The Last Music on Earth by furiousBall will be available everywhere on August 4th. The first single “What if We Lost the Moon?,” a song about two astronauts falling in love and getting lost in space featuring a guest vocals from Adam Dickinson (A Halo Called Fred, The Freaky Mutant Weirdo Variety Show), and additional guitars from Anthony Ilczuk (Bionic Rhoda, Bunt, Soft Rock Renegades) - is available now for streaming. The album combines eclectic alternative pop a lá Odelay-era Beck, with the playful chaos of WoweeZowee-era Pavement.
How did the band form and what does the band name mean?
furiousBall came from a pregnancy website when my ex-wife and I were pregnant with our son (who is now 22 years old), it read - “right now your child is a furious ball of dividing cells.” That idea stuck with me as the image of furiously trying to grow and evolve connected with me as a human and as an artist.
Previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?
I really started writing seriously as a two man acoustic act in Atlanta called Ill Gotten Booty with one of my favorite human beings of all time, PJ Newcomb. After that, spending time in 13 Stories (also in Atlanta) as their lead guitarist was where I really grew as a songwriter. I really started learning the most about DAW/home recording through a late friend, Michael Johnson while living in Austin, Texas. We went on to make music as Spiral Galaxy Collision with another equally weird musician, Kingo Sleemer of Halaka fame/infamy.
First concert that you ever went to?
My first concert was Kiss at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA with my dad. I was in third grade, and could not wait. We were in the last row of the arena and I was absolutely 100% committed to one day growing up to be Ace Frehley. Still working on the smoke bombs in the pickups…
What's your writing process like?
It’s always loops that I come up with playing by myself as the starting point. One exception was Minstrel Mistral Mistrial from “The Last Music on Earth” I wrote that while sitting in bed recovering from Covid. I added the filtered cicada audio recordings from my backyard later.
What other artists or songs inspire your music?
I have pulled so much inspiration from using two of Pavement’s tunings (CGDGBE and DADABE), Bob Mould/Sugar are always close to my writing, and Beck is a pretty easy inspiration to recognize, but I really think that my Beck-ish tendencies actually come from my favorite musician of all time, Prince.
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be it's own thing?
I haven’t been touring as furiousBall, but do play live shows with Camino Sound, and at least once a year with the Soft Rock Renegades. I think you can decide if you want to match the recordings or not, but if it feels like a tether, that’s time to let go. Make the song as great as you can, whatever the presentation - recording or live.
Has the band toured?
I have not toured as furiousBall. Unless you count the numerous appearances I make in my home studio for my pitbulls, Pig and Tuna. They fucking love me.
What's up next for the band?
I think I’m going to do a remix/rerecording EP/LP. There are a handful of tunes that really deserve another look. I’ve learned so much about recording, since the stuff I was putting out even two years ago. I really have a lot of gratitude for two guys that have given great mix consultations: Jeff White and Rory Hinkel. That remix idea should be out soon, like before the end of the year, for sure.
https://furiousball.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-music-on-earth