Interview with Fred and Ethel - September - 2003 by Liam Edwards
[Click here see Fred and Ethel's CD, Can You See the Future?]
Milwaukee, WI - In the
studio for the first time for Spirtone, Fred
and Ethel are in the middle of the creative process. I got a chance
to ask them a few questions about the process, in process. I will catch
up with them again as the project nears completion. Like the dynamic
stage act, you just don't know what to expect.
LE: I have seen your live act and you normally perform as an acoustic rock duo. Now you are working on your second studio album, but in a full band format. How did you prepare for the studio?
Fred: We recorded the songs on a boom box for Kenn to listen to. We
got together with Kenn twice to "tweak" the arrangements and
go over the songs. Again using the trusty boom box, we recorded what
was tweaked and used that for a practice tape. Kenn got together with
Randy Mueller (the drummer) so he could hear the songs. That was the
band's rehearsal for the studio.
LE: Live, there is a lot of interplay between the two of you vocally.
How can you capture that feel in the studio?
Ethel: Oooo interplay...Since vocals are the strong point of our live act, the feeling of live performance is what Kenn wants to capture in the studio. Instead of recording the lead vocal and harmony separately, we sing while Kenn plays the guitar and Randy M plays the drums. We are indeed recording a live perfomance.
LE: How does this work exactly? Are you in separate isolation booths where you can see each other?
E: In the early stages of the project, Kenn asked how we would
feel about singing vocals together at the same time. Kenn was certain
we could pull it off and the idea made total sense. So, Fred and I are
together in one room, Randy M. is in a room and Kenn is in the middle
room with an eye on all of us. We can see each other, talk to each
other, hear each other breathe! The energy is there...you can't help
but feel it and it fuels you. That is what Fred and Ethel are all about.
LE: I know the release of "Can You See the Future?" is
a few months out, but are there any stand-out tunes that you are really
excited
about?
E: At this point, "Can You See The Future?"
F: "Graffiti"
F/E: Good old "In Cement"
LE: How did you meet Kenn Fox and get involved with Spiritone Records?
E: We met Kenn a few years ago at Fox Music in Oconomowoc. We got to
know him better when the store moved to its present location in downtown
Watertown. Last winter while performing at the store, Kenn stopped by
and afterwards we started talking about recording. He asked if we would
be
interested in recording a song for his fourth Wisconsin Artists compilation One on One. So we recorded an acapella version of "Damn
The Poachers" at Randy 's Recording Studio and Kenn Fox produced
it. It was a good way to see if we could work together. The chemistry
created an awesome recording. A few weeks later, we met with Kenn over
Coronas and kohlrabi (from his garden) and talked about Spiritone Records,
our next cd and Kenn producing it.
LE: Sometimes adding a producer to an existing group is liking bringing
in another member of the band. How has the process been
working with Kenn?
F: We are excited about working with Kenn. He has a professional
attitude and we feed off of that. If he says he's gonna do something,
he does. He is the perfect band mate. and he's a guitar gawd!
LE: Now, Mr. Bones is part of your live show AND is credited with
being your webmaster... so I have to ask... what role is he playing
in the studio?
F: I better let Ethel answer this, Skully checks in with her for
schedule updates.
E: So far he has only been with us in spirit. He has been fulfilling
a prior theatre commitment with a heady performance in Macbeth.
He would never be a numbskull and miss out on the next studio session.
F: After all he is the head of the band.
E: oooowww..
---///---
Final Notes: I just got the chance to hear rough mixes of about half the album. The F&E energy translates well to the electrified rock band format with new power that you are not going to want to miss. ---Liam
