We were very lucky enough to catch up with the superb London based artist Chris McConville, for an interview following the release of his infectious single, ‘Fire’. Check out our interview below!
Tell us about yourself?
Hi, my name is Chris McConville. I’m a London based, Scottish solo artist and drummer. I’ve enjoyed playing with bands from many different genres and performing my own music as well. One of the highlights of my career was being in The Bishops, a signed, London indie band.
What is your songwriting process?
I have a home studio that allows me the time and space to craft music and songs on my own. Sometimes it starts with a beat or a strong title idea. I like to be open, improvise and play around on the instruments to find interesting parts that compliment the song. Right now, I have a lot of instrumental music that is almost finished, but it’s hard sometimes to add words because they have their own appeal as is. Currently, I’m enjoying a quicker creative process due to the isolation lockdown situation caused by Covid-19 resulting in a three-track ‘Isolation Improv EP’ available on Soundcloud.
Tell us about your latest release?
I have a new single, ‘Fire’ which is out Friday, May 8th in tribute to Tony Eke of my previous band the Blackhill Pioneers. Tony sadly died last year after a short battle with cancer. It is a song that we were unable to finish before his death, and after I got the ‘go-ahead’ from Simon, the co-writer, I developed my own version. It was performed and recorded by myself in my home studio, and mixed and mastered by the US-based, Icelandic producer Bjorgvin Benediktsson.
What message do you think your music conveys to your fans?
‘Fire’ is about having belief in yourself. The music has a strong emotional pull, and it would be great if people could connect with the song and feel something, hopefully, uplifted.
Who are your musical influences?
Ian Brown, Mogwai and LCD Soundsystem, to name a few. I am also influenced by certain musicians, such as Graham Coxon for his gritty guitar style and Chris Squire for his overdriven bass sound.
Who are your non-musical influences?
It helps me to see the bigger picture when I listen to and watch Joseph Campbell and Brian Cox (the Physicist) explore the universe and mythology. I see this influence in my thinking and experiencing, which inspires my writing.
What’s the best gig that you have ever played?
Opening the main stage with The Bishops at the Benicassim Festival in Spain for Oasis alongside Glasvegas, Mystery Jets and The View.
What is your funniest gig moment?
During the Benicassim Festival gig, I thought I was going to faint, not because of the huge audience but because of the intense heat.
What do you think are the biggest obstacles for bands/artists today?
I think getting exposure for your music and being able to stand out, is a big obstacle today because there are so many ways for listeners to access all types of music; at the same time, this is a positive. The creation of MusoSoup is a great thing for bands and artists to connect with music bloggers and music sites.
What advice would you give to other bands/artists starting out?
Create a space that is only yours where your creative potentiality can come forth. Spend time there playing with your ideas, music, songs and sound; see what happens. Then allow those ideas to turn into something that you can develop solo, with a band or a collaboration.
What are your hopes for the next two years?
Continuing to improve in music production. I would like to build a solid niche for my own music as well as continue to be involved in other musical projects as a drummer. I would also like to explore ways that music can help others.
FVMusicBlog May 2020
https://www.chrismcconvillemusic.com
https://www.instagram.com/chris.mcconville
Twitter: @clmcconville
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