MuchEast Interview - Mike Campbell (MC)
| MC: | In the best of all possible worlds, you probably would like to do this with a full band. But for a first time out, it must be interesting doing these songs as you first performed them... |
| CK: | Right, how I wrote them and how I first performed them for the record label. Yeah, it's really interesting to do it this way. It's economically a lot more feasible for me... |
| MC: | Probably the only way it'd be economically feasible... |
| CK: | I think so, yeah. I didn't really second guess it anyways. I knew it was economically more feasible... and it feels fine. And I think it's a real challenge to be up there sometimes with only a keyboard if they don't have a grand piano... and to try to win people over that way. It's really hard. But I think that's good, because it'll make the times when I have a band with me, even emotionally just having the support of a band as people around me... I'll appreicate it that much more. |
| MC: | You demo these things, you send them off... you wind up with a record contract. That doesn't happen to a lot of people either... |
| CK: | The deal that came to pass happened in a very traditional way. I made a tape, sent it off... |
| MC: | Were you completely surprised at how fast people reacted to it? Did you have any great expectations? |
| CK: | I don't know what I was thinking at this point. I have no idea. I don't know what I'm thinking right now. I think that because I have been so involved in one way or another my whole life in music that the whole progression was pretty natural. In some ways, it took too long. Why wasn't I working as a musician beforehand. Well, I was working, but not to this degree obviously. And so for me, it was like "Finally!" And then at the same time, it was so drastic... like I was suddenly so immersed in the working musician industry thing. So there was a dramatic adjustment period. |
| MC: | So, why the two different producers? |
| CK: | Well, what happened was I got a phone call from my record label after I got a record deal. "You know Chantal, we've got a lot of confidence in these songs... we're willing to send them off to producers of your choice. Is there a certain record that you really love the production work on..." and so on. And I was like "Wow... what a great question for someone to call you and ask you." So, I loved the 10,000 Maniacs and Natalie Merchant's work... and of course Peter Asher worked on that project. And I liked Matt Wallace who worked with Sheryl Crow, and I got to hear a track he worked with her on. It was really good, and I liked the deliverance on. I also sent the music off to other producers... some showed interest, others didn't. And at the end of it all, I was like "Gee.. who do I want to work with.. Peter or Matt?" And we found a way that we could all work together in harmony. And we did it. |
| CK: | I'm learning a lot about myself being alone, and doing what I'm doing. And I'm finding that if there's a situation that is a challenge, and I'm thinking "I feel like a jerk.. I feel like a moron, or a loser..." I was up on the stage last night, and this guy, who was actually a fan, was giving me a fully rough time, but in a sweet kind of way... and he knew one of the songs on my record that isn't a single... he was obviously a fan of the record. I mean, that touched me right away. He was yelling out the name of one of my songs that he wanted me to sing. But it was a bit difficult cause he was very bold and really taking over my space. So, something goes off in my mind that goes "Ok, Chantal, just embrace it. Just go with it. Because, you can't get out of it now. It's too late, so you might was well just go for it..." |
| CK: | Something that I've learned from Amanda (Marshall) is her drive, and her motivation. She is so professional, and it's been very inspiring for me to see someone, a woman, so directed. Cause for me, music is something I enjoy. And to suddenly have it in the work category of my life is very strange to me. It's hard to discern whether I'm focussed because of enjoyment or because it's my work, sometimes. She has shown me the side of things where it's "hey, I've got a job to do.." She's fresh and in love with her music every night. That's pretty amazing. |
| CK: | If my career doesn't take off like Amanda's has, or anyone else's has, it's just not meant to be. If people don't want to buy my record, and don't want to come and see me play, I will try my best not to take it personally. I will just say, "Well, that wasn't what God wanted me to do..." I'll just move along and find out what it is He wanted me to do with music... |
(Transcribed by Patrick Chan)