Interview With G Tom Mac

Yesterday I posted a review on G Tom Mac's most recent album: Thou Shalt Not Fall. The album is fantastic from start to finish, I would highly recomend it to anyone who is interested in music that has an alternative rock/pop goth flavor. I was lucky enough to get Mac to answer some questions I had:

Question: If you were to describe your music to someone who has never heard it before, what would you say?

Answer: I've always felt my music to be that of the things I've gravitated to over my years that of one big melting (not in this order or any order) of John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Laura Nyro, Zep & the Kinks. Having said that I'm not any of these artists sound, but they have had an affect on me.

Lyrically I'm my own man deriving from everything I see, feel & touch.

Question: What bands/artists would you cite as your biggest influences?

Answer: as described above but include Snoop Dogg & Pharrel Williams love their work.

Question: How do you approach writing songs for films and TV? Is that approach different from writing songs which are seen on your albums?

When writing for films I'm never one to write what is going on in the film, but to write around it, something that circles the feel of the emotion of the story, but something that lives beyond the film as well, as in my own view of the films inspiration to me.

Question: When you hear your songs covered by the likes of Roger Daltrey, Chicago, and Carly Simon, how do you feel? Are there covers of your songs which you believe don’t capture the emotion you were trying to portray?

Most of the time I try to remove myself & my opinion from other artists versions of my song, as it takes on a life that's to be it's own when my songs get interpreted by others, I try not to think it's my song. when I listen. That way I might actually enjoy it. And yes their has been the occasional cringe! won't mention that though.

Question: With the exception of “Cry Little Sister”, were the songs on Thou Shalt Not Fall written specifically for the new album or taken from the past?

Most of the songs were much taken from the present as I try to draw from what world I'm in at the time. As I can't look back much for inspiration, the present is most valid.

Question: You have been writing music for quite some time now. Do you see the music industry changing for the better or has it been declining? Are bands today as talented as they were back in the 60s and 70s?

I tend to agree with most optimistic people about the climate of the music business, in that it is a brilliant time for new music as it's less of a frustration to getting your music heard & acknowledged. However it's not to say everyone will make a living doing it. It's all about people gravitating to what you have to say, and finding your audience that will support you in that, that's when you can quit your day job, providing they all come back for more of what you've got to say.

There are a stellar talents of bands out there that are on par with the greats of the 60's & 70's it's a matter of discovery on the part of the world of music lovers out there.

Question: If you were stuck on a desert island, what five albums would you bring?

My desert island 5 list still & will always be:

1) Jimi Hendrix Axis Bold as Love

2) Mahlers 9th symphony

3) Nirvana Nevermind

4) Beatles White album

5) Laura Nyro Eli & the Thirteenth Confession

6) Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy

Looks like G Tom Mac chose to sneak another album onto the island...