Published: April 27, 2009 11:58 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight May 2009 Edition
Michael Bannerman
Michael Bannerman
Michael Bannerman will leave you breathless when you hear him sing for the first time. When it comes to enormous talent, Michael has it all including amazing vocals, skillful song writing skills, and an enduring presence. What makes Michael Bannerman the real deal is that he has the "It" factor that will take him to the top. In a recent spotlight with our Webzine, Michael shares a piece of his world with us and the people and things around him that are important.
Isaac: What was your single biggest accomplishment in 2008?
Michael: Wow... 2008 was a pretty busy year with a lot of exciting things going on. On a personal
note, my son Nathaniel (Nate) was born. That makes for 3 kids under the age of 5... so
ya, definitely a life changing moment. On a more "musical" note, I am most proud of a
compilation project that I produced called "The Thing With Feathers".
This double disc project features some amazing artists and was created to raise both public awareness, as well as research funds for a terrible illness known as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy or PSP. The support for the project has been amazing and it has totally blown all
expectations out of the water so far... for more information on that project specifically and some of the artists involved with it, people can go to www.thethingwithfeathers.com
Isaac: Describe the music scene in Stratford/Ontario, Canada?
Michael: Something really exciting is happening with the music scene here in Stratford right now. For starters, we have a really unique situation where (due to our first class theatre)
the world literally comes to us. You can play the same coffee shop or club every week and
have a totally different crowd show up from literally all over the world... it is really
great because the music really gets out there and well... it sure is a lot cheaper and
easier on the family life than constantly touring.
The other great thing here is that (again, due to the high number of tourists) we have a lot of first class clubs and venues for live music. There is always somewhere to play if you want. Finally, we also have a really supportive radio station in town that makes a point to not only play local
artists, but really seems to understand the need to develop and support local talent with both airplay and also opening slots for major touring acts etc.
Some really great "locals" that people should check out are: Loreena McKenna,
Brittlestar, Ali Matthews, and Scott Beckman.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about your upbringing and why you decided to choose your current path as a musician?
Michael: I'm not sure that I ever actually "chose" my current path as a musician. In some ways, I think that it chose me. For me, performing, recording, and songwriting are like a drug or
an addiction. I've tried many times to give them up or walk away, but I just can't. I
guess it's kind of like that line in the Godfather movie where the guys keeps trying to
leave the mafia family... but they keep "pulling" him "back in".
I grew up in a really close family. I'm the oldest of 4 children (2 boys, 2 girls) and
music has always been a part of our life. My father use to play in a band that opened for
the likes of The Guess Who, my mother played classical piano - and also a really nasty
clarinet (and I don't use the word "nasty" in a good way here :-)).
I began taking violin lessons when I was 5 and dance lessons when I was about 7 and absolutely loved it. I was never one of this kids that didn't want to practice. I just loved music and
everything to do with it. Faith also played a huge part in my upbringing and musical path. I grew up "in the church" and it was an incredibly supportive place for music with lots of opportunity to
play and hone my skills. God and I have had a lot of conversations over my life and a lot
of them end up in my music. I would definitely not classify me as a "religious" person,
but faith is a part of who I am and how I see the world, and in ways probably similar to
that of say Bono of U2... it shows up in my writing.
I started our first band when I was in grade 10 and we actually did alright. We put out 4
projects, toured on weekends and then would pull in to school on Monday morning at like
6AM, do our homework, catch a few hours of "power sleep" in the van and then head out to
class. It was actually a pretty cool life for a high school kid. That band eventually
broke up after about 6 years and a second one (Lost Coin) immediately formed which really
took off. With this group we were actually touring most of North America and playing
some pretty big shows with some great headliners.
Again... great life for a single guy, but difficult if you want a half normal family life. So eventually I packed it in and thought my musical days where finished. Not so - my brother (who was also in the bands with me) ended up putting out a solo project and I would often fill in on guitar for him when needed. There were always wedding, funerals, fundraisers, reunion concerts etc.... and it never really went away. Then in 2003 my mother was diagnosed with PSP and well... it was a very difficult time for me.
