Band Meeting – with Gabriel Collins
Hi Gabriel Collins, Let’s start with your name – It has a prog vibe going on ? Were your parents into Genesis by any chance?
Hi Peter, thank you for asking me to do this. Yes, the name is a funny story. It is mostly circumstantial as I’m Irish on my fathers side with the name Collins and my mum’s family were Catholic Polish and we had a religious Polish calendar as most Poles did in those days, with three or so names for every day of the year, so Gabriel happened to be one of the names on the calendar on my birthdate. But also by a nice chance or by fate my mum was, and still is into Genesis and prog in general, as am I (I know what I like in MY wardrobe) but my dad is really not!
I’ve seen a lovely description of you as writing “Sophisticated singer-songwriter fare that deserves the attention of discerning music lovers.” – how would you describe your music?
Ah yes that is nice, that was one of the reviews of my first EP ‘Count The Seconds’ released in 2016. I’d say my music is emotive, dramatic and explorative but can also be playful, quirky, unconventional, sensitive, melancholic, sometimes obscure. I’m creatively skittish but I think I’m at my best when I’m calm and focused.
I understand you studied in Dartington, when was that and was it a good experience?
Yes, that’s true. From 2005-09 studying BA music and specialising in composition. It was a mixed experience but on the whole vivid, creatively stimulating and enjoyable if not always academically successful. I enjoyed the BTEC in popular music I took previously, better, as there was more focus on the practical, I didn’t enjoy the essays and theorising so much on the degree course. My songwriting however really bloomed in the second year but in a sense felt quite apart from the course itself. My songwriting attempts felt more conventional, or at least trying to write in a conventional pop style but the course itself was more geared to experimental music and thought, which I was not opposed to and learned a lot from, but at the time I think my work clashed with the demands or expectations of the degree. I made some good friendships and had memorable experiences there though.
What are your thoughts on the then and now of Dartington?
I miss it. I think something profound was lost when the college was lost; and for what?… Back then the students and the college brought the vibrancy of youth and the arts to Totnes and the surrounding area, expanding the rental market in town, as well as being an internationally recognised and acclaimed centre for forward thinking approaches to the arts, with courses in theatre, fine art, writing, dance and music. Sometimes you (the general public) would by chance catch a performance or art installation along the river Dart somewhere, in town or something strange going on in North Woods near Huxhams Cross. I loathe the selling off of Rabindranath Tagore’s paintings and other goings-on that have since prevailed on the estate! Much credit can be given to Soundart Radio though which I believe continues to work some of the magic and spirit of Dartington College Of Arts. The idealist in me would of course love to see some kind of reemergence of an arts college or similar in the area. We can all dream!
I’ve heard that bloke off of Marshall-Hain was very complimentary of your work wasn’t he?
Julian Marshall taught me piano lessons and GCSE Music as well as mentoring me in songwriting for a time and I learnt much about the music business via him too, as he worked formally in A&R (artists and repertoire) for several record companies. I’m very grateful for his encouragement, support and the inspiration I found in his work too. In addition to teaching, as well as Marshall Hain, he was also involved in Eye To Eye (produced by Gary Katz- Steely Dan), The Flying Lizards and now more as a contemporary classical composer. I recommend checking him out!
Collaboration or leave me alone, I’m busy here!
Oh I’m always open to collaboration, though I have become more picky over the years and as I get older. It’s a bit like dating and marriage, band relationships can feel like that and I’ve been in my fair share of local bands, from Moscow Magazine to Melonbud and more recently Rapunzel Waits and Thunderworld. I need to be sure it’s worth it and thoroughly thrash it out before I commit to a project nowadays, hopefully that doesn’t put people off asking!
Are you one of those annoying musicians who can play anything well?
Not at all! I’m a little tenacious and rebellious though and that helps to dispel or override my perfectionism which means I’ll give things a go where others may think the better of it. It does take at least 10,000 hours so they say, or at least years of practice usually to play something really well, maybe even two lifetimes for an instrument such as tabla, which I tried for a while, and I’d say I’ve been pretty lazy when it comes to practise compared to some, though I try to get in a daily amount now, but I’ve been playing piano for over 20 years and still feel I’m nowhere near where I could be. The old adages are altogether accurate, you really do get out what you put in.
