We continue our Fuse Festival chats, this time with guitarist Damian Cazaly of Melbourne quintet Blackchords. We chat primarily about their forthcoming album, music inspirations and more!
for taking the time to talk to us today! I understand you’ve been busy working on the follow up to your debut album – how’s that going?
Really great, our spirits are high and there is a lot more dynamics and soundscapes appearing in the songs. It’s a great thing to jam out these songs as a band for an afternoon, in those moments its amazing what can appear.
In the past we recorded the debut album in Melbourne between Sing sing 2 in Prahan and the producer Nick Batterham’s home studio in Pascoe Vale. We also did some recordings for one of the new tracks in Wolverhampton (U.k) last year with producer Gavin Monaghan. Lately its been recording the sessions at the rehearsal space.. then filling our ipods with the demos and walking the streets of Melbourne sifting through the sounds.
Who have you been working with on the album?
Its still in the demo process so just the bands input at the moment.. and once the structure of it all takes form we’ll decide what input we need outside of the circle and who would be the best producer or producers to work with.
When can we expect it!
We’ll have an E.P out in May… and fate permitting the album out sometime in the later half of 2011.
You’re about to play Fuse Festival in Adelaide – I imagine you’ll be testing out the new tracks there?
Yep it’s a great opportunity for that. There’s a lot of enthusiasm around these new tracks so we’re looking forward to putting them out there to a new crowd. I also love the journey of driving 8 hours to a different state and capital city to play live. You always meet interesting characters and find inspiration.
Your debut seemed to do quite well in the world of reviews… how did you feel about the response?
A big thing for creative people is validation, whether they choose to admit it or not. It is a very unconventional and personal journey, so to get music appreciators you’ve never met writing good reviews is an indicator that your doing something right artistically.
How will the new material compare to what we know from your earlier work?
Since the Debut we’ve had the rhythm section of the band change.. and I must admit I felt quite naïve to recording during the process of it, so expect a more mature, structured sound… with a lot more experimentation. The tours overseas as a band saw us evolve and have a commitment to this musical journey. The songwriting too is more of a band influence… When in the past Nick(Milwright) would write the songs as foundation and we’d layer the sounds over the top, now its more of a four way input at the foundation stage.
You played the 2011 Australian Open, what was that experience like? I imagine it gave you a slightly different crowd and atmosphere to what you’re used to?
It was surreal playing music at a major sporting event, and it was really different to what we’re used to.. but it is always good to play to a different setting. It was about 40 degrees and we seldom play on stages in the light of day. It was the men’s finals so there was a buzz in the air.. and we took it a quite lightheartedly.. donning on the chequered headbands that Pat Cash gave us.
How would you best describe yourself in the live setting? What can people expect from your live show?
At the minute we’re constantly trying new things. We have a set laid out but it’s always good to leave spaces where the moment can rush in and create something unique. We’ve spent a few years trying different formula’s and we’re finally in a spot where we’re able to capture the sounds we want to project in the live setting.
The obligatory “musical inspiration” question – which musicians have most inspired you?
As a guitarist its usually the classics: George Harrison..Johnny Marr.. and the great bands that push the musical boundaries like Wilco etc etc. But there is such great new music coming out as well.. for myself at the moment ‘The suburbs’ from Arcade Fire and ‘Here’s to taking it easy’ by Phosphorescent constantly shows me new angles in music which is inspiring.
Will we see you on the road quite a bit in 2011?
More in the second half of the year. Over the past 12 months we’ve been touring quite extensively both here and overseas, so now is a good chance to settle in Melbourne for the next few months as a band and evolve with these new sounds to use as a basis for touring.
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http://www.blackchords.com/
