I don't have much to say because I haven't been working hard this week.
I found this the other week. It's almost an entire issue of Popular Music for free! I live for analysis so this is very exciting to me, but perhaps not to you. And that's cool!
Second thing is a video I found why trying to find any Depeche Mode video I could. I found one that was only released on Strange, which was very lucky because my sister Rachel hadn't seen it yet.
But this is what I'm referring to:
Simon Amstell asking Depeche Mode Big Ones for Popworld when Playing the Angel came out.
Happy New Year, CCHH readers!
Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Hazards of Being a Professional and a Fan
I am a fan. I mean that in the most general sense. I participate in many fandoms on different levels. I read fanfic - no joke. I'm actually working on a story for one of my fandom friends. Most fans dream of meeting the object of their affections. It's a strong passion - for some, an obsession. I will stand up and say it, sometimes it's hard for the fan to quiet down when the professional is needed.
For instance, I interviewed the very talented Spencer Cobrin for my school newspaper via MySpace. He was very kind and candid, great qualities in a subject. He even wished me a happy birthday a month or so later. I was a bit infatuated. I wished that we could somehow maintain correspondence and even be friends. Of course, that's not gonna happen. The most I can hope for is that I get to hang out with him for a bit when I work on my book. And that will have to be enough.
Maybe this is a bit of a lame post because it doesn't even take that much discipline to resist the urge to contact a musician because it's pretty obvious that your reputation would suffer as a consequence. But ain't gonna lie, it's very cool to talk to your idols. Duh.
For instance, I interviewed the very talented Spencer Cobrin for my school newspaper via MySpace. He was very kind and candid, great qualities in a subject. He even wished me a happy birthday a month or so later. I was a bit infatuated. I wished that we could somehow maintain correspondence and even be friends. Of course, that's not gonna happen. The most I can hope for is that I get to hang out with him for a bit when I work on my book. And that will have to be enough.
Maybe this is a bit of a lame post because it doesn't even take that much discipline to resist the urge to contact a musician because it's pretty obvious that your reputation would suffer as a consequence. But ain't gonna lie, it's very cool to talk to your idols. Duh.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
My very own interview with Chris Dane Owens [dreamy sigh]
Yo, peeps. I thought I'd get the jump on a whole bunch of journalists/bloggers by talking to the man of the hour December, Christopher Dane Owens. But, dang sauce, the kids at the LA Times music blog, Pop & Hiss apparently had the same idea. They may have beat me by a few days, but I'm not bitter, oh no.
Now, ignore all that other stuff and READ THIS.
I discovered Chris Dane Owens at almost exactly the same moment everyone else did: Friday, December 5. Then I became curious when I saw the date that "Shine On Me" was posted to YouTube - October 3. How had it stayed hidden for so long? The world may never know, but we do know why thousands know about it now. Videogum and G4's Attack of the Show both mentioned "Shine On Me" and bloggers quickly got wind of it and spread the love aaaaaall around. My only regret is that I didn't find it in time for my birthday. That would have been the best birthday present ever.
"Shine On Me" has proven to be polarizing, with tweets from both the lovers and the haters; sometimes both at once. Bonus twitter search link here. I am firmly in the lover camp, by the way.
I decided to email Chris (we're TOTALLY on a first-name basis, y'all) requesting an interview and I found him to be super nice and very approachable. (Well, I mean, why would you be rude to a blogger - there's no reason for it.) I totally geeked out at his answers to my questions. We have kind of similar taste in music from the 80s. But enough about me, on to the interview!
SB: You're a film and television producer by profession. What made you get into music? How long have you been playing guitar?
CDO: I have been playing since I was 13. I met some guys at school who were doing a talent show and their bass player had to back out. They asked me if I wanted to do the show with them and join the band. Problem was, I not only didn't own a bass, I had never even played before. So I said Ok, and my parents helped me get my first bass. It was a beat up Gibson SG , and I practiced for the show until my fingers were mangled. I only had a few weeks to learn the 2 songs; Led Zep, and Aerosmith tunes. The show was really a blast for me, and I have been addicted to music ever since. I moved over to lead guitar about 2 years later. My first real guitar was a red BC Rich.
SB: The video for "Shine On Me" is pretty lavish. What was the inspiration for such a fancy music video?
CDO: I am a huge fan of Anime/ Manga, as well as films like Braveheart, LOTR, and The Matrix, ...So by far, that creative body, was the greatest influence.
