LAURIE BIAGINI Interview:
1. PGH is all about helping artists highlight their most recent projects, so let us all know what your new project is – and tell us about how it come into the world. What has the initial feedback on it been like?
My most recent completed project is my 2nd album “A Far-Out Place” that was released in March 2010. Since releasing my debut “Ridin’ the Wave”, in 2008, I continued to write songs about various topics, with different moods, but still keeping in with my own personal style. It was after a trip to California in the summer of 2008 – and after my first International Pop Overthrow performance in San Francisco, that I had to write a song based on my experience, and all the fun I had. That song was “A Far-Out Place”, and I knew right then, that this would be the title of the second album. The feedback on this album has been fantastic; it has enjoyed a lot of radio airplay every week, along with great reviews, and lots of wonderful comments from my expanding fan base on my websites. I was also approached by a video game company, which has used 2 of the tracks as the background soundtrack to the game.
2. The Recording Process – there are so many interesting ways that music projects coming into being these days compared with what artists encountered years ago. Take us on the creative arc of how this project came into being and any wisdom that you learned along the way. Also, what were some of the obstacles or struggles that you encountered when you were working on the project?
The recording process has been a steady learning process for me, since I’m on an extremely limited budget, and have to do as much as possible on my own. The biggest hurdle, apart from coming up with lyrics (it’s usually the music that comes for me first), has been understanding the technology behind the software I use for recording, and how to achieve the best possible sound within my own studio. Since I only started recording in 2006, and knew absolutely nothing about it beyond clicking “record” and singing into a microphone, or playing a piano track, I think I’ve made a lot of progress in the learning process. Most of my struggles were technical glitches (such as the audio driver settings, which caused persistent latency issues). Eventually I figured out the technical problems, and I also enlisted the expertise of my mastering engineer, Steve Turnidge, who transformed my unpolished mixes into the shiny result you hear on the album now.
3. Are there any particular songs on this project that are special to you or communicate a message that you’d like to share here?
I’m mostly a fan of up-tempo, happy-sounding songs. I guess my favorite song on the album would be “A Far-Out Place”, since it always reminds me of the great time I had in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and how great the people were that I met up with while I was there. Another favorite would be “Happiness Looks Good on You”, as it’s just a fun little shuffle that I really enjoyed writing and recording. One of the most talked-about tunes on the record would be “Crazy People on the Internet”.. That one is based on observation, and started out as a result of me blowing off steam by pounding out a boogie-woogie on my piano while making up sarcastic lyrics on the spot.
4. As we all know, the music industry has been devastated for many reasons over the past 10 years, what are you thoughts on these changes and are you finding some of them helpful to you with getting more people to hear your music?
I think the changes in the music industry seem to have polarized music fans into different camps.. It seems there are the followers – who tend to like whatever mainstream music is being played on commercial radio; then there are those who prefer to listen to older music, and then the fans of the independent music scene. I am very grateful that there is that freedom of independence in the type of music I create, and even more grateful that there are people out there who enjoy what I am doing. I find the internet has been a wonderful tool to get my music out there. Since I work at a full-time job, I do not have much time to promote my music by traditional means (i.e. touring), so my live performances are limited to a few times a year, and the rest of the time, I am enjoying the support from radio, and all the various websites that stream my music out to people to get it heard.
5. Along the lines of this discussion, it would be really interesting to get your thoughts on what you think the future of ‘music enjoyment’ might look like? How do you personally enjoy and ‘consume’ music? Any trends you’ve noticed with your own habits?
I always enjoy discovering new sounds, and it has been through internet radio that I have become familiar with a lot of independent artists that have a sound that I personally love. It is not uncommon for me to take note of songs that I hear on these radio shows and then go look up the artist on iTunes to get it immediately onto my iPod. Many people love having the physical CD in their collection, but in my case, I have so many CD’s that I lose track of them. I really quite enjoy how I can use a program like iTunes to organize and categorize my music, and then be able to take it with me, listen through the car stereo, etc. As for the music itself, as a music consumer, I don’t really follow any trends – my ear knows immediately if I like a song or a sound. It is usually a common set of characteristics – a distinctive melody, an up-tempo beat, back-to-basics instrumentation (love those jangle guitars!), groovy chord progressions, and some nice vocal harmonies are always a plus!
