Tiles Interview
When you are composing new songs for Tiles, what process do you go through? If possible, talk us through the creation of a song.
Well, I sit down with Moving Pictures... (I'm joking of course) - I really mean Permanent Waves... No, but seriously, I sift through my work tapes (I'm constantly recording ideas), tapes we make while jamming as a band, and Jeff also gives me some tapes of his ideas. I have a tendency to work alone, constructing the songs and writing the melodies. It's not as "cut and paste" as it sounds. Usually, the various sections of a song are created in a single sitting and are there on my work tape. Other times maybe just a bridge or instrumental section is missing. I try and pick out the inspired and spontaneous bits and work toward whatever goal I have in mind (something aggressive, a ballad, etc.). For example, the music for "Tear-Water Tea" came in one sitting. I just tweaked the arrangement and wrote the melodies. Generally, I'll sit with an acoustic guitar and hum along. The music changes a bit to satisfy the demands of the melodies, then the melodies get re-worked a bit to accommodate the words. Window Dressing is the first album where all the lyrics were written after the melodies.
Once I have a song roughed out I'll give the band a tape of it. Everyone gets familiar with the song and comes up with their parts. Then we rehearse it as a band to find out if the song "works." Little changes might be made - or big ones... it depends. Once the song is together musically I'll sit down with Paul and go over the lyrics to make sure he understands what they're saying and that he's comfortable with the content. Window Dressing covers a lot of emotional ground and Paul was completely in sync with the content. We spend quite a bit of time working on the vocals - they are the heart and soul of the music.
What are your feelings surrounding the growth and attention that ProgRock has experienced in the last couple of years?
I think it's great. It's still mostly underground but there are a lot of great bands and a growing fan base. If commercial radio was accessible I think there would be even more success. I think Mike Portnoy is our modern-day Miles Davis. He's lent his name and Dream Theater's stage to bands like us, Fates Warning, Porcupine Tree, Spock's Beard, Threshold, Enchant, and many others - which raises everyone's profile. Plus his side project work with TransAtlantic, OSI, and Neal Morse brings continuing awareness to progressive rock. He's a one-man marketing campaign! Of course all credit has to go to the Prog fans who travel far and wide to festivals like NearFest, ProgDay, BajaProg, ROSFest, CalProg, ProgPower, etc... attending shows and buying CDs.
What new music is really turning you guys on these days?
For the past few years I've spent a lot of time listening to the "golden era' of jazz: John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, etc. - and getting into classical music. On the rock front I've discovered latter-day Radiohead, Flaming Lips, Ben Harper, Finger 11, and really like the bands on the VeggieTales' soundtrack for their Jonah movie (which I co-opted from my daughter). Pat and Paul stick pretty close to the metal scene and what's on the radio - although Paul continues his infatuation with the "Rat Pack." Jeff is diverse guy - besides his progressive standards he likes Sarah McLachlan, Allison Krause, Hoobastank, and plenty of jazz and classical music.
What are your thoughts on being known as believers in the world of art? How do you see your faith being fused with your art?
Well, when you take a look at world history it's obvious how much Christianity has inspired art. So the two have never been mutually exclusive. It's not until the 20th Century that art seemed to gravitate more toward a secular endeavor - maybe as the separation of church and state became increasingly micro-managed. Tiles doesn't fit solidly in the Christian rock format since we're not a "praise" band, per se. But my lyrics provide the point of intersection as they tend to reflect biblical principles and philosophy.
How has your relationship with Inside Out been?
Very good - we've been with them since 1997, since the release of our second album Fence the Clear in Europe. It's great that they opened a North American office - in 1999 I think. Our entire catalog is now available on Inside Out - except Presents of Mind, which is still available through Magna Carta in North America). The cds were repackaged with bonus tracks to coincide with the release of Window Dressing. We spent a bit of time in January updating the vocals and bass tracks for a few pre-Tiles demos that were otherwise in fair shape. Three unreleased songs are on the Special Edition of Tiles; one unreleased song and some demos are on the Special Edition of Fence the Clear; and we included some live bootleg video from our tour with Dream Theater (and the bonus tracks from the Japanese version) on the new European release of Presents of Mind. Terry mixed the bonus tracks during the final mixing for Window Dressing - and all the cds were re-mastered from the original mix tapes.
What are your goals for the next couple of years?
Currently, I have 13 songs roughed out with 4 being completely finished. We plan to begin rehearsing new songs while we continue promoting Window Dressing. If all goes well we plan to have the next cd out in early-2006. When we finished promoting Presents of Mind in late-1999 there was nothing in the works. After the European tour with Dream Theater I took a break for "repairs" then started writing. So I don't expect another 5 years between cds! We are putting together plans for some shows throughout the Midwest and Northeast US and want to get Window Dressing as much exposure as possible.
What are 10 albums that HM Magazine readers must own?
In no particular order...
a. Joe Walsh: The Smoker You Drink - The Player You Get
b. Kansas: Leftoverture
c. Jethro Tull: Songs from the Wood
d. Elton John: Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy
e. Neal Morse: Testimony
f. Rush: Hemispheres
g. Dream Theater: Images and Words
h. Porcupine Tree: In Absentia
i. Nik Kershaw: To Be Frank
j. John Coltrane: A Love Supreme
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