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 come into the world. What has the initial feedback on it been like?

Our latest release is FUTURA a five-song EP, which has received a good deal of awesome reviews see www.honeychainmusic.com/press.

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?

Hillary wrote the songs, sang and played all the instruments on the FUTURA ep. Now that honeychain has become a full-fledged band, the upcoming record will have Hillary focusing on writing, vocals and guitar and now the drums, bass and lead guitar will be skillfully handled by Emma Jenson (bass & back-up vocals), John Borack (drums) and Andre Tusques (lead guitar).

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

HILLARY: Each song on the FUTURA ep has a message, but I prefer to leave it to the listener to decide what that message is for them.

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?

ANDRE: I think the demise of the music industry has been overstated, most likely for marketing purposes – while it appears that small labels and independent releases have more chance in the marketplace, in reality, the indie labels that seem to have had the most success are often subsidiaries of the majors.

HILLARY: I think there are a zillion resources for people to find music (to download, stream, purchase) to the point it is becoming a little over saturated and for an artist to keep up, requires a lot of time commitment. I’m starting to lean more to trying to direct our fans to our website as a one stop shop for resources on how to find our music and keep up with news related to the band.

 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?

ANDRE: 10 years ago I was listening to CDs, vinyl and MP3s, for the most part; Currently, I listen to MP3s and streaming audio (Soundcloud, IheartRadio and so forth); I find that with the rise of the “Smartphone,” I tend to listen to music on that platform most of the time, to the exclusion of other forms of media. My hope is that the trend will be towards higher bitrates and less lossy forms of compression.

HILLARY: These days I buy most of my music digitally via itunes and bandcamp. I also listen to online radio programs on my iphone. Check out woodradio.com, they have some cool shows.

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?

HILLARY: We announced earlier this month that Kim Shattuck (of The Muffs) will be producing our next album, which will be a full length record and we plan to release it digitally and a CD as well. We’d love to release it on vinyl, but without a label, it’s pretty expensive to manufacture your own CDs and vinyl. We have a page on our website that also describes how people can contribute towards the making of the record as well and get certain perks (honeychainmusic.com)

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

HILLARY: We have done a few online shows via stageit and that’s a cool way to play a show for people all over the world who can watch on their computer or hand held device.

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

HILLARY: More than once we have played at the Orange Country Fair (it’s a huge fair) and getting from the ‘entertainers’ parking lot’ to the shuttle, to the right gate, to the right person with entertainers’ passes, to the stage can be quite an ordeal.

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

HILLARY: Kim Shattuck because she is my fav songwriter (she and Tanya Donelly). She’s also a great friend and mentor and as luck would have it we have collaborated on a song that will be released sometime in 2014. She teaches me a ton.

Advance apologies: the so-called ‘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 us!)

ANDRE: To name a VERY small sampling of my influences: 70s-era David Bowie, Cheap Trick, Badfinger, Jefferson Starship (seriously! Not Starship or Jefferson Airplane, though), Les Paul, Django Reinhardt, Brad Paisley, and Clarence White-era Byrds, U.F.O., Y&T, Jobriath, Rainbow, late 70s/early 80s punk (both English and American (especially The Damned)); I drift randomly from one guitar-centric musical artist to another, but in general, I prefer the artists with a strong sense of melodic development and songcraft.

 JOHN: 20/20 – 20/20
A Hard Day’s Night (UK version) – Beatles
Ramones Leave Home – Ramones

Ram – Paul & Linda McCartney
Get Happy!! – Elvis Costello & the Attractions  (John)

EMMA: Influences: Dandy Warhols, The Who, The Kinks, The Zombies, The Buzzcocks

 HILLARY: Influences: The Go-Go’s, Blondie, Letters to Cleo, Throwing Muses, Belly, Patsy Cline, The Muffs

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?

ANDRE: For the most part, I’ve been listening to modern country for the past few years – all of the good songwriters seem to have drifted to Nashville; a few artists that immediately come to mind: Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert – anything on Country radio in general, actually.

JOHN: Last year, I enjoyed a band from Norway called the Yum Yums and their record called “Play Good Music.” If you’ve ever wondered how a cross between the Ramones and the 1910 Fruitgum Company might sound, check ’em out. I’ve been enjoying new releases by the Split Squad (with Mike Giblin from Cherry Twister, Clem Burke of Blondie and Eddie Munoz of the Plimsouls), as well as a record called “Got To Make Sunday Funky!” from a Swedish band called The Moptops where they cover 10 songs by the ’60s band The Equals (!)

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?!’

ANDRE: I work in a law-firm, chained to a chair in a workspace near the freight elevator, sorting files and papers. Exciting stuff!

JOHN: I’m the general manager for 4 local TV stations in Orange County, California, a contributing editor for Goldmine Magazine (a national music collectors publication), an author and a DJ. 

EMMA: Finish carpenter 

HILLARY: Revenue Management Analyst

Where can we hear more of your music and any other releases you have?

www.honeychainmusic.com  lists all of the various sites (itunes, Bandcamp, etc)