Drew Keenan Interview
Q: Your album Walls has been a work in progress since 2012. That's a long time. How has your sound changed since 2012?
A: I would have to say that since I started this project, my sound has become a bit more refined. In the beginning I would basically throw a few chords together and use pretty extensive vamping just to get through to the end. I have learned how to structure songs a little better than I could from the start. Also, through the years I began to invest in better quality studio equipment. You would be surprised how much can change with some better microphones and a few years of production research.
Q: Post-punk seems to an obvious influence. Are there any bands that had a direct influence on Walls?
A: Definitely. There were so many bands that influenced Walls. The most direct influence on this album and me personally has been The Dead Milkmen. When I was younger, I had the opportunity to meet Joe Jack Talcum. I keep in touch via email regularly with him and he is kind enough to give me music advice. It is definitely a great resource knowing the guitarist of my favorite band. Some other great bands worth noting: Glass Towers, Surfer Blood, The Drums, Foster the People and Arctic Monkeys.
Q: Walls was a complete DIY project. How much time did you allow between the recording of the songs and the post-production work.
A: I took a similar approach with all of the songs on this album. I would record everything and then immediately begin a mix-down afterwards. I felt that this was the best way to detect errors from the beginning. If something did not sound right or I had decided to add something, the feel for the song was already there and I was ready to fix it. Still, almost every song on this album has been re-recorded at least three times, if not more. It was sometimes a nightmare, but I did not want to release something officially that I was not completely happy with.
Q: Have you given any thought to forming a band to perform these songs live?
A: Yes, all of the time. This may become a reality sooner than later. I have met a few guys who want to start a band, so I am hoping for it to take off. Until then, I will continue to play some solo acoustic shows in Morgantown.
Q: Walls is pretty eclectic? Do you think this is due to the album taking such a long tome to be completed?
A: Yes, without a doubt. I always write songs depending on what I feel. When I started writing I was hardly out of high school. So you can imagine how much more I have experienced and grown as a person throughout my college years. I would consider myself completely different from when I was 18. And consequently, I think that change also shows within the diversity of my album.
Q: Have you been doing any writing since Walls was released?
A: Yes. I have already started work on my next project. I think that I’ll cut the electronic sound and stick with guitar. It feels great to get a new start and have new ideas, and I just hope to keep improving. I also hope that this one does not take as long to complete. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Q: Your album Walls has been a work in progress since 2012. That's a long time. How has your sound changed since 2012?
A: I would have to say that since I started this project, my sound has become a bit more refined. In the beginning I would basically throw a few chords together and use pretty extensive vamping just to get through to the end. I have learned how to structure songs a little better than I could from the start. Also, through the years I began to invest in better quality studio equipment. You would be surprised how much can change with some better microphones and a few years of production research.
Q: Post-punk seems to an obvious influence. Are there any bands that had a direct influence on Walls?
A: Definitely. There were so many bands that influenced Walls. The most direct influence on this album and me personally has been The Dead Milkmen. When I was younger, I had the opportunity to meet Joe Jack Talcum. I keep in touch via email regularly with him and he is kind enough to give me music advice. It is definitely a great resource knowing the guitarist of my favorite band. Some other great bands worth noting: Glass Towers, Surfer Blood, The Drums, Foster the People and Arctic Monkeys.
Q: Walls was a complete DIY project. How much time did you allow between the recording of the songs and the post-production work.
A: I took a similar approach with all of the songs on this album. I would record everything and then immediately begin a mix-down afterwards. I felt that this was the best way to detect errors from the beginning. If something did not sound right or I had decided to add something, the feel for the song was already there and I was ready to fix it. Still, almost every song on this album has been re-recorded at least three times, if not more. It was sometimes a nightmare, but I did not want to release something officially that I was not completely happy with.
Q: Have you given any thought to forming a band to perform these songs live?
A: Yes, all of the time. This may become a reality sooner than later. I have met a few guys who want to start a band, so I am hoping for it to take off. Until then, I will continue to play some solo acoustic shows in Morgantown.
Q: Walls is pretty eclectic? Do you think this is due to the album taking such a long tome to be completed?
A: Yes, without a doubt. I always write songs depending on what I feel. When I started writing I was hardly out of high school. So you can imagine how much more I have experienced and grown as a person throughout my college years. I would consider myself completely different from when I was 18. And consequently, I think that change also shows within the diversity of my album.
Q: Have you been doing any writing since Walls was released?
A: Yes. I have already started work on my next project. I think that I’ll cut the electronic sound and stick with guitar. It feels great to get a new start and have new ideas, and I just hope to keep improving. I also hope that this one does not take as long to complete. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
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