10 Questions With Kevin Martin Options

[OutToDry]

From TGF Facebook Fan Page:



Some nice tidbits on the album & the creative process wit C&C&P



10 Questions with Kevin Martin of The Gracious Few

Today at 9:50pm
Kevin snuck in a few extras....

Q: Were you musically inclined as a kid?
A: I was. I started playing music at the age of 6 as well as singing in the school choir. By the time I was 11 I was 1st chair in the school band, French horn, and singing my heart out at the local roller rink while snowballing with the ladies! (**For international fans, the Snowball Skate is where the boys and girls go to separate ends of the rink and then take turns asking a member of the opposite sex to skate with them.)

Q: What was it that first attracted you to music?
A: My father's love of Jazz and Big Band. I can remember watching him listen to Charlie Bird Parker; eyes closed, hands moving up and down, Air Saxing! My father was a Jazz musician actually so it was no shock to me that "Bird" was always playing on the stereo. As a matter of fact my whole family is musical so that's really what attracted me to music. I can remember listening to my sister's Cars and Clash records & my brother Dennis' Rush & Sweet records with the headphones on as loud as they could go, thinking to myself "I wonder when I'm gonna make one of these things..."!

Q: Were you a model student in high school?
A: Nope! Pot Smoking, class skipping fool!

Q: What was the most interesting non-music job you had and what did you learn from that experience?
A: I worked as a maintenance man at an apartment building and I learned that people that rent apartments generally don't give a shit about them.

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you want to have?
A: Suntan lotion an iPod and my Barton Perreira "Breed Love" sun glasses

Q: Where do you consider to be your hometown?
A: Los Angeles

Q: What songs or artists have been consistently influential in your life or work as an artist?
A: I would have to say Otis Redding has been my biggest influence. When I approach a song I always try and ask myself how would he have started his phrasing in this song? How would he sing this, etc.? He was so important as an artist, as a singer-songwriter, and he has inspired and influenced so many talented musicians. I use that same influence in my approach to performing as well. Unbridled and free.

Q: What interesting story can you share with your fans before they hear it on VH1 behind the music?
A: I once partied with Madonna for 3 days straight and that's all I can say about that!

Q: What are your ideal circumstances for writing?
A: A guitar in my hands!

Q: Are there any mandatory environmental conditions or rituals involved when you're writing?
A: Oban 14 Scotch

Q: How was working with The Gracious Few different from your previous experiences with bands? (I wrote notes on this previously but feel free to riff on anything esp mixing and the trip to Miami)
A: The biggest difference was how quickly we were able to create having never worked with CG, CT & PD. Actually two songs on the record, "Nothing but Love" & "Silly Thing," were written in the first hour of us getting in the same room for the very first time. That was shocking but at the same time it was also a realization. I realized that these 3 musicians were as hungry as I was to create art, make music & enjoy that process. So we write 18 songs in 1 month, record 16 of them over 6 weeks and will have a record out within 9 months! That my friends is unheard of and happens very rarely these days.

Q: Do you have any standard activities to prepare for a show?
A: Sing a couple of our favorite songs with my band mates!

Q: What do you like best about touring?
A: SHOWTIME!!

Q: Is there anything you're planning to do new/differently touring and performing with The Gracious Few?
A: Yes, I am planning on changing my underwear everyday rather than once a week and of course ROCKING OUT

This post has been edited by OutToDry: Apr 23 2010, 9:26 pm

[Merica]

Sounds like a fast and furious recording process. Hopefully we'll hear the passion from the other side.