Where do you do your recording?
In my home studio, more like a bedroom studio, which is quite humble by today’s standards, nothing to Kate Bush’s I’m sure. I get by ok.
I think she’s pretty minted though… Live performance – can’t wait to get going or does it give you the willies?
I do get nervous, but I enjoy the buzz too, there’s nothing quite like putting yourself in front of an audience. I like to be well prepared and little things can knock my confidence, like if I can’t hear myself, if there’s no foldback monitors for example, but that’s quite normal. I’m quite introverted normally but like many performers another side tends to reveal itself when I get up on stage.
I’ve been listening to your latest release ‘Thing’ and I bloody love it. It’s very ambient-orchestral and sounds like you have been working with an actual live orchestra – is it really a solo effort?
Ah that’s kind of you to say. I’m glad you like it. It really is a solo effort. I’ve been investing in high quality orchestral sample libraries/virtual instruments which can sound pretty close to the real thing. With some of them you are actually playing, other people playing, which is weird but good. It’s gratifying if I can lead listeners to think it’s an actual live orchestra! Ambient- orchestral is very much up my street, I’m a long time aficionado of the likes of Harold Budd, Brian Eno, Penguin Cafe Orchestra etc and more recently Eric Wøllo, Dustin O’ Halloran and the whole ‘Neoclassical’ movement as well as taking inspiration from film music, electronic music and elsewhere.
‘Thing’ seems like a departure from your previous pop orientated music. Is this the direction you’re heading now?
My taste in music is probably more eclectic and varied than people realise. I would say I’m branching out and expanding my direction rather than changing it. Since childhood I’ve long nourished an interest in classical and film music, jazz and all other forms of music. Up until now I never felt I had sufficient skill or knowledge to make it as a ‘serious’ composer or classical musician, though I definitely had dreams of becoming something like that. With advancements in music technology, sampled instruments and computers it is possible to make a career as a composer/music producer in whatever style you choose, in some cases without knowing how to read music or even to require other real musicians to work with and record etc- and that is pretty much what I’m doing now. It’s great if you are on a low budget. I haven’t abandoned pop songs and songwriting, though they might seem to be on the back burner to the casual observer. – My plan is to build an audience away from the old industry standard ‘lets get a record deal route’ and onto the Patreon style route.. Maybe I’ll become a recluse like Stina Nordenstam (God I love her) and not give interviews, other than this one, ha. I’m actually working on a new album of songs concurrent with my instrumental writing and have an archive of around 500+ songs to demo. I’m swamped!
Are you creating music 9-5 or do you go when the inspiration hits.
Like many things in life, maintaining a balance is healthy, I think. I’m not sure one can force inspiration, so I just try to be as open and relaxed about it as possible while also trying to not become too lackadaisical. It takes a lot of determination to succeed in music though, and motivation can sometimes ebb as results are not often as tangible as in other lines of work.
Didn’t you go off to that London for a musical spell and why did you return to Totters?
I did briefly try a stint in the big smoke back in 2018. I was born there and spent the first 10 or so years of my childhood in the suburbs of West London. It was a great experience returning as an adult and I did indeed join a sort of improv band with a couple of Dartington college friends for a few months, ultimately though it became unsustainable financially. Everything is now so expensive there and I had to get out.
If ‘Thing’ is part 2 of 5 what can we expect in the following releases?
You can expect the unexpected! I don’t like to feel boxed in or typecast, but I will follow the muse and enjoy the fruit of my labours as well as the process. More of the ambient orchestral will doubtless follow as it fits my temperament and taste, I want to add a little peace and calmness to this crazy world! Generally though you’ll be hearing the sound of me learning and exploring how to hopefully write and produce better and more varied music. Themes and flavours may emerge, perhaps more changes or branches and offshoots of direction. As well as showing what I can do, I also want to see for myself just what I CAN do and just how far I can push it, so I may even surprise myself, who knows… I think I’m just enjoying learning, because learning never stops and especially with music the possibilities are practically boundless.