Also, I went back to Tokyo right before I started storyboarding for the video and that totally lit my imagination on fire. The Anime culture is thriving, and everywhere I turned, I found something new that fascinated me, with its power, beauty, or whimsical humor.
So the director, and my long time friend, Bob Short and I turned to those sources quite a bit for inspiration. It's one of reasons there is so much wind blowing in a lot of our shots in the video. We wanted to capture as much energy as we could in otherwise static setups like the animators do in Anime. People were laughing at me on the set while filming the video, because I kept cranking up the turbo fans on the actresses playing the Witches and Angels. Some of the footage was so over the top you couldn't even see their faces through all the flying hair. But I loved it.
When we do the next installment in our series of music videos, I am planning on working with some of the Hollywood stunt coordinators I know, so we can really bring more fight/ battle action to the game. I also want to get the camera moving more, to bring more dynamism to the scenes.
SB: Speaking of the video, it recently got a lot of attention on the internet. I literally showed it to everyone I know. Have you been following all the blogs and buzz?
CDO: Thank you Sarah for your support. What happened was that I was working in the mix studio last Friday with Chris Garcia, and out of the blue the video got 11,000 hits that day. I thought it was a glitch on my iPhone. All sorts of e-mails came up from friends telling me something wild was happening. Then G4 Television did a small piece on it, and it has taken flight for the last week. No doubt it will cool off, but this small flurry has set a few things in motion that were very pleasant surprises for us.
As for the blogs and comments, I have been sent lots of the blogs and am totally blown away by some of the fantastic remarks and amazing reviews of the project. For lots of people, the video seems to be very uplifting, adventurous and heartwarming. And that feels great to all of us.
Of course on the dark side of the coin, is that there are the "Enemies of Love" who aren't into the video at all. Or they actually like the video, but don't spark to my song in any way. Or maybe they love the song, but can't stand my look (with or without mustache). I'm sure you get my drift. It's hard to make mass appeal entertainment. I have learned this through my career in TV. That's why we always said while making the Vid, that we are going for a particular audience and that we would be quite happy if the right people really resonated with our themes and imagery. Also, I have discovered that not everyone even likes these kind of fantasy projects. Some people want a much more grounded universe…
But I have noticed a shift however when some people learn about the Anime inspiration behind it all. Perhaps it explains things a bit.
SB: There are mentions of an international tour on your website and MySpace page. How big of a tour are you planning? What cities do you wish to play in? Do you want to play large venues or in a more intimate setting?
CDO: Yes, touring is a big part of my goal. In many ways, like lots of musicians, I would like to perform where ever the art is appreciated. Even if that's to 300 people in a small clubs in Tokyo. I am optimistic that we will play some good sized venues in certian cities. Japan will be first I think, however, we must finish mixing the record, and then we can set a course for the next goal. It's all about finding an audience who embrace the craft and messages.
SB: Much of the commentary I've seen compares "Shine On Me" to music made in the eighties. What is your reaction to this?
In that song in particular, from the album, I can see that! There will always be a place in my heart for musicians like The Cure, Big Country, Tears for Fears, ABC, and PIL [Author's (interviewer's?) note: psst, that would be Public Image Ltd., for those not in the know]. And as these people mostly gained notoriety in the 80's in particular, I would call that a portion of my 80's influence.
In "Shine On Me" We have a funky slap bass in the verse of that song that Damian Valentine my producer and writing partner played. My guitar work has some 70's / 80's funk to it as well. But mostly I believe it's the vocals that are probably vibing in an 80's style. I think the sliced up guitars modernize it a bit, but I agree with the comment. Conversely, our songs like "Wicked" and "Superhuman", are a complete 180 from that, as I do something more akin to vocal chants on those rock-techno tracks.
Since my deepest roots are really grounded in Led Zep, The Beatles, and most predominantly David Bowie. I never know how that influence is going to bleed through into my work.
These days my favorite groups are MCR, Rise Against, Foo fighters and Muse. So I like pulling inspiration from lots of places eras.
And a closing message from CDO to the fans:
As I jump off line now to give my thumbs a break, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who is enjoying the first video from the album. I know some people really want to know more about the 3rd Kingdom storyline and I look forward to telling that another time. Happy New Year!! CDO
Now, ignore all that other stuff and READ THIS.
