Ivory Lake talks about touring with Geoff Tate and new EP 'Pillows'
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOU AND
YOUR MUSIC AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
Ivory Lake is a project I started back in 2019 while touring with Geoff Tate (previously of Queensryche), we played over 100 shows in six months over 26 country’s, so as you can imagine there’s a lot of downtime on the tour bus. So I started writing a tonne of songs and started putting them together in my own very dyslexic way. With hopes of shedding some light on issues that many find difficult to talk about such as domestic abuse, addiction, depression etc...
But while still keeping the musical side of things light and fun.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE?
With My new EP ‘pillows’ the creative process began in 2019, although the title track had been in the works for a while before but I just couldn’t find the right vibe for the song; it was like a stubborn child that refuses to eat and because of this the song wouldn’t grow and take shape. Until one day it seemed to just jump out at me and hit me with a left hook to the face, like it had been staring at me all the time I just couldn’t see it. It’s a slow to medium paced track but it’s got this bounce to it, along with a big chorus that really brought the song together
WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM OR SINGLE?
‘Pillows’ the title track of the EP is largely inspired by the cycle of domestic violence and the effects it can have on children involved. Something witnessed quite a lot in our earlier years, my brother, sister and I found it hard to come to terms with. Especially me being the eldest, even when I was 4-5 years old I felt overwhelming guilt for not being able to help in anyway. The second track ‘lazy’ is inspired by being depressed because of a lack of motivation and not being motivated because of depression.
It’s a vicious cycle and one that can be hard to break. The final track ‘My Phone’ is based on our addiction to electronic devices in this technological age and the strain it can put on personal relationships.
CAN YOU SUM UP THE ALBUM IN A FEW WORDS?
Melancholic , atmospheric, insightful
WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
The black album by Metallica definitely had a huge impact on my musical career, before hearing it I wasn’t really interested in music at all.
But being 13 and hearing Enter Sandman for the first time was like a religious experience for me, I was massively inspired by the aggression and passion that came from their music and still am to this day, it’s what made me start picking up drumsticks in the first place and I haven’t put them down since.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO FILMED BY YOUR BAND OR ANOTHER
ARTIST?
I love the video for ‘please don’t die’
by Father John Misty it has a morbid optimism to it that I find very appealing and I really like the stop motion feel.
WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?
I have a 2 year old girl and my little boy is 4 now,
so my schedule is pretty full on at the moment with daddy stuff. But I love to work with exotic animals snakes, tarantulas, lizards etc... I have always had a fascination with them and breeding them still feels like magic to me.
DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING LIVE, IF SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
I don't really get nervous on stage I have always just wanted to get up there. The only time I did was performing with Geoff Tate (previously of Queensryche) we played a show in Wisconsin USA to over 5000 people, but I found a jack daniels or three usually helps calm the nerves.
But you have to find your balance so you can still perform to the best of your ability.
HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?
Ivory lake is a project I started alone back in 2019 I suppose I just needed a creative outlet for myself I had been in bands before but I really wanted that feeling of complete creative control over the music.
HOW DO YOU WRITE? - DO YOU HAVE A KEY SONGWRITER, OR DO YOU ALL WORK
TOGETHER?
Everything in Ivory Lake is written and recorded by myself ‘Josh Watts’ I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to my music, I love having the freedom to explore different ideas.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I suppose I take a lot of my inspiration from the more morbid nihilistic side of things, although a lot of my songs have a positive meta narrative. I find a lot of beauty in sadness when it’s put into art in the right way, there’s a deeper feeling you can evoke when you're not just writing shiny happy things.
WHAT IS NEXT?
I plan to record another EP this spring then all being well an album towards the end of the year followed by a tour of the UK and USA, if covid allows me to- I miss touring so much these days, when I have the chance to get back on it I might never come off the road.
PLEASE TELL US ANY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SO WE CAN SHARE.
https://www.instagram.com/ivory_lake_music/
https://m.facebook.com/Ivorylakemusic1995/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7pRW9E7uvOfpyQ9ZtMhffD?si=UCPn1jDHRLiySYlAwocPyA
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