In my life I have played in a handful of bands and I have also made some music on my own. In that time I have named three of those groups that have all had deeper meanings and two which followed a philosophy that I developed. I’m not trying to build myself up like some sort of genius, but I have been asked on multiple occasions by multiple people what the meaning of these names are. to put it simply I’m going to explain what these band names mean.
Let’s start with my 1st solo effort Exiled Planet. Not a philosophy but an idea about where I was at that time. The idea for Exiled Planet came around the time of my band Villains of Vinyl that was slowly starting to dissolve. It was also after Pluto was dubbed a dwarf planet. Things that were normal were changing and it all seemed very strange. I had a big desire as well to explore more experimental forms of music instead of just playing “rock” music. I felt on the outskirts, I felt the change was strange and welcomed, I felt a sadness and most of all I felt like I had some odd cosmic connection with the Exiled Planet that was Pluto.
Now onto one of my lifes biggest accomplishments Villains of Vinyl. Being in VoV was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had . Although I remain extremely critical of the music we made I also remain extremely proud of it. VoV is a very simple idea and philosophy that I still think is true. Music has as long as I can remember been a huge passion of mine, I love old music especially rock and roll from the late 60’s and into the 70’s. Music enthusiasts have always revered vinyl as the true way to listen to music. I love Vinyl but I also appreciate other formats as well. Shit you could give me an 8 track and I will still rock the fuck out! As time has passed and technology has progressed we tend to leave these old formats behind. We tend to betray our heritage even if it’s not on purpose.
In a inadvertent way we have become enemies, we have become opponents, we have become villains of the old ways. With our new fangled computers, ipods, mp3s and all digital formats we forget our heritage. Where is the HI FI? Where is the vinyl record? Where is the phonograph? We are beyond it, we are above it, we have evolved.
Villains of Vinyl was inspired by old music. I would say it was mainly inspired by “classic rock”. Those were our roots and it was the main inspiration. We loved all types of music but that was the main place we were coming from. I feel like our style and music represents a time long passed. Our album was also recorded with multiple methods. We started with reel to reel tape and moved all the way up to Protools. We in our own unique ways were the villains of the vinyl that inspired us.
Last but not least would be my biggest failure Only Robots. This music endeavor had a lot of potential but fell flat, I have not given up on this but for now it shall lay sleeping. Anyways the philosophy and concept of Only Robots stems from an idea I had when I created this blog actually. We’re Only Robots. We as a people, as a human race are all individuals. We all have our thoughts, wants, needs and so on. But as a people no matter our individuality we tend to be quite robotic when it comes to our everyday. We are living breathing machines that operate on schedules. There may be nothing wrong with your day to day but most likely you revolve on repetition without even knowing it.
I find the concept of us as people being so unique but at the same time being extremely robotic a very fascinating thing.We do the same things every day to make sure we live our lives in comfort. It’s only when we break the pattern that we feel alive.Its when we do something different that we really tap into the human side. My most recent tattoo is representation of that concept. The gears on my back that surround my zodiac sign. A robotic and human element. So just like the 1st and only song I wrote for Only Robots was My Automations Feel So Human. But that song is another story in itself.
So all in all I feel these concepts/philosophies remain valid to me even now. I feel they are ever changing and evolving, I live with them and feel they have impacted my life and changed me as a person. I look forward to thoughts like these and I feel they mold me as a human and as a machine. This robot shall continue to grease the wheels and spin the records.