I discovered Chris Dane Owens at almost exactly the same moment everyone else did: Friday, December 5. Then I became curious when I saw the date that "Shine On Me" was posted to YouTube - October 3. How had it stayed hidden for so long? The world may never know, but we do know why thousands know about it now. Videogum and G4's Attack of the Show both mentioned "Shine On Me" and bloggers quickly got wind of it and spread the love aaaaaall around. My only regret is that I didn't find it in time for my birthday. That would have been the best birthday present ever.
"Shine On Me" has proven to be polarizing, with tweets from both the lovers and the haters; sometimes both at once. Bonus twitter search link here. I am firmly in the lover camp, by the way.
I decided to email Chris (we're TOTALLY on a first-name basis, y'all) requesting an interview and I found him to be super nice and very approachable. (Well, I mean, why would you be rude to a blogger - there's no reason for it.) I totally geeked out at his answers to my questions. We have kind of similar taste in music from the 80s. But enough about me, on to the interview!
SB: You're a film and television producer by profession. What made you get into music? How long have you been playing guitar?
CDO: I have been playing since I was 13. I met some guys at school who were doing a talent show and their bass player had to back out. They asked me if I wanted to do the show with them and join the band. Problem was, I not only didn't own a bass, I had never even played before. So I said Ok, and my parents helped me get my first bass. It was a beat up Gibson SG , and I practiced for the show until my fingers were mangled. I only had a few weeks to learn the 2 songs; Led Zep, and Aerosmith tunes. The show was really a blast for me, and I have been addicted to music ever since. I moved over to lead guitar about 2 years later. My first real guitar was a red BC Rich.
SB: The video for "Shine On Me" is pretty lavish. What was the inspiration for such a fancy music video?
CDO: I am a huge fan of Anime/ Manga, as well as films like Braveheart, LOTR, and The Matrix, ...So by far, that creative body, was the greatest influence.
Also, I went back to Tokyo right before I started storyboarding for the video and that totally lit my imagination on fire. The Anime culture is thriving, and everywhere I turned, I found something new that fascinated me, with its power, beauty, or whimsical humor.
So the director, and my long time friend, Bob Short and I turned to those sources quite a bit for inspiration. It's one of reasons there is so much wind blowing in a lot of our shots in the video. We wanted to capture as much energy as we could in otherwise static setups like the animators do in Anime. People were laughing at me on the set while filming the video, because I kept cranking up the turbo fans on the actresses playing the Witches and Angels. Some of the footage was so over the top you couldn't even see their faces through all the flying hair. But I loved it.
When we do the next installment in our series of music videos, I am planning on working with some of the Hollywood stunt coordinators I know, so we can really bring more fight/ battle action to the game. I also want to get the camera moving more, to bring more dynamism to the scenes.
SB: Speaking of the video, it recently got a lot of attention on the internet. I literally showed it to everyone I know. Have you been following all the blogs and buzz?
CDO: Thank you Sarah for your support. What happened was that I was working in the mix studio last Friday with Chris Garcia, and out of the blue the video got 11,000 hits that day. I thought it was a glitch on my iPhone. All sorts of e-mails came up from friends telling me something wild was happening. Then G4 Television did a small piece on it, and it has taken flight for the last week. No doubt it will cool off, but this small flurry has set a few things in motion that were very pleasant surprises for us.
As for the blogs and comments, I have been sent lots of the blogs and am totally blown away by some of the fantastic remarks and amazing reviews of the project. For lots of people, the video seems to be very uplifting, adventurous and heartwarming. And that feels great to all of us.
Of course on the dark side of the coin, is that there are the "Enemies of Love" who aren't into the video at all. Or they actually like the video, but don't spark to my song in any way. Or maybe they love the song, but can't stand my look (with or without mustache). I'm sure you get my drift. It's hard to make mass appeal entertainment. I have learned this through my career in TV. That's why we always said while making the Vid, that we are going for a particular audience and that we would be quite happy if the right people really resonated with our themes and imagery. Also, I have discovered that not everyone even likes these kind of fantasy projects. Some people want a much more grounded universe…
But I have noticed a shift however when some people learn about the Anime inspiration behind it all. Perhaps it explains things a bit.
SB: There are mentions of an international tour on your website and MySpace page. How big of a tour are you planning? What cities do you wish to play in? Do you want to play large venues or in a more intimate setting?
