Synthonic On the Making Of ‘Lampin’’
How did you come up with the theme?
I didn't really begin with any particular concept in mind. I'm constantly writing new music and as I drew nearer to releasing an album, I simply compiled what I thought were my best tunes. I did however need to think of what tied it all together and given quite a lot of my writing is quite chilled stuff, the title sort of wrote itself (Lampin' being an old skool word for chillin').
How did you approach the arrangement and instrumentation on 'Lampin’?'
I tend to experiment a lot with different ideas and sounds. I then listen to it all a gazillion times & the strongest bits tend to just stand out.
If a VST or synth isn't really cutting it, then I think about which instrument I should get involved (such as horns or guitar) and which player I think would do it justice. I've worked with many top players over the years, which is quite handy when it comes to recording.
Can you talk about any standout tracks on 'Lampin’' and what makes them special to you?
I guess the standout tunes for me are the ones with more live, guest players on them and which I spent the most time writing...most notably “All Day, Every Day,” “Lampin'”& “El Paseo.”
I spent a lot of time writing the 3 and 4 part harmonies on the horn arrangements in “All Day” & “Lampin'” which I think shows.
Can you talk about a time when a live performance helped you grow or learn something new as an artist?
I've played thousands of gigs over the years and I have learnt a LOT. Getting over nerves, playing with different players you've not met before, thought process when improvising in particular. You never stop learning, so gigging regularly is the key & being patient.
What are some key elements that, in your opinion, make a collaboration successful?
The best collabs are with people on a similar wavelength as yourself. I like playing/writing with guys I consider to be good friends as it just seems to work well. That's not to say I wouldn't do a collab with someone I've not met, I just haven't done that yet.
