the pauper lifestyle you will still be living signed to a label. Use your money wisely. Have a budget for your bands priorities, so when you do have to spend money you get every pennies worth. Also know sometimes to make money, you have to spend some too. Do your research online so you are not taken advantage of by companies claiming they have services to help you. Use Better Business Bureau..etc. Be mindful of the sharks, if you gotta pay them they usually ain’t legit. The Music Industy is a gamble, there is no formula to success you just gotta pave your own path by any means possible. Famous or infamous…you’re still famous I guess right?!? That’s what PA strives to do, and fortunately we’ve been successful. When TALENT meets the RIGHT opportunity, is when GREAT things happen. So be selective, be patient, and it will come. Hard work ALWAYS pays off!!!

-Do you feel the weight of being a real independent band? At times. But it no label has tons of positives also. We are completely free to do what we want and create our own deadlines and stick to them etc. Besides even label execs do not know what is going to be successful...the music industry right now is a crap shoot. The only weight I carry is funding the record, then not having any money afterwards to promote and market it. Slowly but surely the music makes its own noise and garners recognition...it just takes a little longer is all. 

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music and what would you like to say to your fans? Well every song has a message or a theme, but I like to write with a universal message for the listener to apply to his or her own life experiences to relate to it. I don’t like to limit myself lyrically, I will cover any topic I feel I can deliver creatively as long as I have the passion for that particular topic. There really isn’t one message per say, other than we try to make creative songs that are commercial / radio ready, showcasing a funky sound that menaces with energy. I would like to say Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii to the fans.

-What is your favorite book and movie? Favorite book is The Alchemist. Favorite movie is The Dark Knight.

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now? In sunny California performing, making and producing records for Permanent Ability as well as up and coming young bands. If any band is looking for quality sounding music and a producer feel free to contact me. 

-Beatles or Rolling Stones? Both. You can't have me choose between two music icons =)

-Where can we find your music? Please visit www.PermanentAbility.com for all up to date news,shows and music. Like us on facebook, follow our ass on Twitter, support us by shopping at iTunes. Thanks for the fun interview and support. Be good.

Tall Ships

Tall Ships

-Hi Tall Ships! Let's start with the name of the band, why did you
choose this pseudonym?

Hi there, we all studied in Cornwall at the Art university in Falmouth UK. The Cornish and especially Falmouth are very well linked with boats and Tall Ships, they have Tall ship festivals and all of the shops are draped in a maritime theme. Basically it was the most cliche name we could call ourselves whilst living in Falmouth.

-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?

We have all played in various bands growing up and music is our life, I guess we all dreamed of writing songs and playing them to people, but to get a response and have people connect with it means everything to us.
We started out just jamming in Ric's spare room with no real idea or agenda just to have a few beers and kick out the jams!! However since then we have other things to think about when making music. We have an amazing fan base that have stuck by us from the start and come to every show which is incredible. So we are not only making music for us we are making music for them. We simply wouldn't be in the position we are now without that support.

-Your song “Books“ is simply amazing. What’s the story behind it and
what made you decide to change it from the first version?

The early version of Books is probably the first complete song we wrote back when we were at Uni, it was a really quick organic process where it just came together. We played it in various bastard forms for a year until we recorded it for the first EP, it took a while as we were a instrumental band for about a year and this song was Ric's first go at singing and writing lyrics for Tall Ships. It was a kind of ' He can sing!, lets do more!' moment.
When were piecing together our ideas for songs to go on the album Books was a obvious choice, we all felt that this song needed to be taken to its full potential an that the EP version despite being a fan favourite was more like a demo to us.

-Is There a link between your first compositions and your debut album
“Everything Touching”? It seems like you needed time to find your true
sound and  tune.