CDO: Yes, touring is a big part of my goal. In many ways, like lots of musicians, I would like to perform where ever the art is appreciated. Even if that's to 300 people in a small clubs in Tokyo. I am optimistic that we will play some good sized venues in certian cities. Japan will be first I think, however, we must finish mixing the record, and then we can set a course for the next goal. It's all about finding an audience who embrace the craft and messages.
SB: Much of the commentary I've seen compares "Shine On Me" to music made in the eighties. What is your reaction to this?
In that song in particular, from the album, I can see that! There will always be a place in my heart for musicians like The Cure, Big Country, Tears for Fears, ABC, and PIL [Author's (interviewer's?) note: psst, that would be Public Image Ltd., for those not in the know]. And as these people mostly gained notoriety in the 80's in particular, I would call that a portion of my 80's influence.
In "Shine On Me" We have a funky slap bass in the verse of that song that Damian Valentine my producer and writing partner played. My guitar work has some 70's / 80's funk to it as well. But mostly I believe it's the vocals that are probably vibing in an 80's style. I think the sliced up guitars modernize it a bit, but I agree with the comment. Conversely, our songs like "Wicked" and "Superhuman", are a complete 180 from that, as I do something more akin to vocal chants on those rock-techno tracks.
Since my deepest roots are really grounded in Led Zep, The Beatles, and most predominantly David Bowie. I never know how that influence is going to bleed through into my work.
These days my favorite groups are MCR, Rise Against, Foo fighters and Muse. So I like pulling inspiration from lots of places eras.
And a closing message from CDO to the fans:
As I jump off line now to give my thumbs a break, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who is enjoying the first video from the album. I know some people really want to know more about the 3rd Kingdom storyline and I look forward to telling that another time. Happy New Year!! CDO
Monday, August 4, 2008
My Spencer Cobrin interview
After yesterday's post I wondered if there was any pressing need to reproduce my article in case any reader got curious. Sure, was my conclusion. This was an interview I conducted via MySpace (as I've previously mentioned) last summer. I thought this guy would be like, "A school newspaper? What's the point?" but, no. And I lived out part of a fangirl dream. So here is my interview, as it appeared in the Coyote. Title, opening paragraph, and inset are not my words. Spencer Cobrin had a positive reaction and gave it rave reviews, adding that his friends thought it was great.
So there you have it!
The Next Chapter for Spencer Cobrin
by Sarah Beukelman
Hit nineties drummer spills all on sensitivities, glory days, and varied plans
Spencer Cobrin supplied the beats for one of the best, and most controversial, Irish rock albums of the early nineties. [You see? That was totally the editor's misguided attempt to edit a weak opener. Better a weak opener than an inaccurate opener, I say] Cobrin was a member of Morrissey's band from 1991 - joining the group at the age of 22 - until he left in 1998. Many fans consider him to be the best drummer Morrissey has ever worked with. And who could forget the way he licked his way around an ice cream in the video for "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"?
A couple years after Cobrin left Morrissey's band, he formed Elva Snow with Australian singer Scott Matthew. (Elva Snow's self-titled album is available on Cd Baby's website and I highly recommend it. Get it while you can.) Elva Snow has since dissolved and Cobrin has left to focus on composing for film, which he is exceedingly good at. Credits include music for the documentary My Child: Mothers of War and the film Send in the Clown. Samples of his work are available for listening at his MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/spencercobrin). Cobring's page features songs he co-wrote with Morrissey, Elva Snow tracks, and compositions for film. As a guitarist, pianist, and drummer, his music is noteworthy for its range and emotionality.
Cobrin and I recently discussed what it was like recording Your Arsenal and what life is like post-Morrissey. [Note: this was meant to be a companion piece to an "essential albums"-type column I wanted to have in the paper. That idea was shot down :(] I discovered an artist who is funny, intelligent, and yes, a little bit sweet.
Your Arsenal is one of my essential albums. What are a few of your essential albums?
Art Blakey's Indestructible, Joni Mitchell's Blue, and Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture.
What is your favorite song on Your Arsenal?
"The National Front Disco"
How was it in the recording studio when you were recording? Had you become comfortable working with Morrissey and you other bandmates by this point?
It was exciting but overshadowed by my lack of skill and confidence on the drums, and within myself, I was very insecure and had no self-esteem whatsoever. I had to try very hard; I was the least talented in the band and had to really dig deep.
Have you found self-esteem? Is the present day Spencer Cobrin more secure in his abilities than '91-'92 Spencer Cobrin?
