Parlor Grand Interview
Q: Can you talk about your history as a band?
A: Parlor Grand began as a studio project of acoustic guitar folk songs—as the ideas became more ambitious, I realized a band was needed to fully execute the vision and to take the music to a live setting.
Q: What are some of the themes on Gray Fruit?
A: Gray Fruit is mostly a record about love and loss—sorting out feelings after love runs its course. At its simplest, It’s a good old fashioned heartbreak record.
Q: What is the creative process like?
A: All of the songs on Gray Fruit were written in 2018/2019 on an acoustic guitar. While writing these tunes, I knew they were rock n’ roll songs and needed a band behind them. I began demoing the songs over a TR-707 drum machine and layering from there. Though I initially planned on the 707 acting as a placeholder (fancy click track), I began to really love those drum voices (in particular, the snare) and ended up leaving some drum machine in with the recorded acoustic drums. The 707, combined with Juno 106 synth pads and my tendency to write country songs is how Gray Fruit arrived at sounding how it does. Also, thanks to David Cooper for adding some tasty pedal steel.
Q: Can you talk about your history as a band?
A: Parlor Grand began as a studio project of acoustic guitar folk songs—as the ideas became more ambitious, I realized a band was needed to fully execute the vision and to take the music to a live setting.
Q: What are some of the themes on Gray Fruit?
A: Gray Fruit is mostly a record about love and loss—sorting out feelings after love runs its course. At its simplest, It’s a good old fashioned heartbreak record.
Q: What is the creative process like?
A: All of the songs on Gray Fruit were written in 2018/2019 on an acoustic guitar. While writing these tunes, I knew they were rock n’ roll songs and needed a band behind them. I began demoing the songs over a TR-707 drum machine and layering from there. Though I initially planned on the 707 acting as a placeholder (fancy click track), I began to really love those drum voices (in particular, the snare) and ended up leaving some drum machine in with the recorded acoustic drums. The 707, combined with Juno 106 synth pads and my tendency to write country songs is how Gray Fruit arrived at sounding how it does. Also, thanks to David Cooper for adding some tasty pedal steel.
Q: How did you approach recording the album? I read it was recorded at an old industrial warehouse?
A: That is sort of true— we (Adam McClure and Sean) tracked drums at Soundwave Studios in industrial West Oakland practically right under the Bay Bridge. Soundwave is a big warehouse turned rehearsal space. It’s not exactly intended for studio recording, but we made it work. Something about the spirit in the air at Soundwave was refreshing—clinging to some East Bay scenes from decades long gone.
The majority of the record, however, was recorded in my living room and in my brother’s living room. A few electric guitar sessions were done in the basement of a Mission District (San Francisco) restaurant that I was fortunate enough to be granted access to. The hope was I would be able to crank my Twin up to tube-driving (impossibly loud) volumes without risking a noise complaint. Turned out the basement was made entirely of concrete—an acoustic nightmare. Serendipitously, the basement provided some unreplicable reverbs—some were keepers. These happy accidents are what add magic to records.
Q: Have you played any of the material live or perhaps virtually?
A: The plan was to form a live band right after the record dropped. Unfortunately, the record released on March 27th—right as the pandemic/shelter-in-place order was underway. Needless to say, jamming and rehearsing was (and still is) put on hold. I played a quick acoustic IG live set last month but most of my musical energy has been invested in writing a new record. Another LP is expected to release sometime in 2021.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: I guess all I can say is stay tuned. Parlor Grand is a young project that still has a full tank of gas.
A: That is sort of true— we (Adam McClure and Sean) tracked drums at Soundwave Studios in industrial West Oakland practically right under the Bay Bridge. Soundwave is a big warehouse turned rehearsal space. It’s not exactly intended for studio recording, but we made it work. Something about the spirit in the air at Soundwave was refreshing—clinging to some East Bay scenes from decades long gone.
The majority of the record, however, was recorded in my living room and in my brother’s living room. A few electric guitar sessions were done in the basement of a Mission District (San Francisco) restaurant that I was fortunate enough to be granted access to. The hope was I would be able to crank my Twin up to tube-driving (impossibly loud) volumes without risking a noise complaint. Turned out the basement was made entirely of concrete—an acoustic nightmare. Serendipitously, the basement provided some unreplicable reverbs—some were keepers. These happy accidents are what add magic to records.
Q: Have you played any of the material live or perhaps virtually?
A: The plan was to form a live band right after the record dropped. Unfortunately, the record released on March 27th—right as the pandemic/shelter-in-place order was underway. Needless to say, jamming and rehearsing was (and still is) put on hold. I played a quick acoustic IG live set last month but most of my musical energy has been invested in writing a new record. Another LP is expected to release sometime in 2021.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: I guess all I can say is stay tuned. Parlor Grand is a young project that still has a full tank of gas.