Yes, primarily Lights Go Out is a punk based zine. But I also like to keep things interesting my dangling our feet into other genres. We get sent a lot of different stuff to check out and review and yes, a lot of the time things can be utter shite (metalcore bands take note, I mean you!) and then sometimes you’ll hear something that isn’t your normal listening choice, but it actually makes you take note. This is what happened when we got sent the debut EP from Darian Renee called “Only The Beginning”. For an 18 year old, the voice is pretty impressive stuff, so why not have a little chat with Darian for the site? Sounds like a plan, so here we are….an online exclusive interview with Darian Renee
First up, you’ve just released your EP “Only The Beginning”, can you tell our readers a little about it please?
Only the Beginning is my first-born record release! I wanted to release just a few songs as a debut and I felt so strongly about the 4 songs that are on it that I had to make it an EP. It was recorded & engineered completely by me and a friend in our very own homes. It was our first do-it-yourself home recording venture and I’m very happy with how it turned out.
You wrote the songs yourself, they seem heartfelt and personal, is this the case with most of your material?
Everything I write comes straight from my heart and from personal experience. There’s no reason for it not to when there’s so much about life to write about. The best songs sometimes come from the worst experiences.
Other than the four tracks on the EP, are there anymore recordings from this session that we can expect to see turn up in the future?
Most definitely! There are a few songs I wanted to put on the EP that just didn’t get done in time, but I plan on releasing them in the near future.
With the title “Only The Beginning”, it’s as if you’re announcing yourself to the music scene and suggesting that there’s lots more to come. Was this the thought behind the title?
I’ve always thought that when titling a record, I would want to use a track name or lyric. After much brainstorming and anxiety about it I decided to ironically title it “Only the Beginning” as a promise to myself and anyone listening that, pending on my luck, I will have more albums to worry about naming in the future, filled with new songs that I will write and am currently writing, plus some of my old material that didn’t make this record. Another reason for the title is that 3/4 of these songs were written in some, well, less happy points of my life. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety and insecurity and I weave that into some of the lyrics on this EP. Things end, people change, feelings fade. Sometimes when it feels like it’s the end, it’s only just the beginning.
How has the feedback been on the EP?
Somehow, I have been fortunate enough to get amazing feedback on the EP. Really surprised seeing as the EP is completely DIY – the instruments, the production, the music, the lyrics, even pressing the physical copies haha. It’s not everyday you put out an independent release to not have it bashed, so I feel very fortunate and blessed.
Are there any plans for a full album in the works?
Nothing set in stone, but I would love to make one in the future!
You’ve been called pop meets blue eyed soul, but how would you describe your sound?
I’d say that’s a pretty decent description. Right next to “If Taylor Swift and Adele had a baby…” 🙂
My music is definitely pop but it has a singer-songwriter approach to it. I like to keep things upbeat and fun but life isn’t always upbeat and fun, so neither of are songs. They’ve just got a whole lot of heart.
Which artists have influenced you and your sound?
Sooo many! For the songs on this EP specifically I’ll say Beyonce, Adele, Etta James, Pixie Lott, Demi Lovato, Christina Aguilera, The Early November, Youth Lagoon, Fun., Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift.
When you play live, do you prefer to play solo or with a band?
I love playing with a band and bringing all my ideas to life – I write all the instrumentation so it’s cool to have that live. But it’s a toss up because I love playing solo & acoustic, it gives the songs a stripped down and more raw vibe.
Which do you prefer, playing live or recording and why?
Playing live for sure! I’m a real perfectionist when it comes to recording, I’ve disciplined myself enough to do it but I’d much rather record everything live and in one take. But maybe that would change if I were in an actual studio 😉
Many artists seem to post cover videos on YouTube and you followed this pattern. Was this an important step in your musical development?
I actually got my start on YouTube – I started posting cover videos in 2006 when the site was just a baby. It was very important in my musical development and helped me realize that I could actually have a career in something I love.
How do you choose which songs to cover?
I have such a hard time choosing covers because there’s so many I want to do! Usually it ends up being whatever’s stuck in my head/what I’ve been listening to at the time.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Ahhhh again so many. I would love to collaborate with Adele though. I think that would pretty much be the sign that says you’ve made it.
You’re sitting in traffic in the car, what would you listen to on your stereo?
I like to listen to Michael Jackson or Justin Timberlake while stuck in traffic and get my dance on to the amusement of other drivers around me. “Call Me Maybe” is a traffic-crisis must also.
So what’s next for you?
I’m going to be writing and recording like crazy, releasing a single soon but no official date for that yet (possibly a music video?!) and touring the west coast in the spring!
Finally, have you got any last words you’d like to leave our readers with?
You can check out the tunes at www.darianrenee.bandcamp.com and come say hi to me at www.facebook.com/darianreneemusic, if you’re reading this and listening I’d love to know what you think! 🙂 Be happy, stay classy.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.© Lights Go Out – A punk fanzine from the UK. All rights reserved. RSS Feed | Best viewed in Mozilla Firefox
site by ledbyexample | admin