We recently had the opportunity to sit down and catch up with a heavily bearded APR (Andrew Parker-Renga). The Burlington, VT based crooner is currently at work on his 2nd studio album, with a scheduled completion some time early 2009. Below is a excerpt from our conversation:
LCR: Who do you consider your biggest influences?
APR: My family, friends and nature to start. Well, there are so many musical ones it’s hard to list. Everything really that’s every touch my ears, but usually what I am listening too. Technique wise. My guitar knowledge came a lot from Dave Matthews, classic rock, and 90s bands like Nirvana, Weezer, Pearl Jam etc… Song-structure, from Paul Simon, Counting Crows, and weird feelings in my heart. My voice has been recently influenced a lot by Ray LaMontagane, just so much feeling, so much. I love Jeff Buckley’s voice and have sang tons to his records. When I was younger, I wanted to be Dave Matthews.
LCR: Compare your sound now to your sound when you released your first album?
APR: That’s a great question. This album I have a band for starters which gave me a back bone. I didn’t do hardly any overdubbing, mostly one takes. Also, I quadruple tracked everything on the first record. This one every production tech. was planned not formulaic. Last record was a collection of exercises. This album is a collection feelings. The new album breathes more to me.
LCR: To what do you attribute the changes in your sound, if any?
APR: Having great musician’s to play with changes things. My age. My girlfriend. All the music I heard between records.
LCR: How are things going in the studio?
APR: Almost finished. Tracking is done. Just picking mixes and rolling out the pressing
LCR: When do expect the album to be completed?
APR: This month (Jan). Looking at mastering facilities right now. CD release in late Feb.
LCR: Do you have plans to tour in support of the album?
APR: God willing. And by god I mean me. I’m on the cusp of being able to financially get myself in a place to go all over the country. I will deff. be setting mini tours in New England.
LCR: Who are you listening to right now?
APR: Mason Jennings, Ray LaMontagane, Damien Rice, old Outkast, local DJ mixes from Lotus entertainment, Zack duPont, the Woods Brothers, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Davenport, Tom Petty, Beethoven
