An interview with Ronan Furlong

Ronan Furlong

What first got you into music ?

Queen

Who Inspired you to create music ?

Queen, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Rainbow

What kind of music do you make?

Musically diverse, thought provoking music that has something to say

What is your creative process like?

Enjoyable, intuitive and exhilarating 

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Brian May

If you could go to an open show by any artist who would it be?

Leonard Cohen

What is one message you would give to your fans ?

Comparison is the thief of joy. Try to enjoy what you have.

What is the most useless talent you have ?

There is no useless talent in my opinion 

Do you sing in the shower? which songs?

Since You’ve Been Gone or Norwegian Wood!

What would you be doing now if it wasn't music

Writing a screenplay 

Where have you performed ? Favourite? Worst? Do you have any gigs coming up?

I love playing this he Wexford Arts Centre, always a lovely respectful listening crowd

How do you feel the internet has changed music ?

Unfortunately I feel the internet has hallowed out the business model that once supported the music industry, as a result very few musicians can earn a living from it these days. On a more positive note, it has created opportunities for musicians to interact directly with people who are Interested in their music

What is your favourite song to perform? *

Mystic Mountain, as I enjoy the fast guitar work and the lyrics, this song well represents what I stand for in music

what famous musicians do you admire ?

Luke Kelly, Richie Blackmore, Ronnie Dio, Peter Green, Leonard Cohen, Rory Gallagher and Queen

whats the worst trouble you have been in?

I have been extremely fortunate to date

whats the best ever advice you have been given ?

Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance

If you could change anything about the music industry what would it be ?

Better streaming Revenues for artists, more diversity in music styles on mainstream outlets 

Whats next for you ?

My New Album, ‘The King Of Leaves’ this October

Here's his latest release 

It Came to My Attention.

If you could change anything about the music industry what would it be ?

Band Name

BlaziQue
Lucy, Racquel and Me
One Guild
Cathal J
Lachie A'rden
Gina Wood
Living Waters
Danielle Hollobaugh
Jemas Collective
Yarku
Agustin Tagliabue
Whitman Rinaldo
Neutral on Paul
Jasmine
The Zooeys

Answers

I'd make it so that not everyone who can "make a noise out of an instrument" be allowed to publish their work. There are TONS of really talented musicians out there.. but there are also tons of really BAD ones.. and they take up just as much space. Making it that much harder to stand out. If you're song 39,999 out of 40,000 submissions per day.. the person listening to your music is now officially brain dead.

Its very difficult these days isn't it? I know so many musicians that are extremely talented and they can't get a break. I guess to recognize these guys for the great talent that they have even if they are not on the top 100 you get my drift.

I think streams need to pay more per stream. I think better methods of stopping fake streamers and bots need to be thought up. I think musicians need a way easier way to get their music promoted to the right fans at an affordable cost.

Ageism would vanish. I want to keep creating fun pop music, and edgy songs that you'd typically associate with young people. I don't want to see the window get more narrow for other artists later on in life.

There should be an independent body regulating record deal contracts, so a contract is fair for both sides, so artists don't get ripped off.

Regulate many aspects of the industry including labels, contracts, gig bookings and so on so young artists are not taken advantage of.

I wish it would be easier for indie artists to make it to bigger playlists on Spotify and reach more listeners

I would seize the means of production and place it in the hands of the working class

Best streaming revenue and more honesty about promotion this should be regulated

My vision is to create a level playing -field for independent artists

I think indie artists need more support from the spotify, youtube

Well he’ll, I just want people to hear what I make

a better streaming distribution, money wise

Make it truly subsidiary.

Revive live music

Nothing

What would you be doing now if it wasn't music?

Band Name

BlaziQue
Lucy, Racquel and Me
One Guild
Cathal J
Lachie A'rden
Gina Wood
Living Waters
Danielle Hollobaugh
Jemas Collective
Yarku
Agustin Tagliabue
Whitman Rinaldo
Neutral on Paul
Jasmine
The Zooeys

Answers

I currently do BOTH my dreams.. our main career is Visual Effects Artists and we own our own VFX studio in Los Angeles. This facility also doubles up as our music studio. If I wasn't doing EITHER... I would probably go back to my PREVIOUS career which was as a computer programmer.

I had an 18 year career in management consultanting before starting in music but now that I have left it behind I think I would have to look.for something more creative. Perhaps interior design or architecture.

i'm not sure what I would be doing if I didn't have music in my life as a career. I suppose I'd still be a receptionist.

