TR3NITY Interview
Now if you like well played and thoughtful progressive music (think Kansas, Camel, IQ et al) then this band will be right up your street. Two albums into what will hopefully be a long and successful career...
1. What are you currently up to? (e.g. touring/studio,etc.)
Hi, we appreciate being given the opportunity to talk directly with you. At the moment, we're at the beginning of a number of live dates and are continuing to hone the live show, so we're in the rehearsal studio a fair amount.
We've just about got the complete repertoire in live format nailed. There's just a couple of numbers from both albums that we haven't yet decided whether we'll go for live versions of just yet..
2. Brief history of the band and the style of music you play.
The full story is available on our WEB site, but in the meantime, Paul and Rob met up at our local church, after having played together there, and talked, we discovered we had like musical tastes and a desire to put together a band to record and perform. The band was formed over a fairly lengthy period of time, after having tried a number of different line ups, and in fairness we only really completed the picture with the recruitment of Graham on BASS last year.
As to the style of music. Well we all have our opinions about that one don't we, let's just say that we're strongly influenced by the best of the supergroups from the early seventies, including Pink Floyd, Genesis, Camel etc... We've been compared to a number of recent prog bands.. But we like to think we're doing our own thing, as I'm sure all bands out there do. However, we're not ashamed to say we are influenced, so if you hear something familiar, that'll be why.
3. Could you hive us some background to your latest album, 'Precious Seconds' and take us through some highlights?
The idea for Precious seconds came from a number of sources, including a marriage break-up and the death of a close friend. The story starts with a view of a successful businessman who seems to have everything going for him. Unfortunately, things are not as they seem as it becomes apparent that he has jeopardised everything for his own success.
Things quickly start to fall apart, he loses his marriage and his job, until eventually he sees the errors of his ways. He puts things right, but only in time to fall from a mountain to his untimely death. Sounds depressing doesn't it? Well, the good news is that he doesn't know that he's died, because he finds himself in a place where creation blossoms without the taint of mankind - he has reached his heaven.
4. What bands/artists do you admire and/or are an influence?
One of the things that helps Tr3nity produce new music is that we all have different musical influences. These range from the obvious - Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Kansas, Camel, Pendragon - to the less obvious - Cheap Trick, Puccini, Toto, Sting.
Admiration is a different thing altogether. There are artists that we admire musically, either for creating the type of music we love when it didn't exist before, like Gilmour, Banks, Howe, Deacon etc. There are others who are admired because of how they use music and their resulting fame to work for good.
The obvious ones include Bono, Peter Gabriel, Bob Geldof etc, but there are many others who do similar work behind the scenes. Music can be such a powerful force. Just look at the recent release of All Around the World in aid of the Tsunami disaster victims. It probably won't make the top ten, and no-ones going to get famous because of it, but it is making money for the victims and was done by a great collection of musicians from various parts of the world.
5. What has been the highlight(s) and lowpoint(s) of your career to date?
There have been many highlights, including getting our first record deal, hearing ourselves on the radio and getting great messages from our listeners. Perhaps the biggest buzz, though, is playing live. It's a shame there isn't much more support for live music in this country.
Lowpoints are harder to find - having to let go of people in the early days of the band's growth because they didn't suit the style of music is probably the worst.
6. What ideally would the Tr3nity like to achieve ideally by this time next year?
By this time next year we'll be supporting the Pink Floyd reunion tour with Roger Waters! Well, we can dream can't we?
7. How easy/hard is it to get gigs? Do you find that many venues run a mile when you mention the word 'progressive'?
The UK's live music scene is very difficult at the moment, especially for bands that are perhaps less well known. There are, however, some really supportive venues. I have to mention the Classic Rock Society, based in Rotherham, which has striven for many years to keep good quality music alive.
One thing that has influenced the live music scene over the last few years has been the rapid growth of tribute bands. On one hand, they can stifle new acts, but on the other hand they keep venues open and profitable.
8. What have been the band's live highlights so far and why?
Our live highlight was probably headlining for the Classic Rock Society last year. We had a great time and the audience was superb. We were able to do a full set and include all our projected graphics etc. We've honed our live material since then and Paul is currently working on some great graphics for The Last Great Climb, which should see its live debut in the next few months.
9. Do you see the interest in rock music growing in the US & UK at the moment? How easy/hard is it to get radio airplay (inc. Internet based radio stations)?