6. So many artists are wrestling with different ways to approach the recording process now – I would love to hear what your plans on with your next project – Are you going to a full CD, an EP or just release songs as you finish them. Release them digital only or combine physical with the digital or what?
My next project, called “A Go-Go Girl in a Modern World”, is currently about three-quarters of the way through production. It will be a physical CD, like the others, along with digital download options. I have been posting the songs on my sites for people to hear along the way, and that also is helping me in my decisions on which songs to include on the album and which ones to shelve. Some may wonder why I post the songs before the album is finished, and the answer is simple. I’m just so excited about them once I’ve finished, I want to share it with people, and get some immediate feedback (which fuels my enthusiasm along the way!).
7. What are you finding that is working well for your music right now those others may find interesting to hear about?
The current album in production has some fantastic guest artists and musicians helping me out with various parts in some of the songs, which is giving the new material an additional facet to give the songs a nice sense of completeness. I also taught myself how to play guitar in the fall of 2010, so on the new album, you will also hear me playing my Stratocaster – both rhythm and lead – which is quite an accomplishment for me, being a lifelong piano-player.
8. Okay – time for some light humor: Spinal Tap Moment – dig deep. Locate. Relive. Share that special ‘trauma’ with all of us! 😀
Ok, confession time. Even though some of my songs are written in keys that are usually more challenging for piano players (such as B flat, F sharp, and so on), I have recorded the tracks using the “transpose” key on my keyboard, so that I can play in a nice easy key (like C), and still perform with flair. When I was at the Liverpool Cavern Club, and was on stage with the keyboard that was supplied, the transpose button was not working. I was panicking, but tried not to show it, as I kept asking Richard Snow (whose wonderful band was graciously backing me), “Am I playing an ‘A’ note?” and he would check on his Rickenbacker to make sure we were on the same key before starting the song. We tried this several times, and the keyboard was simply not transposing.. There was something wrong with the button.. But eventually I got it, at which point I almost cheered on stage with relief.. As we jumped into the next song.
9. Is there a particular musician you’d love to collaborate with – and why?
Well I have been collaborating with some wonderful artists: Richard Snow, Fabrizio Serrecchia (of Soundserif), and Maxi Dunn, with some beautiful guitar work from Pete Hackett. They are wonderful to work with, and sometimes I wish we didn’t live so far apart, as it would be nice to get together and perform live together again. I would also love to work with Seth Swirsky and Nelson Bragg if I ever got the chance, and if I was to really dream big, I would love to have a certain idol of mine with the initials “B.W.” producing my songs.
10. Advance apologies: the ‘classic’ questions. What other artists and bands have influenced your music and any particular reason why? Also, push come to shove: “Your Top 5 Albums Of All Time”? (Pop Geeks really are interested in this, trust me!)
Strangely enough, the artists that have always remained my favorites for as long as I can remember are from around the time I was born, up through the age of six. I must have heard this stuff on the TV, as it was always country music that was played at our house. So whenever I heard rock n’ roll or classic pop coming from somewhere else I must have just picked it up from there. So, that being said, my favorite artists would be my influences: The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Monkees, The Mamas and the Papas, The Turtles, Jan & Dean, and The Association. Top 5 albums?
1. Endless Summer – The Beach Boys (the first LP I ever bought as a kid)
2. Mr Tambourine Man – The Byrds
3. 1962-66 – The Beatles
4. Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds
5. Headquarters – The Monkees
11. We’re always trying to find new music discover here at PGH – what are some of your favorite music releases of 2011?
My favorite music releases of 2011 would include:
2011 – The Smithereens
As Far As Yesterday Goes – The Red Button
The Neglected Gambit – Maxi Dunn
Am I Really That Boring – Richard Snow and the Inlaws
12. Yes, it would be great if most indie musicians could work on music full-time but the reality rarely the case for most of them. I always am asked by music fans, what are the careers or full-time jobs that the musicians of the music they are listening to do…so ‘what’s yr main gig?!’ ;-P
I’m a manager, supervising 4 staff, in an office which manages biological and economic data for fisheries in the Canadian waters of the North Pacific. We work with databases and produce statistics.
13. We’re taking an informal PGH poll of all musicians: Do you own a Kindle or Nook? Any thoughts on what reading books looks like to you?
All my reading is usually technical, how-to guides. So my book library is pretty much all non-fiction.
14. Okay, last question: Where can we learn more about your music and any other releases you have?
To learn more about my music, you can visit my website at www.lauriebiagini.com
