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Echolyn

Interviewed by Gary Hill
Interview with Brett Kull of Echolyn from 2004
MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2004 Year Book Volume 3 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2003-and-2004/.

It's been a while since we've caught up with the band. What has been new with you?
We've been deep in the mother lode of a new album. It's coming along nicely. We are once again going into new territory wit the recording and arrangements of the tunes.
MSJ: Who would you see as your biggest musical influences, as a band?
As echolyn, our influences are generally music that seems fresh and new. We love finding bands or artists that have found a new way to do something or maybe give an old method a twist. We all get bored with the same old changes and approaches to song writing... .so I guess it's really not bands per-say but more a philosophy with song construction. We all keep up to date with new artists out there. There is a ton of great stuff being done today as always. You just have to find it.
MSJ: How about personal musical influences.
The biggest influences for me have been.... The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Supertramp, Gentle Giant, Genesis, Wilco, Radiohead, Elliott Smith, Neil Young, Aimee Man, Grant Lee Phillips, Jon Brion . I'm not much of a Jazz listener although I do like Pat Metheny quite a bit, and I'm drawn towards Classical music from the late 19th century like Erik Satie and Claude Debussy. Because I was a kid in the 70's I have a soft spot for a lot of the top 40 stuff from that decade. I hate Hair Metal from the 80's but love heavy rock like Black Sabbath, Perfect Circle, and Jane's Addiction. I like quirky chord changes and beautiful melodies. I love odd time changes that don't sound odd, and I respond to simple words.
MSJ: What projects do you have going with the group now?
Just trying to make a good echolyn album and simultaneously my second solo album.. To quote Michael Stipe "It's really hard to make albums that don't suck".
MSJ: What can you tell me about the song that is on the MSJ Sampler CD?
Brittany was written by Chris, Paul, Ray and I for our CD "Cowboy Poems Free". Lyrically we were taking pieces of American culture from the 20th century and making little snapshots within the framework of a song. Chris wrote the words to that one about an Uncle of his that died in France during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. A lot of the words are taken directly from letters he or his family had written. Musically it's got a beautiful groove in the verses and a nice two-part harmony that Ray and I sing. The live version features a lot of improvising and a snippet of another song from "Cowboy Poems" called "High as Pride". The lyrics fit the vibe of Brittany and the loss of a loved one.
MSJ: Are any members of the group involved in side projects?
I've played on tons of projects. Ray and I have both released albums on our own. I do a lot of Guitar session work. I'm currently working on some Chinese Pop stuff in NY.
MSJ: Are there any musicians whom you would like to work with in the future?
Jon Brion, Bob Clearmountain. I had a chance to work with T-Bone Wolk. He was one of the best musicians I've ever worked with. I'm hoping to have Bob Ludwig master the new echolyn album... so that will be a treat. I've played with Jerry Marotta (great drummer and idea man) and Paul Brion from (Aimee Mann's band) also a great musician who I learned a lot from.
MSJ: What was the last CD you bought?
I just got the new one from Elliott Smith and The latest from HEM. Both are wonderful albums.
MSJ: What was the last concert you attended as a fan?
I don't go to shows that often because I'm too picky about the sound. As I kid I've seen easily 100 shows when that was the thing to do. One of the last shows I saw was Wilco at "The Electric Factory" in Philly; it was a wonderful show. I like to sit down and get into a show nowadays. I hate moshing and loud people. I saw "Rage against the Machine" a few years back...that was the last big show I went to... way too violent for me.
MSJ: Any final words for the readers of MSJ?
I just want to say thanks for all the support over the years. It means to world to us.
You'll find concert pics of this artist in the Music Street Journal members area.
 
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