News Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Here is a brief interview with the fresh neo-soul group that is taking groovy to another level. It was about fifteen minutes before Jackson Lundy and his band hit Cafe 939’s stage. The crowd was just filling in and the lights were low. Neelu MohagheghI was able to turn a corner and have a little conversation with three muscians– Drummer John Brown, guitarist (and producer) Austin Brown, and singer Linus Lester-Hodges are the members Hablot Brown. How did the band come to be? Austin: “We met a Berkelee summer program. We just met one day and were all listening to the same music and everything. We started making music and then hanging out and just talking… We would just be sending music to each other and sh*t. And then we [John and Austin] went to college at Berklee and Linus moved to New York. Linus: We just ended up getting closer and closer. How does your music making process usually go? John: It usually starts on the computer, like a groove… Austin: I’ll just start geeking out on my computer. Every time we try to write music we’re all just hanging out in a room. Linus: It’s a very malleable experience, so like we’re very much learning how to work together, work with other people, but it’s pretty much just a free-for-all… a free-for-all with trust. Austin: It’s a pretty social experience. Neelu MohagheghAs a band, you’re inspired by a lot of soul and R&B. Who are you inspired by that fresh right now? Linus: Oh oh oh! Parcels, Emmet Kai– he’s opening for us in New York on Tuesday. Austin: His music’s amazing. Linus: Jackson Lundy, but if you’re trying to get the inside scoop follow “H.B Weekly” [the band’s playlist on Spotify]… and the 1975. How did your latest single, “Color World” (a collaboration with Tim Atlas), get created? Austin: It was through Bryce [the band’s manager]. Linus: So we were opening for Tom Misch and Tim’s manager came along to watch the show and then we set up a session with him through that. But it was the second song that we wrote with him, and it was just very in the moment. Austin: To write the song it took like two hours. Working with Tim is always such a vibe. How was your experience opening for Tom Misch and HONNE? John: It was an insane experience. Austin: You know, growing up, we’d be in the van and I’d put on a playlist that I made in highschool and it was just a HONNE compilation. Linus: It’s basically just a master class for us, you know. It’s like we don’t know anything, but now we know something! Austin: Yeah, it’s a huge learning experience. Neelu MohagheghWhat are your plans for the future? Where do you see yourselves in a year from now? Austin: Still making music. Linus: Album. John: Definitely want to get overseas and play some shows. Austin: Yeah, an album and then touring countries. What’s your dream country to play? Linus (immediately): Istanbul John: Mhm. Austin: Yeah. Neelu MohagheghWhat’s your advice to any musical creatives who are trying to start something up? Austin: I think the number one thing is trying to keep everything in-house because you have control over absolutely everything you do. Linus: That’s right. Austin: When we make music, we literally make it in one of the bedrooms in our house. I’d say my best advice, as a producer to anybody who is trying to make music, is get your production chops up; because if you can do everything the way you want to, then it makes the entire road so easy.you don’t need to rely on anyone else John: Keep the circle small. Linus: Anyone will tell you to not be afraid to do stuff, but it’s f*cking true. When we first moved to L.A., we made a four-song EP in two weeks and we released it immediately just because we didn’t have any music online. There’s no problem with that. Put it up on Spotify, get lucky with a playlist, whatever. Austin: And to top it off, just release music. Nobody can hear it and f*ck with it if they can’t save it to their playlist. And don’t get discouraged. We put out a record in 2016, under Linus’s name, and probably got a collective of 1.5 million streams after six months of twenty streams. We didn’t expect anything! Linus: It can happen any time and that’s basically it. Just put the music out. Never be afraid to put the music out. Austin: Hundo P. Neelu MohagheghWhat are you guys on the verge of? Linus: Assimilation. Austin: I think we’re on the verge of making music for the sole purpose of working on music. We’ve spent the past year-and-a-half writing music together for Hablot Brown, but I think we’re on the verge of just writing songs for fun and seeing where it takes us. If we write a song for somebody else, it’s for somebody else, but it’s a good song, you know? Linus: Also, you know I think we’re on the verge of making music that a lot less self-centered and a lot more related to actual issues. Neelu MohagheghTalking to Hablot Brown was as chill as their music. The trio is simply lovely and eager to make more sound. Their (two-thirds) hometown performance was intimate and filled to the brim with joy. If you are into modern funk and soul, definitely keep an eye out for Hablot Brown. The post [Interview]: A Backstage Chat with Hablot Brown appeared first on Verge Campus. Source Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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