By Steve Perrett
ATom2
"ATom2 is a solo project by Tom Sielaff. With 25 years and counting of live gigging, it was time for Tom to do his own music."
1/ How long have you been playing/writing Music?
Tom: I learned to play at a very young age. I started playing out live in 1978 and pretty much have written since 1973 but nothing serious until about 4-5 years ago. (That's 12.2-16.4 years for you metric people)
2/ What is your primary instrument?
Tom: My primary instrument is keyboards. (For you geeks that's not the one you type on.)
3/ Do you record in a studio? Or do you use a home based setup?
Tom: I record strictly in my stand alone home studio. I will probably enlist a studio for mastering in the future.
4/ Tell us about you the songwriter...do you write alone, with others etc.
Tom: I write all of my own music and lyrics for my ATom2 project. My Big Sofa project has me writing lyrics when needed and all of the base music. Bill Counter puts in the guitar parts.
5/ Do you play live or is the project for recording only?
Tom: I play out live, but none of my material is done. There usually is too much going on in my songs for my cover band to handle. Not to mention, the band I play in is a 50's- 70's cover band and my material doesn't really fit. One other thing, there would be no way for me to play all the keyboard parts by myself.
6/ Do you start with a finished product in mind or just let it morph as you go?
Tom: I would say 99% of what I've had in mind ahead of time has never worked. Morphing as you say, works best for me.
7/ Where does your inspiration come from?
Tom: Mostly from Steve at Songstuff. Seriously, I can't point at any one thing. I just do it when I feel like it, and my ideas come from everything in my life experiences. To say any one artist is an influence would limit myself.
8/ Got any funny gig stories?
Tom: This is a long one. I told this story in another interview and I think the listeners fell asleep. So I'll condense it.
Anyway, about 10 years ago I had this country band that won a state-wide contest call and ask if I would play keys for their band at an outdoor music festival. I told them sure.
As I drove into the place where the event was happening, I had to take a road that went around the back of the stage. From this area I couldn't see the main grounds out front. I unloaded my equipment and the crew took my stuff backstage and I followed. They gave me instructions that we would go on in a half hour. All this time I still had no idea what the crowd out front looked like. We were called to go on and I walked out to the main stage and there they were. 30,000 people! Now, I'm a white guy, but I'm pretty sure I was a whole different shade of white when I saw that many people. I don't remember much of that performance other than during one song, I turned my head to the right and there it was, a freeking TV camera pointed at me and only about 4 feet away. Another shade of white! Anyway, I survived. That's the short version.
9/ Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Tom: In front of the computer, in my underwear, drinking a beer, and answering interview quiestions. Seriously, I want two things. One would be to have a CD of my music that I am proud of. Two would be to have someone who has "made it" do one of my songs. I'm not so hung up on myself that I would believe any record company wants a 40 something artist. That's just not being realistic. I do however think that the older artist can write circles around the young. That's just years of experience, and growing up listening to all the great musicians over the years. Any young writer that thinks that's a terrible thing to say, I say "talk to me in 10-20 years and tell me I'm wrong."
10/ What is your ultimate goal with your music?
Tom: Just to be proud of what I do. That and cut about 5 strokes off my golf game.
11/ What gear do you use?
Tom: I record on a Roland stand alone 1680. I only use 3 of my keyboards for my sounds. I believe less is more. Roland XP-30, Alesis 8.1 and an old Ensoniq VSX. I don't midi or loop or use any digital vocal pitch correction devices. What you hear is what I played and sang in real time. I have too many different mic's to list
12/ Is there a question you think we should have asked you?
Tom:My only question I have for you and Songstuff is; When do I recieve the cash?
Tom
Err... I think the cheque is in the post...
Thanks for your time Tom.
Check out Atom2 at Songstuff.
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About Steve Perrett
A Songstuff staff member for sveral years, Steve plays guitar, writes songs and records his own material.
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