Carbon Red Interview
Q: Can you talk about your musical history?
Drummer Justin Martin started in a drum and bugle corps on the snare drum in 1986. After two years, I moved to the drum set and bands and never looked back. Had a chance of a record deal with sun records in the early 2000's, due to member difficulties it didn't work out. Grew up listening and playing classic rock and metal drumming, studied many different styles of drumming, taught percussion for junior high band. Also taught in private lessons.
Scott Eastwood took snare drum lessons in a fife and drum corps as a teenager. Then began playing bass guitar in his 20s within the classic rock genre. Spent many years playing in a band called "Red House,” that was ranked by the New Haven Advocate Readers Poll CT as the best local band to see live in the late ’80s. Before coming to Carbon Red Eastwood also toured New England with Freddie Paris and the Five Satins playing sold out 4,000 seat venues like Wang Center in Boston, MA, and many more resorts in New York. Eastwood has spent the last 12 years playing and writing with Carbon Red.
Gavin began playing guitar in the early 2010's, taking lessons from a local guitar teacher. He first played publicly in a recital playing Amazing Grace with his Grandfather Mike. "I began listening to new styles of music during hard times, good times and everything in between as a young teenager.”"I connect through music emotionally, each song gives a different feeling and message depending on the day. I love to sing along in my car and that is when I realized that I myself want to start creating music. After I graduated high school I decided to move away from home to Colorado to start my musical Journey. I started out as only a sound man for Carbon Red. Eventually I decided it was time to collaborate with the band and write my own song. While writing "I'll Stand Again" I started to learn the other originals and covers that we perform. The band has now seen my ability to learn and adapt, and has accepted me as a member.
Michelle started in the High School band and choir. I had a few piano lessons in my teens, mostly I taught myself to play piano as well as flute and harmonica. Through the years I have played in many bands learning how to play and perform, loving the beauty and power of a good song. Grateful for the talented musicians along the way who have inspired me. During my time playing with the Magik Band out of Durango, CO, I got to open for and jam with WAR, also open for Kenny Chesney (However, it was a really cold night so the show producers asked us to play after Kenny. So Kenny Chesney actually opened for us). The last 12 years with Carbon Red have inspired me to write music. Collaborating with the talented members of the band is definitely my favorite thing. Nothing compares to the feeling of creating a song and performing it live and having people dig it.
Jimmy was born into music. My first experience with music was listening to our family jam. I started playing the guitar at age 12 after my dad died. My first band was a Christian band, “Cross," at 18 years old. Then started to jam with my uncles Dave and Vern, where I also learned to play bass guitar and drums. Shortly after I joined the Magik band for three or so years where I learned the magic of winging it, learning songs on the go. Then back to the uncles band "Wolf at the Door". where we went to Tennessee as Battlefield grey and recorded our album. At a Magik band reunion show, Michelle and I played at, I was asked to join Carbon Red and have been creating music with them for eight years.
Carbon Red started in Bayfield, Colorado. After a few early member changes we transformed into what we are today. A group of grateful musicians with the perfect chemistry. Still playing and writing songs with full on passion after 12 years.
Q: What are some topics and themes you explore on some of your recent release The Tree?
Scott Eastwood: Our band writes about love, gratitude, addictions, hard times, good times, fantasy, societal issues and the band writes together from the heart.
Gavin: "I have explored my own abilities to learn new techniques and styles both on guitar and vocally. The band has pushed me to keep with the music. I am thankful for this as I have improved drastically compared to when I began with Carbon Red.
Justin Martin: Reminiscing carefree innocent days, missing loved ones & the way the world was during my lifetime.
Michelle: It's all about love. The world needs it now more than ever. Jimmy in Carbon Red is exploring what Jimmy has to offer to the Red. Mixing all the experiences from the family and inspiring artists I love and displaying my own creativity.
Q: How do you approach songwriting?
Scott Eastwood: Each member brings in their idea and the whole band contributes to finalizing the arrangement, adding bridges, solos, breakdowns, lyrics, melodies and rhythms.
Gavin: I approach songwriting with what I feel. This has proved to be difficult at times due to the fact that I have a hard time telling people no when I want something a certain way. However, we work it out together as the writing progresses until the song is finalized.
Justin Martin: I have no real approach, I let it happen naturally then I focus on the storyline.
Michelle: Usually, I'm just playing around on the piano, find a cool sounding chord progression and then a melody comes flowing out in "la la de da" form. The band then asks what's that? Then they add their flair making it sound awesome. Then after choosing a subject line, the words come along. Sometimes effortlessly - sometimes a challenge.
Jimmy: Jamming on a cool riff inspired by nature, the band joins in and the song creation begins. Recently I've decided to sing on an original. It's a song the band is excited about. It will be on the next album.
Q: Have you played this music live and if so how does it translate with an audience?
Scott Eastwood: Our ballads and rockin' songs get the same kind of applause as our best covers do. Our shows are energetic and electrifying. The crowd enjoys the powerful music and they are engaged within the music being played. We love to look up and notice the entire crowd getting into our music. It's awesome to see the crowd react more to our originals than covers.
Gavin: "We have played just a few shows since the release of our album The Tree and we have gotten great reactions and interaction from the crowds. I love it when the crowd truly listens, and enjoys the music Carbon Red has created.” "I feel amazing when the crowd feels the music and is having a great time, because at that moment, nothing else matters. Not for me, nor for the people we play for. I love cheering people up no matter the situation.”
As the crowd gets excited it gives us more energy. Live shows are the shiznit.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: Collective answer as a band: Every song is a team effort, we like to give each member equal opportunity to shine in their own way. We believe it creates diversity and makes the music more interesting by showcasing each member's different styles. It allows everyone to sing from each of our hearts.
