Framing Hanley Interview with Ryan Belcher talk about the latest album the sum of who we are.
Framing Hanley Interview
1. What’s new in the world of Framing Hanley?
Quite a lot is new in our world in fact. We’ve had a busy year with the release of The Sum of Who We Are, and we’ve been touring all over in support of it. We’ve been fortunate to share the stage with some great bands including the likes of Three Days Grace, Starset, and Devour The Day. It doesn’t end there either. We plan to stay very busy, so I encourage everyone to keep a lookout on Facebook and Bandsintown and come say “hi” at a show.
2. How was it recording the latest album The Sum Of Who We Are in the studio?
Recording the album was certainly an interesting experience, for nearly two years we wrote song after song and recorded them in different studios all over the place. It was a learning experience as writers as well as an evolutionary period for us as a band. There were lots of highs and lows in that time, there were times where we questioned if we had come to the end of our rope and if we had already done our last tour. Then something would happen that would breath a gust of hope over us and we could see a little light at the end of the tunnel. At the end of the day, we came out much stronger as a band and it makes every little bit of success that much more savory. We’re a bunch of guys that love to write and play music and we’re always doing so, and we believe that the key to growth as an artistis in having the drive to reinvent yourself, and we have. This album is quite a bit different that our previous work and we’re proud to share it with the world.
3. Releasing promo videos for YouTube must be fun? What’s your view on making videos?
We want to let everyone in to our world. Through the music and the stage shows you have a perception of the band that has only whatever background you can assume from their appearance, and we want people to be able to see that we’re a bunch of goofy dudes who do stupid things like everyone else. There is a lot of misconception with bands and we like to show people how it really is. We’ve begun rolling out segments of a web series. Its called “The Ruckus” and you can find it on www.FramingHanley.com. Our boy Jeffrey Brant is the guy behind that web series, he’s been on the road with us filming the interesting and painfully uninteresting parts of our day to day on tour. Go check it out!
4. During an average year how many shows do you do now?
Over the past couple of years its been a lot different than how touring cycles usually go. We would play a random string of shows and then get back to work on other things. That has all changed. We started touring and making appearances in April and haven’t hit the brakes yet, everyone will be seeing a lot more of Framing Hanley in the future. Its hard to put an actual number out there but for 2014 it will certainly be 100+ shows, and I have no doubt that number will double in 2014.
5. Could you describe some of your earliest influences?
As a guitar player, some of my earliest influences included; The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kirk Hammett, David Gilmour, Dave Grohl, and Dave Mustaine… Ohhh the three Daves… I spend a TON of time learning their tunes on tablature sites, my favorite of which was Ultimate-Guitar.com. Throughout my history as a musician I’ve been influenced somewhat by just about every genre of music out there. Except for maybe polka, never got down to any polka… My collection of music has certainly become more diverse over the years and today I draw inspiration from all across the board, from Biffy Clyro to Katy Perry to The Beatles. Anywhere someone is doing something interesting with their music, I’m into it.
6. How important is it for a musician in this generation to spend time on social media?
Unless you had a name before social media commanded everyone’s attention; Its essential. People receive their information differently than they did a decade ago, if something happens it pops up on your phone; which is typically on/in hand. I feel like I’d be a bit helpless without my iPhone in a world that has embraced smartphones the way we have. Finding my way around all of the cities we visit would be way more difficult if I actually had to stop and ask for directions, haha. But really, there is no better way to connect with people and let them know whats going on with you. Its a medium that has proved itself invaluable. After all, my band was discovered that way.
7. How many hours a day do you spend on social media and the internet?
Between my iPhone and my laptop I spend several hours a day online. For instance; when I’m catching up on the news, Its easier to sort through it all via the internet. That’s not to say that don’t watch it on TV as well but to get the full spectrum its in your best interest to use the internet. Growing up in the 90’s I was around to remember the internet in its infancy and when it was normal that people didn’t involve it in their daily routine, but now if you don’t; you’re kind of living under a rock!
8. What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
I have quite a bit of music. You may find it interesting to find Queens Of The Stone Age sitting next to Eminem sitting next to Adele or Jimmy Eat World. Maybe just the overall lack of consistency in my collection? As I’ve said, I love a wide variety of music…
9. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician on tour?
Being a musician on tour is an endless cycle of hurry up and wait. Between getting to the show, preparing for it, playing it, meeting the fans afterward, packing up, leaving for the next one, and all the other little things that happen in between; there are various periods of downtime. That being said, I love that I can call it a job.
10. Where do you see music in general going in 100 years from now?
In 100 years!? I bet there will be some sweet guitar tones going on… Obviously the better tech gets to more it’ll be utilized in music and that’ll greatly shape the sounds of the times. Though I’m sure it’ll be popular in 100 years to revisit the more “raw” sounds of yesteryear, I just hope that the throwback sound isn’t just EDM and people still embrace the sound of more tangible instruments. That’s not to say that there is anything wrong with EDM. The whole idea of music is to express yourself in a relatable way that people can grab on to and take away something thats special to them, and despite my own musical tastes, what ever you find that in is great for you… If you look at music today, you see bands going back to using sounds and ideas from the 70’s and 80’s and its really is cool and at times refreshing to hear the traits of those time periods reapplied in a new way and I’m certain that will continue through the years.
Check out Framing Hanley online https://www.facebook.com/FramingHanley
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