Press Play> Vol. 1 - Chris dela Torre, Axis of Conversation

Welcome to a new feature on my blog I have dubbed Press Play >. I sort of borrowed, the idea from the British music magazine MOJO and I have given it my unique spin. MOJO features three celebrities talking about their favourite records. I love it and it's the first thing I read when the mag arrives in my mailbox. Now that my music blog is up and running I decided to pose my own eight questions to musicians to find out about the records they're listening to and the ones that have influenced their music. I am posing the questions to musicians I know and admire, and hopefully, eventually I'd like to pose them to some musicians I don't know but admire. And of course I will publish the results here.

I am happy to bring you the premier edition of Press Play > courtesy of my friend Chris dela Torre. Chris is a singer songwriter and one of the principal members of Axis of Conversation. Chris is also a broadcast journalist.You can also hear him on CBC Radio ONE on the Calgary Eyeopener.

Axis of Conversation 

Here's how Chris' band describes their music: 

Axis of Conversation is a broken-hearted dance party made of strings, samples and stolen noises covered dust. Falling somewhere between Bowie, Brahms, The Books and Broken Social Scene, it’s a band that’s pretty difficult to pigeonhole.  Perhaps it’s easiest to call it a band full of surprises.  If you’re familiar with its introspective recordings and you’re seeing it live for the first time, you might be a bit shocked to find a confident collective in full control of the sweat-soaked dancefloor at its feet.  Yet, that’s exactly what you’d find.

Here's a link to one of their songs: Memorial Hall.  Chris wrote the song and is on lead vocal. 

And here are the answers from Chris dela Torre when the Musical Immigrant asked him to Press Play >

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? 

Between my turntable, my car speakers and my iPod buds in the last 24 hours... The GoGo's Beauty and The Beat, Foo Fighters' Medium Rare, TV On The Radio's Nine Types of Light and This American Life podcasts.

WHAT IS THE RECORD (OKAY MAYBE TWO OR THREE) THAT INFLUENCE YOUR MUSIC THE MOST? 

Radiohead's Kid A taught me that you don't need rock to make rock. The use of space, ambient sounds and unconventional song structures can produce music that's adventurous, rewarding and chock-full of pop sensibilities for those who wish to seek them out.

Christ dela Torre performing at the Calgary Folk Music Festival 

WHAT IS THE FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT?

Platinum Blonde's Standing In The Dark. I still don't know how or why I convinced my mom to buy it for me. I was in the 3rd grade, shopping with Mom at Woolco. I had never heard their music, but something about the bad hair and tight leather on the cover drew me in. The first records I purchased with my own money were Public Enemy's Fear Of A Black Planet and Bobby Brown's Dance!! Ya Know It.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COVER TUNE? (SONG AND COVERED BY WHOM?) 

I love the Smashing Pumpkins' version of Thin Lizzy's 'Dancing In The Moonlight'. They slowed it down and played it with acoustic guitars and brushes. It did an unusual justice to the original by turning it into an introspective and almost somber summer jam.

WHAT IS THE RECORD YOU COUNT AS A GUILTY PLEASURE? 

Enya's Box of Dreams box-set. That shit is hype.

CURRENTLY, WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE RECORD TO LISTEN TO ON THE ROAD?

Jason Collett's Idols of Exile is THE summer roadtrip album.

 

WHICH OF YOUR BAND'S RECORDS IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

I'm still very proud of the All We Make Is Enemies 7-inch. At 3 tracks and 12 minutes, it's a high-impact release for low-impact people.

WHAT IS THE RECORD YOU BOUGHT THAT YOU WISH YOU HADN'T? 

Oh God, so many. While I appreciate the craft and the struggle that goes into making records, I have two crates full of records and CDs that smell so bad that I have to keep them in my shed.

Follow Chris on twitter @chrisdelatorre