Interest in rock music is certainly growing in both the US and UK at the moment. This has been inspired by the guitar based bands like Nickelback, Green Day, the Dark etc. Unfortunately, people aren't really given a choice of music by the majority of the media. Turn on the radio or any of the music channels on TV or satellite and you'll hear the same 20 or 30 songs played one after another.
This is where Internet radio really comes into its own. There are many specialist Internet radio stations that are very keen to play new material. Unfortunately the listeners are few at the moment, but this is likely to grow as broadband becomes more established.
Record companies are wary of Internet radio, because it's so easy to record high quality music. Hang on though - isn't that we did as kids - record the Friday rock show or Radio Caroline? It didn't stop us buying the things we liked!
10. Has the Internet helped spread the word about Tr3nity and do you agree/disagree that downloading aids newer bands?
The Internet has helped spread the word about Tr3nity, particularly through reviews on specialist web sites like DPRP, New Horizons etc. Even the short reviews on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com are helpful.
Downloading - this is the difficult area. I remember mixed feelings when I heard that Precious Seconds, our second CD, was available for free download within days of it being released. Part of me thought it would spoil our sales, but I was also really excited that our music might reach more people. The reality is that newer bands have very few means of getting their music heard. We're very fortunate that our record company, CYCLOPS, runs its own mail order service, as well as having world-wide distribution through major distributors.
11. What's the most rock 'n' roll moment the band has had so far?
We once had two mugs of caffeinated coffee on the trot at a rehearsal! Does that count?
12. What CD's do you currently have available and where can they be purchased from?
We have two CD's available, our debut, the Cold Light of Darkness, which won best debut album in 2002 from the US National Review Online, and our most recent CD, Precious Seconds.
Both CDs are available from our web site http://www.tr3nity.co.uk) using Paypal, or you can order from CYCLOPS records (http://www.gft-cyclops.co.uk) or any major record company (although this may take longer). Some of the bigger stores have copies of Precious Seconds on the shelves, but we really would encourage anyone buying music from a new band like Tr3nity to buy directly from the band wherever possible - this helps the bands financially and will ensure that they can survive to produce more music.
13. Message to your fans?
Thanks for all your support and the hundreds of positive comments about our music. Hopefully we'll see some of you at one of our shows in the next few months.
1. What are you currently up to? (e.g. touring/studio,etc.)
Hi, we appreciate being given the opportunity to talk directly with you. At the moment, we're at the beginning of a number of live dates and are continuing to hone the live show, so we're in the rehearsal studio a fair amount.
We've just about got the complete repertoire in live format nailed. There's just a couple of numbers from both albums that we haven't yet decided whether we'll go for live versions of just yet..
2. Brief history of the band and the style of music you play.
The full story is available on our WEB site, but in the meantime, Paul and Rob met up at our local church, after having played together there, and talked, we discovered we had like musical tastes and a desire to put together a band to record and perform. The band was formed over a fairly lengthy period of time, after having tried a number of different line ups, and in fairness we only really completed the picture with the recruitment of Graham on BASS last year.
As to the style of music. Well we all have our opinions about that one don't we, let's just say that we're strongly influenced by the best of the supergroups from the early seventies, including Pink Floyd, Genesis, Camel etc... We've been compared to a number of recent prog bands.. But we like to think we're doing our own thing, as I'm sure all bands out there do. However, we're not ashamed to say we are influenced, so if you hear something familiar, that'll be why.
3. Could you hive us some background to your latest album, 'Precious Seconds' and take us through some highlights?
The idea for Precious seconds came from a number of sources, including a marriage break-up and the death of a close friend. The story starts with a view of a successful businessman who seems to have everything going for him. Unfortunately, things are not as they seem as it becomes apparent that he has jeopardised everything for his own success.
Things quickly start to fall apart, he loses his marriage and his job, until eventually he sees the errors of his ways. He puts things right, but only in time to fall from a mountain to his untimely death. Sounds depressing doesn't it? Well, the good news is that he doesn't know that he's died, because he finds himself in a place where creation blossoms without the taint of mankind - he has reached his heaven.
4. What bands/artists do you admire and/or are an influence?
One of the things that helps Tr3nity produce new music is that we all have different musical influences. These range from the obvious - Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Kansas, Camel, Pendragon - to the less obvious - Cheap Trick, Puccini, Toto, Sting.