In an attempt to "deal" with things, I really began to bury myself in music again... I guess you could say that it was my "happy place" or my "therapy". Out of that time came a whole pile of songs and eventually a project... it truly was something that I was doing more for myself, but alas, once it was done I found that a whole lot of other people wanted to share in the journey. So I'm in the process of putting a band back together a hitting the road again. I'm making it sound a little bit like a "curse" and at times it is. But truthfully, there is nothing better than a good crowd, a tight band and some tunes you believe in.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry?
Michael: As much as there are lots of "big names" that I admire, most of my influences in the
industry are the "no name" indie guys who I meet along the way that are slugging it out
there week after week on the road. From these people, I have learned the importance of
really enjoying the "journey" and everything that it entails as a musician. The actual
"paying your dues" part of the whole process. I could list them all, but to be honest
there names would mean very little to you... there is Kevin who taught me to write songs
that "mean something", and Brian who constantly asked me "what are you wanting your music
to say when you are up there"... and Pete who just encouraged me constantly regardless of
how bad a gig went and made me realize that the sun will shine tomorrow... and finally,
there's my dad.
A lot of my perspective on performing probably comes from him... it's his voice that I often hear in the back of my head when I'm putting together a set list or trying to produce something. He's got a lot of experience not only musically but also from the business side of things... huge influence.
Isaac: How would you describe your musical style to others?
Michael: I realize that I am bit of an eclectic artist which has always been both my strong point,
but also the thorn in my side. I'm a little hard to totally identify. If I had to sum it up with a couple of words, I would say "pop/rock" but truthfully there is a bit of country, a twist of folk and even some hints here and there of classical thrown in for good measure. People who just "love music" will totally get in to what I do... people who stick pretty close to just one genre will find something they like, but will probably be pretty turned off overall.
I write music often to perform live... so ya, I want my "feel good, jump around tune" and my "move you to tears ballad" and my "laugh and pee your pants moment". In reality, it's hard to put all those moments into one genre. It's funny, when I produce other peoples projects I am all about "how does this fit the project overall" but when I do my own stuff I am all about "what does the individual song ask for... screw the bigger picture". With this latest project we did do some specific things throughout to try and tie things together better, but ya... love it or hate it, I
am a pretty eclectic individual and that truly is me.
Critics and fans either get it and embrace it, or it's a complete turn off for them. I can live with that though, especially at this stage in my career. I'm not looking for a big contract... I just want to write and play my tunes.
Isaac: What is your definition for Rock and Pop Music?
Michael: Wow... good question. There is really so much that fits in to that genre. I guess that,
personally for me ROCK is a little more attitude and "grit" to both the guitars, the
lyrics and the overall tune. While "POP" is more refined, polished and dare I say...
"polite".
In some ways, I would compare the metaphor to sex. I know all musicians get to
talking about that eventually... ROCK is wild and crazy, feel good "sex"... while POP is
"making love". They are both beautiful in their own way and for me... a great
relationship has moments of both... which I think comes across in my music as well. My
attempt is to hopefully walk the line between the two and display moments of both in my
performances.
Isaac: What has been the inspiration behind your music?
Michael: Life. I tend to write a lot about whatever I'm currently going through. So on this latest
project there is a lot there dealing with my mother's death and reflecting upon her illness. Don't get me wrong, it's not a totally "dark" album... but it's definitely there. Again, faith also plays in to the project... there is an ongoing "Where the heck are you?" type discussion going on with God that also seems to work its way in here.... and yes, there is also a bit of a "quirky" side to me that I just can't seem to kick either.
I enjoy sometimes forcing myself to write within certain "boundaries" or "limitations" that I give myself. I enjoy the challenges of picking a line, theme or song title out of a hat and saying... "OK, now write this song". There is a bit of that on this album as well. Tunes like "Julia" where written by simply picking up the line "She writes romance with a razor blade" or "I think I'm going crazy" which was written more from a "vibe" perspective... I want to catch the feeling of being "stuck in a rut"...
Finally, there is also a bit of a sentimental side to me. On this project, I've included a couple of covers that just mean something to me. The first is a tune that I've often performed live that I just always wanted to record some day (Time After Time) which sentimentally just reminds me of growing up in the 80's and also the tune "People Get Ready" which was an old gospel tune my mother always enjoyed... we had very different musical tastes, but it was a tune that we both seemed to enjoy... so ya, it's there as well.
