So great to have you for our interview today. Tell us about your latest single and the impact it’s had on your fans so far?
I would like to talk about Carousel Wheel, a tune off of my newest full length, Good Morning Music. This song entertains the philosophy that the world is a spinning ball of options, much like a carousel. There’s no escaping the constant turning of the wheel, and time waits for no one. Thus, the wheel only gives us a certain amount of time each day/month/year to bring forth our true expression, and as we race against time, so much is left unsaid and undone, the unfortunate side affect of always living by the clock.
This song seems to jump out at my listeners. They find the melody to be catchy, “like a Beatles song,” I’ve heard it said. This feedback came to me at live performances, and now that the song is out, I am hoping fans like the record and get to spend more time with the lyrics and song meaning. This record is available for streaming on platforms like Spotify, Amazon, Itunes and many others. Physical copies of Good Morning Music can be purchased at Brian David Collins shows, please check the website for more details.
Do you get more attached to songs over others?
Yes, most definitely. It all starts with believing in my creations. If I can write a song from a place in my heart that is pure inspiration, the chances of me becoming attached to the work are great. If I am uninspired and am challenging myself to write just to keep from drying out, the process is too cerebral and the work is usually forgotten.
Sometimes I feel I outgrow my attachment to songs I have written. If the song is no longer useful to me, meaning that it no longer describes a feeling or facet in my life, the song tends to lose it’s meaning to me and makes its way out of the rotation of original tunes I perform. There are some exceptions to this, and there are some old dark pleasures I wait to play when I am alone, but for the most part, I sing about what is relevant to me in my life and am always reaching for new ways to express what matters now. If I am attached to what I am working on, it means I am writing well which is always a good sign.
What makes your single and the time you spent on the music memorable for you?
If I really like a tune, I usually remember the moment I came up with the first inspiration for it. Carousel Wheel was definitely this way. I remember it being late at night on one of those quiet nights that fall between Christmas and New Year’s, when the earth’s tilt slows to a frequency that is felt by all creatures. I remember coming up with the waltz-like piano intro and the words for the first verse. “Carousel wheel ain’t improving
All the same choices again
Carousel wheel don’t keep moving
As does the train”
In the studio, the most memorable parts of the process were the overdubbing I chose. I added a chime-like Fender Rhodes part I really enjoyed, and guitar man Joe Shicke came into the studio months later to record a tasty rhythm guitar part.
At the end of the last Good Morning Music studio session we were listening back to Draw The Shades, the tune that leads into Carousel Wheel. Russick Smith was packing up his cello and we were reviewing the parts he had played on the tune. When draw The Shades ended it rolled into Carousel Wheel, I heard my lead vocal track in a brand new way. “This lead vocal track really sounds harsh to the ear,” I declared, “Do I have time for a retake?” “Not really,” said Darren, “I have a session in twenty minutes. If you can do it in one take I’ll set up the mic.” So it was that I had my chance to be a prima donna in the studio and re-sing Carousel Wheel for the fourth time at the last minute. I’m really glad I did! The vocal we ended up with was much smoother with far more honest feeling.
Any tried or true techniques you have when creating the music?
We like to keep everything as live and organic as possible in the studio. Even when we used my digital grand piano, we took the time to mic it up to get that warm organic room sound. I’ve had to cut corners with this a couple of times when I didn’t have access to a piano, or when a synth sound was required in lieu of a piano, but I only had to record four or five tracks this way.
When BDC makes an album, piano, vocals and drums go down first. Tom and I are e chore members of the group. We lock in tight together after much practice and all other parts revolve around what Tom and I are doing. Even a lot of the bass part is pre-written into the piano part, which gives Tom and I qualities of a rhythm section.
After Tom and I are done we overdub anything else that needs to be caught with the digital grand piano and all the sounds it provides while it is still miced up and ready to go. Then we take time for vocal overdubs and/or re-singing lead vocal parts, though this doesn’t need to be finalized during the Brian and Tom sessions, there is always time for vocals later as well.
After Tom and I have done our parts, we invite musicians into the studio or have musicians work remote. Bass parts can usually be done remotely, but we like to have guitarists, cellists and horn/wind players in the studio with us whenever possible. This insures that we can have conversations about the parts that are being recorded in hopes to preserve the vision for the sound of the records we are making.
What are you most looking forward to in 2023 with your new music?
I am looking forward to the trips I will make in early 2023. During these sessions we will track the final parts for Forgotten Door tunes. I am exceptionally eager to release this material. We put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this record, and rallied through the songs that didn’t come easy until we triumphed with takes we all appreciated. The sessions we have had over the holiday season with guitarist John Cittadino, cellist Russick Smith, saxophonist Brian Keller, and trumpeter Jeromy Moore have proven to shape the record in a new and intriguing way, and I can’t wait to share wht we have made with you all!
Later on in 2023 I plan to travel out to Colorado to record a new album, which is both retrospective to songs from the past I would like to record for the first time or re-record, and flashing forward to tunes I am writing now to reflect my recent life’s revision and my move to Kentucky. Between the demos I make for Tom and the practice we time we will have during the earlier part of the year, we will arrange and record as many tunes as we feel we can do justice for. The plan is to record in Colorado at Tom’s house once we feel we’re ready. I’ll be miced up on his acoustic piano upstairs with a vocal mic, while Tom’s drums will be miced up in the basement where he will perform. We will keep the music going, neither one of us is whole without it.
Anything in 2022 that you experienced that you’re either leaving behind or bringing with you into 2023?
In one of my earlier interviews I mentioned that I caught a bout of Covid in January of this year that did a number on my writing. For the last part of 2022, 2023 and beyond, I am leaving this narrative behind. The fog has lifted and I am writing again.
For those of you who have read my interviews you also know about my recent move to Kentucky for family interests. Leaving my lifelong home of Colorado behind has given me a wider base, and new inspirations I plan to bring to the music for the future of Brian David Collins.
In addition, The Seers may record again in 2023 for the first time since 2018, when we recorded our Shiny People EP. There are no clear details in place for these sessions yet, but we do plan to record this retrospective project, and if the stars align this too will happen.
Where can our readers go to learn more about your future projects?!
For any future shows, albums or news about BDC, please visit my website at www.briandavidcollins.com.
Leave us with a word or phrase that will describe what your fans can expect from you NEXT!
“Heat from the fire
Love from the stream
Is life part of a wishing well dream
Can all that we wish for
Become all we see
If you wonder you wonder like me
As time moves along”
Website: www.briandavidcollins.com
Brian David Collins Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1UFK00xLg94Y1O75SAJAgE
Brian David Collins Facebook: www.facebook.com/briandavidcollins/
End of Interview
