Everything but the Everything
Bay Area music veteran Izzy The Gent has come a long way from playing at his Monterey middle school talent show (performing "Scrape Me" their PG version of Nirvana's "Rape Me") to producing alternative new wave post punk out of East Oakland.
His current project Everything But The Everything has gone from a one man band to a collaborative. Top tier collaborations from guest vocalists keep the music fresh and the contributions from Moog specialist Andrew Gomez (NRVS LVRS) and drummer Landon Cisneros (Spirit Mother, Zodiac Death Valley) elevate the music's simple propensities. All of the music is recorded and mixed by studio producer Rex Shelverton (Bella Vista, Vue) who gives the project its unique sound.
After years of promoting house music events, Izzy found his niche promoting rock shows at beloved San Francisco venues like Slims, The Great American Music Hall, The Rickshaw Stop and The Red Devil Lounge.
Izzy has played bass guitar with San Francisco bands The Cons, Song of the Siren, The Party Fouls, Fake Your Own Death, Sporting Life but found his home with the indie electro outfit, The Frail. After playing with The Frail from 2010 - Nov. 2014, Izzy took a three year break from music. During his hiatus, the idea of becoming a songwriter began to ruminate.
Can't allow (ft. Tobias Hawkins)
Vor einem Jahr erschien "
Can't allow", damals wie heute, ein Song der Eindruck hinterlässt. Die Band
Everything but the Everything, bei uns bereits bekannt durch Songs wie "
Denials" oder "
Blue Sun", hatte damals
Tobias Hawkins zu Gast und wenn dieser mit an Bord ist weiß man bereits was auf einen zukommt bzw. was einen erwartet.
Tobias und seine Gabe sich mit einem Song zu identifizieren sind beinahe einzigartig. "Can't allow", das ist charismatischer Gesang, treibende Drums, perfekte Basslines eingebettet in einem Post-Punk Underground Sound Gemälde welches im Refrain seine volle Schönheit zu entfalten weiß. Der Einsatz von Saxophon und diversen Synthsounds sorgen für die Veredelung.
"Can't allow" von Everything but the Everyhing musikalischer Post-Punk Impressionismus mit der Bestimmung surreal zu wirken.
Q&A
Who or what inspired you to the song "Can't allow"?
Can't Allow came about pretty naturally then it kind of sputtered with the finishing touches. When I was recording the guitar parts our producer Rex Shelverton moved the song along with his approval of the parts I was unsure of.
Then Tobias Hawkins and the drummer Landon Cisneros laid things down and it felt like we were done but I could still hear it needed a few more layers. That's where the search for sounds began and I tried all kinds of approaches, hence the organ, the lead on the second and third choruses but I still needed something else. On a whim when messing around with my synth, I tried a french horn patch and instantly knew I found the final missing piece.
To reinforce it, we called up saxophone expert Bruce Withycombe and finally, the song was complete. The chase is always the inspiration.
Tobias Hawkins on the mic again, am I right, if I say Tobias creates that extra atmosphere when he's starting to sing?
Tobias and I have now recorded five songs together. He has so much experience and we hear it in his layering of adlibs and melodies.
His life's experience gives him so much to draw from and he shows us glimpses into his world with his lyrics. Rex always says we are extremely spoiled to have Tobias in our corner.
A chorus/refrain with Tobias is always like a step into another dimension, it has that "bang" moment, how is it to work with him?
We both approach the studio the same way which is to be prepared/rehearsed to take care of business. His lyrics always seem to give us a "whoa" moment and now Rex and I are always eager to ask about the inspiration for the lyrics of whatever song we are currently recording.
The descriptions range from a third person perspective to personal experience but I love how his motto is "I want my vocals clear and I want to hear emotion."
... and if I would ask Tobias, "How is it to work with "Izzy the Gent'', what do you think would be the answer :) ?
Well now that we've gotten to know each other's tendencies I think he would say that I'm less of a pain in the ass when going over vocal melodies.
Do you remember your first ever self written song?
I do, it was a simple two note song that was all attitude. I showed it to the band I was playing bass with at the time, Song Of The Siren and the band was really the reason the song sounded good. The drummer hit hard and the singer went nuts. I think it even had a sax solo that was introduced by the guitarist. The magic of the band brought the song to life.
What was the first Pop/Rock/... song you listened to or remember on?
My memory of pop/rock songs from the past is a little hazy but the song's I think of the most when I think of my childhood (like before the third grade) is Salt n Pepa's "Push It", Madonna's "Material Girl" and Starship's "Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now" because of the movie The Mannequin.
Christmas time is here again, how do you celebrate this time of the year, or do you say "No, not with me"?
I have a love/ hate relationship with Christmas. I love the family time and buying presents for the kids but I hate how people take the "but it's Christmas" to take advantage of others' time and hospitality.
...and of course what’s next for you?
We have new releases in the wings. I have new singers that I'm excited to work with and most importantly, I have to get more material to my friend Tobias Hawkins who took a chance on me and my project when very few did.
Photo credits: Art:
Akeem Raheem
NenesButler presents - Music Blog - Submit your Music
