How do you write music?
I've written songs since I was a teenager - I've always enjoyed
putting melody to chord progressions and playing with words and since getting a really simple sequencer on an old Atari I've
had an ever growing interest in music production. I could have tried getting a deal 10 years ago I guess, the songs were good
enough but I was quite happy just writing and listening to it myself! Plus there are always other distractions…
I've
always written in my head first, that’s where melody always starts, or phrases or I picture an atmosphere… If
I have a good vocal or melodic hook going round my head then I work out the chords that fit that and build an arrangement
up from there. For some reason it seems to be minor chords and minor melodies that come out.
Where
do you create?
It all starts in my head.. The music of Headtapes has been a while in gestation, in fact
its constantly in gestation. I've a lot of unfinished songs along with accompanying visual ideas which i'm trying
to prioritise and complete. It's all written and produced by me in my home studio, some of it over several years,
but only now have the results really been available to anyone other than the usual family and close friends.
What are your influences?
I get as influenced as anyone does by all sorts of music, but I guess the stuff
I grew up with and listened to will creep in from time to time. I loved a lot of stuff on Mute records, early 90's Depeche,
Nitzer Ebb and Wire, more recently some Goldfrapp & Maps, they are just a consistently good record label. I got in to
some shoegazer type stuff after that scene had happened really - MBV and Curve the most. I had such a crush on Toni
Halliday…still do!
The wall of sound approach has been an influence now and then, but for me its using
synths instead of guitars. I have a love of great pop records too, but I'm fully aware that what one person considers
'great' is not necessarily what someone else does! Genius pop melodies just seem to transcend anything else about
the records, everything else kind of just compliments it, stuff like 'Move on Up' by Curtis Mayfield, 'A little
Respect' by Erasure or 'Ring the Bells' by James. You could sing the praises of the music too but it’s
the melody that shines through - like it’s the perfect set of notes that could fit over those particular chords. When
I write I seem to instinctively shy away from making it too pop, and roughen up the edges without really trying.
Art influences come from many places too. I loved comics when I was little, and I occasionally read them now and have
a small collection of Graphic Novels. The stories are as inspiring as the actual artwork, especially in the case of Neil Gaiman,
or Alan Moore, who tell such imaginative tales that you find yourself almost seeing more than is on the page and expanding
the illustrations further, almost animated. The more classical type of artists I enjoy and find inspiring are William
Blake and Henry Fuseli, i've just got a bit into the work of Francis Bacon too and i'm enjoying discovering more of
his stuff.
There is also a lot of crossover of influences and the work of the artists I mentioned above influence
my music as much as my art. Films of course are also very inspiring.
What do you write about?
All
sorts of stuff but it mostly veers towards darker things. In terms of subject matter I tend to draw on things that are
quite hard to pin down… stuff that happens in your mind. It could appear that certain lyrics don't make much
sense but to me it obvious. Plus I also write alot of instrumentals, so the subject matter can be more abstract there.
What do you draw with?
I'm mainly a pencil drawer, also charcoal and inks and very occasionally I paint.
I also like a mixture of pencil and ink together. I'm getting more into digitally altering my art which is a bit
late as i've always done graphic design in terms of page layout and sort of promo stuff, but never really explored photoshop
in any depth. Its exciting, and I like to use my photography and hand drawn source material rather than exclusively create
something digitally. A bit like sampling in music I guess. Choose your source material then fuck about with it and make it
your own.
Why create Headtapes now?
I've suffered from OCD for a long time
- from intrusive thoughts that are often unpleasant and compell me to perform certain tasks and rituals that in my mind makes
things better. Its pretty hard to explain and I have been feeling alot better after courses of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
and years of medication…this is one reason why I've only recently thought seriously about releasing music and showing
my art properly. I just wasn't ready to before now, but a lot of my subject matter draws on these experiences, both high
and lows and my constant fascination with the human mind so it hasn't all been wasted years.
I also see music
in my head, which I think is more common than you would imagine, I'm sure there is a name for it? Whenever I hear music
it is represented by images, be it shapes or patterns or colours, constantly. I'm fully aware how weird that sounds
and I struggle to find the best way to explain it, but I'll keep trying!
I would say songwriting, composing,
drawing & painting or creating whatever it is, acts as a kind of therapy too. I'm a pretty happy guy on the
whole, as most of the darker stuff gets channelled in to the music and art.
Being in control of all aspects of Headtapes
is pretty important to me even if it is time consuming. I design the artwork myself, in addition to writing, producing, mixing,
updating websites etc
What is Dogamusic Records?
I started Dogamusic records as
a platform to release Headtapes music which came about from the idea that I didn't want to just send demos to a ton of
labels and see what happened. I wanted to be more proactive and try 'doing it' myself. Plus the industry seems to
be in a really exciting state of change, I don't see it as doom and gloom, well it maybe for some fat cats who don't
have a clue what is happening around them but to people like me it’s a really interesting time. Current technology allows
you to get music out to people and make the most of the opportunities available. It would be great to have some financial
help or a video budget, but on sensible terms and with people who were also passionate about music. It's early days but
exciting times… you never know what's round the corner so we'll just make the most of what comes our way and
try and enjoy it.
FAQ last updated 2009.
