Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Grew up in a little neighborhood in San Ysidro, border town in the outskirts of San Diego, CA. Not much happening there musically you know. Not many local bands or record shops that i can remember. I had to take long bus rides just to get to a record shop. I would save my allowance to buy some used records. Some times buying records on the cover alone, what I read in a magazine or heard someone reference in an interview. Thats how i ended up discovering the Velvet Underground. That’s the band that molded my music taste. Loved every record they put out and for years I would seek for more bands similar to their style (or attitude) like the Modern Lovers, Jesus and Mary Chain, Dream Syndicate and Spacemen 3. Next thing you know i started writing songs, formed my own band and started making sounds hugely indebted to those bands.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Eternal Dream Machine”?
A: I’m an old school guy. I only worry about the music I want to make. If its good enough, it will reach the people it was meant to reach. Music is dominated by social media engagement now and days, that doesnt interest me as much. Not looking to go viral, just want to put a good record out.
And thats the plan and always has been, to release physical records and music videos. We have a 7″ record out now for our previous single “Brother Ray” and have one coming for “Halle Doo-Wah” this summer on Styrofoam Records.
As for a message for people discovering our music. I’d say don’t overthink, just let it hit you. The music is meant to pull you in. There’s a hypnotic side to it. A lot of what we do is about feeling rather than explaining.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Ive been listening to one band quite religiously lately. Les Rallizes Dénudés, a Japanese noise rock band. They didnt have many official releases, a lot of live bootlegs actually. Their records are not about sound quality but what songs transmit through lack of there of. You really have to dig through the noise.
Inspiration lately comes out of nowhere really. Thats why my Tascam Porta Studio is ready to go at all times. I love recording all of my ideas on cassette tape. That lo-fi quality definitely gets me going.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Halle Doo-Wah.”?
A: “Halle Doo-Wah” is about tapping into something instinctual and almost spiritual. Finally understanding a truth after a moment of confusion. A moment of enlightenment.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Eternal
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Halle Doo-Wah”?
A: I did, i have like 3 or 4 different versions of the song. Different tempos, lyrics. I didnt know what direction to take with it. Took me a bit to figure out. It wasnt until i came up with the chorus that it all came together.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: The message in my music, if any… is that transformation can come through noise, repetition, and surrender. Something raw, free. True transcendence.
My goals are simple. To continue making records that i would want to listen to when i was growing up.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Would love to collaborate with Peter Kember aka Sonic Boom. Every record he makes sounds out of this world.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: I dont know anything about the industry, all i can tell you is that if you want to play/record music. Do it. In the eternal words of Jonathan Richman, dont let your youth go to waste. Record everything. Release everything. Play every show.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Probably to buy a guitar and start a band sooner than i did.
