Its been awhile since you released any music, what got you interested in releasing another record?
I've actually been meaning to release a record for some time. Under the handle was the question. I had a group called 'In Support of Living', hence the name of the first track, that would have been released but for some reason it didn't work out. So I pulled some of the tracks from that project, that started sounding like Hollowphonic anyway, and further produced them for the 'Viaduct' record. I wasn't interested in self releasing the record because I felt I couldn't dedicate the time to properly put into the right hands... or heads... or ears...
There is a nice cohesive marriage between white noise and electronic components. Reminded me a bit of the Notwist going shoegaze. How did you go about creating this aesthetic?
Funny you say 'white noise'. Jesus and Mary Chain 'Psycho Candy' was a life changing record for me. It was when I was 14 yrs old that I fell in love with a new sound coming of age. The day my brother brought that record home it stuck with me ever since. My electronic listening originally comes from Industrial music, although Industrial isn't an influence. It was later I found out about Kraftwerk and I never was into Depeche Mode. Same with my Shoegaze influences. Aside from the clubs and the playing of 'Only Shallow', I didn't discover the My Bloody Valentine 'Loveless' record until a few years after the fact. And like many, I thought my cd copy was warped. :) But I used to listen to heavy music. The band that pre-dated Hollowphonic, 'Hollow', was more about things like Godflesh, The Melvins, Kyuss... then The Verve 'Storm In Heaven' came along and I took a turn to listening to more Shoegaze, Psych, Brit Pop, Garage. The heaviness retained though in Production. The Loveless record made sense in gluing my musical interests into my writing and production interests. I was also big on Hip Hop and always liked the production. I would play shows and bring beats on a DAT player and a friend would say "you have a drummer, why not use him?" But I like the 808 and quality of sound of canned beats with the dynamic of a live drummer.
Can you tell us a bit about your creative process?
There's never really 1 way about. Every song on the record probably has its own way of conception. For instance, i've always had some sort of recording device I would just hum melodies into, including simulating the drums, ha. Wish I could mic my teeth; the molars being the kick drums, the front teeth being the snare. Now it's Garage Band. I have a file on my desk top thats available to crack open at the ready and record an idea at whim. I have a file called 'Dream songs'. I will actually dream a song and get up and record me humming it into my laptop. Sounds crazy, but true.
The song 'You are my everything' is an example of this. I think I had watched that movie 'Martha Marcy May Marlene' the night before and dreamt of a sing along circle cult like thing where they are all singing the melody..."you are my everything'... I think even the lyrics were in my dream. Recording it I scaled it down to just me. The chorus was going to be a mid 8th that I played around and edited into where it is. Other songs are acoustic guitar first. Some are electro tracks first so no pattern really. Back to the movie though, movies and soundtracks have a big affect on my influences, writing and Production.
Any personal favorites on your record Viaduct?
I really like 'In Support of Living' because it was a collaboration with my friends, but 'In Need' I like, it just came out of nowhere. 'Weak In The Knee's' is one of the more heavier things i've written, and 'Endings' with my friend Amy on vocals had to make the record. Her vocal is so lovely.
Has the Canadian music scene influenced your sound or does it come from other sources?
I derive influences from all over the World. I haven't really been around the Canadian scene, or even Toronto's having lived elsewhere and been a bit of a hermit. But that will change now living in Toronto and that the frost has lifted.
How long did it take to complete Viaduct?
It's hard to say. The name 'Viaduct' was actually last minute. And it was questionable if i'd release the record as Hollowphonic. I thought maybe my DJ name 'Brad Rx' or something silly like that. It was a show that my friend Doc runs in Toronto 'Crosswires', affiliated with the long running 'Wavelength' series, and he had me on, playing solo, billed me as Hollowphonic. So that was it. Hollowphonic was reborn. I had a temporary comeback in 2007 and played a handful of shows and recorded 'Underground' and 'Now You're Gone' and a bunch of other tunes I would like to do something with. But there was never a real plan in action. I think the catalyst was Alex at 'Minor Sphere Records' who released Viaduct that put the wheels in motion.
Its great to hear a record that reminded me of some of my favorite bands on Creation Records. Did any of these bands have an influence on your sound?
Absolutely. My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, Slowdive, Ride, Boo Radleys, Oasis have all had a big affect on me influentially and as a music fan.
What are your musical plans for the rest of the year and beyond?
The focus is on Viaduct, promoting it and playing live. I've got a great band lined up from some noteable psych bands from Toronto and surrounding area. I would like to eventually press cd's and Vinyl. I plan on working on films and have some artists lined up in discussion to produce and record their records.