As I said before... eclectic...
As musical style and flavor goes... in recording this project I really just let the songs
take me where they wanted to go. I would be playing them with Glen (co-producer) and just
go... hey, what would that sound like with a trumpet... or how about adding a bit of a
Latin feel here... and sometimes it was that sentimental side of things again just
going... wow, I've never recorded my violin before, I want to do that and it kind of fits
here. There is a part of me that loves "roots" music and so a lot of natural
instrumentation tends to find its way in to my music, but I also love to rock out... so
the electric guitar and the distortion always seems to get there in the mix as well.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one music producer, who would it be and
why?
Michael: This is an easy question. There are two producers who I just love are Dennis Herring and also John Whynot. Both these guys are all about "texture" and have some done some really
great projects that are really that... a complete project. Not some disc with 12
different songs on them, but something you need to listen to from start to finish in
order to really fully appreciate them. Great examples of their work to check out are
"Jars of Clay - So I Left The Zoo" (Dennis Herring) and "Blue Rodeo - Tremelo" (John
Whynot).
The other person that I have always wanted to work with was Joao Carvalho who
has mastered some really amazing projects here in Canada and I was thrilled when he was
able to squeeze in some time for my latest project. He's a really amazing individual with
some incredible ears on him... totally great experience.
Isaac: What can fans expect from your latest CD, you are working on currently? What is
the inspiration behind the CD?
Michael: OK... so I've kind of touched on this a bit already but LOSING BALANCE is a bit of an
eclectic project with a real pop-rock vibe to it. Thematically there are some darker
songs on the project, but we worked pretty hard to make sure that it wasn't some sort of
moody, dark, brooding type thing.
Don't get me wrong, some of that is there... but there is also the typical falling in love, life is good type tunes as well. I think the best way I would describe it is as a trip through the local art gallery. There are a lot of different snap shots of life on this project... many done in a different "style" or approach... and yet, they still all belong together.
The project is due out this May and I'm excitedly anticipating hearing what people thing
about the tunes.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
Michael: The CD will be available through CD baby and also most online "iTunes" type places. You can also check out my artist web site at www.michaelbannerman.com or
www.reverbnation.com/MichaelBannerman.... and of course you can also hook up with me on
either MySpace or Facebook. Sorry, I haven't got in to the whole "Twitter" thing yet, but
I'm sure I'll get there eventually.
Isaac: What can fans expect from Michael Bannerman in the next five years?
Michael: Well, I'm really excited about the new band. The musicians are some of the best and the
live show is going to be a whole lot of fun. We are going to be doing most of the
material on the new project, a couple golden oldies... and some really creative
"re-works" of some covers. So ya... catch us on tour if you can, it will definitely be a
blast. As for goals... well, let's see what comes.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Michael: OK.. huge thanks to my wife and kids for not just "letting" me do what I do... but really
supporting me in it. Love you guys lots! Also, to my brother who has always seemed to be
tied to my musical journey. Thanks for sharing in this with me - there is no one I'd
rather sing and share the stage with than you. Also, a huge thanks to Glen Teeple... your
work with me on this project and friendship through this phase of life has been
invaluable. I admire you not only for your musical gifting, but more importantly for who
you are as a person... and speaking of great people... a huge thanks for my ongoing
partner in crime Peter... yes, so much of what we touch totally bombs, but we always have
fun doing it and someday we'll get it right :-) I also want to send a shout out to all
the great artists and musicians that worked on this project or have toured with me over
the years... the guys in Lost Coin and High Power, the Stratford "gang" of artists and
"everyone" else - you know who you are! Thanks!
Isaac: Final words from Michael Bannerman…
Michael: I have so many great quotes and wise words of wisdom that I should probably say here to close off... but which one to choose. I guess since so much of this current project is
tied up with my mother and her life I will use one of her favorites. She always use to
say "Life is not measured by the number of breathes you take... but by the number of
moments that take your breathe away".
Translation: You never know when the gig will be your last so enjoy and make the most of
each moment. Embrace the journey!
