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?
Nelson Bragg (NB): The Lisa Mychols 3!! Super high energy power pop!! We’re having a blast! Recording very soon!
Tom Richards (TR): I’ve always enjoyed playing in power trios, so LM3 is a dream band for me. The feedback so far has been great and with the upcoming EP we’re hoping to really get the music out there and do some touring.
Lisa “Elsie” Mychols (LM): We’ve played only a few shows so far but the response has been super positive and genuine. I’m actually beginning to meet new people through this project. It’s really a magical thing!
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?
NB: I just joined, so I do not know!
TR: We’ve only been around since last summer, but the one thing I really like about this band is that everyone participates equally in the creative process. Lisa is the songwriter, but both Nelson and I come up with arrangements for the music and vocals.
LM: We recorded our first song “Bruce Foxton” at Tom Richard’s (LM3’s guitar player) home studio but are finishing the rest of our EP at Steve Refling’s studio. I love being a part of a band again! To rehearse and play out – to really shape each song and then take it in to a studio and record it!
Are there any particular songs on this project that are special to you or communicate a message that you’d like to share here?
NB: “Bruce Foxton” is awesome!! A great creative song about the bassist for The Jam!!
TR: I’m really digging this tune called “The Fool”. It has a good message, it’s fast, and has some killer early Who style moments.
LM: The song “Bruce Foxton” is paying homage to a musical hero of ours who truly brings passion by doing what he does, reminding me to follow my own dreams. I smile every time I play that song! “Back to the Truth” is about an awakening to our own truths….each of our songs….well, hopefully, they will reach the hearts of many!
As we all know, the music industry has been devastated for many reasons over the past 10 years, what are your thoughts on these changes and are you finding some of the changes helpful to you with getting more people to hear your music?
NB: Getting people to hear your music means YOU…..no one else HAS to find your audience. The music business died because of greed and internet technology. So musicians must play for the love and for no other reason.
TR: Getting song placements has become the new record deal over the past 10 years. We’ve been really lucky getting some placements on MTV shows and video games and it really does get your music out there all over the world.
LM: I personally have always felt I would never fit in the “music industry” as it was when I was growing up, and yet there I was hoping to get in to it. I suppose I figured that was a musician’s only chance at getting to do music for living. But seriously, talk about sabotage! Bands are so much easier to find when you are looking for them. A certain sound. A certain scene. The bands I’ve been following are bands that I hope we get to play with someday (yea, some of you know who you are!)
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?
NB: Vinyl is back!! Very much back. It’s pricey, but worth it!! Kids are buying records again and it’s awesome. They come with free download cards. Great idea.
TR: Cassettes are back! Though I’m not planning on buying a double cassette recorder any time soon. I’m really enjoying the Pandora’s, Mixclouds, and all those things. I’m discovering tons of cool music I’ve never heard before, and maybe never would have. Hopefully it will just get better and better.
LM: Pandora Radio is SO MUCH FUN!
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?
NB: I’m new so I do not know what Lisa Mychols 3 are planning to do. It will be good!!
TR: EP and then we’ll do some shows, shoot some cool videos and have fun with it. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to see it really take off in a BIG WAY.
LM: We are planning and EP. We want to make a swift and sweet entrance as our introduction. We have 2 songs floating out there but they are a part of the EP.
What are you finding that is working well for your music right now that others may find interesting to hear about?
NB: I am enjoying helping other artists achieve their goals. Right now I believe it is time to “give back”. I am funding writers, producing for free because I have enjoyed some success and it’s time. The names of these people are Kip Boardman, Bob Woodruff, Anny Celsi. They are genius!
TR: I really like the way we’re producing our EP working with Steve Refling. He’s all about keeping it simple and capturing the inspiration. So 1 guitar track and sounds really good and fits perfectly in the song – not 10! 🙂
LM: That there is a purpose to our music. If I get stage fright I keep remembering what this band is all about. It’s not about me. It’s about us.
Okay – time for some light humor! Spinal Tap Moment: dig deep. Locate. Relive. Share that special ‘trauma’ with all of us!
NB: Going into a gig in Spain with The Mockers and being told that we have to “build” the stage before we play on it. We had to carry these big heavy sections of stage and piece them together before setting up. After that same gig? …the door money was stolen. We left dejected. (we KNOW the club owner stole it)
LM: Summer of 2013, before Lisa Mychols 3 had a drummer, Tom and I were set to play as a duo. Tom’s other band The Waking Hours were playing a gig in Los Angeles that same night so Tom planned to jet down South to Huntington Beach just in time to make the LM3 time slot.
