Silver Rocket

Dead Western: I don't know what's going on any more than you do

Čas od času najdu čas udělat rozhovor s někým, kdo se sem chystá na koncert nebo na pár koncertů v řadě. Připadá mi dobrý ty lidi takhle představit a aspoň trochu je před koncertem "přiblížit". Když to dělám po telefonu, přepisuju to do češtiny, ale někdy to dělám po mejlu - a myslím, že stejně většinou rozumíte anglicky dobře natolik, že překlad není třeba. Takže teď je na řadě Dead Western neboli Troy Mighty - FAKT milej chlapík, kterej bude hrát 24. března na 007 před Enablers a pak (ale i před) všude možně kolem:

20. března: České Budějovice
21. března: Písek
22. března: Plzeň
24. března: Praha (+ Enablers)
25. března: Brno
29. března: Slavičín (+ Calvera)
31. března: Ostrava
2. dubna: Jihlava
3. dubna: Pardubice
2. května: Broumov

Let´s talk a bit about your voice - I am sure that this is not the first nor the last time this topic is mentioned. Did you decide on the very start of your music career that you want to go as deep as it gets with your voice? Or was it an evolution?

It was definitely an evolution. I have come a long way from screaming miserably in my first band at 17, and then slowly finding my voice through years of performing with Dead Western. It's funny to hear recordings of me singing in the early 2000's, when I had much less experience of how to sing or breathe; they're not recordings I'd care for anyone to hear, though it's important to recognize that things have to start some way, before they can be any other way. There are still plenty of times now even, when I listen back on a recording and am not sure I like what I hear. This reflects the constant learning experience that practice results in, and the fact that things in practice will always be developing. Things generally roll low and slow with me, and my voice proves to be no exception.

I know very well that it´s pretty hard to sing in such a deep voice. Do you have some special training?

No, just my own practice, though my practice has never been to see how low I can go. I have often surprised myself with that.

I feel that on some live versions of your songs, there is a little bit of "comedy" or "parody" or "theatric" in your voice, sort of like you are hiding behind the voice the same way some singers "scream" too much if you know what I mean. Do you use the voice as an "emotional shield" on your shows... so to speak?

I'm not sure I know how to answer this.. I enjoy humor and the absurd, and especially in performance, it may be difficult for the receiver to understand where these expressions of such may come from. Aside from a general desire to connect with the audience in some way beyond the songs, I am also sensitive to an idea that my songs may be too much to take in, one after another, and so will sometimes try to lighten the load of this with humor or an off-topic comment or a fictitious antidote. So sure, there are insecurities at play here, and I think that relates to your "emotional shield" idea. I'm sure I have turned people off with this, or have made a fool of myself to a few, but I don't mind. Sometimes a show is as fresh of an experience for me as it is for the audience, and the next show you see will surely be a different experience for us both.

The more I think on it though, the more I can define being on stage as definitely baring a shield, of some or many sorts. There are many different examples of situations where I must put extra will into breaking through the room or the audience or my general mood, in order to deliver the goods, and the sturdier my armor is, the more possible it is to accomplish this.

Many of your songs lack the classic verse - chorus - verse - chorus structure, it´s more like stream of consciousness. How do you work within the sound? Does the melody come first? Or the lyrics?

I realized pretty early on that a song didn't have to be that way, and bands like Sonic Youth, Capt. Beefheart, US Maple, and so many more really helped inspire this sort of progression in a song, where things move forward and not necessarily back to a chorus. It's almost as though I can't write in this more traditional and accessible/acceptable way, even when I intend to. Most of the time now with songwriting, some lyrics and a vocal melody will come first, and then I will teach myself the rest of the song around this base. 

Being a father myself, I always find the song "A Father Ain´t a Man" very VERY moving... Can you tell me more about it?

This song is about having a father, and being a father, which I became at a very young age. It was written after a particularly bleak phone conversation with my son's mother, many years ago. The road to total appreciation, cordiality, and collaboration between us was a rough one at times, as I imagine it may be for any young people with a new life to raise. I am grateful that we eventually grew up ourselves, and moved beyond fear and ego and differences, enabling us to instead completely focus on our super-awesome son. 

But your lyrics are generally positive (at least, that´s how I feel it). You still have a faith in humanity, right?

Absolutely. I like the notion of some sort of enlightenment that our generations are heading towards; I would like to think that as we are becoming more advanced socially, culturally, and ethically as a species, that this is paving the way to some greater harmony. There may always be hypocrites though, and greedy people, and those in power who are so disconnected from the population they supposedly lead. I am hoping those sorts will eventually die off, leaving only the part of the population that actually cares about the population. 

What about the new recording... Any plans? New songs?

I am excited about whatever new album will exist, and getting a bit anxious about how it will happen, since I do not have the resources now to make it happen. I have batch of new songs and am ready to start recording though, and would love to get into this process. I'd like to work with a producer who can help realize sounds and vibes, since after five studio recordings with only an engineer, I realize that I am not any sort of producer, and have limited knowledge of this form of song-craft. I am hoping that in my travels and involvements of 2015, I will meet the person who will help bring this new album to life. I am looking forward to a brand new listening experience for those who have heard the previous albums.

Any message for the CZ folks prior your shows...?

I am looking forward to being a part of these shows with you! Let's hope that it'll be weird and wonderful; I don't know what's going on any more than you do.

Dead Western v Česku:

20. března: České Budějovice
21. března: Písek
22. března: Plzeň
24. března: Praha (+ Enablers)
25. března: Brno
29. března: Slavičín (+ Calvera)
31. března: Ostrava
2. dubna: Jihlava
3. dubna: Pardubice
2. května: Broumov