I work fulltime in HR so music is a passion and a enjoyable hobby for me

I'd love to have a show on a FM radio to promote indies artists

Well I was a Nurse for many years but prefer music

Programming, martial arts, and writing books.

My day gig, selling and fixing copiers

Writing the great novel of our time

Meditate, maybe will go to ashram

Drinking some good wine

Beating myself up

Animation & film

God only knows

Painting

Teach

What is one message you would give to your fans ?

Band Name

BlaziQue

Lucy, Racquel and Me

One Guild

Cathal J

Lachie A'rden

Living Waters

Danielle Hollobaugh

Jemas Collective

Yarku

Agustin Tagliabue

Whitman Rinaldo

Neutral on Paul

Jasmine

The Zooeys

Answers

Try to never have to ask yourself what should you have done different. Leave the world a little bit better then when you found it.

Music can shine a light.. can dig you out.. can inspire.. never let it go.

Live life with integrity and express love to your family every day

Music can be the deepest worship and heart-changer of all

Don’t be afraid to go after your dreams

Stay tuned, a lot more to come

Take care and enjoy the music

Peace, love and understanding

Embrace the ear worm

Follow your passion

Share my music

Be yourself

Who would you most like to collaborate with??

Responders

BlaziQue
Lucy, Racquel and Me
One Guild
Cathal J
Lachie A'rden
Living Waters
Danielle Hollobaugh
Jemas Collective
Yarku
Agustin Tagliabue
Whitman Rinaldo
Neutral on Paul
Jasmine
The Zooeys


Answers

Theres a lot of people I'd love to collaborate with. I would be open to collaborate with a wide array of musical talents, singers, solo instrument players, and rappers. If I had to pick some bigger names, I'd love to collaborate with Two Steps From Hell, Audio Machine or Hans Zimmer in the soundtrack epic music genres.


Wow, there are so many talented artists out there... I'd love to work with a band like The Killers or someone like Eddie Vedder. They have made some of my all time favourite songs and I'd love to make some modern piano house style tracks with them.


As a writer, I'd dream of writing with Sia, Julia Michaels or Meghan Trainor. As a singer, I'd love to feature with Skrillex or Marshmello!


I want to make a song with my husband Cody! He featured in one of my earlier songs and we had a lot of fun doing that together.


Well, we are mostly a collaborative band already, all around the world. I guess a producer would add another dimension

I'm on a soul kick right now, so Al Green. But I've always wanted to work with kd lang, Joss Stone, or Pink

Mike Rutherford, Tony banks, Peter Gabriel, Dave Gilmour, Lionel Ritchie, Paul Simon

We did collaborate with Dana, the Irish singer, and with John Michael Talbot.

Chris Squire, but since he passed.. my second choice is Paul McCartney.

Jimmy, genius songwriter from the classic 90s film “THAT THING YOU DO”

Not sure I guest some Indie bands I like, maybe some old blues players

Josh Pan, Boots, Moderat, Joji

Dermot Kennedy

Sandy Alex G

Jim Eno

What kind of music do you make ??

Artist Name.

BlaziQue
Lucy, Racquel and Me
Cathal J
One Guild
Lachie A'rden
Living Waters
Neutral on Paul
Danielle Hollobaugh
Jemas Collective
Yarku
Agustin Tagliabue
The Zooeys
Jasmine
Whitman Rinaldo


Answers

Christian Rock

Mostly CCR covers

I'm a pop artist who grew up with rock and roll. I also have EDM influences in many of my songs.
We like to think it's multi-genre.. but people insist we sound like 80's pop/dance.

I think of it as low key indie rock... google calls it adult contemporary... fuck me, right?

Whatever emotions I’m feeling at the time

Uplifting piano house / dance

Pop music has always been my favourite genre and I think my music falls into that category as well.

Experimental, electronic, pop, alternative

Mainly soft-rock. The eclectism of the White album is our goal. So Folk, Blues, Country, Pop rock ... are in our musical palette

I'm a bit of a chameleon like the Beatles Abbey Road. Indie rock, reggae, punk, jazz, Americana -- I let my tunes take me around the world.

Officially at this point, I have only released epic cinematic orchestral music. In September 2019, I dropped my first three projects at the same time. 45 epic music tracks split into three albums. The album names are Ghost, Hero, and The Void. All three albums are epic fantasy based albums that I hope will be used in movies, games and animes one day. I also make other genres like hip hop, chill hop, meditation, and sad ambient style music.

