Bourbon House – Too High to Care

By starrymag | October 13, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I’ve described it in so many different ways now. Modern rock with a hard, 70’s blues-rock edge. American hard rock, whatever that means. Retro groove rock was something I used for a bit. Again, who knows what that means. I think it definitely fits into the New Wave of Classic Rock genre but ultimately our sound is female-fronted, riff-based rock. Did you get all of that?

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Our influences are vast in the group. Vocally, my influences are Chris Cornell, Robert Plant, Etta James and Paul Rogers. I’d throw Terry Reid in there, too. Really anyone with a “big” voice. As a group, Led Zeppelin has a huge influence on us, as they do with like everyone else, but also Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Cry of Love and The Black Crowes. Our influences go all the way back to Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Robert Johnson, too.

Q) How did growing up in Canada influence you as an artist?

A) My hometown is Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. For me, I wouldn’t say that Ontario had any influence on me as an artist. I’m not sure how much geography has to do with it. I also didn’t perform much growing up, so maybe that has something to do with the lack of influence. I will say that winter is long both in Wisconsin and Ontario and devouring music and practicing your instrument is a great escape.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Too High to Care.”

A) The song is kind of a response to the dumpster fire that is social media. We wrote it before 2020 when the negativity and the trolling was bad and now it’s ten times worse. When you put yourself and your art out there, negative feedback is inevitable. If it hurt at first, it really doesn’t bother us at all now. “Too High to Care” means that we’re comfortable with who we are and what we do and, with the help of our fans, we’re not fazed by the people who give us a thumbs down on our YouTube videos. But that’s not a cool song title.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think they connect to the message and the attitude. I think a lot of people feel this way and if they don’t, they should.

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) Shooting the video was kind of super weird because it was post lockdown. What we wanted to do was film it in a rock and roll club setting but that wasn’t going to happen. We just decided to keep it fun because it’s a fun song. The fact that we’re performing in the middle of parking lots and on top of a mountain, for no one, and making friends with stray dogs pretty much sums up the vibe.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) Usually, yes, I need music. Typically, it’s riff, then title, then melody, and then lyrics. Occasionally, I’ll look back on some lyrics and come up with a melody without music and then take an acapella recording to Jason (guitarist). “Burn Them Bones” from our album Wild Abandon was written that way and I think a couple others too. But that’s rare.

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) A lot. We’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing producers, Evan Middlesworth at Pine Hollow Audio in Eau Claire, WI and Steve Lehane at Rustbelt Studios in Detroit, MI. They’ve both had a lot of input on the way the song develops when we get to the studio, from tones to harmonies and extra instrumentation. But we are there for the entire production, adding and taking away and doing extra takes as needed until it gets to the mixing process.

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) Yes! We actually have songs right now that are fully mastered and ready for release. We’ll likely put out one more single and then release a full album with that one and “Too High to Care” included on it. We’re planning on early 2021 for the full album release.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) Festival slots. It’s really a cultural experience for the performers and the people attending. Everyone is there for the music and it’s really incredible to see bands you may not have heard of that are so talented and need to be heard.

Q) Are there any plans to live stream some performances since live shows are out of the question at the moment?

A) Right now, we’re rooting for the live music industry to bounce back and I think it will become better than it was before. We do have some shows booked in the Fall and Winter of this year. Fingers crossed for those. And if they happen, we may live stream one of them.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Good question. Before, it would’ve been Chris Cornell hands down for me. But now I’d say Jay Buchanan from Rival Sons. I love his voice. He’d intimidate the hell out of me though. Also, and I know that Jason [Clark] at least would agree with me, Jack White. We all pretty much adore him and everything he does.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) Blues Pills are amazing. Vocally superb and the music kicks ass too. Rival Sons for the same reasons and Goodbye June. I also love the hell out of The Kills.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) We found 90% of our fans through social media. Any band who is not utilizing it is really missing out. Fans of every kind of music are out there and they are actually pretty easy to find. We don’t need to play a million shows in the hopes of discovery anymore. It’s also really easy to connect with your fans, talk to them, have them really be a big part of your success. I think that’s important and we wouldn’t be anywhere close to where we are now without social media.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) We are grateful to have every single one of you on our team. There is no Bourbon House without Bourbonites. It’s a tough industry, especially for an independent band from central Wisconsin, so your love and support a really what sustains us. Much love as always.

 

All Questions Answered By Lacey Crowe, vocalist of Bourbon House