Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
Im currently based east of Manchester in a little village called Tintwistle. The music scene is pretty non-existent but I’m only a thirty-minute drive from Manchester, which is a musical hub for the Northwest. Having lived in Central London and Manchester it’s been nice for me to have a bit of quiet. It’s really allowed me to take that downtime but also given me the freedom to be in a city pretty quickly.
How did you first get involved with playing music?
When I was 13 my mother told me I could have any musical instrument for Christmas. I’m actually not sure what preempted that. As much as I liked music, I don’t think I had really expressed an interest in playing anything. Anyway… I picked the drums and she stuck true to her word and that year I got a drum kit. I had zero clue how to play, and I stuck at the drums and after years of playing I fell into production.
What’s been happening recently?
More recently I’ve been trying to take a bit of time out with my family, Go on long walks or bike rides and take in a bit of nature. It can be quite easy to isolate yourself when making an album so its been a bit of a breather.
You’re new single ‘Coming Back’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?
Thinking back, night-time driving has played a big part in recent writing. It’s been one of the more consistent times I’ve had to be alone, reflect and listen to new music, which has in turn kind of shaped my musical intentions.
How did you go about writing ‘Coming Back’?
I start every track I write differently. ‘Coming Back’ started with experimenting with synth sounds. I wanted to create something warm and analogue sounding. Something groove based that would have a bounce but didn’t feel overly dance music.
Where and when did you record and who with?
I have a studio in my attic where I do all my writing and recording… I rented a Neumann U87 for a couple of days and got Ben P Williams round to lay the vocals down one afternoon…
What programs/instruments did you use to record?
I use Logic Pro X as my main DAW. I use a plethora of percussive instruments that I’ve acquired over the years. The main synth line was made on the Korg Minilogue and under-pinned with the Moog Sub Phatty.
How did the concept for the ‘Coming Back’ music video come about?
Simon Brooks produced the music video, who always seems to capture the essence of a track. We had spoken about influences previously and I had mentioned a few ideas. He included the late-night driving vibes i mentioned earlier and just generally got the tone of the video right. Simon has worked on every Frameworks video because he just gets it.
Where and when did you film?
We filmed the video on the 11th of June at Sitcom Soldiers, Manchester.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding through the creation and recording of
‘Coming Back’?
I think the most challenging thing was probably the mix-down.. It can be a laborious task mixing sometimes and trying to get the right balance and feel across the board. I mix with Gareth Metcalf at studio-nyne not so far from me. I’ve been working with Gareth some years now and he gets what I’m going for. It’s a massive help having a second set of ears on mixes that I trust.
How do you prepare for your live shows?
I generally lock myself in my studio for a while basically. The studio can be an overly critical listening environment sometimes which is great for fine tuning things, but I think there is a lot to be said for just getting out there on a system and finding out realistically what’s working.
We also have the full live outfit which is a bit more time consuming to organize, but all the musicians involved are super talented and have helped create something really special.
What programs and equipment do you use whilst performing live?
For live i’m using Ableton Live with a PUSH, the Korg Minilogue, SPD-SX and a Pioneer DJ mixer.
What do you most enjoy about playing live?
I think I get the most out of finishing playing and feeling it went really well. When the energy is right in a room and you just seem to hit the road-running is a great feeling… Being in the flow.
What do you like to do away from music?
Spending time with my family. I have an amazing wife and two kids that keep me busy outside of music. Having children has been my greatest inspiration and fuel for work.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to the latest Jungle album recently, the production is great.
Also here’s a link to a playlist I try to keep updated regularly with things I’m listening to.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/513wJiNd4pBvnCtY1B4CnG?si=Geruhy1VTlOeP8CIDOtIug
Where and when are you playing next?
I’m taking a minute off playing right now but we have some things in the works for early next year to keep an ear to the ground on that.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
Im always working on new music… Right now I’m also working on a remix or two which should be out later in the year..
What’s planned for the remainder of 2019 going into 2020?
Any secrets that you care to share?
I’m really excited to be sharing a lot more content VERY soon, and early 2020 will see a large tour with two other artists i’m a big fan of! Shhhhhhhhh haha
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Right now, I have a thing for Tacos! My brother in law came round and made the best tacos ever and since then i’ve been on a regular taco fix. Favourite local would be Harvey Leonards in Glossop which is a bar that specializes in imports, Really lovely place.
https://www.facebook.com/Frameworksmusicuk/