Yeah, it took us along time to work out what we wanted to say and what kind of music we wanted to write. I think it took us along time because we fell into being a band, we never set out to be doing what we are doing now and we just learnt on the job. We had never been on tour or recorded in a studio or even attempted to write a EP of songs, it was all a learning curve and it definitely worked in our favour. When we started writing for the LP it felt like we were starting to hone in on our sound and anything before that was us trying out as much as we could. Which because of us not pinning ourselves down in the early stages has given us complete freedom to explore songs in different ways that other bands simply can't.

Tall Ships

-Many reviewers speak of your own insecurity about the “math-rock”
sound of your first Eps and that you were not content with what you
created, do you agree?

Hah! its weird were not that intelligent to be 'math rock'  All of our songs are in 4/4 and we use traditional major/minor chords. I think 'science rock' would be better for us. I can see why people tag us with that, we use loops and we were often billed with bands that are 'math rock' . If we called ourselves 'math rock' we would be bottom of the class.

-If it was up to you, how would you define your sound?

'Science rock'

-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they
born? Do you have a favourite one?

 Usually Ric will have a guitar part and we sit in the studio for days until something feels right. Then hours of meticulous jamming, and Beer of course.

 Hmmm my personal favourite to play live at the moment is Oscar, for me its great! I get to play noodley bass lines through the verses and then throw myself around a bit for the ending. The lyrics personally strike a chord with me so it makes it more special to play.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

We all have so many influences but we have a holy trinity that have mainly influenced the band.

Battles.
Biffy Cylro.
Sigur Ros.

-You come from Falmouth on the Cornish coast of England. What do you
think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see
yourself in relation to them?

The music at the moment in the UK is thriving but a lot goes un noticed. With the industry in such dire times financially its only a select few that are moving up the ladder. Theres a big 90's throw back revival happening at the moment which everyone is championing which obviously we don't fall into. Its sad really, its regurgitated slackerpop that has no feeling or emotion and is there to fill the void between the ears of the people who write it. I'm not saying its awful just not relevant, theres a time and a place for it but it just feels that the UK scene is full of very safe bands not really pushing any boundaries or being brave enough to show emotion.

-What's your favourite artist and song?

hmmm according to my iTunes this week... The Beatles - Helter Skelter

Tall Ships

-”Everything Touching (Bonus Tracks Version)” features remixes of your
songs (made by LA2019, 65days, Teej). How does this idea?

We basically send out the stems of songs to various people that are up for re mixing and then see hat happens... Its pretty fun its like asking someone to redecorate your house. The remixes everyone did came back completely different and we are really happy with.

-How much does the live element matter in your music?

For us the live element is probably the most important, to gain a connection with someone face to face is incredible.

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who
would you choose?

Craig David, we would be his backing band to play from start to finish his album 'born to do it'.

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

Its a tough one, obviously big labels are struggling and not taking any risks so it kind of stunts a small bands progressions to that major label status, but at the same time the underground scene is thriving.  Not many people are buying physical records which is awful and the rise of vinyl recently is a welcome change and should be encouraged by both ends of the label spectrum. And so more people are illegally downloading music, but its swings and roundabouts. Now that people have quick access to music it opens a huge audience to bands that would not necessarily have access to and in turn more people are going to gigs. Which is where bands should be made.

Tall Ships

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who
listen to your music and what would you like to say to your fans?

THANK YOU!!!!!!! xoxoxoxo

-What is your favourite book and movie?

I think I can safely say for all three of us its the same answer.

Jurassic Park

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Playing to 80,000 people in America....

-Beatles or Rolling Stones?

BEATLES

Everlone

-Who are you?

Hi, My name is Tim

- Why did you choose this pseudonym?

There isn't a specific reason I chose the name to be honest. It was more a case of the two words sounding good together. 

-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?

I've been making music for about ten years now, and it's just something I love doing. Some people play sports, I make music (although saying that, I'm a sports fan anyway. 9 points clear at the top of the prem; City ain't catchin' us this year.)

-Talking about your debut album "Verletze".

