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interviews
Rock Band Interviews - Teddybut
TEDDYBUT is a rock band based in Brooklyn, USA
"Their music is unapologetic, emotional,
and a welcome change from the masses of cookie - cutter,
pop bands!" - Access Rock
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Access Rock: Was there a concept
you started with for this album?
teddybut: I started writing songs for
this album about 5 years ago. No concept, except to
express the truth according to teddybut. I had a weird
life, and I thought it might be interesting to translate
that into music. I am still alive, BTW.
Access Rock: Wow, 5 years ago. Has
your writing changed much in the last 5 years?
teddybut: I have certainly developed as
a songwriter. I am robbed of the exact nature of that
development due to the fact that I am the composer. It's
a common experience among songwriters and composers, we
are robbed of the experience of observation of our own
work because we are "in it".
Access Rock: What do you mean by a
"weird life"?
teddybut: well... I think if you listen
to the lyrics, you get the idea. I think maybe it's not
as weird as I think, just complex and full of survival.
Mommy's Got a Bipolar Disorder?" is the best
evidence of that survival.
Access Rock: There are a broad range
of guitar tones on the album. What were some of your amp
and guitar choices?
teddybut: Oh, guitars, I love guitar....
I used my trusty Ibanez Artist 335 copy that i got when i
was 14 a lot. I also used a gretsch Double anniversary,
Jerry Jones custom Danelectro copy, 1948 Gibson J-45,
Deering 6-string banjo, jerry jones Baritone guitar. I
think I used the Ibanez artist the most. Amps...
magnatone, fender champ, silvertones... lots of small
amps. I like the cardboard-ness of those amps
Access Rock: Yah - that baritone
guitar was on the last verse of "Mommys got"
teddybut: yup... the little reggae lick,
very good ears, my friend!
Access Rock: Was there a particular
guitar/amp combo that you used a lot?
teddybut: not really. I used whatever i
thought fit each song, i didn't have a standard way of
doing things.
Access Rock: Do you try to visualize
the sound before you start fiddling around?
teddybut: I think since i've been
playing electric guitar for 24 years, I am on auto pilot
most of the time, but if something I tried didn't work I
would try something else. So I do visualize, but I am not
aware of it.
Access Rock: this album has many
stylistic influences in regard to the songwriting.
"Friendly" reminds me of an 80's pop song by
the Eagles or Steely Dan. which rock band or bands,
including those, were big influences on your songwriting?
teddybut: hmmmm, let me
think....Beatles, Motown, James brown, Hendrix, Nirvana,
beck, Nine inch nails, Foofighters, country music
Access Rock: OK THATS ENOUGH!
teddybut: haha
teddybut: I think the beatles wrote the
book on good melodic songwriting
Access Rock: I agree
teddybut: Their way of fusing styles
appeals to me production wise as well
Access Rock: I really dig the drum
loops and samples. What machines did you use for the
loops and samples?
teddybut: I endorse Logic Audio and i
use pro Tools hardware. i also use an akai S3000XL. But i
don't think it matters what you use as long as you are
making music
Access Rock: Did you do some
sampling and manipulation of the guitar tracks?
teddybut: sometimes, like in "we're
too Loud" when i wanted a totally non-organic feel
to the track i would sample my guitars and manipulate
them. I like to use analog effects mostly, but i did some
processing in the computer. I don't like to give myself
too many options though, so i usually do the processing
before tape.
Access Rock: What is the process you
use for recording? Drums then bass then..
teddybut: For this record i did all the
songs at home in Logic, then went to a real studio to do
basic tracks, drums, bass, rythm gtr...
teddybut: So i sketched out what i
wanted , then went into the studio and did it for real. I
like to play with a band in the studio live first- it's
more fun that way
Access Rock: So you recorded each
song with the live band into Logic?
teddybut: it's more technically complex
than that because the studio only had Pro tools
and my original files were in Logic... so
Access Rock: How did you record the
original files?
teddybut: I basically had the musicians
play onto tape, synched with my originl logic (now PT)
files and we jammed
Access Rock: What would you tell
young players about getting into the music biz?
teddybut: I would tell them to get a
real job, just like everybody tells them. just kidding.
Access Rock: ha ha
teddybut: I would say that they should
think about the business of it before jumping in.
Access Rock: Are you planning a tour
soon, and if so where can someone hear Teddybut play?
teddybut: I think too many musicians
take the business part too hard and are dissapointed by
the difficulty of the long haul music carreer
teddybut: I am playing at bar B in
manhattan (Allen St. Between Stanton and Houston), solo
acoustic tomorrow at 7:30. I also am planning a small
Northeast college tour for the fall (TBA) and a Euro
festival tour for Spring 2002.
As i am making a living as a producer/songwriter for
other artists it is hard to book gigs, but eventually i
would like to do do mostly teddybut
Access Rock: Yah - I know!
teddybut: you know the deal, right?
Access Rock: Thanks for the
interview and good luck with the New CD!
teddybut: Thanks Mr. Accessrock and
goodluck with your fine establishment! Rock ON.
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