Chicago singer-songwriter Michael McDermott has signed with New
Jersey-based Rock Ridge Music, which will release his next album, "Hit
Me Back," on Sept. 25.
The album was produced by CJ Eiriksson, who engineered albums for U2 and
Matchbox 20, as well as McDermott's 2007 album, "Noise From Words."
“Working with this team of folks at
Rock Ridge has me feeling like a new day has dawned," McDermott said. "There's such a
great energy and enthusiasm from the folks who have heard "Hit Me Back"that has me feeling empowered with a wonderous anticipation for the year to come.”
Rock Ridge Music President Jason Spiewak is excited about the signing of McDermott.
“Michael McDermott has made a brilliant new record, one we’re
very proud to be releasing," Spiewak said. "Michael has been a friend of the RRM
family for a long time.”
Chicago native Haroula Rose writes songs for every season.
Rose, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood and now lives in Los Angeles, will release a new EP, "So Easy," on June 4. Even if you're not that familiar with Rose, you probably know her songs, as they have appeared in such TV shows as "How I Met Your Mother," "Being Human" and "American Horror Story."
I had the chance to talk to Rose, www.haroularose.com, about the new CD and her other projects.
Q - It's great talking to you again. Your new EP, "So Easy," is coming out on June 4, just in time for warm weather listening. I understand the EP was inspired by the spring and summer months.
Yes, well I wanted to push myself to have more variety in terms of arrangements and complexity within the five songs on this EP so there would be a range.
And it's always nice to have some upbeat summery songs as well as some mellow ones that can take you into autumn too.
Q - How did you go about choosing the songs for this EP? How did you get the idea to record "Wichita Lineman" as a spoken word piece?
I love that song and those lyrics and chord changes are subtle and complex at the same time, so I wanted to explore that.
"Only Friends" is a rare B side from Francoise Hardy, whom I have always adored. They are love songs in one way or another - love good and love gone songs.
Q - I understand you plan to release your second full-length album later this year. Does the EP hint at what the new album will be like? What goals do you have for the new album?
The new album will hopefully be released later this year, yes.
It may have to be early in 2013, but I am truly hoping I get it done this year as well. It really depends on scheduling some things.
It is the first time I am making an album that has theme/concept woven throughout, so that is exciting for me. I can talk about it more when it's ready to come out.
Q - Sheldon Gomberg, who has worked with the likes of Rickie Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams, and Jackson Browne, recorded most of the EP. What do you think he brought to the project?
Sheldon is so warm and kind and totally hilarious. It was a lot of fun working with him and his whole crew of people.
They made me feel very at home at comfortable. He also has a lovely studio with great equipment and sound, and a lot of experience with tons of artists.
So it was a very positive experience, since we were friends beforehand, and hey, we are still friends afterward! That's a good sign, right?
Q - You said in a recent interview that you think the best thing you ever bought was a 1929 Martin Parlor guitar. Explain.
Well, I do believe in spirits. I have seen and felt some things in my life that are not of this dimension.
And I swear that guitar has some kind of energy in it. People have offered all kinds of things and amounts of money to buy it from me, but I won't sell it because it has a certain energy that is really unique and it just sounds really unique.
Has a life of its own, I suppose. I mean it's passed through many hands at this point.
Q - You recently performed at SXSW. How was that experience? Will you be touring a lot this year and when can we expect you coming back to the Chicago area?
SXSW is always overwhelming on every level. It's hard, but also fun and doesn't seem worth it at the time but then it always is later on when I look back.
I performed a lot and it's crazy down there with so many people. But I love Austin no matter what and it's nice to have a reason to go back there.
I will be back in Chicago for shows in the early fall.
Q - Last year when you were in Chicago, you played at Schubas for the first time. You had told me that it was always a dream of yours to play Schubas. Did the experience live up to the dream?
Well, I have seen so many people I admire play there and it always sounds great so yes, it did.
I think the bigger dream of mine in terms of Chicago venues was always the Old Town School of Folk, so that is my real dream and hopefully that happens this year!
Q - Your songs have been used in a number of TV shows. Does it ever surprise you to see one of your songs being used in a certain show? Do you think your songs are getting out to a wider audience in the process?
I love when it happens because it's nice when you can hear a song express something outside of the context in which it was written; like the more specific it is the more it can actually be applied to all kinds of situations and that mystery is pretty cool.
