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.
As an unathletic teenager, I found myself skipping Track practices almost daily to instead come home, write and record songs on a 4-track cassette recorder. They were awful little sappy demos featuring synth pads & whispered vocals, but I loved the creative experiment.
Fast forward almost 20 years & here I am writing music for TV & Film – like the Netflix Chelsea Handler theme – as well as releasing my own music as Memoryy. They’re still pretty sappy, synthy & whispery.
Provide us with some info about your latest release…
To coincide with the release of my new music video, the killer synth-blog Vehlinggo curated a remix EP for it. We got some crazy remixes of “Not Over You” from acts like Drinker, Highway Superstar and Von Hertzog. I was absolutely blown away when the EP debuted at #62 on iTunes’ Dance Chart!
Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m influenced by the 1980’s – the big pop melodies, the synths, the big drum machine beats. I think current Pop music is wasted chasing the “Production sound of the moment” instead of just writing a killer hook that you can’t get out of your head.
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?
As far as Indie Electro-Pop goes, I try to not take myself too seriously & remember that music is all about having fun. Although I keep my sounds current, I still like to inject some of the big bold 80’s synths into my Pop hooks and I don’t shy away from a “John Hughes movie montage” song comparison.
Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…
Albums: The Beatles – White Album. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours. Tom Waits – The Heart of Saturday Night.
Movies: The Goonies. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Finding Nemo.
Books: Pick any 3 books at random by Vonnegut or Philip K Dick.
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?
Of course this changes, but I’m in “New Dad mode” so the last thing I wanna do is be touring away from my wife & kid. Studio all the way. I love the freedom & experimentation in the studio.
Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?
I used to dress in a women’s pink unitard unicorn outfit in an LA band called The Mythical Creatures. We wrote a rock opera about Armageddon and we were intentionally THE WORST BAND EVER to ruin a Battle of the Bands… We were so bad, in fact, that we won the 1st round, the 2nd round, and then won the whole thing including $2,000! Now I have a pink unicorn tattooed on my arm.
Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?
Before I changed the band name to MEMORYY, we were a 5-piece Brooklyn band called KITTEN BERRY CRUNCH. We did a music video for a song called “DEAD KITTEN DANCE PARTY”. I don’t think you’ve ever seen anything like it before – and it’s purrfect for Halloween! Ha.
Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?
I’m working on some new tracks with people like Von Hertzog and NBC’s The Voice finalist Troy Ramey. The next single will probably emerge early 2019.
Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…
Would you work with or produce other artists?
Absolutely! I love collabing & producing other singers or rappers. I do it quite a bit. If anyone is interested, hit me up on social media!
Photo credits: Aron Hethcox (1st one), Dave Eisner (2nd one)
Curated by: Christos Doukakis
Recommended listening:
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