Admiration is a different thing altogether. There are artists that we admire musically, either for creating the type of music we love when it didn't exist before, like Gilmour, Banks, Howe, Deacon etc. There are others who are admired because of how they use music and their resulting fame to work for good.
The obvious ones include Bono, Peter Gabriel, Bob Geldof etc, but there are many others who do similar work behind the scenes. Music can be such a powerful force. Just look at the recent release of All Around the World in aid of the Tsunami disaster victims. It probably won't make the top ten, and no-ones going to get famous because of it, but it is making money for the victims and was done by a great collection of musicians from various parts of the world.
5. What has been the highlight(s) and lowpoint(s) of your career to date?
There have been many highlights, including getting our first record deal, hearing ourselves on the radio and getting great messages from our listeners. Perhaps the biggest buzz, though, is playing live. It's a shame there isn't much more support for live music in this country.
Lowpoints are harder to find - having to let go of people in the early days of the band's growth because they didn't suit the style of music is probably the worst.
6. What ideally would the Tr3nity like to achieve ideally by this time next year?
By this time next year we'll be supporting the Pink Floyd reunion tour with Roger Waters! Well, we can dream can't we?
7. How easy/hard is it to get gigs? Do you find that many venues run a mile when you mention the word 'progressive'?
The UK's live music scene is very difficult at the moment, especially for bands that are perhaps less well known. There are, however, some really supportive venues. I have to mention the Classic Rock Society, based in Rotherham, which has striven for many years to keep good quality music alive.
One thing that has influenced the live music scene over the last few years has been the rapid growth of tribute bands. On one hand, they can stifle new acts, but on the other hand they keep venues open and profitable.
8. What have been the band's live highlights so far and why?
Our live highlight was probably headlining for the Classic Rock Society last year. We had a great time and the audience was superb. We were able to do a full set and include all our projected graphics etc. We've honed our live material since then and Paul is currently working on some great graphics for The Last Great Climb, which should see its live debut in the next few months.
9. Do you see the interest in rock music growing in the US & UK at the moment? How easy/hard is it to get radio airplay (inc. Internet based radio stations)?
Interest in rock music is certainly growing in both the US and UK at the moment. This has been inspired by the guitar based bands like Nickelback, Green Day, the Dark etc. Unfortunately, people aren't really given a choice of music by the majority of the media. Turn on the radio or any of the music channels on TV or satellite and you'll hear the same 20 or 30 songs played one after another.
This is where Internet radio really comes into its own. There are many specialist Internet radio stations that are very keen to play new material. Unfortunately the listeners are few at the moment, but this is likely to grow as broadband becomes more established.
Record companies are wary of Internet radio, because it's so easy to record high quality music. Hang on though - isn't that we did as kids - record the Friday rock show or Radio Caroline? It didn't stop us buying the things we liked!
10. Has the Internet helped spread the word about Tr3nity and do you agree/disagree that downloading aids newer bands?
The Internet has helped spread the word about Tr3nity, particularly through reviews on specialist web sites like DPRP, New Horizons etc. Even the short reviews on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com are helpful.
Downloading - this is the difficult area. I remember mixed feelings when I heard that Precious Seconds, our second CD, was available for free download within days of it being released. Part of me thought it would spoil our sales, but I was also really excited that our music might reach more people. The reality is that newer bands have very few means of getting their music heard. We're very fortunate that our record company, CYCLOPS, runs its own mail order service, as well as having world-wide distribution through major distributors.
11. What's the most rock 'n' roll moment the band has had so far?
We once had two mugs of caffeinated coffee on the trot at a rehearsal! Does that count?
12. What CD's do you currently have available and where can they be purchased from?
We have two CD's available, our debut, the Cold Light of Darkness, which won best debut album in 2002 from the US National Review Online, and our most recent CD, Precious Seconds.
Both CDs are available from our web site http://www.tr3nity.co.uk) using Paypal, or you can order from CYCLOPS records (http://www.gft-cyclops.co.uk) or any major record company (although this may take longer). Some of the bigger stores have copies of Precious Seconds on the shelves, but we really would encourage anyone buying music from a new band like Tr3nity to buy directly from the band wherever possible - this helps the bands financially and will ensure that they can survive to produce more music.
13. Message to your fans?
Thanks for all your support and the hundreds of positive comments about our music. Hopefully we'll see some of you at one of our shows in the next few months.
posted by JasonR at 9:16 am
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