Radio Exile Interview with Charlie Calv Piano, Keyboards.
– What’s new with Charlie Calv and Radio Exile?
Just finished up a new video for the next single Soulfire with Radio Exile, worked with this great marionette street performer and the whole video has this vaudeville kind of vibe…it’s going to be really cool. As for me personally, just played on the new CD from Punky Meadows of Angel fame, first thing he has done in 35 years so glad to be part of it.
– How was it recording your new self titled album?
It was great, could not ask for a better writing partner than Chandler and the other guys were just outstanding. Jimmy laid down some really tasty guitar parts and you can’t ask for a more solid rhythm section than Dave and Kenny. We spent close to a year working on it do to everyone’s touring schedules and we did it the old fashioned way with all of us in the studio tracking together, so we clocked in a lot of hours. Nobody was doing their parts in their home studios which unfortunately I think happens way to often these days, to me you miss out on that whole chemistry of feeding off of each other and creating the magic that only happens when musicians play together. Hopefully we captured some of that and it translates to the listener.
– When writing a song, is there such a thing as investing too much time?
Absolutely not, you are creating something from nothing and there is no way to determine how long that could take. Sometimes a whole idea will come rather quickly and sometimes it can take years. A Cross on Stone is actually something I have had around in different incarnations for the better part of a decade, but it was not until this record and working with Chandler that it all finally came together. Where a track like Soulfire was done almost instantly after Chandler had sent me his melody ideas.
– How was it filming the music video No Pity on the Highway? I’m sure it took some time to do?
It was great except for having to get up and be at the site at like 6 a.m. lol We shot the performance stuff in about half a day and then the conceptual stuff was done at a different site with the director on another day. Much more time was spent in the post-editing process.
– How important are music videos in the industry today? How do they compare to videos from 20 years ago?
I don’t think you have a lot of the overblown videos that you had back then, and directors completely distorting what the song was about. I would like to say that these days the artist has a lot more control in the outcome and overall vision and that is a good thing. As for the importance, I think you at least have to have a video if not a couple to be out on all the social media outlets especially for a new band who is not out touring.
– Which notable bands have you played with throughout the years?
I first got my start with a band called Shotgun Symphony which helped enable me to see the world and meet lots of great people. From there I played in the Bronx Casket Co. with the guys from Overkill and Savatage, and then just worked alongside some great melodic rock singers like Steve Augeri (Journey), Ted Poley (Danger Danger), Danny Vaughn (Tyketto), David Reece (Bonfire) and now working with Punky Meadows.
– Could you describe some of your earliest influences in life and in music?
In life, my grandfather…taught me all I needed to know to be a good person. All-time favorite band Led Zeppelin, and most of the classic rock outfits like Yes, Deep Purple, etc… I can always go back to that stuff and still hear new things and still find influence all these years later.
– What would we be surprised to find in your music collection at home?
The soundtrack from the first Planet of the Apes movie….Jerry Goldsmith….brilliant!
– How is the music scene in your area these days? Are clubs still popular?
More of a scene for cover bands. Only a small amount of venues left for up and coming original acts.