IPO Interview – Bedford Davis

Posted on 03 April 2014

Bedford Davis

PGH is all about helping artists highlight their most recent projects, so let us all know what your latest project is – and tell us about how it came into the world. What has the initial feedback on it been like?

Ethan Armstrong – bass and vocals (ETHAN): Our latest EP release is “The Puzzle is So Hard”. The initial feedback has been has been madness – kind of like the riot sparked by Stravinky’s Rite of Spring. But seriously, the tunes are catchy enough, or so our friends say. Though I guess our friends know better than to be brutally honest with us. That’s why we use the harshest of focus groups before releasing anything to the public.

Bedford Davis

The Recording Process: There are so many interesting ways that music projects come into the world these days compared with what artists had to struggle through 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?

ETHAN: We try to keep the process simple. The tunes are already in our brains when we set out to record – the tools just need to get out of the way to make the brain-to-mp3 conversion. DAWs have come a long way toward that end.

Are there any particular songs on this project that are special to you or communicate a message that you’d like to share here?

ETHAN: I Would Be Perfect for this Job is one that job-seekers of all stripes can relate to – especially in times of high unemployment. There’s a Buckminster Fuller quote: “We should do away with the absolutely specious notion that everybody has to earn a living. It is a fact today that one in ten thousand of us can make a technological breakthrough capable of supporting all the rest. …The true business of people should be to go back to school and think about whatever it was they were thinking about before somebody came along and told them they had to earn a living.”

That said, we (all members of Bedford Davis) are 100% devoted to continuing our lifestyle as working stiffs until unable to do so. And yes, touring someday may make us unable to do so.

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 the changes helpful to you with getting more people to hear your music?

ETHAN: The Internet promised independent artists free content distribution and previously unreachable audiences. There are still millions of songs on Spotify that haven’t received a single play! The rich still get richer.

Along the lines of this discussion, it would be really interesting to get your thoughts on what you think the future of ‘music enjoyment’ will look like in the coming years? How do you personally enjoy and ‘consume’ music? Any trends you’ve noticed with your own habits compared to, say, 10 years ago?

ETHAN: It’s easier to get tunnel-vision nowadays and not branch out organically. These new music discovery algorithms, e.g., “if you like Band A, you might like Band B” are not very adventurous. One can get stuck in a very narrow taste range.

Bedford Davis

We 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?

ETHAN: We will release an EP on Schpootify, iTunes, AmazonMP3 and good ol’ CD (college radio still seems to like jewel cases).

What are you finding that is working well for your music right now that others may find interesting to hear about?

ETHAN: We think we might be onto something with the trio format. As much as we’d like a string section and seven auxiliary percussionists – it’s much easier to schedule practice for three.

Okay – time for some light humor! Spinal Tap Moment: dig deep. Locate. Relive. Share that special ‘trauma’ with all of us!

ETHAN: We’ve had our share of questionable gigs. Worcester Palladium was not very friendly.

Is there a particular musician(s) you’d love to collaborate with – and why?

ETHAN: Are we allowed to resurrect deceased musicians? Bela Bartok. Then Joey Ramone. Maybe not at the same time.

Advance apologies: the so-called ‘classic’ questions. What other artists and bands have influenced your music and any particular reason why? 

The Shins, Beck, Steely Dan – all very good melodysmiths with a penchant for lyrical abstraction

Also, push come to shove: “Your Top 5 Albums Of All Time”? (Pop Geeks really are interested in this, trust us!)

ETHAN:
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold the World
Steely Dan – Katy Lied
Beck – Modern Guilt
Soundgarden – Superunknown
Primus – Sailing the Seas of Cheese

We’re always trying to find new music discover here at PGH – what are some of your favorite music releases of the last few years?

ETHAN:
Chairlift – Something

Caveman – Caveman
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Peter Bjorn and John – Living Thing
Lykke Li – Youth Novels

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 am always 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 your main gig?!’

ETHAN: Software engineers on bass and keys, and our drummer is a LICSW.

Okay, last question: Where can we hear more of your music and any other releases you have?

ETHAN: We got videos and list live shows on our main website, YouTube channel, and Facebook:

Bedford Davis Web Site
Bedford Davis on FaceBook
Bedford Davis on YouTube

Bedford_Davis_with_animals

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