Signed to a major label, part of national tv show, Wil Seabrook has experienced a lot of things in his musical career so far. But the best is yet to come for this talented songwriter that currently is writing for his upcoming album on Sony new indie label, Mercy Records. Read about what happened with the band, the tv-show and was it to come?.
Hey there Wil; it?s been a while since the last interview, time flies away. How are you?
Wil: I am probably better than Ive ever been. Ive taken a year off to write the songs for my upcoming album. I feel like Im finally coming into my own a bit as a songwriter.
It have happened a lot of things the last years. First of all, you left the band, why?
Wil: A lot of different reasons. I think I had put together an incredibly talented group of players who all wanted pretty different things, musically and personally. It got to the point where I realized that the kind of music I wanted to make I couldnt really make in the band context and be fair to the other guys as artists. So I decided the best thing to do was to go my own way and allow them to pursue their musical interests at the same time. I think everyone is happier doing his own thing.
That must have been a really hard decision? You had been working so hard with the guys, released a couple of albums and even a short trip at Maverick records.
Wil: It was a hard decision, mostly on a personal level because we had been through so much together and had really grown up together in a lot of ways as professional musicians. But again, for all the reasons I stated above, the right decision always feels like the best decision you could have made, even if it was tough while youre going through the changes.
The last album there ?Inside? was first released under the original name Wil Seabrook Band, but then it was re-released as Six Foot Halo. Why did you change the name?
Wil: It was my attempt at the time to acknowledge the talents of the other band members and everything they were bringing to the table. That album was much more of a creative collaboration than any of the previous recordings, and it wasnt really so much about me anymore but about what we as a group were creating. It just took us awhile to acknowledge it.
Do you have any contact with the guys? Are they still together?
Wil: We email on occasion. Everyone is polite but unfortunately the friendships havent really survived the split. The guys tried the band thing for awhile with a friend of mine as the lead singer but again I think each person really wanted to be doing his own thing.
And after the separation from your band you was in the tv-show msn-rockstar. How was that time? As expected?
Wil: Not at all what I expected! I was obviously ready for a change and a bit tired of having to take care of every little detail of my whole career every minute of the day. I wanted to see what it was like to give over total control. Turned out I didnt like that, either! :) Sometimes you have to go to extremes to fully realize what really makes you happy.
You went out at an early stage. How was that? Was it a huge disappointment for you?
Wil: Not at all. I realized very early on that the show was not what I was expecting, and not something I was interested in pursuing. I made a conscious choice to leave as quickly as I could without totally embarrassing myself. Its not to take anything away from the show. I wish everyone involved well, and met some really fantastic people while I was there. It just REALLY wasnt my thing!
Are you following this season? It?s a little bit cool because there?s another Maverick artist there in Ryan Star.
Wil: I dont have a TV so I havent even seen a promo ad for it. I hear its doing well and Im glad about that. For me it seems like the whole thing happened in another lifetime now. Im always looking toward the future and dont spend a lot of time thinking about whats behind me...
What do you think about those shows? Are they here to stay or have seen the best ones?
Wil: I think as long as theres an audience for it that the shows will be there. Like so many other things, I think it goes in cycles. I remember watching "Star Search" as a kid and that was a HUGE show. Then it disappeared for awhile. I dont think those types of shows are necessarily either good or bad for the industry. Its like eating ice cream. Its not that great for you but MAN does it taste good. But if you eat it every day for a week, youre going to get pretty tired of ice cream and want something else. People act like these shows will be the death of the music industry. I think there is plenty of room for every type of artist to be successful. Theres an audience out there for every kind of music.
The last thing for you is the deal with Mercy Records, Sony?s new indie label. Congrats a lot!
Wil: Thank you! I just found out the label went with Universal instead of Sony, but the deal is even better for me so no complaints here... :) I really feel like Ive found my home for the first time in my career. Its run by people who are ethical and hard working and sane and also who REALLY want their artists to succeed. Theyre also connected in all the ways that matter in this business, so it really is the best of both worlds. I HIGHLY recommend people check out the whole roster because theres a huge amount of diversity among the acts signed to Mercy, and I know most of them- you couldnt ask for a better group of people, both personally and in terms of the caliber of music theyre creating.
What kind of deal is it?
Wil: Its a joint venture so its an indie label but with a major distributor. That means there are decent budgets to get things done but also all the personal attention and flexibility that comes with an indie label. Do I sound happy??
Where you more careful this time after the disaster with Maverick Records a few years ago?