I've actually been meaning to release a record for some time. Under the handle was the question. I had a group called 'In Support of Living', hence the name of the first track, that would have been released but for some reason it didn't work out. So I pulled some of the tracks from that project, that started sounding like Hollowphonic anyway, and further produced them for the 'Viaduct' record. I wasn't interested in self releasing the record because I felt I couldn't dedicate the time to properly put into the right hands... or heads... or ears...
There is a nice cohesive marriage between white noise and electronic components. Reminded me a bit of the Notwist going shoegaze. How did you go about creating this aesthetic?
Funny you say 'white noise'. Jesus and Mary Chain 'Psycho Candy' was a life changing record for me. It was when I was 14 yrs old that I fell in love with a new sound coming of age. The day my brother brought that record home it stuck with me ever since. My electronic listening originally comes from Industrial music, although Industrial isn't an influence. It was later I found out about Kraftwerk and I never was into Depeche Mode. Same with my Shoegaze influences. Aside from the clubs and the playing of 'Only Shallow', I didn't discover the My Bloody Valentine 'Loveless' record until a few years after the fact. And like many, I thought my cd copy was warped. :) But I used to listen to heavy music. The band that pre-dated Hollowphonic, 'Hollow', was more about things like Godflesh, The Melvins, Kyuss... then The Verve 'Storm In Heaven' came along and I took a turn to listening to more Shoegaze, Psych, Brit Pop, Garage. The heaviness retained though in Production. The Loveless record made sense in gluing my musical interests into my writing and production interests. I was also big on Hip Hop and always liked the production. I would play shows and bring beats on a DAT player and a friend would say "you have a drummer, why not use him?" But I like the 808 and quality of sound of canned beats with the dynamic of a live drummer.
Can you tell us a bit about your creative process?
There's never really 1 way about. Every song on the record probably has its own way of conception. For instance, i've always had some sort of recording device I would just hum melodies into, including simulating the drums, ha. Wish I could mic my teeth; the molars being the kick drums, the front teeth being the snare. Now it's Garage Band. I have a file on my desk top thats available to crack open at the ready and record an idea at whim. I have a file called 'Dream songs'. I will actually dream a song and get up and record me humming it into my laptop. Sounds crazy, but true.
The song 'You are my everything' is an example of this. I think I had watched that movie 'Martha Marcy May Marlene' the night before and dreamt of a sing along circle cult like thing where they are all singing the melody..."you are my everything'... I think even the lyrics were in my dream. Recording it I scaled it down to just me. The chorus was going to be a mid 8th that I played around and edited into where it is. Other songs are acoustic guitar first. Some are electro tracks first so no pattern really. Back to the movie though, movies and soundtracks have a big affect on my influences, writing and Production.
Any personal favorites on your record Viaduct?
I really like 'In Support of Living' because it was a collaboration with my friends, but 'In Need' I like, it just came out of nowhere. 'Weak In The Knee's' is one of the more heavier things i've written, and 'Endings' with my friend Amy on vocals had to make the record. Her vocal is so lovely.
Has the Canadian music scene influenced your sound or does it come from other sources?
I derive influences from all over the World. I haven't really been around the Canadian scene, or even Toronto's having lived elsewhere and been a bit of a hermit. But that will change now living in Toronto and that the frost has lifted.
How long did it take to complete Viaduct?
It's hard to say. The name 'Viaduct' was actually last minute. And it was questionable if i'd release the record as Hollowphonic. I thought maybe my DJ name 'Brad Rx' or something silly like that. It was a show that my friend Doc runs in Toronto 'Crosswires', affiliated with the long running 'Wavelength' series, and he had me on, playing solo, billed me as Hollowphonic. So that was it. Hollowphonic was reborn. I had a temporary comeback in 2007 and played a handful of shows and recorded 'Underground' and 'Now You're Gone' and a bunch of other tunes I would like to do something with. But there was never a real plan in action. I think the catalyst was Alex at 'Minor Sphere Records' who released Viaduct that put the wheels in motion.
Its great to hear a record that reminded me of some of my favorite bands on Creation Records. Did any of these bands have an influence on your sound?
Absolutely. My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, Slowdive, Ride, Boo Radleys, Oasis have all had a big affect on me influentially and as a music fan.
What are your musical plans for the rest of the year and beyond?
The focus is on Viaduct, promoting it and playing live. I've got a great band lined up from some noteable psych bands from Toronto and surrounding area. I would like to eventually press cd's and Vinyl. I plan on working on films and have some artists lined up in discussion to produce and record their records.