Rick Parnell
A little Q&A with Canadian singer-songwriter-guitarist Rick Parnell.
Leicester Bangs: Tell us a little about yourself, and your band. Rick: The core of the Rick Parnell Band consists of myself on rhythm guitar and vocals, my teenage son on lead guitar and Terry Martyniuk on percussion. For the recording we were aided by Carl Korytko and Ian Lopez-Ganoza who also produced the record from his studio in Surrey B.C.
LB: How did you start out making music? Rick: I've been a music fan my whole life, and started playing guitar when I first graduated from university in my early twenties. I performed a few charity gigs and parties every year and then wrote my first song in 2006. In 2008, I left an enviable corporate career and began turning music into more than a hobby.
LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now? Rick: Oh wow, I listened to everyone and everything over the years. Early influences were the Beatles and Johnny Cash, and David Bowie. Elvis Costello, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Prince, Dire Straights, The Travelling Wilburys, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen are other names that rise to the surface. The influences vary, but the biggest connection is with the focus on lyrical content and good hooks.
LB: Tell us about your latest release. Rick: ‘Imperfect Beauty’ is a full album release that delivers strong lyrical content while embracing a much bigger sound. My teenage son is featured on lead guitar in all but one of the 12 songs and is a huge part of the new sound. We've also explored the studio much more, especially on songs like ‘Off the Wall’ and ‘Love Like War’. The team assembled for this album was classically stronger than the sum of the parts. I wasn't shy about my own weaknesses and Hart, Carl and Ian filled the gaps very effectively. Confidence in their abilities and mutual trust helped me to explore and create much more fearlessly than ever before.
LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows? Rick: Yes, we've been playing regularly as a trio in local coffee houses. It's one of the greatest thrills for me to be performing with my son. He's a superb and relaxed performer with great instincts. We play my songs mostly, but add in a few covers. We have enough material now that we can keep shows pretty fresh and change up the set list to keep things interesting.
LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy? Rick: Playing and recording feel very different to me. With recording you can build a song the way you want to hear it without really considering all of the complications and limitations that might affect a live performance. On the other hand, their is no greater feeling than when a live audience connects with the song you are playing right in front of them. I hope I'll be able to continue to enjoy both, but I like the reference point provided by the record.
LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music? Rick: The new record is now available on iTunes, and CDbaby. They can also follow the links directly from my official site (all links below).
