(Photo Credit: Kelsey Hart)
We had the opportunity to interview IAN SWEET, who's fantastic new album comes out TODAY! You don't wanna miss her new album, it has great vocals, indie melodies, and strikingly powerful lyrics. Check out what IAN SWEET had to say in our interview below!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I asked for my first electric guitar when I was 12, I was obsessed with Avril Lavigne and wanted a bright blue electric guitar. I started taking lessons and never looked back. When I was about 16 I started taking flamenco guitar lessons as well because I wanted to try something different so I was doing electric guitar lessons and flamenco lessons. Have been motivated and inspired by both sounds and am always incorporating my knowledge of both."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"I don’t necessarily have a set process. I usually write in times where I really need release. Sometimes I will feel so tense and stressed and not realize what will help until I am holding my guitar and suddenly writing a song. Writing, for me, comes in spurts."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"Bjork, Brian Eno, Fugazi, Kate Bush, Slint, PJ Harvey. I think my favorite musicians are the strong headed ones who have a vision for their music and don’t tend to stray from it. I am inspired by the innate presence of creativity that exist in their music and how dynamic they can be in both the studio and performance."
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"My favorite pedal in the world is my lo fi junky pedal by z vex. Don’t know what I’d do without it. Have been using that pedal since the first IAN SWEET record. It imitates tape warble and totally has a mind and personality of its own."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"The live show is really energetic and dynamic. Playing live is my favorite part of being a musician so I want to bring everything I have to every show. It’s really fun to experience every new venue and the people who work there. My favorite part is the hummus and pita chips and huge case of waters that are usually in the green room!"
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"My music is incredibly personal. I draw from strange but relatable desires and experiences that other people may also be going through in their own way. It is important for me to connect with the listener, although making music is a form of therapy for myself it feels nice to have other people care and take something/anything from it."
7. Do you have any upcoming projects you would like fans to know about?
"Right now just focusing on touring for this record. Will be touring Europe in the early spring. I am always writing and I am actually very anxious to make another record. Now that IAN SWEET is a solo endeavor It feels like I have so much freedom to make/play/record music whenever feels right."