It also helps with broadening audiences for sure. That is always nice; I get sweet messages from people all over the world saying that they heard a song because of a show and that it helps them get through something or whatever and those are unquantifiable moments that make all the challenges worthwhile.
Q - I understand that you are working on a short film. What is it about?
It's about a relationship between two family members. It's evolving, so I will be able to talk about it more soon.
Q - I know you have made short films in the past. Do you see yourself getting more into film projects?
After the breakup of Chicago-based band Bound Stems, frontman Bobby Gallivan wasn't sure what he would do next.
Fortunately for all of us, Gallivan decided to form a new band - Like Pioneers - with a few of his bandmates from Bound Stems. The group has released its sophomore album, "Oh, Magic," and will perform June 8 at The Burlington, 3425 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, as part of a record release show.
The Runnies also is on the bill. Doors open at 9 p.m. and a donation of $5 is requested. More information is available by going to www.theburlingtonbar.com.
I had the chance to interview Gallivan about Like Pioneers, www.likepioneers.com, and the new album.
Q - I understand that after Bound Stems broke up, you didn't think you would make music again. What changed your mind?
I figured I'd make music again, but didn't know if I'd be playing in a band again. I don't know if there is a singular event that changed my mind.
We still had our practice space, and I was still writing songs. I knew Jesse wanted to play music, and I was still good friends with ex-Bound Stems members.
So when I decided to rent studio time to work on songs, it seemed natural to invite folks that I'd played with and worked with in the past.
Q - Four ex-Bound Stems members are in the band, including yourself. Was it easy getting together with your former band mates? How is the band's chemistry these days? What do you think the non Bound Stems members contribute to the band?
The current line up has 3 ex-members of Bound Stems. Dan Fleury is busy being an amazing dad, and he didn't think he'd be able to give any sort of time commitment. He's still with us in spirit!
Despite the loss of Dan, it's been great working together. Jesse was in my favorite Chicago band, the Narrator, and he also ran our old label (Flameshovel Records).
And our bands used to play around town with Matt Holland's band, Spiller Whale, and Matt used to work at Flameshovel too. So we were all pals before this and had plenty of shared experiences, so it just seemed to work.
And their contribution to the band is immeasurable. Jesse sings lead on half of the songs, and it seems like every guitar hook is one of his leads. And Matt is such a rock solid drummer.
We wrote this last record together, and all five of us has an equal say in this process.
Q - Even though "Oh, Magic" is Like Pioneers' sophomore album, I understand the band is treating it more like the band's first album. How has the band changed since first forming? What goals did you have for the album?
Yeah, our first record wasn't written as a band. There was no band.
So when we solidified our band as a five piece, it felt weird to call "Piecemeal" our first album. The album was a collection written by various people that we fleshed out in the studio.
"Oh, Magic" is so much different. It was the result of all five of us writing and playing out for a year.
Ideas were sparked in the practice space, and structures were worked out over the course of several weeks and for a couple of songs, months.
The goal for the record was to come up with something that felt representative of what we sounded like. And I feel like we accomplished that.
Q - It seems as though there might be a story behind the band's name. Is there a meaning behind the name Like Pioneers?
The name comes from a self-depricating joke. Some of us were hanging out, talking about the music that we were making, and Radz's wife said, "It's like you're pioneers!" So we took it from that phrase.
Q - Vocals on the album are shared among three members. How did that come about and are you happy with the results?
We just kind of sing leads when it feels right, and it just sort of worked itself out. There was a song we had that I took a crack at and couldn't come up with anything so Janie took the lead.
If we were playing on something and one of us felt inspired to sing, we'd just kind of call it out and take it from there. I think we're all fans of each other, so that helps.
Q - I understand the band wants to do a lot of touring this summer. Do you think it's still important for bands to tour, even as there are ever increasing ways for people to hear music these days?
We're actually not touring all that much this summer. We're heading out to New York for a couple of shows, and might do some Midwest stuff, but nothing huge.
I think it's important to tour. And not just to get your music out, but also to perform every night together. I wish we had more time to tour on this record, but it looks like it probably won't happen.
Q - Where do you see Like Pioneers fitting into the Chicago music scene?
I never know how to answer this question. It kind of felt like an entirely new universe when we started playing again, and it still feels like we're in the process of introducing ourselves to Chicago, even though we've been around for a bit.
She has been described as possessing one of Chicago's most treasured voices.
Her latest effort, the EP "Someday Afternoon," moves Anna Fermin into more of a pop direction than the alternative country sound she established with her band Trigger Gospel.
