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Elliott <elliottmusic>

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	Lead singer Chris Higdon Interview!	746 days ago
	Hey everyone, Ryan here from the Elliott myspace. As you probably remember a few weeks ago I asked you all in a bulletin to send in any questions you may have had for Chris Higdon from Elliott! I gathered up a few of these questions and sent them off to Chris. He has kindly responded and I am now able to show you the final edit of the the Chris Higdon question time! Exclusive to www.myspace.com/elliottmusic and www.bebo.com/elliottmusic ! Interviewed by: Ryan Diver. Date: 10/11/2007 RD: Hi Chris thank you for taking some time aside to answer a few questions, I know you're a busy man. Chris: Hey Ryan, no problem! First I need to say how much I appreciate all the effort you have given to the site and for helping keeping a forum out there for people who are fans of the music. It really means a lot to me. Secondly I'd like to apologize for how long it has taken me to get back in touch with you in regards to the questions. It has been a busy year, a few of them in fact. So let's get started. RD: No worries, I'm just grateful you have taken some time aside for us here at the website. In case you weren't fully aware of what I have done here, I recently posted up on the Elliott myspace that I was going to be arranging this question time with you. I asked the fans of the site and obviously Elliott to send in their questions for you to answer. Some were weird, some were interesting lol. So here are a few I hand picked. (I have credited all the questions with the names of those people who asked them) Q1: "Hi Chris, I'm a huge fan of Elliott's sound and production. Can you tell me what kind of equipment you used for recording and live shows?" Thanks! -Eric Chris: Wow that's a big list. I can answer for myself but that's not the real interesting stuff. I know each record I used different amps and guitars. One amp that has stuck around the longest was the Mesa Boogie mark 4, more for it's versatility than anything else. I've used a Marshall 800 50 watt head, Mesa Boogie triple rectifier, Music man hd head, and a fender quad reverb on recordings and live situations in the past. My guitar of choice during Elliott ended up being the fender telecaster deluxe. As far as effects I only really used an Ibanez tube screamer, a memory man delay, a line six delay, and occasionally a phase 90. The majority of great guitar tones and effects on song in the air have to be attributed to Benny. Kevin would need to answer most the recording questions. I'll leave it at that but will answer in more detail if there is a second round questions. Just let me know what area you're most interested in and I'll find out the answer if I don't know. Q2: "From the first In Transit 7" to the last Photorecording CD/DVD, your packaging/artwork was always so different and beautiful. How important was it to you to have something visually creative to go along with your amazing music? I see now that you are making a living by your photography, how much of the pictures seen in or on the artwork for your music was taken or designed by you or others in the band?" Thanks -Bryanintransit Chris: For me the images and concepts are as important as the music. That being said the art work was never conceived before the music so I guess that could be argued. I handled all the design concepts and photography seen through out Elliott's releases with the help of great graphic designers that would assist in making my ideas come to pass - Jason Noble, Mark Brickey, Ron Jason and Scott Ritcher. False Cathedrals and Song in the Air were inspired by the original works of art by: Greg King False Cathedral and Carrie Burr Song in the Air. Q3: "What emotions run through you while you are performing, if any at all?" Cheers -Shawn Chris: I try to be sincere to the music and lyrics but learned at the beginning to write the songs in a way that not only left them open to be interrupted, but to be able to grow over time. Bringing the same imagery up night after night weather it's pleasant or painful is ultimately going lessen in intensity every time or just lose meaning over the years. So I allowed the songs lyrics and meaning change for me as my life changed and some times lyrics changed with that. That may have confused people in the crowd. Q4: "Was the song Drag like pull supposed to have vocals on it?" -Chris Chris: No, it was always written as an instrumental. It probably started as an intro piece during a live set and then proceeded to grow to a full piece. I think we may have considered putting lyrics to it at a later time but never thought it was a necessary to do so. Q4: "Why pick the first Unitarian in Philly for the last show?" -Kristina Chris: Our booking agent Eva lived in Philly, and even before that, Philly had been the hub for all of the east coast for bands from Louisville. We would stay in Philly with friends and other bands. The routine was to drive up to NJ play a show drive back to Philly, drive up to NY drive back to Philly etc. It's a great city, it felt like home to me for some reason that really had nothing to do with the band. Probably because we spent more down time there than anywhere else, but I think it was something else. Plus the shows where great, relaxed and in the same kind of places I saw my favourite bands play. Q4: "Have you ever thought of putting together all of your photography projects and publishing them in a coffee-table or the like type of book?" -Anonymous Chris: I haven't really; besides