Old Friends New
Hey gang,
Bumped into an old friend of mine from school. Katy is now living in the UK and has launched a new venture as a music journalist and I got the honor of being her first interview recently. Though you guys might get a kick out of this.
Just "a little something for the wait..."
Monday, December 11, 2006
Interview with Troy Brown of the band Small Town Sleeper
Current mood: curious
Hiya guys,
Ready for my first ever interview? Well if not here it is!
First thing first; I have known Troy from school so it was easy for me to get this. I can't promise ground breaking stuff from other artist but I'll do what I can. For people who have known Troy as well I'm sure you will know how the interview has come out! I hope you enjoy this little step into the "Small Town Sleepers" world...or should I say town.
Q: 1. Troy what got you started into writing songs?
Troy: I've been writing songs for as long as I can remember. My brother and I were both into music at a very early age. We fought over who could use the tape recorder. It was one of those old rectangle things that had the little microphone that plugged in. It made us feel like "real stars". It seemed that every time my parents had friends over or we got together with the family, we had to put on a "show". My earliest musical influences were like 80's country (Ronnie Milsap), and I remember my mom was really into Billy Joel. We 'd all sing "Uptown Girl" whenever it came on in the car. I've just always had a desire to write.
Q: 2. I remember back in High School that was on the school channel you had made a video. If you remember the song and what it was about would be cool here and what was the name of the band you were with?
Troy: Ahh yes, the "famous" video. The band was called "Flannel Dog", and the video was for a song called "Creek". In this band my brother was the lead singer and I actually played Bass guitar. I did a lot of the songwriting, but "Creek" was actually written by Wes (my brother) and I both. It was a song about memories of growing up...quite funny when you think about it. I mean, we felt so "old" in High School...now I just laugh because I realize that we were just kids who thought we were all grown up…little did we know. Fun to pretend. It does seem just like yesterday making that video though. I will always remember that we shot the video in the woods at our local park. We thought we were so cool because we had to rent a generator for all the lights, and cameras. The part I will never forget is the generator falling out of the backend of the truck after the shoot. Oh, yeah...it was completely trashed. Glad I wasn't the "director" or the guy responsible for the return...LOL!!!
Q: 3. Now thoughts on being signed recently; did you ever think you would get to this point?
Troy: Yes and No....I always dreamed I'd get here, and so you could say I "saw" myself here, but the closer I got the less real or exciting it became. It was such a long process. I mean, I had been working towards this since high school, but I really spent the last 6 years going full force. With it being such a slow burn, I kind of became desensitized by everything. Hard for me to get excited. I mean negotiating our contract took 9 months alone. As you can tell, that is a lot of time spent waiting, and having the excitement fade. When we actually did sign, it was amazing, but I missed the big WOW factor. Wasn't like winning American Idol lets just say. Hollywood has a way of making everything seem so much "bigger". For me it was like...wow, now I've got to work my butt of to keep this going and all the pressure started to set in. I have a bad habit of not enjoying the "here and now". I'm always looking at what's next, and learning from my past. It is a curse, because I think I miss out on a lot of the exciting things...I'm working on it though...think I'm getting a bit better.
Q: 4. I know you have the new album out soon; what is your favorite track and why is it you favorite?
Troy: Man, my favorite track changes everyday. I really, really like a track called "I Have Been Waiting". It is an older song, but we've done some really nice updates to it. I'm also really proud of a song I co-wrote with a Nashville writer/producer named Rob Graves. The song is called "The Part that Walks Away", and this song is really a step forward for me. It shows some growth, and I think it may surprise some of our fans. It even has me playing piano now, which is something I've just started working on. I've always wanted to learn piano, and now this song is my excuse. But honestly, it is tough to pick a favorite. I am so personally attached to all of them. They are like my children.
Q: 5. Do you think that this album has changed a lot from when you first stepped into the studio?
Troy: I don't just think I know it has changed…and continues to change. I don't think people will see this as a big departure from what we've done, but maybe they will. I always have to step back and realize that the people listening to our music don't live it everyday, and watch it evolve step by step. On the inside we have spent the last 5 months working on this record. We have made changes to these songs every single day…be it a guitar tone or a part all together. Most of the stuff we stress over are things that the normal listener wouldn't even notice, or only notice in the subconscious. The bottom line is that we have really gone after the best record possible…at whatever the cost. I think this record shows the bands growth, and shows a bit more of our influences. We've all had a lot of say, and didn't have any hurried timeline. That is a blessing and a curse though. Time is great, but you can also start to "over analyze".
Q: 6. I guess that loads of people want to know how much does being small town mean to the band?
Troy: It really defines who we are. We are all very proud of where we come from and find comfort here. I do have to say that the "bright lights" of the city during the making of this record influenced us all. I'm pretty sure that it will show in a few of the tracks. Coming home definitely took a couple of weeks to get re-adjusted. I think it is great though. We get to write songs about where we come from for the people who may not know what it is like growing up in middle America, and now we get to write songs about all the crazy things we've experienced for all the people who have never left middle America. It's truly the best of both worlds. I've told everybody that has asked though… As much as I love to visit all the amazing places I've seen, home, is home, and there is nothing quite like it.
Q: 7. I know you have been busy as heck with the album and have been over to London. While you were here what was the weirdest thing to you? Did you enjoy your stay?
Troy: I really, really loved London, and I will be back for sure. The craziest thing…hmmm. Driving on the other side of the road. That took awhile to get use to.
Q: 8.What have been the best part of working on the new album?
Troy: The best part of working on the new album for me has been waking up everyday. I know it sounds funny, but to be able to wake up and do what you truly love to do for a living…it's a beautiful thing. I have been blessed.
Q: 9. Now do you think we might get a sniff of your sound over this end of the pond?
Troy: I definitely see our music being available across the pond. Part of our label is over there, and I know they are excited to get our name out there as much as we are excited about getting some fires burning over here!
...and it goes on!
-T
