Interview taken from www.matchboxrecordings.co.uk Joseph Swidenbank is a new singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Bedfordshire, U.K. He most recently played lead guitar and backing vocals for Mark Joseph on his U.K tour. Joseph has recently completed work on his stunning debut album " Roads" . The epic and grand album features a selection of extremely strong, epic rock songs with a melancholy and melodic under current. Dreamy, sonic, soulful, poppy, acoustic but powerful and rocky at times this album features a great selection of sharp modern rock songs. The single " Crash Course" reminds us of Tom Mcrae, Finlay Quaye, Ben Kweller and Ben Folds meeting Tears for Fears, Feeder or Muse at a melodic crossroad. Roads is full of strong driving melodies, modern sounds and thoughtful emotional lyrics. Joseph performs all vocals and plays all instruments, apart from bass, where he has called on the expertise of his brother, Ben Swidenbank (Aka: Ben Bass of the Mark Joseph Band). The album was mixed by Alex Banks (Aka: Munk). WE MET THE MAN HIMSELF ON THE ROAD 1. What made you decide to take up a music career, tell us a bit about your history? I have always had a great passion for both playing music and song writing, but it was only ever something I concentrated on in my free time. Although I dreamed of being a world famous rock star (like most boys with a guitar do), I also knew it was only a dream and so my studies were mainly academic, in order to prepare myself for university, the life-long job, family, dog and mortgage. I finished school, took a gap year and awaited Uni. It was in this year my outlook on what I wanted to with my life changed completely. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life doing something I hated. I wanted to do something that I enjoyed and of which I never grew bored. I wanted to play music. With 100% support from my family and friends that's what I did, with the odd bar job thrown in as well, obviously. It's been a few years now but my passion for playing is still as strong as ever, and hopefully I don't have to give up the dream quite yet. 2. Who or What are your influences? The bands that influenced me over the years are endless. From Iron Maiden to Tears for Fears, Foo Fighters to Art Garfunkel, I'll listen to anything. Obviously Rock has always been my largest influence, but I've always said if you like the tune then who cares about the genre. 3. What modern artists do you rate? I'm into bands like Foo Fighters, Feeder and the Chilli Peppers. I don't know if they count as modern but they make the charts. 4. If you could choose to record a song with any other artist/band alive or dead who would it be and why? Bob Marley . Just imagine sitting on a Caribbean beach. The sun going down, a guitar in one hand, a can of Red Stripe in the other, and Bob asking if you can think of anything that rhymes with Jammin. 5. What inspires you to write your music? The inspiration for my songs generally comes from personal experiences that I feel everyone can relate to at least once in their lives. I try not to be specific with my words so they can be interpreted by a much larger audience. 6. Name your all time fave track by another artist? Nowhere by Therapy? 7. What Instruments do you use? I've got a couple of Epiphone Les Pauls, a couple of Yamaha Pacificas a Fender Squire and an acoustic Yamaha East - Compass Series. My brother Ben plays a Fender Jazz. All other instruments on my album were either found, borrowed or stolen. 8. What are your ambitions for your music? Where do you see yourself in five years? I'm a very realistic person and I believe success takes a long time. Who knows where I'll be in five years, but I hope I'm a least making a fairly decent living from my music. 9. How would you describe your music and what genre do you think it fits into? It's sort of Acoustic/Rock/Funky in places. Melodic, yet Anthemic (if I'm allowed to make up a word). 10. Where was your new album recorded/produced? Mostly in my friend Alex Banks' studio. It's great because I've known him for years, even living together for a couple. He's a very talented young producer and I'm very grateful for all the help he gave me. |