Johnny Cee Interview
Q: There is a lot of instrumentation all over Shine. Can you talk about your songwriting process? How does a typical song start for you?
A: Since drums is the instrument that has made me a living over the years, most people would think that my songwriting process begins from the bottom up; i.e.: bass and drums. However, I always have said in drum interviews that I'm really a musician that happens to play thedrums as my main instrument. Most of the time my songwriting process begins with a melody. I let it ruminate around for a while and the litmus test is if it's strong enough, it'll come back to me a few days later. For this collection of songs, it was the same thing. I had a lyric or melody I thought was catchy and I put the instrumentation around it to establish the mood I was feeling.
Q: Shine is a polished sounding record. Were these songs recorded live? What was the recording process like?
A: For Shine, every track except for the song 'I' was played live as a trio first, then the added instrumentation was overdubbed later (played by myself doing some acoustic guitar, keys,piano and percussion), Ryan added more electric guitars and some with some additional percussion by Derek Wolfford. Producer Ryan Rossebo played the guitar parts, myself on drums and then a great Nashville session bassist, Seth Marcum, came in and nailed it. My brother Frank played some great guitar on the title track "Shine" as well.
Q: There were a number of songs like ABSOLUTION which had an early ’90s vibe to my ears. Was that decade an influence on the songs?
A: That's interesting. I feel it has more of a ‘70s vibe but after you mention it I can hear some ‘90s influence. That's good! It was my intention to write from a retro perspective with modern production. I had been doing some research on songwriting and discovered all my favorite songs were written a long time ago! (LOL). I don't know, it seems to me the songwriting craft and the use of melodies and harmonies was much stronger from the Beatle era all the way up through the ’90. Then something happened...and all of a sudden most of what I hear today is gone tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of great music coming out of the indie world we just have to search a little harder now to find it.
Q: On of the most unique songs is “I” which combines electronic and organic elements. How were songs like this produced compared to the more straightforward rock songs?
A: The song ,"I", was originally written as an a cappella song. It wasn't until I thought about the lyrical subject matter that I felt it needed more. Joshua David, who produced that song, really hit the home run in understanding what I was looking for. We just pieced it together from there and I'm really happy with the end result. I could do a whole record in that style and be happy; even though I'd probably sell even less CDs then ( LOL).
Q: One of my favorite tracks was the piano led “Solider”. Now that the album is released to the world are there any tracks that stick out to you more then when you were initially recording them?
A: "Soldier" is my favorite because it's just me and a piano and it's actually a live performance in front of a crowd at a place called The Miramar Theater in Milwaukee. The subject matter is obvious and I felt a need to give something back to these war vets who come home with PTSD and are left behind. I felt the image of being in their mother's arms as their last memory of security, love and happiness as a good place to write the song. Other songs on the CD that felt that way to me at the time of recording them is 'Mirror the Monster,” "No More Secrets" and “Shine." Performing these songs live gives another perspective. "No More Secrets" was played once in front of a large crowd with a full band and I was really happy with the emotion and power it created.
Q: Are you going to be touring with these songs? What can we expect from you in the future?
A: I do plan on touring these songs. I've been doing some duo acoustic versions live and on some radio stations and it's gone over really well. I still think these songs will be best represented with full band and production which I'm looking forward to doing live. What the future brings for me is a new CD very soon. My approach is to always do the unexpected so my next CD will be very different from this one.I have about 15 new songs I'm going through at the moment. Plus, I'm still trying to make a living as a touring drummer for some regional,and a couple of national, acts I'm excited to work with. The sky isthe limit always and I'm looking forward to it!
Q: There is a lot of instrumentation all over Shine. Can you talk about your songwriting process? How does a typical song start for you?
A: Since drums is the instrument that has made me a living over the years, most people would think that my songwriting process begins from the bottom up; i.e.: bass and drums. However, I always have said in drum interviews that I'm really a musician that happens to play thedrums as my main instrument. Most of the time my songwriting process begins with a melody. I let it ruminate around for a while and the litmus test is if it's strong enough, it'll come back to me a few days later. For this collection of songs, it was the same thing. I had a lyric or melody I thought was catchy and I put the instrumentation around it to establish the mood I was feeling.
Q: Shine is a polished sounding record. Were these songs recorded live? What was the recording process like?
A: For Shine, every track except for the song 'I' was played live as a trio first, then the added instrumentation was overdubbed later (played by myself doing some acoustic guitar, keys,piano and percussion), Ryan added more electric guitars and some with some additional percussion by Derek Wolfford. Producer Ryan Rossebo played the guitar parts, myself on drums and then a great Nashville session bassist, Seth Marcum, came in and nailed it. My brother Frank played some great guitar on the title track "Shine" as well.
Q: There were a number of songs like ABSOLUTION which had an early ’90s vibe to my ears. Was that decade an influence on the songs?
A: That's interesting. I feel it has more of a ‘70s vibe but after you mention it I can hear some ‘90s influence. That's good! It was my intention to write from a retro perspective with modern production. I had been doing some research on songwriting and discovered all my favorite songs were written a long time ago! (LOL). I don't know, it seems to me the songwriting craft and the use of melodies and harmonies was much stronger from the Beatle era all the way up through the ’90. Then something happened...and all of a sudden most of what I hear today is gone tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of great music coming out of the indie world we just have to search a little harder now to find it.
Q: On of the most unique songs is “I” which combines electronic and organic elements. How were songs like this produced compared to the more straightforward rock songs?
A: The song ,"I", was originally written as an a cappella song. It wasn't until I thought about the lyrical subject matter that I felt it needed more. Joshua David, who produced that song, really hit the home run in understanding what I was looking for. We just pieced it together from there and I'm really happy with the end result. I could do a whole record in that style and be happy; even though I'd probably sell even less CDs then ( LOL).
Q: One of my favorite tracks was the piano led “Solider”. Now that the album is released to the world are there any tracks that stick out to you more then when you were initially recording them?
A: "Soldier" is my favorite because it's just me and a piano and it's actually a live performance in front of a crowd at a place called The Miramar Theater in Milwaukee. The subject matter is obvious and I felt a need to give something back to these war vets who come home with PTSD and are left behind. I felt the image of being in their mother's arms as their last memory of security, love and happiness as a good place to write the song. Other songs on the CD that felt that way to me at the time of recording them is 'Mirror the Monster,” "No More Secrets" and “Shine." Performing these songs live gives another perspective. "No More Secrets" was played once in front of a large crowd with a full band and I was really happy with the emotion and power it created.
Q: Are you going to be touring with these songs? What can we expect from you in the future?
A: I do plan on touring these songs. I've been doing some duo acoustic versions live and on some radio stations and it's gone over really well. I still think these songs will be best represented with full band and production which I'm looking forward to doing live. What the future brings for me is a new CD very soon. My approach is to always do the unexpected so my next CD will be very different from this one.I have about 15 new songs I'm going through at the moment. Plus, I'm still trying to make a living as a touring drummer for some regional,and a couple of national, acts I'm excited to work with. The sky isthe limit always and I'm looking forward to it!