Myles-Kennedy.com’s exclusive interview with Myles Kennedy
Myles-Kennedy.com: Alter Bridge just finished up the final leg of the blackbird tour. What is next for Myles Kennedy?
Myles: Well, I guess at this point we get ready to do another Alter Bridge record which both Mark and I have been working on. I am also doing a side thing where it's basically songs I have had set aside over the years that would not find a home in Alter Bridge. So, I am trying to complete that as well, and so far it's been a lot of work. I basically got home from the European tour and then the next day I was in the studio. I am really excited, but it's kind of been overwhelming to have two potential projects going at the same time.
M-K. com: In this other project is it just you or are there others involved?
Myles: Yeah, Right now it's just me all by myself, which is a tremendous amount of work. Technology has made it easier because I can arrange it on my own, but I still had rather have a band. This is the first time in my career as a writer where I have not had the luxury of having band a member to bounce ideas off. A lot of times, when your one guy locked away in the studio you start chasing your tail because you start questioning your judgment as far as specific parts are concerned. Though this approach is time consuming, it's a great way of challenging myself to learn to trust my instincts.
M-K. com: What is the solo material going to sound like?
Myles: So far it is sounding different from most anything I've done in the past. Hopefully it will embody a lot of my influences over the years. I guess the best way to describe it thus far is "dreamy." I am intentionally trying to make a record that isn't aggressive (saving that stuff for Alter Bridge). It's more singer/songwriter based. I will say it's going to be interesting. I hope people don't think I have lost my mind.
M-K. com: What can we expect from the new Alter Bridge album? More radio driven or more aggressive?
Myles: It's really too soon to tell. Our goal is to continue along the same line as Blackbird. At the same time we don't want to make Blackbird part two. We just want to evolve as much as we can.
M-K. com: On your last tour Alter Bridge filmed a live DVD what was that like?
Myles: It was great! It was kind of nerve racking initially, because the director and the producer of the DVD sunk a lot of time and money into it. So, if someone is going to come all that way with a crew and cameras you don't want it to be a sub par show. Initially, the DVD was going to be shot in London, which was like four shows into the tour. At that point, we were still kind of getting our road wings, so to speak. So we decided to work through some things production wise. We decided to do the final shoot towards the end of the tour in Amsterdam when we might stand a better chance of firing on all cylinders. My only fear was how fatigued my voice might be after six weeks straight. The day of the show, I was a little concerned, but fortunately it went well.
M-K. com: When can we expect the DVD in stores?
Myles: That is a good question. I have no idea, but I would assume and hope before the middle of the year. I really have no idea what the turn around time is on that sort or thing.
M-K. com: As a kid growing up, was there an epiphany, that made you choose the guitar and music as a career, or were you always into it?
Myles: If someone told me as a child that I was going to be a recording artist when I grew up, I never would have believed them. I guess I am kind of a realist. I was kind of raised that way, and I knew the odds of getting to be a musician were pretty slim. I have just been really fortunate. I guess the epiphany where I knew I wanted to play guitar and play music in particular was probably when I heard eruption when I was 13. I still remember it was a summer day and I was playing outside and it came on the radio and I was like, "that is the most amazing thing I have ever heard." So that's what kind of got me headed towards music. I think I played air guitar for a few years after that. After that I started getting into Zeppelin and then I gradually saved up my money and got my first guitar. After that no one saw me again for 3 years.
M-K. com: If you had never made it as a musician what would you be doing?
Myles: That's a good question. Probably either a history teacher or a shoe designer.
M-K. com: Can you look back on your music career and point out something that seemed difficult at the time, but actually made you better by living through it?
Myles: That's a really, really good question. There are so many of them where do you start? I think in some strange way even though I cringe, I think that guitar contest that I did when I was younger. I think that was a turning point for me, because I really didn't have any self confidence prior to that occasion. Even though I worked really hard and I practiced like crazy, I had terrible stage fright and I didn't know if I was going to be able to be a musician. That was one of those events that proved to me that I could overcome my fears, and get up there and do it. Looking back it was so cheesy and goofy, but I think it was a good thing. I just wish that it wasn't online.
M-K. com: So when you’re home which gets more of your time? Song writing or cultivating your guitar skills.
Myles: Oh, without a doubt song writing. I very rarely actually work on guitar skills. At least not at this point, but a couple of years ago I was woodsheding a lot more. I think that I have kind of hit panic mode for some reason with all the songs I have accumulated over the years that are just sitting on hard drives. It's overwhelming! I was going through some of them this morning and there is no way even 10 percent of them will ever see the light of day just because of the sheer volume of them.
M-K. com: What kind of equipment do you have at home to cater to your writing and
recording?
Myles: Back in the day I started with 4 tracks and then I graduated to a Roland 1680, which is one the first digital recorders. Then, not to long ago, two good friends of mine were telling me about Logic, which is an Apple program geared towards songwriters. It's very quick and very intuitive. So, I use that as a recording base. It's pretty much a virtual environment at this point. I have a bunch of amps that don't even get turned on at this point because I'm using an amplifier program by Native Instruments called Guitar Rig 3. Mark uses it as well and we were both just like, "what do you need amps for because this program sounds so good!" Though at the end of the day, nothing beats a real amp. It's just time consuming at this point. There is a bunch of software involved like EZ drummer and plug-ins for my string arrangements. I have Lawson, Shure and Neumann condenser mics that I send to the Avalon 737 preamp. I route that into the Apogee Duet interface before hitting my Mac. Then, I have all my guitars. I could go on forever, but that would get kind of boring.
