CZ: You’re building your own recording studio, how’s that going?
AS: It’s going well, I have nearly all the equipment and I have the space, it’s just about putting it all together now. It’s an analog studio; so working on the computer is a secondary thing that can be used if we choose to do so. Everything will go to tape, and all the gear in the studio is either from the 60s or clones of things that were made in the 60s.

CZ: What do you love about analog?
AS: Well in the end it’s not all about just recording to tape: it’s about the microphones, the pre-amps, the space, the compressors, the musicians, the producer and many other factors. I just made sure to spend a long time doing my research and collaborating with the right people. Basically gathering all of the appropriate components to achieve exactly the sound that I want. Tape is just the appropriate route for one of those components. The most important thing in the end is whom you are working with, the people I’ve been putting this together with are exceptional talents.

CZ: Tell us about your band – how did you all meet?
AS: I met Henry and Max in high school. Henry’s been writing with me and helping me make the songs the whole way through. Max has recently joined the band as our live bassist. My drummer Steve was brought in by Henry and my keyboardist is named Oliver, who began as our producer and then very quickly became a close friend and started playing keyboard on everything, so we just added him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiC8X3MFkkg/?hl=en&taken-by=arsunx

CZ: What’s your writing process like?
AS: I sit at home and play guitar and wait until a song hits me. Eventually one does, then I bring it to Henry and he tells me if it sounds too much like something else or if there’s a part that isn’t very good. Then he’ll usually write a bass part and a lead guitar part over it. After it’s gone through Henry we’ll bring it to the band and they’ll add their parts and ideas as well. Oliver will usually help with the feel and the speed and getting everyone to play in the right way.

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