Following on from his much-loved album 'No Leaf Clover' last year, fast-rising artist and producer A Permanent Shadow is back on the grind once again to deliver his stellar new EP 'Summertime Love'.
Featuring the previously shared offering 'Killer Boys', this new five-track collection makes for an incredibly bold and vibrant listen. With this heady mix of electro-pop and indie-rock aesthetics layered throughout, 'Summertime Love' continues to establish him as one of the more inventive names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I fell in love with the drums at a very early age. I was the typical kid that would bang on everything with two pens or chopsticks, much to the chagrin of my family. Then aged 17, I got my first real drum kit. It took me quite a while to figure out how to use it, and I think I’m still quite a rudimentary drummer, but sufficiently proficient these days to play on my own albums, albeit under an alias. The world does not need another Phil Collins or Don Henley!
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
My first love was the music of David Bowie. The “Let’s Dance” album did it for me. It is by no means Bowie’s best album, but it has some great songs on it which I still love, such as the title track or “China Girl”. These songs were much derided in the eighties, but I believe they are fantastic compositions and the Nile Rodgers production is flawless!
What was the first album you remember owning?
My first album that I bought with my own money was “Colour By Numbers”, the Culture Club record. As with “Let’s Dance”, I kind of disowned my Boy George phase in the nineties, but looking back now it must be said that he’s a fantastic singer who also wrote some amazing songs, apart form being quite the character!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
A song like Gaga’s “Bad Romance” would have had a positive effect on my bank account I guess, so there. But artistically speaking, having written something like “Sad Song” by Lou Reed would have made me really proud.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I usually need a thread or a theme to ignite the creative process. I am currently recording my next album which is loosely based on the results of a series of esoteric experiences, such as aura readings or regressions. I always start out with the lyrics and then weave the music around them.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I like Actors a lot and look forward to seeing them live this summer. The new Sharon Van Etten album is fantastic as well, so that gets a lot of spins. I’ve also been listening to some live recordings by a band called BEAT that features original King Crimson members and plays their eighties stuff. There’s Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin and the drummer from Tool in this band, so you can imagine the level of virtuosity.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
John Grant, Garbage, Editors, Interpol, and a long etcetera. The list is actually almost endless.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The creative process is the most rewarding thing for me. Just being able to write and record your own compositions is an enormous gift. It would be a lie to say that recognition is not important, because it is, indeed, but being in the studio bouncing ideas off each other with my producer friends, that’s my favourite environment.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Having to sell your music sometimes can be a bit tiring. It’s all about KPI’s these days, such as IG followers, Spotify plays and so on, and I’m not so sure that’s the way where music promotion should be heading. That said, you can’t really change reality, can you? Adapt or die!
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Never run the same mile twice!
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A Permanent Shadow's new EP 'Summertime Love' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.