What to you is the best rock album of all time and why?
This is a very difficult question, but I’ll go with Abbey Road by The Beatles because it’s the perfect example of an artist completing their journey. Everything about it, to me, sounds like the end of the greatest book anyone has ever read and the closing medley represents everything I love about making music, which is taking chances and combining ideas that flow organically while still being surprising. Honorable mentions go to Queen II by Queen, which is the best example of the combination of classic hard and progressive rock that I have ever heard, and the live albums Seconds Out and Three Sides Live by Genesis, who, in my opinion, were the best live band to ever do it.
How did you first discover rock music?
When I was very little I would hear rock music in the car on the radio when driving with my parents who noticed this and bought me the singles “Rock The Boat” by The Hues Corporation and “Fly Like An Eagle” by The Steve Miller Band. After that, I was off and running.
How would you describe the current state of rock/alternative music?
Putting aside the issues musicians face regarding making money in a streaming world, the state of rock and alternative music is booming. Bands like Godsmack, Slipknot, Imagine Dragons, Ghost, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Blink-182, Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy and on and on and on are killing it on the radio and in concert. So I believe that rock and alternative music is very much alive.
Who is your current favourite rock/alternative artist and why?
I would say Foo Fighters. They have a lot of the same influences as I do and I really enjoy their songwriting and production. I was completely gutted by Taylor Hawkins’ passing but I’m confident that Dave Grohl and the band will continue rocking out for many years to come.
Do you see the genre evolving in any particular way at the moment? For good or for bad?
It seems to be evolving with bigger, louder and, most of all, heavier productions that go beyond just your typical 3 chord guitar songs with a solo. While I believe that it’s all for good, I do hope that rock fans will still appreciate someone like me who is doing a more ’70s/’80s based sound that has some progressive elements.
‘In My Head’ Is currently being slowly released track by track, with the next track ‘Haunted’ being released tomorrow, January 25th.