Interview: Geoff Byrd, Singer/Songwriter And Musician - Page 3

It was inspired by a dream? Where else do you get inspiration for your songs?

I often get inspired by cool words that I write down and interesting phrases. I keep a list at all times. The idea comes first.. then the chords, then melody, then the lyrics for me usually.

The lyrics to "Plasti-Queens" suggest you aren't a fan of the artificial and superficial. Of course, the popular culture of today is dominated by such people, especially in the production-line pop music business. Did you ever face any pressure to conform in a market that's notoriously hard to bend the rules in, especially when you're still an artist in your infancy?

Yeah. I used to think about what was wrong with the world all the time. Now I seek out what is right with it. Instead of fighting everything, I try to surround myself with good energy and people who emanate it. I think of myself as a songwriter first, a recording artist second and a producer third. The most important thing to me is the material. I love writing songs and I just want to keep getting better. All the other stuff is just a trap waiting to entangle you.

In "That's How It Goes", you lament, among other things, your inability to re-write songs you hear on the radio, later noting you went out to start a "shitty little rock and roll band", naturally with tongue planted firmly in cheek. But is there an element of truth to your frustration lurking belief those lyrics? Are you happy to write off missteps in your life and career as just being "how it goes"? Lines like "that's the way it's gonna be until my dying day, I suppose" seem to hint at an air of frustration, to me at least.

I used to have a lot more angst back in the day....I still get frustrated but it is usually because I keep dropping my phone or accidentally breaking my little toe (happened twice)! Usually if I'm frustrated, it is directed at me. But yeah, that was my sarcastic little song that basically translated to: "ah fuck it man, all is vanity".

The past couple of years have been both tough and eventful for you. I get the impression that late 2006, prior to the release of your solo album "Featurette", was a tough time. That was when you revealed that you were actually seven years older than your record company had been claiming, which they had done in order to better market you in what they deemed a "youth-oriented industry". How did you feel about that? Did it leave you disillusioned about the music business at all?

Article Author: Wesley Mead

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