Verletzte was an EP that took me about a year and a half to write. There's hundreds of different versions buried deep in my hard drive that i was never happy with, and ended up getting the chop. It was kind of a personal test to see if I could actually put together an EP on my own (I get distracted very easily and lose interest in things) so naturally, the day I finally finished it, I was pretty elated. It was released on the brilliant net label "Bad Panda Records"- it's all run by one guy, which is pretty incredible. If you haven't checked Bad Panda out yet, I urge you to do so right now. 

One of my closet friends did some brilliant artwork for the EP (http://andinmyhandsacamera.tumblr.com/) 

-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they born and what's your favourite track?

I always start my tracks with piano, but I'm very picky about the sound I want so I usually end up traveling for four hours South, back to my Mum's house to use the piano there... Idiot (me, not my Mum)  Then I'll come back to London and edit it all up. I usually wait until a track is completely finished to record vocals, which in a house full of house producers, drummers and generally loud 20-somethings, isn't as easy as it sounds. I wouldn't say I have a favorite to be honest. By the time I've finished an EP I'm usually sick of hearing them anyway. 

-How would you define your sound?

I don't know really. I've been asked this question a lot of times and I never have an answer for it (not to say I feel my sound is 'unclassifiable' or different from others, I can just never pin-point it) I don't know... Lo-fi? That's a genre, right? People keep using the term 'Night Bus' and I absolutely can't stand it. 

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

A lot of things influence me, and not just in terms of music. I play in a band aside from Everlone, and being on tour, in a hot and smelly van with your five best friends is what gives me a lot of influence and passion (it sounds horrible, I know) There's something about being cut off from your home comforts that gives you a huge drive to want to create something awesome. I usually go on a huge writing binge when I get back from tour. In terms of artists who influence me, again, it's very eclectic. Sigur Ros were pretty much my first love from the age of 13 onwards (we'll brush over System Of A Down and Mudvayne) and still give me so much influence in the way I write. I've been listening to Seetheroad's Starpatch EP a lot recently, that's really good.

-You come from London. What do you think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them?

It depends on what music you mean really. In terms of artists my music relates to it is absolutely fantastic right now. For starters we have Burial, and if you can find a better artist doing what he's doing at the moment, I'll cut my head off and give you my brain. Not to mention the likes of Floating Points, Clubroot, Four Tet (yadda, yadda, yadda) There's people like BNRY (http://soundcloud.com/bnry) who is absolutely killer on the house scene. Definitely check him out. 

-What's your favourite artist and song?

Crikey, that's an awkward question. Diva by Beyonce is very high up there. In fact, anything by Beyonce is very high up there. She's the one. 

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

It depends what you mean by relevant? All music is relevant to it's audience, but If you mean what artists are most current, I wouldn't have a clue... Robbie Williams? Is he still flogging that dead horse? (Saying that, his "Swing When You're Winning" album was awesome) ...Maybe I'm missing the point. I'm listening to Buck UK loads again, the Once EP he did on Cut was so good. And Indian Wells, I'm always listening to Indian Wells.

-How much does the live element matter in your music?

Live music always matters, regardless of genre. There's nothing better than waiting to see someone play for ages and finally getting the chance to go see them, whether that be in a club, a venue, a bar or the O2 Arena. For me, I've done very few live shows with Everlone (one) so I'm not really sure on the reception it receives. It's always fun to play live shows though, and at the end of the day that's the reason for doing it in the first place.  

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

I think it's more a case of who would have me. Maybe I'll throw a spanner in the works and say I want to play with Napalm Death (I'm absolutely joking) I'd love to play a show with someone like Holy Other or Actress, that would be cool. Or Sigur Ros, but that will literally, never happen.

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

That's an ambiguous question. People berate the music industry and moan about it every hour of every day, but it's there for a reason. If we didn't have these labels putting out music, we wouldn't have the music to listen to, it's as simple as that. Yeah, there's horror stories about artists being fucked over by the big cheese, but at the end of the day, record labels haven't got "fuck artists over" at the top of their list of priorities. Saying that, the independent label scene is absolutely booming at the moment, which is so good to see. It's awesome that people want to involve themselves in pushing music to other people, generally at their own expense. If you're reading this and you're starting or have started an independent  label, I'd give you a big wet kiss.

