My Goodness Interview – Andy Lum drummer for American Blues and Rock N’ Roll band My Goodness. Interview May 28, 2014.
My Goodness Interview
1. How is 2014 coming along for My Goodness?
2014 has been big for us. We went on our first full US/Canada run with Augustines in February, which was great. I haven’t toured in the Winter in a long time, so besides loading in and out of venues in 15 degree weather it was incredible to finally get out there and play our songs. Our record comes out June 24th and we’re having a release party in Seattle to celebrate. We’re all really looking forward to finally putting this thing out!
2. How was it recording the album Shiver + Shake in the studio?
We had a blast, but records are tough to make. I think Joel and I really wanted to do things right, so we went through many different versions of each song and different album mixes as well. Our producer Rick Parashar helped us work on things like structure and harmony while still capturing all the raw intensity we offer up on stage. I think that’s why we’re really happy with the end result.
3. What equipment is the band currently endorsing, etc.?
Joel uses a combination of Fender amps and a custom guitar amp from Verellen here in Seattle. Ben Verellen, the owner, makes amazing amps and was able to tune one of his flagship bass heads to work better with guitar. That big, bassy clean tone is something that feels very “us”.
I use Dark Horse drums, made in New Jersey. They’re the best sounding drums I’ve ever owned and I definitely will not be getting rid of them :)
4. How would you describe the guitar tone of the band and it’s importance in the overall feel of the music?
I think it’s what gives our songs their bluesy feel. Shiver + Shake covers a lot of ground in that the tunes range from grunge-aggressive to mid tempo pop, with some slower ones in the mix as well. The guitar tone keeps us flexible in how we want to craft our songs.
5. Any interesting festivals and tour dates coming up?
Just our CD release show on June 20th! We are working on tour dates for the Summer and hope to be out on the road for most of the next year.
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6. Would you say Social Media Online has changed the Music Industry for the good or the bad?
I’m bummed we have to talk about this so much, but it’s relevant so I get it. It’s hard to treat it in black and white, but if I had to choose I would probably say for the bad. I think we live in a world of social media dependency. In the context of being in a band, it’s unfortunately become the yardstick for measuring your progress/influence/ego/whatever-you-want-to-call it. For example, Facebook finds ways to make us feel like we need to post frequently not always because we have something important to say, but because we feel like if we don’t say anything people won’t care about what we’re doing. Digital clout has become valuable currency and I don’t think that’s a good thing, I think it just means more fake shit. That being said, I’m really proud of this band and how we’ve chosen to approach social media. We try to keep a level head and focus on the music.
7. What’s your vision on the Internet as a way to releasing Music Online now days?
We embrace it. Streaming is here to stay and I’m glad the model has finally come to a point that makes a lot of sense. I think music lovers will always be looking for ways to listen to their music anywhere, while still collecting/enjoying vinyl at home. A lot of people have shunned streaming for its supposed low audio quality and disruption of artist royalties, but I think this is just the music industry repairing itself. I think consumers heading towards to a mixture of vinyl collecting while still having ultimate portability of the music they want to listen to is a good thing.
8. What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
I’m a huge fan of the Daptone Records scene and the collective of musicians coming out of that camp. A lot of the instrumental afro beat music that comes out of that label has shaped how I approach the drums over the last few years. I’m listening to a lot of Budos Band, Menahan Street Band, Cactus Channel, among others.
9. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician?
A day in the life of a musician outside of the time you spend on stage is pretty much a constant grind. Joel is a bartender and I’m an Uber driver. We work our asses off to supplement doing what we love to do. Spending time writing, practicing, and recording is the fun part where you get to unleash all your creative energy. It makes it all worth it when we get to climb into a van together and play these songs for people we don’t know.
10. Where do you see the future of music going in 100 years?
I don’t think it’s possible to predict that. I don’t really care where music “is” in 100 years, I just hope people continue to innovate and more people participate in seeing live music. If I had to guess, I’d say we’ll see artists continue to blend genres together and collaborate with artists across genres. I think all micro-niche tastes in music will be instantly accessible from anywhere, making the musical world a pretty interesting (and small) place.
11. Any words for future musicians
Approach your craft and who you work with in all capacities very carefully. The people who manage, record, and produce your music will have a direct impact on how you feel about your own work.
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