We were fortunate enough to catch up with MOUNTAIN CLIMER following the superb release of ‘Let The Blood Flow’. Enjoy the full interview below!

Hi MOUNTAIN CLIMER; how did you first get into music?

I come from a very musical family on my dad’s side. There was never a time I could remember not being glued to the radio, singing or being around people playing music.

Who influenced your latest release, ‘Let The Blood Flow’?

The music of Nick Cave was a heavy influence on the first two tracks, and Stereophonics were a big part of ‘Drop a Pin’. There’s a lot more than that, but those are definitely the ones that stand out to me. Lyrically, the songs represent the darkness that I and some of the close folks around me were walking through at the time.

‘Let The Blood Flow’ is a stunning EP; why did you choose to release an EP over singles?

I’ve written a ton over the last year or two, and when the decision came on how to release it, I tried to just batch songs together that fit together. Most of the music is dark, but instrumentation-wise, it’s all over the place. I felt like these three belonged together, maybe in some loose way are all parts of the same story.

What motivates you to make music?

Maybe this sounds cliché, but I honestly don’t know who I am without it. I’m just drawn to picking up a guitar or sitting at the piano every night, whether anything comes to it or not. If I’m lucky enough to get a spark, I work hard to make sure I don’t waste it. I don’t live in a cave, I read books and watch a little TV, but I’d rather be in my studio tinkering with noises than watching TV or playing video games or whatever most people do these days.

If you could open for any artist/band, who would it be?

Nick Cave, no question.

What is your biggest mistake in the music industry so far?

I did not believe in myself enough when I was younger. I’ve been at this a long time; not saying I would’ve been more successful if I had believed in myself more, but I’d have fewer regrets.

What are your other passions aside from music?

My family, history, American literature (specifically Southern Gothic) and ice hockey. Especially my Denver Pioneers.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Great question. So good, in fact, it’s something I’ve never even thought about before. There’s art, and there’s commerce. Artists are focused on art, and business people are focused on commerce. It’s inevitable that there’s always going to be conflict and BS that go along with it. The music industry is sometimes the worst example of human nature, but it’s definitely accurate.

What sets you apart from other artists?

This an important question but not one I have a great answer for. I’d like to think there are a lot of artists out there just consumed with making the art with no concern about the popularity of it once it’s made, but maybe there are not as many as I think. I certainly want people to connect with what I’m doing, but if they don’t, I’m not going to change the way I do things just to please people.

What is the best music advice you have ever been given?

“Write what you know.” – Brian Thomas Evans.

What new music are you listening to at the moment?

Nothing new, really, though I’m about to check out some artists on your playlist. I’ve been obsessed with Franz Liszt and The Jesus and Mary Chain lately.

What musical plans do you have for the next two years?

There will be another Mountain Climer EP coming out in the fall. The songs are still dark, but it’s a little more rootsy. Then there are two EPs coming from my side project with my partner dbcooper, which are more synth-driven – our love for Depeche Mode is being worn on our sleeve. And, as the owner of Four Lane Road Media, my Nashville-based singer-songwriter Clark Paterson has a full-length album due at the end of September.

FVMusicBlog June 2023

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