9+1 Q&A with Chris Tuttle

What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.

I was fortunate to grow up in a musical family that encouraged me to start playing an instrument at a young age. Some of my earliest memories were at my grandmother’s house messing around on an old upright piano. After I started to express a real interest in the instrument, my parents decided to sign me up for piano lessons. There’s a lot more to the story but those are some of my earliest memories. Since my family was always so into music, it was a real natural progression to want to play..

short Bio-
(In a very short time Electronic Musician, Producer, and Artist Chris Tuttle went from playing in local dive bars in rural North Carolina to touring the world and making records with iconic legendary artists such as Emmylou Harris, Jewel, Rodney Crowell, The Indigo Girls, and Raul Malo, to name a few. Tuttle is a seasoned musician and world class songwriter/composer with a vast musical knowledge beyond his years steeped in Blues, Jazz, Neo-Classical, Americana, Rock, Ambient Music, EDM, Down Tempo, and Progressive/Deep House music.)

Provide us with some info about your latest release…

The new album has a very cinematic feel and is designed to take the listener on a musical journey. I wanted to create an experience that makes you feel like you are in a movie. Another design element was to write an album that would be great to listen to on a long road trip. I think much of the record can be described as having a very reflective, intro-respective and possibly even nostalgic feel at times.

Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?

There are so many musical artists and bands that have influenced me, it’s hard to know where to begin. I have always enjoyed so many diverse genres of music such as Rock, Jazz, Blues, Hip-Hop, Post-Rock, and House Music, etc.. With that being said, I’m always listening to a mix of bands and artists. Some of my favorite artlist/bands are AIR, Pink Floyd, Odesza, Tycho, Brian Eno, and Radiohead.

Non-music wise, I get really inspired by taking road trips to beautiful scenic places and traveling in general. One of my favorite day trips while traveling was exploring Zion National Park in Utah. I actually captured the photo for the album cover art there. A lot of the inspiration for the new record was inspired by those landscapes.

In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?

I’m not really that much into comparing myself with other artists or within certain genres. Although, I’ll be glad to give you a little more insight into my music and thought process. The one thing I try to achieve in my music is the curation of a certain vibe or feel. I don’t chase after what’s really working at the moment in any commercial music scene. I’m always searching for new sounds and ideas that inspire me in my production process.

Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…

Three Desert Island Records

Pink Floyd – Division Bell
Radiohead – OK Computer
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue

Three Desert Island Movies

Gladiator
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Blues Brothers

Three Desert Island Books

The Making of Kind of Blue: Miles Davis and His Masterpiece – Eric Nisenson
Mini Moog Owners Manual
Ableton Live Reference Manual

Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

To be honest, I really love both sides almost equally for many different reasons. The greatest benefit to recording in the studio is that you can hear all the nuances of the song you’re working on. You also have all your instruments and gear available, so your sound palette is wider in scope.

Although, now that the record is finished, I’m really excited to jump in and start developing the live show. We have been working hard to develop some new visual elements to be included in the production for the coming year. I’m also really excited to start performing the songs out live and doing some traveling as well. There’s no better feeling than playing in front of a live audience and feeling the energy of the room around you.

Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?

One of my coolest stories would be how I picked up my Mini Moog. There was a back-line rental company in North Carolina that was parting out some instruments in their rental inventory. They had a near mint condition 1972 Model D Mini Moog for sale. The owner of the company told me that he had purchased the keyboard new in 1972 and had only used it about eight times. This was the one keyboard that I had always dreamed of owning. I felt so blessed to pickup such an incredible Moog Synth in such amazing condition.

Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?

“City Lights” is the most unique track as it highlights my love for the city of Los Angeles. The track came together very quickly, and I could tell during the process it was going to be something special. When you are fortunate enough to have a song write itself, you do your best to get out of the way. I also captured the photo for the songs artwork up in the Hollywood Hills. I really enjoy spending time in LA with my friends and this song always takes me back to that place.

Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?

The coming year is going to be busy with a lot of traveling, performances, and recording. We are booking shows for early Spring and Summer and, I’m really looking forward to meeting many new faces on the road this coming year. In regards to the recording side of things, I’m always working in the studio and creating as much as possible. I’ll be spending the rest of this year and much of next year working through ideas and seeing where the music takes me.

Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…

What advice would you give to anyone starting out in the music industry?

My best advice would be to just get out there and create the best music you possibly can. There’s no need to wait around for someone like a manager or record label to give permission to start your career. There’s no better time than now to get started.

Curated by: Christos Doukakis

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