Fermin will perform June 9 at the Old Town School of Folk Music's Myron R. Szold Music & Dance Hall, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, as part of a CD release party.
I had the chance to talk to Fermin about her latest musical endeavors.
Q - You move into more of a pop direction on "Someday Afternoon." Was that a new challenge for you, to do something a little more pop oriented?
I think the biggest challenge for me was deciding to do a project without my long time band Trigger Gospel. I had been playing with these guys for almost 15 years and I really felt it was time for me to collaborate with new musicians.
As far as taking on a more pop direction, I grew up in the 80's so pop music was a staple in my house. It seemed a natural progression for me.
Q - You worked with Doug McBride, who has worked with other musicians like Buddy Guy and Rachel Yamagata. How did you hook up with him and what do you think he brought to the project?
I had heard about Doug for years and the work he'd done with the artists you mentioned as well as bands like Veruca Salt , Fall Out Boy and many others.
It was funny because we had a number of mutual friends and artists we'd worked with over the years, but the two of us had never met. I reached out to him, first to mix "The Contender" and then produce "Someday Afternoon."
Doug is a great talent with the ability to pull your songs into directions you never thought they could go. It was exciting to hear my songs take shape and breathe in ways I hadn't imagined.
Q - You have been described as "one of Chicago's most treasured voices." How does it feel being described that way? Are there any Chicago musicians that you admire in the same manner?
It's certainly an honor to be described as such. Especially since Chicago is filled with some incredible talents. Some of my favorites include Patricia Barber, Janet Beveridge Bean, Steve Dawson & Diane Christiansen, and Robbie Fulks.
Q - The music industry has changed drastically since you first got on the scene. Is it easier or harder to be a musician these days? What are the biggest challenges in being an independent artist?
Even though the music industry has changed so much over the years, the challenges of being an independent artist are still the same in many ways. When I first started out I was mailing postcards with handwritten addresses to the folks on my mailing list.
The Internet and social media have made it easier to get the message out to your audience, but you still have to do the work. You still have to connect, and I think that might be even harder to do because you're competing with messages and media and ads, not just from other musicians, but from anyone who's trying to "sell" something.
I have found that the music part of being an indie artist is easy, it's the business part (self promotion, booking, etc) that's the most challenging. And think that's always been the case.
Q - You released five albums with Trigger Gospel before you decided to go off on your own. Was the time just right for a solo career? Any chance for a Trigger Gospel reunion?
Yes, the time was right for me to go solo. Again, I was really feeling the pull to collaborate with other musicians, and I wanted to branch out from being known strictly as a country/Americana artist.
I felt I had more to say, or I guess in my case, to sing. Trigger Gospel is currently on a hiatus, so yes, there is definitely a good chance of a reunion.
Q - You also will be part of the theatrical production of "Nickel History: The Nation of Heat" this summer. What intrigued you about the project and would you like to do more theatre in the future?
A number of things intrigued me about this project. The first thing was getting the opportunity to collaborate with the incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist John Rice.
The second, was getting to work with Tony Fitzpatrick. And the third, was getting to work with these huge Chicago talents in a format I had never done before as a vocalist: theatre.
Needless to say, I'm thrilled to be a part of it. And as for the second part of this question, ask me again after the production closes on August 5.
Q - You have opened for many notable musicians, including the late Johnny Cash and David Crosby. What did you learn from those experiences?
I learned that no matter how much fame or fortune you acquire, good people always remain good people. Mr. Cash and Mr. Crosby were and are good people. You could tell they really loved what they did.
And my mantra has always been, do what you love and the rest will come.
Q - Steve Earle also has been a big influence in your career, and you also had the opportunity to open for him. What was that experience like?
It was a bit surreal for me, exhilarating and terrifying. I was pretty young, and it was hard for me not to be starstruck.
But he was kind and friendly when we met. Though I have to say I don't remember much of our conversation, because all I could think the whole time was, "Oh my God, I'm talking to Steve Earle."
Like I said, I was pretty young and starstruck.
Q - Where did you think you fit in the Chicago music scene? What sets the Chicago music scene apart from other parts of the country?
I really just hope that I'm known and fit in as an artist who really loves to write and sing great music. I think Chicago is a great place for young and emerging talents.
It's a fertile scenes with musicians in every genre encouraging you to grow your songs and style. I don't think you find the kind of competitiveness here that dominates scenes in Nashville, L.A. and New York City.