Wil: In this life its easy to point fingers at other people, but let me say for the record that the Maverick deal went bad because of things I did and didnt do. I wont go into a lot of gory details, and it certainly was a complicated situation, but I think if I had to do it all over again that I would have made some very different decisions and things probably would have turned out very differently. I have no ill will for the folks at Maverick. They gave us a lot of money and supported us in the best way they knew how given the circumstances. Having said all that, part of me making better decisions this time around was being mindful of the kind of people I have around me. The deal with Mercy could not be a better fit for me in terms of the team of people involved. Thats been my goal all along so its very satisfying to feel like Ive found a home creatively.
To me it seems a lot more comfortable being on a smaller label with more creational freedom. Ok, being on big major label has it advantages, but there is a lot bigger chance to release more albums on an indie label. Do you agree with me?
Wil: I think it depends a lot on the kind of career you want to have. I have, since day one, wanted to hear my songs on commercial radio and have wanted to reach a lot of people. At some point, you have to have major label money to make that happen. Indie labels are best, I think, for artists who want distribution and some promotion and really want to tour the majority of the time. Of course thats necessary to promote a big commercial act as well, but there are some amazing indie artists who make a great living and never get a bit of radio airplay. I want the best of both worlds... :) I really believe that if you can come up with CD after CD of truly great songs that there will be a label out there for you somewhere, always. Theres a lot of good music out there but theres not a lot of truly great music that people really connect with in a universal way. My goal is always to strive to make the kind of music that really speaks to and for a generation of music lovers.
So, how long have come in the recording process? The last thing I heard was that you were writing songs back home in Cedarburg, WI.
Wil: I have been writing and demoing like crazy, and posting a lot of the demos on myspace.com/wilseabrook to see what kind of response I get from fans. Ill head into the studio at the end of November and into December. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas right now. It cant come soon enough!
The new tunes up on myspace are awesome, maybe the best tunes you have written. How would you compare those to the old ones? Have changed as a songwriter during the years?
Wil: Thank you! I feel like I am finally creating the kinds of songs that Ive always wanted to but didnt quite know how. Because Ive taken a year to do it, I feel like Ive been able to work on my craft so much more with no distractions, and no creative compromises. Its a lot more responsibility to do it all myself but thats what Ive always wanted to do and just didnt have the courage to really confront it. I absolutely feel like this is the best stuff Ive ever written and I know the production on the new CD is really going to take things to a whole new level. That for me is the most rewarding part- going places Ive never been.
So when can we expect a new cd from you? In a year or so?
Wil: Ill have something available, at least online, by Christmas. The official street date for the new CD is April 2007 but I wont keep people hanging until then... :)
Can see that you?re supporting and is part of the Youth for Human Rights Campaign. What kind of organization is that?
Wil: Its a grassroots campaign to draw attention to the International Declaration for Human Rights that was drawn up after the atrocities of World War II. The world got together and clearly defined these human rights that every person is entitled to, and then promptly forgot about them. In an age where no government can claim the moral high ground , I think its doubly important that we look to one another as a common human family rather than one nation or religion or race against another. If countries really started adopting policies that respected these fundamental human rights, the world would be a much safer, saner, happier place.
What made you to join it?
Wil: I helped with some of the music with one of the public service ads and was totally blown away by how beautiful and moving the ads were. I hadnt known anything about the campaign or the Declaration of Human Rights until then but as soon as I heard about I wanted to be a part of it.
But aren?t we peopling very lazy when it comes to things like this? I mean it so easy to help people that live in war and poverty. A small amount a month can help so much for child in the third world!
Wil: I think if theres anything positive that can come from the kind of endless strife that we have seen in the world, especially since Sept. 11th (and much of it since then has been caused by my own government), it is a generation called to action because of the overwhelming need to make a radical change in the way this world operates. I dont think that our culture can sustain itself with its current mindset. Its easy to donate a little money to feed a hungry child in a third world country, but infinitely more difficult to handle the root causes that put that child into poverty in the first place. There has to be a sea change of perspective and I think it is coming faster than many people realize. The only real evil in the world comes from people who do nothing when they know they can help. I would much rather be a part of something worthwhile than simply bury my head in the sand and hope that history will magically stop repeating itself over and over and over...
That was a little step aside from the music, but it?s an important questions. Thanks for your time Wil and keep up the good work.
Wil: Thank you so much for the interest in me personally and in the music! Its nice to feel that there are people who have weathered the changes of the music biz alongside me. All the best to you!
|
Win an awesome Disturbed prize pack
Win a great package with Terrible Things
Drive A iPad Giveaway
