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
to. 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.
More classical 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 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.
