Dan Lethbridge

Dan Lethbridge releases his latest album Inner Western on the 6th of October, this is what he had to say about it all.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dan-Lethbridge/28024010997

1. What was the inspiration for the up coming album?

The inspiration was to make a groove-based record instead of a quiet, introspective acoustic record like my last one. I wanted to get back to playing with my band so I wrote 10 songs that allows them to have fun on stage instead of staring at the floor.

2. How did the songwriting process go for the album?

The songwriting process is always the same for me. I wait for a chord progression I like to appear, find a melody to go with it and then let the lyrics fall out. To this day I don’t know where any of it comes from.

3. What was the recording process like for the album?

Relaxed and fun. I’d come to the studio with a song and a rough direction in mind as to where I wanted the song to go. Then the rest of the band would bring their own individual parts.

4. Did you prepare for the recording process or was is it a case of see what happens in the studio?

The songs were 100% written in terms of structure and lyrics, etc but the instrumentation was more a case of see what happens in the studio.

5. How was the recording process different to earlier material?

This is first album I’ve made that I didn’t produce myself. It was produced by Shane O’Mara and recorded at his Yikesville studio in Yarraville. Most of the rhythm section was tracked live without click tracks which was the plan from the beginning. It really worked I think. Shane wanted to capture the best feel rather than the perfect take and it really brought out the best in the band.

6. What did you learn from recording the album that you will take away for future releases?

I learnt that I’ll never record to a click track again.

7. Do you have moments where u just can’t write and need to do something else?

Yep. Everyone does I think. I usually need a long time to write a song and a long time to even get in the mindset. If I know I can’t get at least two hours completely to myself I don’t even bother trying to start.

8. What buzz do you get out of playing live?

I get to forget about everything else in the world and just enjoy the feeling of five people sharing the same moment.

9. Do you have rituals before playing a show?

I used to smoke several cigarettes. Now I drink several whiskeys. People say I pace around a lot.

10. If you could have anybody in a video clip who would it be?

Probably Jesus. It would guarantee a lot of views.