Well, one of the acts didn’t show up so I had to go on by myself. Just me and an electric bass guitar with no chord! (Tom was supposed to bring mine with him). I’d have to follow after these incredible full electric well rehearsed bands.
So, I thought hmmm….this is so unreal and crazy that I’m going to just go up there and do it. Especially because I really believe in these songs! So I borrowed a chord from one of the other bands of the night and just went for it!
I remember looking around the room and really noticing pretty much EVERYONE was paying attention but I also noticed fear in some peoples faces for me. I’ve never seen a room so attentive…or maybe so uncomfortable! But yea, I think it was just because we were all in some kind of disbelief. Maybe I was good…maybe I sucked…I may never know. I just felt great that I took the bull by the horns and got these songs and their message heard. I was actually grateful Tom wasn’t there and that I went through this experience. It actually empowered me. My favorite comment of the night to me was, “Wow. I never could have done that.”
Ruling!
Is there a particular musician(s) you’d love to collaborate with – and why?
NB: I’d like to help McCartney write some good songs someday. He needs the help badly.
TR: I have a bunch of retro bossa-nova tunes I wrote that I’m dying to produce with Astrud Gilberto someday. Also, I’d love to work on a project with my mom, Betsy Brye who recently had her version of “Sleepwalk” from ’57 that’s in that movie “The Conjuring”. Her talk on the tune is really haunting and it would be really cool to work on a themed record with her based on her interpretation of that song.
LM: Yes! And when it happens I’ll tell you who it is! (hehe)
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!)
NB: I am influenced by CSNY, REM, The Db’s, and George Harrison.
Top 5 records steely Dan-Katy Lied. The Byrds-Notorious Byrd Bros., The Gapes of Wrath-Now and Again, Peter Hollsapple & Chris Stamey-Mavericks, Elmer Bernstein-Johnny Stacatto.
TR: Top 5 Artists and albums for me would be The Jam/”All Mod Cons”, The Beatles/”Hard Day’s Night”, Aztec Camera/”High Land, Hard Rain”, The Stone Roses (debut album), and Antonio Carlos Jobim/”Sinatra-Jobim: The Complete Recordings”. The soundtrack for “That Thing You Do” is also a real close contender!
LM: I soup spoon fed myself the music of Petula Clark and Gene Pitney and always LOVED the 60’s sounds. Then in my Teen years I found The Jam and Madness. Those were my TOP Heroes.
Top 5 favorite albums of all time: 1. Gene Pitney “This Is Gene Pitney” 2. The Jam “In The City” 3. The Byrds “Fifth Dimension” 4. Love (self Titled) 5. The Zombies “Time of the Zombies”
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?
NB: That’s easy!! Bob Woodruff – The Year We Tried To Kill The Pain, Kontiki Suite – On Sunset Lake, Anny Celsi-January, The Fast Camels’ new record. Best Bands right now so buy anything by: The See See, Elephant Stone, The Asteropid #4, The Dreaming Spires and Jacco Gardener.
TR: I’m really digging “Everyday Robots” by Damon Albarn. I’ve always been a huge Blur fan and he’s still putting out some really creative pop! Also, Cheetahs are great – they really capture what I loved so much about Ride – another one of my fave all time bands.
LM: I really love Jesca Hoop! She’s AMAZING! I love the albums Hunting My Dress and Kismet-but that’s all I have so far. I really like The Riots from Russia, The Moons (from Northampton), Temples (from Kettering, Northamptonshire) and Miles Kane (from Wirral, Merseyside, England) – these are just a few bands/artists I’ve been into lately. I’ve got SO MUCH GREAT music to catch up on!
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?!’
NB: You know…………
TR: Video Producer for DIRECTV!
LM: I’m in school taking a whole new direction!
Okay, last question: Where can we hear more of your music and any other releases you have?
NB: Nelson Bragg – Day Into Night @ iTunes only (cd sold out) Nelson Bragg – We Get What We Want @ CD Baby. Buy it to hear it and support independent music!
TR: Check out “The Waking Hours” in iTunes (the American Waking Hours, not the German ones!)
LM: EP for Lisa Mychols 3 coming soon! Lisa Mychols solo music can be found at CD Baby and Amazon.com
