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Russell Welch.. Wise beyond his years!

russell

Amber: Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now?

Russell: Well, my name is Russell Lee Welch III. I grew up in Jackson, MS, my father played guitar and banjo among other instruments, so I got into music and jazz through him. I went to public schools, and was in the APAC program – which meant I could practice guitar and jazz
music for two hours at the end of everyday. I went to college at Southern Miss and got a BM in Jazz Studies. It was also in Hattiesburg, MS where I began spending late nights recording my own weird little pop songs in my bedroom. So, my passion was… and still is.. very split between the art of improvisation, and the more meditative aspect of sculpting recorded music. I think one always helps/influences the other, but for me they are two very different parts of my brain.

Amber: So you still do a lot of Jazz Music?

Russell: Absolutely. I will always play jazz music. I have a great appreciation for the tradition and style of the music itself, but for me the real interest is in the improvisation. Jazz is one of the only musical forms that focuses on instant composition, mixed with a deep understanding of the music you are playing and the connection you can create with other musicians. It’s very expressive, you know? Like, what comes out of a jazz player is a reflection of that person’s life. Philosophy, spirituality, interpretation of the world around you. All of these things are very unique to each person and come through in the playing. So when you are reacting to a musical environment and creating music on the spot… it is directly connected to the way we experience life. You improvise, you plan, you use your assimilated knowledge of past events and experience to form your take new ones. I think that that side of jazz music.. you know, the very personal side, effects all the other music that I create. To be honest, it is directly connected to everything that is my life. So just like life, it’s kind of a never ending journey, and the things that I learn from this musical “journey” help me to envision and create music that I hope is a unique reflection of myself.

Amber: You also do some music that’s definitely not jazz. How did you get into that?

Russell: I think that it really came from learning how to record myself in a studio environment. It’s really a wild trip to sit with an instrument in your living room studio, with the record button blinking.
I mean, the possibilities of what you can create are endless. I think it really is not so much about any musical talent, or proficiency on an instrument when creating music in a studio. We all collectively have a mind for music more or less, and the adventure in a studio setting is how effectively can you realize the music in your mind. Or how closely can you match in a physical recording
the “ideal” that you are able to create in your mind. There is nothing in the world more satisfying than hearing an idea realized in the studio. It is hard work to do this accurately, and I still am not able to do it like I’d like to. But you get closer each time. So, what you would call the “pop” or “rock” music that I like to create are really studio experiments. Exercises in realization of mental concepts or ideas. I am also fortunate enough to have found a song writing partner that I can really connect with – my good friend Matt Gill. I have always been blown away with his song writing, I was very happy to see how well we worked together. A lot of times when you work creatively with someone else you have to make certain sacrifices… but when Matt and I get together we kind of help each other to make our ideas grander… more profound. It’s a really wonderful thing.

Amber: Can you explain to everyone what the whole giant head thing in your pics is about?

Russell: Giant head? Is that a put down? If you mean the rabbit head that is present in a lot of the band photos…. he is a secret contributor to the music. He is our mentor. He is directly connected with the Comfort Now mother ship, and provides spiritual guidance. It’s… uh… hard to explain.

Amber: Ha Ha. Okay.. Are you currently working on any projects that we should know about?

Russell: Yes. Russell’s Eight Track is teaming up with the Magic Carnie in the month of February to create our most stripped down, and cosmically correct project ever. It will be finished up in a few months. You can keepup with russellwelch.com ormyspace.com/russellseighttrack to here some of the session and download the album when its finished.

Amber: Who do you consider to be a musical genius? (besides yourself. haha)

Russell: Um, not myself ha. Again, I’m not sure I like the term musical genius. I like to think of it more like I was saying earlier… like who had an idea and executed it the best, you know? That is what I’m interested in – although the grander the idea, if realized fully the grander the result. Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninov… these are obviously guys with very big plans that did a very wonderful job of seeing them through… haha – I mean, obviously there was more to it than that but that is the aspect i relate to the most, you know? Also, I really like Dave Brubeck for the same reason. There are also artists like Daniel Johnston, who by all means should be labeled as completely horrible, but have so much of themselves soaked in the music that it becomes really special. I would call Daniel Johnston a musical genius.

Amber: If you could trade bodies with one person for one day, who would it be and why?

Russell: I would like to trade bodies with an astronaut orbiting the earth. You know, the first fish that jumped on land really experienced something special before they wiggled around and died. If I went to space only to wiggle around and die moments later, I would be happy.

Amber: Top 3 favorite albums of all time?

Russell: Jeez. I’ll do rock albums to make this manageable:
The Beatles – The Beatles (White Album)
Magic Carnie’s The Significance Trance
The Beach Boys – Smiley Smile
I hate answering this question, my answer changes everyday…….

Amber: What do you do in your spare time when you’re not playing music?

Russell: I really enjoy rebuilding vintage european mopeds. Not scooters, but mopeds. Like: Puch Maxi’s, Motobecanes, Tomo’s (pre 1980) etc.
Pretty much everything I do is musical, so it’s nice to take something practical – like a two stroke engine – and troubleshoot it. It’s also a cheap way to get around.

Amber: Have there ever been times when you wanted to give up on your dream? If so, what got you through it?

Russell: Um.. in a way. I think a big problem with our generation is that we grew up being told by parents, teachers, and Hollywood that you only fail when you give up on your dream. I think this message did a huge disservice. I mean, there are a billion waiters in LA who are not giving up on the dream, but they can’t all make it. I feel like for me, I have turned my dream into life plan…. or maybe it’s better to say, I’ve redefined what “making it” means to me. I think it’s really exciting that I am creating music in the digital age. For the first time in history, the art I make can be preserved forever. You know, I have black and white photos of my grandfather which is nice… but imagine – my grandchildren will be able to listen to mp3’s I am making now and say, ” wow, what was he thinking! This is so weird!” or, “Wow, I really like this”. I mean, the things I create during my life can and might last forever,
even if it’s in the hardrive “attic” of my children’s computers. So “making it” for me, or the “dream”, has really turned into creating a legacy. Creating music that I will be proud of when I’m 80 years old in my rocking chair. I mean, take away record deals and music video dreams, and we are left with just the art. You know, a representation of our culture, our place in time, and ourselves. I think all you can ask of yourself as an artist is to accurately create what is uniquely you the best you can. When I feel like I get close to doing this I feel very accomplished. It’s nice when people can also get into it, or identify with what I’m trying to express…. but I think it is more important to perfect your expression, not be concerned with the way your expression is received by other people. I think people will identify with the sound of personal realization, no matter what it sounds like.

Amber: What’s your biggest goal when it comes to your music?

Russell: Kind of what I was saying earlier, to clearly and simply express what I’m trying to say musically. And I feel like I’m getting closer everyday.

Amber: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Russell: I don’t ‘t know what this means. Should I?

Amber: yes you should know what team Edward or team Jacob means. it’s the whole twilight saga sweeping the earth… so again. team Edward or team Jacob? Ha Ha

Russell: Ah twilight. I don’t have TV so I’ve only heard about that in the lunchline.

Amber: Is there any advice you would give to aspiring musicians?

Russell: Hmm. I’d say make your music as if you yourself 10 years in the future were breathing down your neck. Make it something that you’ll be proud of. And, keep it simple (that’s advice I need to follow more myself, ha)

rabbitheadAlso, you can download one of Russell’s albums “Headphone Music” for free by checking out THIS link!

☮, ♡, ♪

-Amber

Comfort Now Spaceship

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