Q: Can you talk about your musical history?
Drummer Justin Martin started in a drum and bugle corps on the snare drum in 1986. After two years, I moved to the drum set and bands and never looked back. Had a chance of a record deal with sun records in the early 2000's, due to member difficulties it didn't work out. Grew up listening and playing classic rock and metal drumming, studied many different styles of drumming, taught percussion for junior high band. Also taught in private lessons.
Scott Eastwood took snare drum lessons in a fife and drum corps as a teenager. Then began playing bass guitar in his 20s within the classic rock genre. Spent many years playing in a band called "Red House,” that was ranked by the New Haven Advocate Readers Poll CT as the best local band to see live in the late ’80s. Before coming to Carbon Red Eastwood also toured New England with Freddie Paris and the Five Satins playing sold out 4,000 seat venues like Wang Center in Boston, MA, and many more resorts in New York. Eastwood has spent the last 12 years playing and writing with Carbon Red.
Gavin began playing guitar in the early 2010's, taking lessons from a local guitar teacher. He first played publicly in a recital playing Amazing Grace with his Grandfather Mike. "I began listening to new styles of music during hard times, good times and everything in between as a young teenager.”"I connect through music emotionally, each song gives a different feeling and message depending on the day. I love to sing along in my car and that is when I realized that I myself want to start creating music. After I graduated high school I decided to move away from home to Colorado to start my musical Journey. I started out as only a sound man for Carbon Red. Eventually I decided it was time to collaborate with the band and write my own song. While writing "I'll Stand Again" I started to learn the other originals and covers that we perform. The band has now seen my ability to learn and adapt, and has accepted me as a member.
Michelle started in the High School band and choir. I had a few piano lessons in my teens, mostly I taught myself to play piano as well as flute and harmonica. Through the years I have played in many bands learning how to play and perform, loving the beauty and power of a good song. Grateful for the talented musicians along the way who have inspired me. During my time playing with the Magik Band out of Durango, CO, I got to open for and jam with WAR, also open for Kenny Chesney (However, it was a really cold night so the show producers asked us to play after Kenny. So Kenny Chesney actually opened for us). The last 12 years with Carbon Red have inspired me to write music. Collaborating with the talented members of the band is definitely my favorite thing. Nothing compares to the feeling of creating a song and performing it live and having people dig it.
Jimmy was born into music. My first experience with music was listening to our family jam. I started playing the guitar at age 12 after my dad died. My first band was a Christian band, “Cross," at 18 years old. Then started to jam with my uncles Dave and Vern, where I also learned to play bass guitar and drums. Shortly after I joined the Magik band for three or so years where I learned the magic of winging it, learning songs on the go. Then back to the uncles band "Wolf at the Door". where we went to Tennessee as Battlefield grey and recorded our album. At a Magik band reunion show, Michelle and I played at, I was asked to join Carbon Red and have been creating music with them for eight years.
Carbon Red started in Bayfield, Colorado. After a few early member changes we transformed into what we are today. A group of grateful musicians with the perfect chemistry. Still playing and writing songs with full on passion after 12 years.
Q: What are some topics and themes you explore on some of your recent release The Tree?
Scott Eastwood: Our band writes about love, gratitude, addictions, hard times, good times, fantasy, societal issues and the band writes together from the heart.
Gavin: "I have explored my own abilities to learn new techniques and styles both on guitar and vocally. The band has pushed me to keep with the music. I am thankful for this as I have improved drastically compared to when I began with Carbon Red.
Justin Martin: Reminiscing carefree innocent days, missing loved ones & the way the world was during my lifetime.
Michelle: It's all about love. The world needs it now more than ever. Jimmy in Carbon Red is exploring what Jimmy has to offer to the Red. Mixing all the experiences from the family and inspiring artists I love and displaying my own creativity.
Q: How do you approach songwriting?
Scott Eastwood: Each member brings in their idea and the whole band contributes to finalizing the arrangement, adding bridges, solos, breakdowns, lyrics, melodies and rhythms.
Gavin: I approach songwriting with what I feel. This has proved to be difficult at times due to the fact that I have a hard time telling people no when I want something a certain way. However, we work it out together as the writing progresses until the song is finalized.
Justin Martin: I have no real approach, I let it happen naturally then I focus on the storyline.
Michelle: Usually, I'm just playing around on the piano, find a cool sounding chord progression and then a melody comes flowing out in "la la de da" form. The band then asks what's that? Then they add their flair making it sound awesome. Then after choosing a subject line, the words come along. Sometimes effortlessly - sometimes a challenge.
Jimmy: Jamming on a cool riff inspired by nature, the band joins in and the song creation begins. Recently I've decided to sing on an original. It's a song the band is excited about. It will be on the next album.
Q: Have you played this music live and if so how does it translate with an audience?
Scott Eastwood: Our ballads and rockin' songs get the same kind of applause as our best covers do. Our shows are energetic and electrifying. The crowd enjoys the powerful music and they are engaged within the music being played. We love to look up and notice the entire crowd getting into our music. It's awesome to see the crowd react more to our originals than covers.
Gavin: "We have played just a few shows since the release of our album The Tree and we have gotten great reactions and interaction from the crowds. I love it when the crowd truly listens, and enjoys the music Carbon Red has created.” "I feel amazing when the crowd feels the music and is having a great time, because at that moment, nothing else matters. Not for me, nor for the people we play for. I love cheering people up no matter the situation.”
As the crowd gets excited it gives us more energy. Live shows are the shiznit.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: Collective answer as a band: Every song is a team effort, we like to give each member equal opportunity to shine in their own way. We believe it creates diversity and makes the music more interesting by showcasing each member's different styles. It allows everyone to sing from each of our hearts.