T.O. Snob: First off, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us.
Your new album, Not For Everyone, Just For You was just released. How would you describe the album and North Elementary’s sound?
John Harrison: My best guess to describe this album would be songs that are surrounded by sounds and noise lending a 3D quality to the final compositions. I enjoy writing the songs (mostly on acoustic guitar on my couch) – then taking them to the band to work out that arrangement and add their personal influences – then finally in the recording process, taking the song and tying different sounds/beeps/noise to destroy it or hide it or enhance it – this keeps the songs interesting for me….it has to start with a good song so I spend most of my time writing songs to get to the “good” ones. Without a good song the surrounding noises and sounds have no weight to them.
North Elementary live sound is has a fairly similar approach and style but tends to rock more – it’s more fun for everyone that way… I like to think songs can be presented in a variety of ways – we often build places in the song to keep us in the moment or for a few of us to divert away from the actual song to create new sounds and avenues….it keeps the live experience interesting for everyone night after night.
T.O. Snob: What inspires a North Elementary song?
JH: I’m inspired by other musicians and artists along with their works (books, songs, paintings, movies) – Girls are a big one, being outside/nature, friends, good times, bad times, being humbled, excited, overwhelmed, being bored – personal insight/observations – often times I write lyrics as reminders to myself about a revelation I had or something I felt I had discovered at some point – most of the time the songs are originally written in 1st person but even I get tired of every song containing the words ME and I – so I change the person perspective to keep myself interested…..
T.O. Snob: The band’s name is interesting. Where did it come from?
I’d been 4 tracking songs for a long while but never really had any intention of releasing them or playing live….so I never really needed a name. Finally I was asked to play a show and they need a band name to put on the flier…..so while on tour in another band (The Comas) we passed an elementary school in Virginia and it was called North Elementary….I really was drawn to the font and style of the words more so than what they said at that time…..so – that was the name – at the time I wasn’t sure what style of music I was wanting to release (and in some ways I still don’t) so I felt it was a non genre specific name….and that is the name story
T.O. Snob: Your tour dates so far don’t have you coming up to visit us in Toronto. Do you have any plans to tour north of the border?
JH: We would love to…if anyone would like to help bring us up there for a few shows – let’s do it! We have passports. I would like to go see the birthplace of Neil Young to pick up some good mojo…
T.O. Snob: If you could tour with any artist in the world who would it be?
JH: Wow – hmmm – here is a short list in no particular order….
1. Dinosaur Jr
2. Wilco
3. My Bloody Valentine
4. Velvet Underground
5. Archers of Loaf
6. Helmet
7. Spiritualized
8. Neil Young and Crazy Horse
9. The Beatles
10. Pistolero
T.O. Snob: What is your guiltiest musical pleasure?
JH: Gosh – I have a lot really – I listen to more Hawaiian music than most would admit to but I’m sure that’s not exactly what you are talking about. I listen to a fair amount of what ever “hit” pop song is happening at the moment – and with iTunes and whatnots I’m able to download and own them as well….I usually don’t know the names of the songs but like the hook lines like “If you want then you should have put a ring on it” – yup I downloaded that song. I downloaded that last JLo song that was supposed to be a “hit” but in mega song sales I think was a bomb….I like it.
Often times it’s the production and the lyrics that are hard to swallow – but the “song” is good – I think that happened a bunch in the boy band and Brittany Spears days – are they over? Example: Backstreet Boys “playn games with my heart” – good song – bad presentation.
For the record I think Justin Timberlake is awesome
Did I just say all that?
T.O. Snob: Have you ever heard a song and said “damn I wish I wrote that one”?
JH: Yeah – all the time – I think it goes back to that inspiration question – those sorta songs are inspiring and have always made me want to pick up my guitar- years ago and today…
“don’t let it bring you down”
“tom cortenay”
“the lung”
“this must be the place (naive melody)”
“don’t worry be happy” – strictly for financial reasons
T.O. Snob: Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans in Toronto?
JH: Go create something! Anything – do something!!!
or
Go buy our new record at http://eskimokissrecords.com/ and thank you for all the support you give us in the various ways you see fit to do so – we truly hope to see you soon!
T.O. Snob: Thanks again for taking the time to speak with us.
JH: CHEERS!
0 praise/complaints:
Post a Comment