band photography I'm not sure if I've been focused enough that it wouldn't just be a hodge-podge of images. I guess that would be ok, I'll think about it. I think it may be to self indulgent, I'm not really sure. Q5: "Are you aware of the influence Elliott has had on many band who have heard them? I often get friend requests on the Elliott myspace from bands who have taken inspiration from your music. Have you been approached by bands since the break of Elliott who share in your musical vision?" -Question adapted from a question by Ian Chris: You hear things here and there, some bands more popular than others. If we have inspired someone to express themselves in a new way or taken a new path that's all I can ask. You can either build upon a path others have cut for you wear it out or decide to go back. Q6: "How did the Louisville music scene influence you as a person?" - Max Chris: I would have never been in a band, I would probably be an alcoholic. It changed everything. Who knows but it definitely gave me a voice and a way to use it. My first show was life altering I don't know if it still happens today. I hope it does but music has become so homogenized punk, hardcore, post hardcore, emo whatever you want to call it. It's been absorbed by our culture marketed and massed produced. I'm not sure it can ever be the way it sounded to me almost 17 years ago. It opened my eyes to new ways of thinking and broadened my perspective. I hope it can still do that for people. Q7: "Since Halloween is approaching, what was your most awesome Halloween costume ever?" -jV1RU5 Chris: The first time I was Dracula, I was maybe 6 or 7, I had so much Vaseline in my hair to slick it back it took days for it all to come out. Q8: "Where did the name Elliott arise from for the band?" -Brett Chris: Elliott is named after a friends little girl. I put it on a list of potential band names and it made the final cut. Naming a band is the hardest part of being in a band in my opinion. Once it's named it really doesn't matter. Some of my favourite bands have the worst names and it doesn't matter one way or another once you hear the music the name becomes secondary. Q9: "Who was 'Believe' for and what inspired you to write it?" -Shawn Chris: Believe was written more as a message to myself than about a particular person. I was at a point where I was losing hope in relationships. It was a song about that spark that may be the real thing. Q10: "What was your favourite song to play live, and why?" Thanks! -David Marcillo Chris: For me it was blessed by your own ghost, it had so many elements that were easy to channel and connect with. It had the dynamics that really summed up the best of Elliott in my opinion. Q11. "This was kind of touched on in the photorecording DVD but for the benefit of those who have not yet seen it, what were the factors contributing to Elliott's split?" -Adapted from a number of questions Chris: It honestly comes down to the fact we all weren't happy with what we were doing and I was done being the vice that kept squeezing everybody together. It all ended on a good note. We had reached so many of our goals with the band and it was getting to the point that the next record would have been signed with a new label with new commitments that no one was looking forward to. It was the right time. RD: Thanks for answering those fan questions Chris much appreciated! Talking now about the future I know that you have started up with a new band and are in the process of writing music again. Would you be able to tell the fans a little about your future projects? Chris: The new band has taken a long time to put together and I'm having a great time with it. I'm playing with guitarist Matt Weider, Bass player Brian Todd and Drummer Eagle Barber each having their own musical history and backgrounds that together compliments each other. We're letting it happen organically, we have enough songs to start opening some shows so we hope to play out soon. It's more aggressive and straight forward than what people are used to hearing from me but I'm into it. It's incorporating the music that has affected me the most in my life which is what I've been playing all along. The name is still being debated. RD: Sounds awesome! You'll have too send a few demos into the Elliott myspace! Last but not least, a question that the majority of people asked, any chance of us seeing an Elliott reunion tour in the future? Chris: No I don't see that happening, for one thing each era of Elliott was unique I wouldn't know how it would be organized if it happened. It's not like past bands, I don't think I could play the music honestly any more. But it has more to do with all the members being engaged in their own lives and current musical projects that there isn't a purpose. Elliott is finished but everyone went on to create new music. If we didn't break up Kevin wouldn't have been in his new band WaxFang which would have done us all a disservice. The best music I've heard in years. Go buy the new record LALA Land right now… Please! RD: Well Chris once again thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions, much appreciated! And good luck for your future projects! Keep us informed of how you progress! Chris: Thanks again it means allot to me that people still are moved and connected to the music we wrote as Elliott and I appreciate all the energy and effort it takes to keep his page running thanks again Chris. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions for Chris! many thanks! and keep your eyes on the bulletin board for more potential question times!
	posted by Elliott