The Soundcarriers Interview

Here on this blog except for bringing you great music and all we also do interviews sometimes.

2 days ago i did an interview with Paul Isherwood the bassist of The Soundcarriers.

It was more a chat with two mates rather than interview, but we had a lot of fun.

First of all The Soundcarriers are what their name exactly says,they carry sounds and they write their songs with analog equipment,it can't get better right?

That's in general what we said that afternoon:

We discussed about three things mostly,Psychedelic Pop,heavy bass sounds and the Analog way of recording stuff.

Me: So Paul tell me who are The Soundcarriers how do you write the songs in the band?

Paul:

The Soundcarriers are Dorian,Leonard,me and Adam.

Dorian sings and plays the organ,leonard is also singing and plays guitar.

Adam and I write the songs, usually we make a rough demo or jam out a groove, if it works we take it to the studio, play it with Dorian and Leonore and then it takes on another feel. It never ends up sounding how you imagine it to sound but I think thats a great thing about the process, even if it doesnt work out you learn something or you might use one section and take that into another track. I think the fact the songwriting is done by the rhythm section gives us a different sound too, we approach the song from a different angle and bring the groove element into the track.
Me:Your records were both recorded with analog equipment.
Why did you choose to record that way and what are the limits when you record that way?
Paul:
I guess the reason we chose to record onto tape was because most  if not all of the music we listen to and like was recorded that way. Its not about being retro or whatever and I've nothing against digital recording but I love the way tape reacts to different instruments, the extra harmonics etc particularly on the bass and drums. There are obvious limitations with recording like this but limitations can make you more creative. Tape has more depth - no question.
Me:People put you in the Psychedelic Pop and acid jazz genre in music.
Is it very hard for a band to have success when it chooses to play that kind of music?
Paul:
Its always very difficult when you're a band with an unconventional sound or you're trying to do something outside the box because people/media are always trying to pin a label on it or are looking for something mainstream they can compare it to, its just lazy journalism. Unfortunatley a lot of the radio stations here in the UK play the same kind of music, its like' indie by numbers' and sadly there doesn't seem to be any DJ's digging deeper...RIP John Peel.
Me:
Do you ever wish to had a timemachine?
And if you had in what year you would choose to go?
Paul:
I'd probably head back to around 1964, I think it would be a real interesting time musically and technically, It would have been great to be involved in some experimental music around this time, things were just starting to get interesting especially form a production point of view.
Me:Name me some influences that made you get involved with music
Paul:
john barry,lost soundtracks, (I marc 4 )- italian library,experimental jazz,spiritual jazz,pentangle, dave graham - folk blues and beyond.
Well we did only 5 questions and answers thing because the other one and a half hour we were speaking literally about everything.
First of all i want to tell you that Paul is such a great guy,he spoke to me right away as a friend of his and not as a music journalist or anything,he told me that he's not into very much with computers and modern technology stuff,but he handled it just right.
Here's some things we said:
Me: Paul the music industry in England these days is such a shame right?
Paul:
Yeah i guess some people carry shit in their ears,it's so dramatic that people don't get involved with real music anymore,they prefer the easy way these days.
Me:Tell me about the Coral Paul do you like them?,they play this kind of mixed up 60's psychedelic and pop music,are you into them?
Paul:
Yeah let me tell you man,The Coral are very lovely in what they do,even though they are not my thing so much,i love though that they sound like the Byrds,our own Byrds made in England.
Me: Paul tell me about the crisis there in england,here in greece as you know we have a major problem,many many people don't have jobs.
Paul:
Yeah i know these are very hard times we are living for,me personally i used to work at a record shop but it closed after many many years,don't think mate that here is more easy,it's the same but it's not so hard to get along like Greece,this generation must do something.
While i was chatting with Paul i had as background some fine Psychedelic Pop and rare funk grooves and paul was always,man what;s that sound,you inspire me to write down the answers you gave me,he really loved the sounds,we also discussed about My Drunken Haze,i told him about my band and he was like,wow that's very good sound man,you should come here and record to our studio.He also told me that he will help me as much as he can.
Later Hunter lea from Mono in Vcf came up in the conversation,he told me that he loved their album back in 2008 and hunter was about to come and record his first solo album at the studio that Soundcarriers recorded their albums.
So later on and after 2 hours,a toasted sandwich that i made,some japan psychedelic stuff that i put to Paul to hear and he got amazed by my knowledge in music, we said our goodbyes and promised to each other to stay in contact,because we found out that we have the common love for the music.
Let me tell you that Soundcarriers are recording their third album at the moment.
Paul said at the end:
Thanks man that's the best interview i have ever done.

You can Buy their albums Here