Interview with Daron Schofield from the Canadian country music duo TwoShine County.
What’s new in the world of TwoShine County?
It’s been such a jam-packed, eventful and amazing year!! We can’t believe it’s almost over. The latest bit of news, is a perfect bookend to 2015. We’re super excited to release our Whole Lotta Love EP and equally as excited to get the New Year started. Although the main focus has been finalizing the EP, we have been planning for the New Year and we can’t wait to share what we’ve got up our sleeves with everyone. Stay tuned.
How was it recording your EP Whole Lotta Love?
It was such a great experience recording the EP. So many late nights, so much coffee, so much musical exploration. There really is nothing like getting to hear a finished product after weeks/months of working on something so close to us. It’s always a roller coaster process, but there is never anything more rewarding.
When writing a song, is there such a thing as investing too much time?
Some people might tell you that you can go overboard if you spend too much time on a certain song, but sometimes you need to allow the creativity to flow and connect with the idea. Some of my favorite songs of all time are songs that have taken me a while to appreciate.
I can’t help but wonder if the artist had the same issue while writing the song. I think it was Bono who wrote, “making records, is like making sausages… you’ll enjoy them more if you don’t know how they were made” Haha! We’ve had songwriting sessions where it seems like you’re battling the song, emotionally or musically it just doesn’t seem to resonate. Then after the 10th cup of coffee, when it seems the whole world is sleeping, you find it. I think that’s why some of the greatest writers in the world are so prolific…they have that resilience and tenacity.
Do you consider album artwork as important now that music is mostly downloaded?
It’s definitely changed a lot over the past years, and some of the ways of the past might be on their way out, but I don’t think album artwork is one of them. It’s a unique way to express a bands creative scope, or even foreshadow the feel/mood of a piece of work. It gives a band another vessel to be unique, original, and to express their style, which is very important to an artist’s identity.
Do you have any tours coming up in the near future?
Playing live is probably the biggest catalyst that drives and steers this whole ship. Obviously, we love writing and recording but when you get the chance to share your music with people and connect with them in a live environment, there is nothing like it. We have an amazing group of talented musicians and friends that we are fortunate enough to take on the road with us. So definitely keep your eyes and ears open in 2016, we’re coming for ya.
Could you describe some of your earliest influences in life and in music?
The earliest musical influences I can clearly and emotionally connect with definitely would be Merle Haggard and Alan Jackson. I’d go everywhere with my dad in his truck when I was younger, and he’d always have the country classics playing, but heavy on the Merle and Alan, and I loved it. That definitely laid the seeds for my country music loving, but I also fell in love with Pink Floyd, AC/DC and some classic rock acts at an early age as well. This is what made me pick up the guitar, and I’m glad to say I’ve never put it down since!
How important are music videos in the industry today? How do they compare to videos from 20 years ago?
I think people are still very visual. The whole industry has changed drastically from 20 years ago, from the way people can experience music to the way they can purchase it, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the way we like to be stimulated. The content and quality of music videos has grown and developed so much that it actually allows us as artists to create a more detailed picture or convey a more in depth message through cinematography than ever before. The way people experience music videos may be different from the past but I believe they are still an essential part of expressing who we are as artists.
What would we be surprised to find in your music collection at home?
Probably just the broad spectrum of what I listen to. I’m a huge John Mayer fan, but then I also love Keith Urban, and who could forget about Speak Now by Taylor Swift. U2? Love em. The sultry sounds of Ray Lamontagne? Gotta have it. So much music!!
Do you practice your instrument every day to keep up with current styles and genres?
As you get further into your career as a musician, it definitely becomes harder to maintain that personal practice time. You realize that the business side eats up a lot of your time, but it is very important to remember why you became a musician in the first place. I remember learning all those old Johnny Cash, Beatles, Prince or Allan Jackson songs back in the day…. that’s what helped shape and develop my musical style. It’s definitely harder to find the time these days, but it is essential to musical growth and so important to push yourself.
Where do you see the Music industry in 100 years from now?
It’s constantly morphing and changing, everything seems to be moving so fast, so we adapt as quick as possible. It will really depend on the level in which music is accessible I think. The easier music is to attain, the more the dynamic seems to change. One thing is for sure… music will always be loved and appreciated, and as long as hearts are making it, ears will listen!
Check out TwoShine County online http://twoshinecounty.com/
- Ty Baynton Interview | Canadian country artist | August 28th 2017
- TAREYA Interview: singer/songwriter from Calgary (June 2017)
- Eric Ethridge Interview, 2016 CCMA Discovery Program winner
- Shae Dupuy Interview (November 2016)
- Jim Levatte Interview 2016