Looking back and comparing myself then and now, I've grown a lot. I also challenged myself to do things I would never have done.
Morrissey fans are known for being particularly enthusiastic. Was it overwhelming or did you embrace (pardon me for saying it) the rock and roll lifestyle?
I loved life on the road. I didn't set out to be a rock and roll cliche, nor did I become one, thankfully, but i did my share of partying (and still do!) It was a joyous time. Coming off the road was very hard though - living on adrenaline for months at a time - it's not surprising people turn to paraphernalia to keep the high going; it can be quite a comedown.
How did you manage to stay away from "paraphernalia" as you put it?
Loaded question!
Do you still keep in touch with any of your former bandmates?
A couple of them wrote me recently. It has been 10 years since I've heard from them.
How did you make the decision to get into scoring? Do you long for the days of touring and live gigs?
I thought it would be a great creative outlet for me, something to explore and see if I actually had a proclivity for it. I started to meet filmmakers and test the waters. Of course I always throw myself into the deep end, but real life experience is better than books. It hasn't been easy but I'm doing something that I never thought I could do. What else lies beneath!?
I haven't missed the touring at all, which is strange. Maybe I just had enough of it. It would be fun to play live again but I don't pine for the days of old. That was a rich chapter of my life and I've moved onto the next.
Are you working on anything currently?
Most recently I scored a heist/feature film, Daylight Robbery and am writing the cello arrangements for Scott Matthew's debut album.
Do you write a lot of music for yourself on the side? If so, are you interested in working with lyricists? Just for fun?
I've been pretty busy with film and other projects recently that that is all I've had time for, but maybe when things calm down again, which they invariably will.
What plans do you have for the months ahead?
I would really like to travel for a while and get way from this damn laptop!
Your location is listed as both London and New York. In an interview you said that London doesn't feel like home. Has this changed for you?
Yes, definitely, having been in g NY for 10 years I love going back to London. I see it through new eyes. I love that everything is so green, that's the first impression one gets immediately departing the airport, green everywhere. It was shocking having not seen it for so long.
In an interview for MorrisseyTour.com you described yourself/your music as "romantic, emotional, and sad". Would you still describe yourself that way? Also referring to the the interview:[the author claims that there is a Good Spencer Cobrin who is approachable and easygoing and "other" Spencer Cobrin who is a bit standoffish]are there tow Spencer Cobrins? Which one is answering my questions?
No, not two, just confused, lost! I haven't departed from my personal feelings of musical expression, except for working on projects where you are fulfilling someone else's vision. Of course, I can assimilate that too, but I still lean towards the tragic romantic nature of art, or being, unrequited love namely.
What is your philosophy on love? [whoa, heavy/heady stuff!]
Oh boy, I'm not one to really expound on this but I suppose love is like an all-consuming sickness, if you've got it bad, it's band, but if you've got it good, you're lucky and if you've had it but lost it, it'll screw you up, it's a crazy thing.
On a fan sit from 1995 someone described you as "so painfully sweet, it was untrue" when you autographed a fanzine. Do you think of yourself as sweet?
No! Ha. I'm just not a bastard.
Are you a reader? What books do you enjoy?
I'm currently going through my Greek mythology phase, but I'm kind a picky, if it doesn't grab me then forget it.
Live Earth took place recently. Did you catch any of it? Do you think an event like this will produce any significant lasting changes?
My TV has about four channels and I don't really watch TV that much anyway. And not unless there was a shift on a global scale by big business and government now. There is obviously much more awareness and talk on the subject but how much change do you see taking place? It's way too slow to have any lasting effect. It's pathetic. America being the leading power is so far behind the eight ball on this, it has the resources and power to make a significant impact almost overnight, which is needed right now, but is leading us down a road to disaster.
What's the deal with the ice cream in the "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" video? How do things like that get into videos? Do you laugh about it now?
It was improvised. They gave me an ice cream and I just went with it - it's called being a ham! Plus I'm pretty self-deprecating. I really didn't care what people thought, seems like a lot of people took it way too seriously. The seem to get really defensive of attack me for it. That's been my experience, ti's very odd. But one has to have a laugh and I just couldn't resist it.
One silly question: who do you allow to call you Spenny? Second sill question: can I call you Spenny? [XD]
I don't allow, people just take advantage of me. {I read this imagining Cobrin saying this with the deepest of sighs. Oh the bother of being called Spenny!}
You can call me Shirley.
So there you have it!
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