久しぶりのインタビュー記事です
今回はアルバム"Songs from the North"をリリースしたばかりのバンドThe Union Aresにインタビューを行いました
バンドの中心人物でex.KolyaのメンバーでもあるToddにお話を伺いました 福岡のディストロであるmotorpool records distroさんにご協力いただき彼と繋げていただきました
これまでの彼らについて, アルバムについて, Toddの嗜好等搔い摘んでお聞きしましたので是非読んでみて下さい
(Scroll down to see the interview in English. If you are from overseas, please check it out.)
1. まずは自己紹介をお願いします
こんにちは, 僕はTodd. ミュージシャンでアメリカ人, 今はオランダのハーグに住んでいます. 僕の曲のほとんどはThe Union Aresというバンドで演奏しているよ. 全ての曲がそうとは限らないけどね...
4. KolyaとThe Union Aresでは音楽性が異なります それぞれのバンドで参考にしていたバンドやアルバム等があれば教えて下さい
確かにKolyaとThe Union Aresは違うものだ. The Union AresはKolyaが発芽をした種から成長して出来た別の植物みたいなものなんだ. なるべく僕は参考にしないようにしてるけど, 色々な物事には影響を受けてて...まあそれは仕方の無いことだね. 僕はいつもTed Leoを尊敬してる. アルバムが完全なステートメントであることが好きなんだ...Boy's Lifeの"Departures and Landfalls"がその"アルバム"を完璧に表現していると思ったのを覚えているよ. Kolyaを始めたのも自分たちもそれをやるべきだと思ったからだね.
初のレコードを出した. 違う国に住んでいることを考えると時間がかかったね. 合間でハーグを拠点としたThe Union Ares "south"を立ち上げて, 2枚目のアルバムに取り組んでいるところなんだ. 飛行機の代わりに自転車に乗ってバンドの練習に行けるのはいいことだよ. つまり今はnorthとsouthで2つのThe Union Aresがあるってことなんだ. 3枚組のコンセプトで, 1枚目のアルバム"Songs from the North"は北側からのオープニング・ステートメントで, 2枚目のアルバムは南側からの返答になる. そして3枚目のアルバムは両バンドの組み合わせになると思う. このプランがどのようになっていくのか見ていこう.
Toddとのインタビューでした インタビューの中でも語られていましたが現在様々なプロジェクトが同時進行で行われているとのことでしたので今後の動向も楽しみです
今回ご協力いただいたmotorpool records distroさんでThe Union Aresの"Songs from the North"が買えますので, 気になった方は是非チェックしてみて下さい
I conducted an interview with Todd from The Union Ares. I asked them a few questions about them so far, and what they're going to do next. Please take a look.
1. First of all, please introduce yourself.
Hi – I’m Todd. I’m a musician. I’m American and living in The Hague, Netherlands. Most of my songs end up in a band called The Union Ares. Though not all of them…
2. Please tell us how the band was formed. Also, the band resumed its activities with the addition of two members from Carson Wells. Why did you decide to restart The Union Ares again? How did you meet these two and how did you decide to make them a member?
I was once younger. And then I played in a band called Kolya.
we were based in Cambridge Massachusetts around 1997-2001 ish – we were a three piece band – and we toured a little bit, put out some 7”s and a full length. When that band stopped playing, I started writing more on my own and ended up starting The Union Ares. We didn’t play together for very long and didn’t get to do many shows but before that band stopped, we recorded a 10 song demo. After it was recorded it went into moth balls, but the songs were always lingering in my head somewhere. I was at this point living in Europe and I realized that it was time to put The Union Ares back in action. I was still new in The Hague and didn’t know anyone that I could reform the band with that would know what I wanted. But I knew of Carson Wells – they were located in Aberdeen, Scotland at the time and I knew they knew Kolya – and I knew that they were a great band. I thought I might ask them if they would consider becoming the Union Ares as a side project. They were interested and I started flying to Scotland for practices. We used the 10 song demo as a starting point – reworking some of those song – then introducing newer songs. In the end me, Dallas on drums and Huw on bass had a 10 song record ready to record. And we became the Union Ares (north).
3. The Album “Songs from the North” has been released. When did you start making this album?
It took about 3 years of meeting, practicing and playing a handful of shows before we were ready. We recorded basic tracks in a weekend in Glasgow in May 2019 then I did the overdubs and mixing in The Hague during the summer and fall of 2019.
4. Kolya and The Union Ares have different musicality. Please tell us about the bands and albums that you used as references for each of them. (And please tell us about the reason for the formation of Kolya as much as you can remember.)
Kolya and The Union Ares are different for sure. The Union Ares is the plant that grew from the seed Kolya helped germinate. I try not to reference anything but I have been influenced by things - thats unavoidable. I've always looked up to Ted Leo. I like an album to be a complete statement... I remember thinking Boys Life "Departures and Landfalls" was a near perfect delivery of an "album". We started Kolya because we thought we should be doing that too.
5. What motivates you in songwriting?
Making songs that I like to listen to. When a song is done – if it makes me happy I keep it. Most of them do on some level.
6. Which band or scene are you influenced by?
I don’t really feel part of a scene at this point. We have friends in Scotland that we play with – Kaddish and Please, Believe mostly as they’ve been good friends of the Carson Wells boys for a long time and the yare both great people and bands.
The DIY scene when I was in Kolya was great. The Boston bands at the time - and the bands around the US that we got to play with were great. The US certainly has an advantage – more of everything. Now it’s harder I think to find places to play – people to buy your records. Not complaining but things change on a larger scale while people may not change as much. So we have to adapt. People adapt differently... I still write songs and play in bands I guess that will always be what I do.
7. You are based in Glasgow, but please tell me what kind of city and what kind of scene is in Glasgow. *When I sent in my question, I mistakenly assumed that Todd lived in Glasgow.
I’m living in The Hague actually. It’s a great city to live in but the music scene is rather tame. As we get this project out there though we are meeting new people and finding the possibilities that are there.
8. I think you usually listen to music in addition to the ones that are affected, can you tell us about your favorite music now?
There’s a lot of great music as always. If I like something I also like to be able to play it. I play the 4 and 5 string banjo. Here I play old time American music, bluegrass and Irish music. I’ve been playing in old time and sort of traditionally based music with Mike Bailey around the Hague.
Since my daughter started playing the cello I’ve been diving into the cello suites by J.S. Bach. I play these on the mandolin. It’s a sort of meditative state you get into when you play these suites – one day I hope to record all 6 of them... So far I have 1 ready to go and it’s taken me about 2 years so... it’s a long term goal. I don’t really listen to much new music from bands. Not much I hear makes me excited. Hop Along from Philly are certainly great. The best band in the business right now is The Punch Brothers. A bluegrass set up of band that play – what ever it is they play and a level of skill and imagination that is a wonder!
9. Can you tell us about the band's movement in the future?
The first record is out. It took a long time considering we are living in different countries. In the meanwhile I have set up a Union Ares “south” based in the Hague and we are working on the second album. It’s nice to be able to go to band practice on a bike instead of an airplane! So now there are two Union Ares – a north and a south. There’s a three album concept where album one “Songs from the North” is an opening statement from the north – album two will be the reply from the South. And the third will be a combination of both bands on some level. Lets see how this plan works out.
The North:
The South:
I’m also busy with a solo acoustic album that will be finished by the end of the year. Songs are done just need to decide if it gets press on vinyl.
A solo demo:
10. Finally, please tell me if there is a message.
A message – music is sacred. Don’t settle for mediocore shit.
Thanks Todd! Their album "Songs from the North" was released on April 1st. Please check them out and support them.
