“I’m a strong believer that if there’s just one person in a room that takes something in from a performance then you’ve done your job”
We talked with local musician and DIY recording master Marshall Brown about his music, process and upcoming projects. His 5th album, Ay Es Em Ar, released in May of last year, was Voted best SC Album of 2021 by Free-Times.
Photo by Shane Sanders
What beverage or meal pairs best with your music?
Hmmmm. I'd say “Changing Of The Garb” pairs with a smoothie of some sort, and with “Elephants Walking Lightly” maybe a smooth wheat beer and pop a melatonin. “Awakened On The Weekend” is definitely a Bourbon Soda, but it's a daytime Bourbon Soda to be enjoyed in the sunshine.
What makes a song good?
I like a song that gets stuck in my head. I also like production that has a lot to listen to and keeps you interested — where maybe there's something in the 2nd verse that wasn't in the 1st verse. Sometimes I do get tired of the everyday "Verse –chorus," but I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't say that sometimes it's just all you need, too.
What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever recorded?
I find that the more time I spend on a record, the more love I have for it — I guess for obvious reasons. The more I labor over and pour myself into a project, the more connected I feel to it. Every time I put a record out, I generally have put more into it than the one before, so I'd say my favorite is usually my latest.
What is your process like when writing and or recording? Is there anything you wish you could do differently or that you don't like about it?
Organization is key. I keep notes on my phone of random couplets or just titles that I may think are witty or interesting. Also, I have another folder that has song ideas that are maybe a little more developed. I have a folder with finished lyrics that I'm logging until music is recorded and online, and I have a folder for lists of songs such as ones that I'm planning to release on this project or that one. So I try to stay organized and make it a point to write stuff down when I have something cool or interesting cross my mind. Otherwise, I'd forget it easily, and that's a waste.
How has the pandemic impacted your music and creative process?
I was really on a lonely down spiral right before the pandemic so it wasn't an incredible change in lifestyle for me. I did, however, come out on the other side a more healthy person with the help of some close friends. Since the heart of the pandemic, I've been collaborating with other artists a lot more than I used to. I hardly ever really collaborated before. SHOWS is a project that has always been a real pleasure for me. We try and keep it loose and intentionally light and fun. We dress up in painter's uniforms when we play live. Zion is a project that I've been involved with more recently, and it's a darker more existential landscape that we're building. It's been a beautiful experience embracing that part of my personality as well. I have the sense that we're really creating something important.
How do you know when something is done?
Sometimes you just know. Sometimes things spill out and you just don't want to change them. You keep them in that visceral form they were born in, and you wouldn't dare corrupt the simple beauty of that. Other times, you have a little nugget that you're really crafting and crafting to shape like a gem. Those are the ones that can be tough to let go of and just let them live in the world. I had some on Ay Es Em Ar that I really got lost on, and I ended up sitting on that album for a long time because I just got lost at a certain point in time. When I came back to it later, I had more of a determination to make some deadlines for myself and get it done. It was definitely a situation where some deadlines and a sense of urgency really helped me get it done, and it ultimately made me a little more confident in my craft.
If you had any advice for other musicians looking to get into DIY recording, what would it be?
I like to spread the news that there aren't any rules. I realize that can sound naive as there certainly are some guidelines to try and 'color inside of' for a good quality recording, but I do feel like a lot of the rules that people will tell you CAN, in fact, be broken in some instances. If you're recording music, it's probably because you have an ear. If you have an ear, use it and trust it. The great thing about music is, if it SOUNDS good, it IS good. I've been in situations where I've been really strained to figure out why something is working because my knowledge of theory tells me it should be all wrong. Don't do that. If it sounds like it's working, then let it work.
As far as equipment goes, just know that you can use a really cheap mic, but use good technique with a really fresh musical idea, and you've got gold. Some great records have been made with sub standard equipment. If you keep at it long enough, you'll get to a point where you'll drool over better equipment, but go as slow as you need to and just do the best with what you have. The average person won't even notice if you're good at your craft.
What's your favorite or least favorite show you've ever played and why?
I'm a strong believer that if there's just one person in a room that takes something in from a performance then you've done your job, but I did get sick and lost my voice right before a big music crawl event one year and was missing a whole section of my vocal register. I had to sing my songs completely differently than normal and really put a lot of thought into my endurance. That was a fairly dreadful experience. I also have had nightmares about being at a venue and not having one small piece of equipment that I need to make everything work.
What is the ideal way to listen to your music?
Headphones for the win. I like music that has detail in it and often try to put things in there that you may not even notice without headphones. I like the way headphones give you the proper stereo field where you can hear things happening all around you. it's not just left and right because something that has a lot of reverb sounds like it's far away from you and something that's more dry sounds like it's closer.
Did you have a favorite stuffed animal growing up, and if so, why haven't you written a song about it? Or have you?
I had many. I remember them getting very ragged as they were loved. The 3 that come to mind are an orange Popple with green hair, a Papa Smurf, and a well known chipmunk named Alvin. Perhaps, I could do a Chipmunks Vocal style remix of a song in the future. I remember listening to Chipmunk's Christmas and Chipmunk's Sing The Beatles a bit when I was really young.
What's next for you? Are you working on anything?
Yes, definitely have some songs built up from the last few years that I'm looking forward to birthing into the world. I've been making lists and doing some organizing. I suspect I have a few EPs and a full length in me as of now. Might even have other secret collaborations in the mix too. Who knows?
Tell us about your coming show.
I'm looking forward to this show with Elf Power on the 28th. I haven't had a chance to play the Ay Es Em Ar songs with a full band yet so that, in itself, is exciting. I've got some different guys called The New Garbs with me this time. It's certainly no slight to The Rare Birds, my most recent partners in crime. The Rare Birds are still The Rare Birds and can't be replaced. The New Garbs are just my attempt to branch out and have experiences with playing with different people. Looking forward to hearing Elf Power as well. Their new record sounds great, and, being a big Olivia Tremor Control fan, I've always been amused by the Elephant Six Collective that they're associated with. I admire the sense of community there in Athens during the 90s.
See Marshall Brown & The New Garbs July 28th at New Brookland Tavern with Elf Power and ER Jurken.
Follow Marshall on Facebook and check out his albums on Bandcamp