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music?

There isn't a message really, I just hope people like it and that I don't get bored of making it any time soon. 

-What is your favourite book and movie?

The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky is probably my favorite film. It's beautifully made, with an incredible storyline, not to mention the soundtrack by Clint Mansell which is just in a league of its own. Mansell is just in a league of his own. I couldn't really pick a favorite book, there's too many. The Outsider by Camus is very near the top though.

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Errr... 34, hopefully not dead, maybe a bun in the oven. I'd really like a new car by then.

-Pc or Mac?

I use Mac, but PC's are great too.

-Beatles or Rolling Stones?

I've never liked either. McCartney is a dick and Jagger has no moves. 

André Uhl

-Who are you?

My Name is André Uhl, I'm a producer and DJ from Berlin. 

-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?

Music is communication, therapy and my favorite artistic vehicle. It has always been an important part of my life and there's nothing better than having a track finished when I'm happy with it.

- Talking about your EP "Creatures".

For Creatures I experimented a lot with the interaction of different soundlayers, especially in the low frequencies. It contains plenty of field recordings, for example almost all the percussions come from edited samples I recorded somewhere. The structure of the EP is like a journey: It starts uncertain and kind of mystic with convergence, then it get's hypnotic, almost stoic with the second track Native. The third track Leviathan is more intense, the pressure is rising, the last track Marvin is the climax. The title Creatures came in my mind when i noticed that the tracks have developed a life of their own while I was producing them. I discovered a certain personality in each of the tracks.

- How would you define your sound?

Dark, driving, melancholic, cinematic.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

I've always been listening to a great variety of musical genres. I grew up with hiphop and startet DJing. Then I fell in love with sample based stuff, like DJ Krush and others on Ninja Tune or Alias from Anticon. In particular the Deltron 3030 album was like a revelation to me. All kinds of electronic music have always inspired me, Kraftwerk, Squarepusher, Autechre, that's where my love for effects and sounddesign comes from. I also like a lot of wave bands like The Cure and post-rock bands like Mogwai, which probably formed my passion for melodies and melancholy.

-You come from Berlin. What do you think about the music coming from your country and how do you see yourself in relation to them?

Berlin has a long tradition of outstanding bands and artists. It's good to live in such a creative an open-minded environment and to have the chance to see good shows all the time. I do not consider myself as part of a certain musical scene or genre, but I feel at home here. If I would live somewhere else I would still be inspired to make music but I'm pretty sure the music would sound differently.

André Uhl Homepage

-What's your favourite artist and song?

It's impossible for me to define one favorite artist or song. But if I have to name some songs, then Dark Allies by Light Asylum would probably be the most powerful one, Fog by Nosaj Thing the one with the perfect melody, Friday Night by Chinawoman the one with the strongest presence of melancholy and Golden Porsche by Mogwai the one with the perfect mood.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

adoptahighway, Ages, Astronautalis, Baths, Chinawoman, Clams Casino, Darkstar, Dorian Concept, Dead Times, Joey Bada$$, John Maus, Light Asylum, Lorn, Lonski & Classen, Mogwai, naps, Nosaj Thing, Robot Koch, Shabazz Palaces and many, many others

-How much does the live element matter in your music?

It doesn't really matter too much during my production process. Usually there are two moments where the it plays a role: a first random played sequence often turns out to be the best melody. The second moment is when I record beats, which I usually trigger live to give the track an organic feel. Apart from that I'm rather a perfectionist. I work as long as it takes on a track until I think it's finished. When I play live shows I perform with a midi controller and kind of remix my songs and work with a lot of effects.

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

I would be happy to support Kraftwerk.

