For those who havenít heard the album yet, how would you describe it?
I think I would describe it as† accessible but thoughtful. I wanted it to have mass appeal, but at the same time didnít want it to be mindless. I picked songs of mine from various genres of inspiration that are catchy and easy to listen to in one go…† For example, ìSex Symbol” has the tone of British Invasion, ìLaura McHugh,” is more punk era, and Van Morrisonís inspiration can be heard in ìThirsty.”
How long were you working with ìThirsty”? How does it feel to be done?
In January, I recorded with a producer named Jim McCelle … I sent him a CD of three songs off [my band] the Cherry Flavored Elevator album, and he wanted to hear what else I had written. I sent him about a hundred demos that Iíve worked on since freshman year … then we started to record 13 of the 20 he liked. As far as the actual recording, I started working in May. We finished tracking in July, they were sent off to Atlanta where they were mixed, and we started designing the album. In August, the album was pressed in N.J., and we sent it into CDBaby, and it appeared on iTunes about two weeks ago.
Itís nice to have it done. Now Iím at the point where Iím preparing a band to do live shows as a supporting act. Weíre starting off in Ohio and trying to do showcases where we open for national acts and perform in 45 minutes the album, inviting booking agents.
If you had to pick one song off the album to represent your best work, which would it be and why?
Thatís a bit like asking me to pick my favorite kid. I think ìThirsty.” I love the song because itís a true story, and I love the general feel and instrumentation ó but most of all, the song has a lot of sentimental value because it was the one that took the most time to record. I must have done at least 20 vocal takes, and it was a big question whether it was going to be on the album. Then, on the final night of recording, we decided to try it one more time and I had the perfect take.
So does that make ìThirsty” the song of the most sentimental value to you on the album?
All of the songs have different meanings, and they showcase a moment from my time in Wooster. ìThirsty” just happens to be a moment that Iím still enjoying. When I look at the album, I can see which building on campus I wrote each song in, and thatís pretty powerful. Not that all of them were written in school, but probably 70 percent† of the album was written in a dorm room or about a specific person on campus.
Most artists like to put their album tracks in a specific order. Is there a specific reason you ordered the tracks the way you did?
I wanted to keep things interesting for the listener. Too many fast songs in a row wear the listener out, but too many slow songs gets boring. Itís like a giant mix tape. I listened to debut albums of some of my favorite artists like The Beatles and Ben Kweller and tried to emulate that. For example, the tone change from ìTroubles Fade Away” to ìA Keeper” was meant to be homage to the ìYesterday” and ìDizzy Miss Lizzy” transition from The Beatlesí ìHelp!” album.
There were many disagreements with the way the tracks should be ordered, but ultimately I made the final decision. Sometimes, I tried to go for a certain feel with the switching gears, and other times the songs just seemed to fit into place themselves. I couldnít see any song going before ìSex Symbol,” and I couldnít see any song going after ìA Keeper.” The producer actually wanted ìTroubles Fade Away” to end the album.
On the album, thereís a song called ìLaura McHugh.” Do you ever feel compelled to change the names of the people you write about?
In that case, there is a real Laura McHugh (ë09), and sheís proud of the song existing, so in cases like that Iíll gladly include the personís name. But Iím not going to use the same name over and over in multiple songs, so sometimes thatís a good reason to change the name used in a song. Sometimes when you write a song, the flow of the name just fits. Other times, the person didnít have a particularly lyrical name, so I might consider changing it.
Whatís different about being a college musician and being in the real world? Do you miss the College?
When I was in college, there was always school as a priority. I had to do well in school; I would leave class, go drive two hours to a gig, then drive back for class the next day. But school helped my writing a lot as well. Advanced Fictional Writing, for example, really taught me the power of imagery. School also created a safety net, because when I went to play there would be a place to stay and there was always a meal plan.
Now I need to find† a way to keep playing and not be a homeless musician playing in a subway. I feel like thereís a lot more pressure, but thereís a lot of freedom. I have the time to submerge myself.
Fall of my sophomore year, I realized I really wanted to make it as a professional musician, and that I would kick my self if I didnít try. I had to try full force without other careers. Whenever Iím unsure about not having a specific career planned, I pause and ask ìis this what I want to be doing?” And the answer is always yes, so I keep going.
What kind of shows are you doing in the near future?
Two weeks ago I played in Cincinati with what will be my live band to test ourselves, and we play well, but I want to sharpen up our skills a bit more. Iíll start booking showcases in Cleveland and Columbus and other areas with my road manager, and weíre making connections with club owners. We can probably start doing showcases in at least a month or so. Iíve also been doing acoustic shows in Hillsborough, Ohio in front of a couple hundred people as a supporting act to a few bands.
Recently, Iíve been looking into getting radio shows and geting some access to independent radio stations and have on-air sessions. You can go out there and play a hundred shows, but it wonít make a huge difference if you donít get the right people at the shows. Thatís what Iím looking for now. We want the press to go to our concerts and build media buzz; we donít want to [play in] bars our whole lives.
What about CFE and Exit Suburbia? Whatís going on with them while you do your solo career?
Right now, CFE is on hiatus. Two guys in CFE are still enrolled in college, and their schedules are not as flexible. Itís not like there was a big falling out, we just had availability issues. ES hasnít played a show since 2006, and the lead guitarist moved. That oneís officially broken up.
Right now, do you have any plans for the next album? Is there anything you want out of the next one, looking at the way this one turned out?
My road manager and I were going through my iTunes where I have all of my demos, and there are a few songs he really wished could have been recording. I made so many demos I havenít had time to work with, and Iím writing lots of new material. With both those factors in mind, I donít know exactly how the next album will sound.
Really, Iím very pleased with the way the album came out, so itís tough to say where I want to go with the next one.
Any final thoughts for the fans, as well as the musicians on campus right now?
(laughs) Oh, I have fans? Well I always thought Ginny Kincaid í10 was an excellent songwriter, and Nick Terelle í10 was great to jam to. Those guys, along with the band formerly known as Coffee were always really fun.
As for the fans, I really appreciate their support. I appreciate those that made an effort to listen my music and I really appreciate those that still do. Especially in the future, Iíll certainly still need their support in trying to make this work.