Following a very busy year gigging, The Busker is back with their second album Ladies and Gentlemen. Adam Brimmer finds out more about the direction the band’s sound has taken.
When did work on this second album start?
Most ideas for songs were written last year or recorded on mobile phones or any way possible at the time. However, production and studio work started around February of this year. We were lucky enough to get Matthew James Borg on board for his artistic direction and experience, building the tracks one by one at Sub Studios.
How do you describe it?
We believe that this album is more mature and versatile. You will find different genres but still carrying the core Busker ingredients. We are also happy to have come out of our comfort zones on certain tracks, and pushed or limits both as musicians and as people. It has been absolutely great.
What’s the story behind the name?
Well, for starters it’s a phrase we use a lot during our live shows. We wanted people to listen to it as if it were a whole theatrical experience and not just another album. I remember when we came up with the name we were at our usual pre-gig hangout in Swatar, and we immediately knew it was the one.
Considering that our last release from Telegram was a very melancholic song, we wanted to start the fresh new page of album number two with a lighter single. The Busker will always be The Busker, no matter what style we delve into. We don’t like to confine ourselves to one particular ‘usual style’.
Who are your inspirations?
Inspirations vary, from legends such as The Beatles and Beach Boys to Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. However, each member of the band has his own personal inspirations which make our sound what it is today.
When we came up with Cadillac, musically we wanted to re-create a 1970s glam rock inspired track. Lyrically, we used the term Cadillac as a symbol for escapism. We all have something that we ‘use’ to take us to a place that we have never been before and helps us to forget our daily struggles. Some use religion, sports, gym, travelling and so forth. For us it is music that connects us together and that is what ‘cadillac’ is representing. So far, the track is doing great and we even earned a lot of radio plays from local stations.
What was the recording process like?
We loved every second in the studio. Matthew fit in perfectly from day one and understood our dark humour and family feel. It was fun working with a total number of 14 session musicians, and we’re very thankful for each and every one of those people. We only work with people whose personalities mesh well with the band and with our mantra. That leads to the family vibes that manifest our rehearsal spaces as we prep for our launch. Here’s a fun anecdote – recording Freddie Portelli’s vocals in his own house while listening to all his stories was an experience on its own.