Interview: Sunsets North

For 2011 I should have more interviews than ever before. My first for the year is

Sunsets North

Can you give my readers a brief introduction to the band, for those who are unfamiliar with you. How did you form?

- When I decided to set out and do this for real, SunSets North was my solo acoustic project that turned into what we are today.

When did you first start writing music?

- I started writing lyrics and “poems” in middle school and in high school, but it wasn’t until the 9th grade I had my 1st electric guitar. From then on I wrote everyday…

How did you choose your genre and who are your influences?

- I didn’t choose a genre… it chose me. My style comes from listening to years of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd with a good dose of Green Day and Something Corporate.

Did you ever take any formal music lessons?

- I did actually; I took lessons for about a month then realized the guy was showing me the same thing every week. My dad called him a stoner and I never went back. After that I jammed with some kids from school and absorbed as much as I could.

Did your environment while growing up have an impact on the kind of music you make today?

- Doesn’t everybody’s?

Which of your works would you say is your favorite, so far?

- I love every song like a mother her child… but right now Louder Than Words is getting a lot of attention.

How did you come up with the name of the new album?

- It is the idea of where we are with the band, kind of saying “ok guys, So Far, So Good… but what is our next move, but it’s also the name of a song on the record as well.

How do you feel about the impact of the internet on the music business?

- Sometimes it is awesome, like facebook and youtube make it easier for your fans to check out your videos and songs, but on the other hand makes it that much easier to steal the music…

Do you think major record labels are necessary any more?

- Yes and no and that is a whole other discussion, we can get into at some point J

How do you normally write your songs?

- They start with a melody or a beat in my head that turns into me drumming on the kitchen counter, until it is recorded.

 

In your opinion, what does a good song need to consist of?

- A good intro, and a good chorus

What song is most exciting to play live? Original and/or cover, please!

- We don’t tend to do many covers but I love playing Goodbye Syndrome live.

What cities have been your favorite to play?

- Allentown, Pa

What do you think the best part of touring is?

- Seeing the world and our beautiful country.

What cities have had the best reception for your music outside of your home state?

- New Jersey and Texas  

Where do you see the band in 5 years? 10 years?

- Hopefully headlining our own tour and playing sold out stadiums,

Any words of wisdom for those with hopes of breaking into music?

- Keep learning and keep practicing, never stop playing.

What was the strangest thing to have happen while performing on stage?

- Not too many strange things happen to us, but I hate it when we get shocked from the mic’s

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

- McDonald’s Double Cheese Burgers and Cherry Coke

If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

- There would be 2 people I would have a hard time choosing between one would be Jimmy Page, and we’d talk about producing and the art of recording, and the other would be Syd Barrett and we would talk about LSD.

What has surprised you most in your career so far?

- How shady some people can be. Point blank.

Any hobbies outside of music? Sports, etc?

- Recording, producing music, and watching awesome movies

What do you watch on tv?

- Dexter, Weeds, Sopranos, and Supernatural

What movies do you like?

- Too many to say, but I love the godfather and Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind

Read any good books lately?

- Book of Tao

Where do you live?

- Allentown