June 20, 2005
Interview with Eric Johnson of Bombay Black
Today’s interview is with Eric Johnson of Bombay Black who’s debut album “Mercy” has definitely turned up the heat for the Summer with its May 25th release. It isn’t every day that a debut album receives as much positive praise from both critics and fans alike and it’s clear Bombay Black is doing everything right! I took this chance to ask Eric about his thoughts on their latest release and when we might get a chance to see them perform live as these songs are a concert-goers dream! Enjoy the interview and please be sure to check out the review and samples in the jukebox and stop by http://www.bombayblackmusic.com for more information.
1. Bombay Black has been getting a lot of press and a lot of people have been talking about you guys, so to start out the interview I'd like to invite you to introduce yourself and the band, personally telling us what you'd like the fans to know?
We're a four-piece hard rock band from Arkansas. Myself (Erik), Jim, Ty, and Rob have been kicking around the local scene in a lot of the same bands but never all at the same time. People make fun of Arkansas and the south in general as being inbred, but take a look at your local music scene of who's played in what band with who. THAT's inbred!
2. I'd also like to have you introduce your album that has recently been released on Kivel Records. Can you tell us a bit about the album, the songs and how you feel about the final product?
It's called "Mercy", an idea by John Kivel who also handled the artwork side of things with Lauren Cummings. We were getting stumped on ideas so it was great to have them dig in on it. The album is just melodic hard rock (emphasis on 'hard rock') the way the band likes to hear it. We're fans of the style and after experimenting with the modern guitar styles, we decided to just play what we like and damn the trends. There's a lot of the "eighties" influences musically, but the lyrics aren't the usual party rock or "the girl's a slut" material. It's very personal subjects for the most part and, as a result, a little dark. It's mostly songs about endings, either in relationships or situations that one can get tired of. It's not all like that. There's still fun stuff mixed in and the music is upbeat. I've always like that ironic feel. I think that "Mercy" turned out very well. We had planned a different lineup of songs, but the staff at Kivel made a few suggestions which all worked out to make a solid record.
3. I read a review from Hardrock Haven and have really enjoyed listening to this album. In the review they talked about the story behind the song, Weight of the World, so I was wondering if there was another song on the album that has special meaning for you that you could share some of the history with us?
I'd have to say "Leave Me Alone". I've had a lot of female friends in really bad relationships with abusive partners, many times physically. As much counsel as you'd give them to get out, move out, disappear ... They just can't do it. It's a fear of being alone or worse, what the significant other will do to them if they find them. The song was written in hopes that they (or someone in that situation) would be able to listen and hear themselves and realize that no one should live like that, especially not if there's kids involved.
4. As I was researching for the interview I saw pictures of you guys performing live and I could see, almost feel, the energy! Would you say that as a group you prefer the live performances or does the same energy appear in studio sessions?
I think as a group we all prefer to be performing. There's that charge when everything's firing on all cylinders that you can't beat and it's never the same thing twice even if you're playing the same setlist. For me, I think I prefer the studio as much as live because of the creative aspect; looking at all the details and making something that's a lot more permanent than a live show.
5. There are a lot of albums released now a days that have artists who come together for a song or two and then move on to another arrangement for other songs, but it is obvious that you guys are a true band. Can you tell us a bit about how you found each other and
how the line-up was formed?
As mentioned before, we'd all been playing locally (for THAT tale, go the bio section of our website at http://www.bombayblackmusic.com) in the same bands at different times. Bombay Black was the alter ego of a hard rock Christmas project called "The Screaming Santas" that got started because I was burnt out on writing Christmas-themed music. We had a different drummer and guitarist then. As the recording for what is now "Mercy" got going, time had changed paths for them and they moved on to other things. The guitarist had gotten married and is really happy with life and decided he found his niche. The drummer had a DJ/Karaoke service and had started a traveling game show set up (which, for the record, totally kicks ass!) and his time was limited.
There's no bad blood and we still hang out when time allows. Ty and I knew Jim and Rob, so we asked them to come play with us and they agreed.
6. Each band has its own process it follows when creating new material. When you guys sit down to write a new song how do you go from an idea to a developed track, start out with a lyric, a melody, what works best for you?
It's everything you just mentioned. One of those things will start the wheels turning. With "Everything", it was a phrase a friend of mine said during an argument with his now ex-girlfriend. "Get Out Get Even" was started with the opening riff. Sometimes I hear little melodies in my head. Other times, I'm hearing complete sections of songs.
7. I mentioned your live performances and would like to find out how much you guys play out, and if touring is planned?
We're looking to play out more and farther from Little Rock. We don't play much at current because we're getting the tour bus in top shape for travel and we don't wanna become one of those local bands that play in town so often that no one cares for anymore.
8. This album I am sure is going to get a lot of recognition and make the name Bombay Black come up in many music conversations. What I would like to know is how has the feedback from the fans been?
A lot better than I would've imagined. The people that we've spoken to love the album and have been playing it consistently in the car and at home.
9. While I am sure that it feels great to have this album out and you guys could probably use a vacation after the hard work but I can't help but ask: What's next? Is there a follow up album planned?
Absolutely. We've already been writing for the next one, plus we have a backlog of songs already so we won't be at a loss for material. The tough thing will be choosing the next batch of tunes. The demo process is shortened due to the fact that we record it as if it were meant to be on the next album. When we decide to use a certain song, it's just a matter of putting it in the song order.
10. What songs get you going off the album? Which is your fave studio track, and which is your fave Live track?
On the CD, I'd probably say "Mission" because it's a really different rhythm than we normally play. Plus, there's the whole interlude sequence before the solo break that was literally created on the spot by just grabbing effects boxes and making whatever noises we could wrangle out of them. I love how it turned out. As far as live, "Get Mad Get Even" sets the tone since it's the first tune of our set, but "Get Out" has so much power and it's normally the closer of the evening. By that time, we've long since hit the stride and it just screams.
11. What is the significance of the bands name and artwork?
The name came from a bottle of ink I saw in an office supply store. I thought it was a cheesy hair band name. There's no significance beyond that. I think the artwork was meant to be an extension of the whole India influence (Bombay being a city in India and Bombay Black is also the name of Indian hash) plus the warlike nature of the goddess used in the cover art since a lot of the songs are very pissed off and warlike in nature.
12. What can we expect from album two?
We'll have to get back to you on that one. Making a record is a lot like cooking. You can have all the ingredients in the right measures and know how to mix them but you won't truly know what you get until you taste it.
13. And finally, is there a closing message you would like to send out to all the fans?
Thank you for listening.
Posted by Kathy at June 20, 2005 07:36 AM