9+1 Q&A with Night Marcher

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.

Music, of course! I’m guessing between third and fifth grade, I started collecting tapes. My cousin Phil and Jeff gave me a Beatles tape or two…..that lead to some Zeppelin tapes and so on. I bought a guitar most likely because of Led Zeppelin. I attempted to play the “Black Dog” riff for a few months and then took a few lessons. We put together a band with a bunch of neighborhood kids, but we just jammed. I’m not sure if we even played a song. I quickly got bored of guitar and stopped playing for a while. Then in high school we formed another band, but we got rejected from Battle of the Bands and the whole thing fizzled out. When I moved away for college, I finally bought a drum set since that is what I had always wanted to play, but couldn’t. Since I had an apartment, and didn’t have to answer to anyone, I bought my first drum kit for $100 and a 12 pack of beer. Once I started playing drums, I really got into music. The current band Night Marcher came out of writing songs that had no home. My other group, The Weekenders, had a release that needed to be finished and all the songs were already written. You don’t stop writing, so as the songs piled up, I realized I didn’t have a home for them and Night Marcher became my solo outlet.

Provide us with some info about your latest release…

The theme of the record continues where Modern Maze left off. As time marches on, people are more connected than ever but the digital connection often disregards understanding and empathy. This 24/7 connection has become tired, the social and political climate has gotten dirtier and people are starting to snap. The divide grows and becomes more apparent than ever. No one is taking the time to step back and listen to each other. We’re pointing fingers in the blind.

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

Musically, there’s too many to list, but during this record, I was listening to a lot of Margaret Glaspy and Elliot Smith. But, I think my earlier influences really come through on this particular record. The first bands I started listening to were The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin (like a million other kids) and I think the psychedelic side of the first two groups came through on these recordings.
Non-musically, I’m mainly influenced by some type of struggle or hardship. I have a problem writing happy songs – they always feel too corny to me.

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?

Most “psychedelic” bands these days have a basic rock feel and add a ton of reverb. This group is groove oriented – the beats are closer to hip/hop and jazz then rock. While most bands stick to the song, I like to encourage my band to leave the form and Actually get psychedelic through improvisation . . .It’s selfish, but I really enjoy improvisation even if you fall on your face.

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

Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd. Shackman, Medeski, Martin and Wood. Kind of Blue. Miles Davis. If I was stuck on an island, I’d have to write my own book and I wouldn’t bring a TV so movies would be out.

Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

Magic has a way of happening in both settings. That’s a tough one, but I’d have to choose the studio. It’s just too much fun and the direction is limitless.

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

One time we played a show, with my other group, The Weekenders and after the show this girl came up to us fully tripped out and complimented us on playing Led Zeppelins “Physical Graffiti” in it’s entirety. Of course, we didn’t play a single Zeppelin song that night. People hear what they want to.

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

“On the Earth for Heaven Waiting”……Without really knowing how to play piano, I just started writing a lot of songs. I had no idea what I was doing and I simply let the sound guide me, creating chords I could never imagine playing on a guitar. I was listening to Bill Evans at the time and I think his influence really came in on this track. It’s unlike anything I’ve done before.

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

The hope is to tour the record this spring and summer. I’ve started sending emails a week after the release on 11/16. So, if you’re a promoter, email us back. We really want to get this music on the road. The album, Us & Them, is available in all digital stores since November 16, 2018!

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

Why choose music as a career in this landscape?

It’s not even my choice; it’s just something that has to be done. There is a drive that can’t be stopped. I don’t have a choice in the matter.

Curated by: Christos Doukakis

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