Project Description
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Interview with
MARTY KAWALER
from
MARTY K &
THE ELECTRIC HURRICANES
(25th November 2021)
Interview by Dave Bruce
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How did the band come together? Is there someone who is a “driving force”, or do you all make decisions together?
I had the idea to write an album & collaborate with different singers, artists, and musicians on each song. When all these lockdowns started happening last year I found myself sitting around the studio surrounded by all these guitars just staring at me. I was playing for hours everyday and after a couple months I’d collected hundreds of riffs. As the year went on and things opened up I began to connect with some awesome artists like Rosa Rico who sings on Rattle Snakes. We’ve been collaborating on a lot of music together. Toby is another singer I met while out one night in St Kilda. We all came back to my place and started jamming into the early hours of the morning. We were on the same wavelength and just started writing songs. It all just kind of happened naturally. I wanted to create a band where I could play with different singers, friends and musicians from my past and now & merge it all into one evolving group.
How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I’ve always loved the blues and rock n roll, there’s a real swagger to that kind of music. It’s more than just songs they’re honest and full of experience. Its about having adventures and taking some risks. I’ve had some pretty wild times in my life and i think some of those experiences come through in the songs. Your bound to hear some rock n roll, grooving riffs & extended psychedelic jams too. There’s a bit of introspection and a few of my life philosophies thrown in there. But its been really interesting to hear the different artists I’ve worked with add their flavour to the songs. Whether its through lyrics or drums, I wanted them to do their thing and its awesome having those different vibes on each track.
Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
Lately I’ve been really inspired by blues and rock coming out of the late 60s and early 70s. I love the sound of those records and that era broke down a lot of boundaries, there was a lot of experimentation. Bands like early Santana, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Peter Green & Cymande. They’re music is so full of energy and feels really alive to me. But I try to draw from everything, films, artists like by Jacek Yerka, Rob Gonsalves and there are some awesome newer groups too like Gary Clark J, Ocean Alley & Tame Impala.
Your new single “Rattlesnakes and Bones” has just been released! Describe its origin and evolution.
The song originated from a Gibson Les Paul guitar that my brother gave me. I was messing around with some open tunings and it was one of the first songs that I wrote on that guitar. Part of the concept of this album was to feature singers I’ve worked with over the years and when I approached Rosa she was drawn to Rattlesnakes off the bat. I already had the title set and the idea of overcoming fear and isolation in mind and I think Rosa captured that in her lyrics. She is a great songwriter and I think her vocal melodies and lyrics really added a lot of vibe to the song.
For the drums, I’d watched this documentary on the 60s Californian music scene called Echo In the Canyon. It really resonated with me as it was about this community of musicians in Laurel Canyon all playing and jamming on each others songs. By chance I came across Fernando Perdomo who was playing with Jakob Dylan in that documentary. It was awesome to have him playing on the song and he recorded the drums over in his studio in Reseda Ranch in Los Angeles.
Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
The album is pretty much finished and should be out later in 2022. I’ve got some really cool guests appearances on there and I’m working with a few different singers. Its been amazing to reconnect with old friends and to work with different artists like that. I’ll also be releasing a few more singles over the coming months.
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Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
It’s a bit challenging at the moment with all the cancellations in the music industry. But I’m planning to get out there and play some shows in January & February. We will also be filming live performances and playing some live streams in the coming months!
How has COVID affected you to date? What have you introduced to balance the losses from missed events?
I’ve actually been very lucky it hasn’t affected me too much. Although I lost my gigs at the beginning of the lockdowns I turned my house into a studio, so I just became immersed in the music for the last year. Spending so much time alone during these lockdowns has its challenges but music has always helped me through difficult times and its also allowed me to really focus on producing and making records.
If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
I would have to say Led zeppelin at the height of they re success in the mid 70s. That band had a chemistry and creativity that i think is pretty much unmatched in rock music still to this day. I think Jimmy Page is the most badass guitar player and one of my biggest influences.
Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
I’m just going to keep making records and playing and see wherever it leads me. I’ve met some amazing people over the years and music has often been a catalyst for those encounters and experiences. It brings about change and makes connections and so it keeps life interesting. Im pretty lucky that i can do this everyday so i don’t take it for granted either. But if i ever get the opportunity to record at Abbey Road studios and play the Royal Albert Hall in London i think I’d be pretty happy.
What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
There’s an electric energy in the room thats difficult to explain. Everybody can feel it, its amazing, just creating those sound waves and pushing them out there. When a band is tight and locked in theres a snap that happens when your playing together and you all lock in. Its so much fun and its cool to share the good vibes and spread that around with other people. Theres a lot of cool memories but playing at the Stone Music Festival with Aerosmith and Van Halen was pretty crazy! We got to watch Aerosmith from the side of stage which was a trip, totally blew my mind.
Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street
Artist – Salvador Dali
Movie – Anything by Martin Scorsese or Christopher Nolan
Place to visit – Barcelona
Venue to play – The Palace Theatre on Bourke Street (unfortunately its now been demolished)
Food – Woodfire Pizza
Drink – An old fashioned with Rum
Guitar – Gibson Les Paul
Concert – Aerosmith or Nine Inch Nails
Book – The Old Man & The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
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Album Credits
Marty K & The Electric Hurricanes
Vocals – Rosa Rico
Guitars & Bass – Marty K
Drums – Fernando Perdomo
Lyrics by Rosa Rico & Marty K
Music by Marty K
Mixed & Mastered by Marty K
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Follow MARTY K &
THE ELECTRIC HURRICANES
Website – Facebook – YouTube – Instagram
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Press Release 18th November 2021 (below) HERE
MARTY K &
THE ELECTRIC HURRICANES
release debut new single
‘RATTLE SNAKES & BONES’
A grooving and hypnotic
deep dive into desert rock
Single Review 20th November (below) HERE
MARTY K &
THE ELECTRIC HURRICANES
“Rattle Snakes & Bones”
(Single Review)
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