Robert Allen (DownTown Mystic) responded via e-mail to ten questions for the "shorts" interview and spoke not only about the current release and future plans but also about fun, personal and nightmares. But read for yourself and have fun!
jDownTown Mystic
Vents Magazine Interviewueves 23 de
own Mystic
What's the meaning behind the band's name?
After
recording
a
bunch
of
tracks,
I
was
looking
for
a
name
to
call
the
project.
I
knew
I
wanted
something
that
could
work
as a
Band
name
but
I
also
wanted
something
that
would
have
some
personal
meaning
for
me.
I
was
driving
up
to
Providence,
RI
and
saw
a
sign
that
said
“Next
stop-Downtown
Mystic”
and
immediately
knew
that
was
the
name.
It
was
perfect—“DownTown”
has
a
rock
feel
to
it
and
“Mystic”
refers
to
myself
since
I’m
also
a
Numerologist
and
have
a
good
working
knowledge
of
Astrology,
Tarot,
I
Ching,
etc.
How the band started??
It
started
as
sort
of a
hobby.
I
was
working
in
the
studio
with
some
really
good
musicians
on
their
projects
and
thought
I'd
get
them
to
play
on
some
of
my
songs.
My
plan
was
to
work
on
the
tracks
when
I
had
some
spare
time.
That
was
the
start
and
eventually
I
went
back
and
worked
on
the
songs.
After
I
decided
on
the
name
DownTown
Mystic,
I
put
a
track
on a
Radio
Industry
compilation
CD,
which
would
get
played
by
Jed
The
Fish
on
KROQ
in
LA...and
then
DownTown
Mystic
really
became
a
reality.
What's the message to transmit with your music??
There’s an emotional vibe to all the songs because the one thing that all humans share is emotions...and that’s what makes music so unique...it connects instantly with people’s emotions. I like to think that I try to transmit Truth in emotions. I want to convey an honest emotion that’s heartfelt, be it sadness or joy, and not by artificial means via songcraft, production, etc.
What's your method at the time of writing a song??
Spontaneity is my method of choice. I sit with a guitar and just let things come to me. Once something shows up, then the real work begins. I get a melody together and then I generally put it down on tape so I won’t forget the inspiration. Things have a way of changing from the time you get an idea to the time you come back and try to remember the idea...LOL...so if something really hits me, I get it on tape. Then I try to flesh out an arrangement and eventually write the lyrics, but that usually requires another inspiration for me to write the lyrics....LOL...but as a rule, once I have the verse and chorus down, I can generally hear the finished recording of the song in my head...just not the lyrics...LOL
Which is your music influences??
The new cd, “Standing Still” is what they call Americana, which to me is Roots/Rock’n’Roll. My influences are mostly back in the 60s with The Beatles, Stones, Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Creedence, etc. If you listen to those bands, then you’ll hear their influences like Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Elvis, and even Dylan.
What plans do you guys have for the future??
What else...touring and recording.
Which has been the funniest prank you guys have been or took part while on tour or after a show??
Which has been the funniest prank you guys have been or took part while on tour or after a show??
The mayhem usually occurs in the studio because where we record was once a Rock Club, and is now a GoGo Bar on one side and the recording studio on the other side. So the guys will go over to the bar on breaks and hang out with the girls. Eventually they talk a few girls to come over to the studio when they finish dancing. One memorable time, involved a Xerox machine and various body parts of the girls and you know...band “members” ;-)
If you guys were stranded in the middle of nowhere after a show or while on tour. The help is 65 miles away from where you guys are, ¿Who would you guys send to look for help? And if while the rest wait, there's no food and the only way to feed yourself is by eating each other, ¿Who would you eat first?
If you guys were stranded in the middle of nowhere after a show or while on tour. The help is 65 miles away from where you guys are, ¿Who would you guys send to look for help? And if while the rest wait, there's no food and the only way to feed yourself is by eating each other, ¿Who would you eat first?
The drummer...always eat the drummer because they have good drumsticks...(groan)
Which country you guys would love to play?
Which country you guys would love to play?
I really want to play in Europe, particularly France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and of course the UK. “Standing Still” made the Top 25 Euro/Americana Chart and that means they really dig the music there. They love American Rock’n’Roll!
With which bands you guys would love to share stage??I would love to play with The Band of Heathens, out of Austin, Texas...our new fave band.
Are you guys OK, with the direction the band is going actually?
Check out more: www.myspace.com/downtownmystic
Vents Magazine/9/23/2010
http://ventsinterviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/downtown-mystic.html
