Phil Conlon, lead vocalist for Hard Rock band Million Dollar Reload.
Million Dollar Reload Interview
1. Could you tell me about the recording process for the latest Million Dollar Reload album A Sinner’s Saint?
It was kind of a case that in between gigs and tours we would always continue to rehearse regardless and with that it seemed that a new song was being brought into the rehearsal room at least once a week about 14 months ago. So we would knock it into shape at rehearsals and that would happen on a regular basis. If we had have taken a scheduled period of time to `write` a record we probably would have ended up wit 40 – 50 songs ! So id guess that over a period of 12 months `A Sinner`s Saint` got put written and put together. Although we do record guitar solos and vocals after the main guitar/bass/drum tracks are done , we pretty much recorded everything live. Its quite a straight forward simple process for us. We don’t like to fuck around that much in the studio with sounds, etc. We know how we want it to sound and what we need to do before we go in, we like to get in there record it and get out of there as soon as we can!
2. Are there any tour dates lined up for this summer for Million Dollar Reload?
We have shows lined up in Ireland and the UK , we just played Download festival and we got a couple more festivals to do but I suppose we want to put together a long string of shows in Europe before the end of the year before we come over to Canada and the US.
3. Who’s idea was it for the album artwork?
That was all BAMs (guitarist) doing, he likes to take care of the artwork side of things so we just leave him to it. We know what ever he comes up with will be cool
4. Would you say Social Media Online has changed the Music Industry for the good or the bad?
Honestly it goes both ways , online has helped us get our music all over the world and brought a little bit of attention to Million Dollar Reload, so that’s good. However, when you are a small band like us that depends on the small amount of revenues from online and hardcopy CD sales to survive, it doesn’t help that there are people who download music for free on the file sharing websites. That kinda sucks .
5. What’s your vision on the Internet as a way to releasing Music Online now days?
Personally i like to have a CD in my hand of a bands album , but that’s just me. The internet has its purpose for raising awareness for new bands but when its at the expense of the artist when some people download illegally it just drives another nail in the coffin of bands trying just to get by. It costs a lot of money these days to record a CD properly and bands gotta hire studios to do that (yeah sure you could record it in your bedroom or garage on a laptop , but it will sound crap! and R N`R aint meant to be recorded on a laptop! ha ha). If some people download for free then the artist is not going to have any money to record a future CD, its a vicious circle.
6. With all the bands coming out today. Do you keep updated with what comes out online at all?
yes absolutely, there are so many websites/webzines these days it opens your ears to so many new bands , thats where the internet works in a positive way.
7. What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
probably a James Taylor record sitting alongside a Rolling Stone album sandwiched between Slayer‘s South of Heaven and Aerosmith’s Permanent Vacation!
8. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life?
Get up, go to work, come home, go to rehearsals or go play a show, come home go to sleep and do it all over again the next day!
9. How is the Music scene in your area today?
Being from a small country like N.Ireland the scene at the moment is so good. There are so many great bands over here right now, The Answer, Trucker Diablo just to name a few. Rock fans in Ireland really do come out to shows and support bands which is great.
10. Any words for future musicians?
Do it because you love it, do it cause you want to. Be honest in your music and stay true to what you believe in, never compromise your ideals and principles, if your happy with the music you create that is all the vindication you need and if other people `get` what you are doing then its a bonus. Thats what we in M$R do and hopefully that comes across in our music.