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

I don't think too much about the music industry. For now I work completely DIY and Bad Panda Records who released my EP is a DIY label. So I'm not in a position where I really have to deal with it.

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music?

Use your imagination.

Cover of "Creatures"

-What is your favourite book and movie?

Again, that's hard. I can't name a favorite movie or book. At the moment I'm reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen which really makes me think about relationships between people. One hundred years of solitude by Gabriel García Marquez is one of the most beautiful books I know.

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Sitting in my studio and finishing the soundtrack for a John Carpenter movie about intelligent energy fields taking over the earth.

-Pc or Mac?

Mac.

-Beatles or Rolling Stones?

The Doors

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Cave Painting

Cave Painting

 Hi Cave Painting! Let's start with the name of the band, why did you choose              

this pseudonym?

The names conjures up images of a primal time, maybe even a simplicity. There's also elements of tribal influence in our music, ultimately it just made sense at the time.

Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?

I think we've all made music for a long time as a band and also individually, it's something we are passionate about, and it's a massive privilege to be making music as a career.

Your song “Nickel“ it's stunning! What’s the story behind it?

Thank-you, "Nickel" was one of the songs that really came together whilst in the process of recording the album, it's probably the most unusual song we play as it consists of 3 separate sections rather than verses and choruses.

Is There a link between your first compositions (“So Calm”, “Leaf”, etc) and your debut album “Votive Life”?

Both "So Calm" and "Leaf" were practically the first songs we wrote as Cave Painting, it feels like they set a tone for the rest of the album and a sense of direction.

Your music creates a very intimate and emotional mood, sometimes it sound quite “tropical”. Do you agree?

"Votive Life" front cover

Yeah I think there are elements of that, mainly due to some of the instrumentation that was used on the album, Sam sampled an African Balafon, which he'd acquired from his Mum's travels, it features heavily throughout "Gator"

If it was up to you, how would you define your sound?

I like the words you've used in the previous question, lets go with intimate/emotional soundscape pop.

Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they born? Do you have a favourite one?

Initially a lot of the basic ideas come from Sam writing keyboard parts which we then build on in the studio, I think there may be a couple of different choices here, but I'll opt for "Rio"

What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

With there being 5 of us there's a healthy mixture of influences, we're big fans of bands like "The National" and more recently "Efterklang" bands that in our eyes make beautiful music.

You come from Brighton, England. What do you think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them?

I think England has always been in a strong position musically and now as much as ever, we recently supported Alt-J on tour a band that are really flying the flag for British music at the moment. Brighton itself is full of musicians and bands, which makes it a great place to be.

What's your favourite artist and song?

Not this question! it doesn't always stay the same but for now let's go with, favourite artist - Bon Iver, and favourite song by a different artist would be 'Harvest Moon' by Neil Young.

Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

As mentioned earlier Alt-J seem pretty relevant at the moment, I guess it always depends it what context, we've been listening to a lot of "Kendrick Lamar" in fact it's often the soundtrack to our time on the road lately.

@Cave Painting

How much does the live element matter in your music? In many reviews it is said that your concerts are full of epic atmosphere, what do youthink about it?

I'd say it's quite possibly the most important element, nothing really comes close to playing your music live infront of a crowd, it feels like the final stage of the creative process  and that makes it's massively important. I think as we progress as a band we would love and plan to build on the visual elements of our live performances. 

If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

Another tough question....... Jay Z

What do you think about the music industry nowadays? Wanna talk us about your experience with the labels?

I think it's a tough place to be as an alternative act in it's relative infancy, it's so important to be with a label that shares your vision of what you want to achieve, and will allow you the time to do it.

What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music and what would you like to say to your fans?

Simply put a massive thank-you for supporting us, and hopefully see you when we get to Italy!

And to all the young bands looking for a record deal?

Don't look, just concentrate on creating and playing your music.

Cave Painting

What is your favourite book and movie?

American Psycho and There Will Be Blood

How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Playing the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.

Beatles or Rolling Stones?

             Beatles, obviously