M-K. com: I know that you've been asked before about how you get inspiration for your music and that it can come from everyday things like watching a movie and also your own personal experiences. Do you ever get inspiration from fans themselves and the stories they tell you along the way?
Myles: Well, you know not so much for songs, but most definitely for getting the inspiration to continue to create with out a doubt. When a gentlemen in the military or family of someone serving overseas comes up to us and thanks us for a song like "One by One" it means the world to me. When I hear something like that I'm very grateful and I will never take it for granted. I know Mark, Scott and Brian feel the same.
M-K. com: Do you consider musical abilities a gift or something you had to work for?
Myles: I think a little bit of both. I guess I did have a gift to a point, but not so much the skill level as a passion for music. I just knew that I had a love and a passion that I did not see a lot of my friends having. It was something special for me and it's where I found my identity. The other thing is that I did work extremely hard and I continue to do so. I guess some consider me a workaholic. I don't think that's a bad thing when your talking about music, it's a good thing. For me, what else is there to do? People are like, "what else do you do? Do you Ski or anything?" I am like, "no." Though I might play Pac-man on my Iphone every once in awhile. I am not complaining, I love it and I wouldn't have it any other way.
M-K. com: Were there times when you wanted to give up?
Myles: Oh yeah! Just like I said early on, I didn't think I had what it took to continue on. I can remember one night in particular when I was about 18. I was playing at this club here in Spokane with the band I was with at the time. I remember playing it wasn't going so well and I thought I sucked terribly. I remember looking up at the lights saying, "I have got to do something else , I am just not cut out for this." Then the next day it was like a drug. I needed another fix and I couldn't quit. A teacher told me once when I was going to music school "you don't become a musician because you want to, you become a musician because you have to." Without a doubt that is why I do it, I have to do it; the drive is too much to turn off.
M-K. com: I know there are times where my wife tells me I need to put down the guitar. Does that ever happen with you?
Myles: You know I think about this all the time, I have been blessed beyond belief with my wife. I couldn't do this without her infinite support. I don't believe I have ever heard her say "put down that guitar and stop writing." It's like she knows and understands and does not want to get in the way of that process. I don't know, sometimes being a musician can be synonymous with being selfish with the time it takes away from your loved ones. That is a tough one for me. Someday when I look back on life, I don't want to be that guy that says, "oh, only if I had spent more time with my family." So I will continue to work on maintaining that balance.
M-K. com: You have talked in other interviews about your love of cultural foods do you have a favorite?
Myles: Yeah, it's a dead heat between Indian food and Sushi. If it's really good Sushi, then I would have to go with Sushi.
M-K. com: Are you a cook or do you depend on someone else for that?
Myles: I most definitely depend on someone. I couldn't cook my way out a wet paper bag. I am supposed to be on this online cooking show coming up, and I am really nervous. I don't know what I am going to do. I guess I could make some toast.
M-K. com: While not doing things music related, what do you enjoy doing?
Myles: As much as this is going to make me sound like a tool, I do enjoy exercising and things of that nature. I also love to hang out with my Wife and dog.
M-K. com: So what kind of dog do you have?
Myles: He is a Shih Tzu. I love him. He is really entertaining. I have had a lot of dogs in my life and he is probably my favorite. He is one of those little dogs that doesn't know he is little.
M-K. com: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Myles: Probably when I am trying to sleep in the bunk on the bus and I smell someone's feet. Sometimes, it gets so bad that it will wake me up. I just wish people would wash their feet, or whatever it is. The funk can be ferocious.
M-K. com: What is your most prized possession?
Myles: It's probably a picture of my biological father. I don't have too many pictures of him. So, it would probably be one of those.
M-K. com: When you're on stage in front of everyone and you realize your fly is open, how do you play it off?
Myles: It's one of those things where you can try to be Mr. Cool guy, but there is no way you're going to pull it off. So you just have to be honest and admit to the fact that you stepped onto the stage without checking your fly.
M-K. com: If you were stranded on an island, what one person and one thing besides food would want with you?
Myles: My wife and an acoustic guitar.
M-K. com: What is in your CD player right now?
Myles: An album of all these people who covered Leonard Cohen songs. It contains some very interesting covers of one of the greatest song writers ever.
M-K. com: We just brought in the New Year, what is your New Year's resolution?
Myles: My New Year's Resolution is to try and put out two records without going insane!
M-K. com: Is there anything you would like to tell all the Myles Kennedy fans out there?
Myles: There are so many things that I want to say, but most importantly, I am really grateful to everyone who continues to support what I am a part of. It kind of blows my mind really. So, I am going to continue to try and make music that keeps you interested..
We would like to thank Myles for his time and effort! He is truly a great individual.