Synth pop, Indie, Pop

Indie rock/ Latino/Reggaeton

Rock/Blues/Funk and Instrumental guitar music from clasical to hard rock

Who inspired you to create music ?

Responders 

BlaziQue
Lucy, Racquel and Me
Cathal J
One Guild
Lachie A'rden
Living Waters
Neutral on Paul
Danielle Hollobaugh
Jemas Collective
Yarku
Agustin Tagliabue
The Zooeys

Jasmine

Answers

It came from within. Been recording my compositions since I was a kid.

Local argentina rock bands fron the 80' 90's at first, then rock and blues guitar players like SRV Hendrix Satriani. Also clasical guitar music

Bruce Springsteen/ Dermot Kennedy

I entered a showcase when I was 13, and there I met my vocal coach who encouraged me to start writing.

My mom is a very musical person, she has also made her own songs and was always playing the piano at home so I looked up to her and wanted to get into music myself.

Pink Floyd, Genesis, Lionel Ritchie, Queen, David Bowie, Tina Turner, ELO
Other musicians. I listen to a lot of other artists, and writing songs as good is my motivation.

My father and The smashing Pumpkins

One music producer from my city

Beatles, Zeppelin, Dire Straits

Jimmy, moody savant in the classic 90s film “THAT THING YOU DO”

Music came to me at a difficult time in my life health wise and provided me with focus, positivity and 

happiness. My music is a.refection of this, very uplifting, feel good vibes.

Several people, but mostly the Holy Spirit!

Ben Folds, 90’s indie rock bands, a really cool Uncle

I was inspired by a lot of people. My parents and friends played a roll in encouraging me to make music in the beginning. A few friends of mine also make music so over the years we have sort of grown with and learned from each other. I had a lot of hip hop influences over the years that sort of kept me into making music in my teens. I always really liked movie and anime soundtracks. For example to this day I still listen to music from Gladiator, Kingdom Of Heaven, Hero, the Matrix, Dragonballz, Naruto and Bleach. As I got older the epic music genre sort of came into existence and caught my attention so I decided this was the main genre for me.

Do you sing in the shower?? If so, what ??

Interview responders and answers

Living Waters
The Zooeys
Danielle Hollobaugh
BlaziQue
Neutral on Paul
Lachie A'rden
Jasmine
Yarku
Lucy, Racquel and Me
Whitman Rinaldo
One Guild
Jemas Collective
Cathal J
Agustin Tagliabue

Yes. Beatles.

No showers are cry time

I don't actually sing in the shower often. When I do, it's humming a melody I came up with it in hopes that it'll stick in my head long enough for me to voice memo it when I get out.

Probably something by YES.. or whatever I was listening to last.. OR... something new I'm thinking up. 

The Shower is my most THINK TANK room in the house!

Yes. Pavement. Range Life, Stereo.

Yes, Seudehead by Morrissey

Not really, I only sing when listening to music but then its everything!

Any Adele songs

I’m figuring out new songs in the shower :))

It happens. Cat Stevens Father and son,

Freddie Mercury tunes

What is your creative process like ?? here are some responses

Here are some of the responses to the Interview and their answers 

Lachie A'rden
BlaziQue
The Zooeys
Yarku
Whitman Rinaldo
Jemas Collective
One Guild
Neutral on Paul
Living Waters
Jasmine
Danielle Hollobaugh
Lucy, Racquel and Me



What is your creative process like?

I sort of plan out and think about what type of music I want to release in my head overtime before I make anything. What genres, instruments, and vibes do I want the project to have. After that, my creative process is different depending on what genre I am going to make. If I am collaborating with another musician then the process will be different as well depending on the scope of out collaboration. I find the best time to make music is when you're in the mood to make music. Making music for me requires a certain mind state to make something to my full abilities. So, once I feel it is the right time to create I get started. I use a vast array of virtual instruments and just make what I can hear in my head at first. Sometimes I start out with drums, sometimes I start with the lead instrument. After I have a concept recorded, I build around it with other instruments that I think fit well. During this part of the process I may save the track and leave it unfinished for a while and continue to revisit it. I make minor changes and additions and to make sure I still like it when I hear it in different mind states. This part of the process sort of helps me make sure nothing is off or standing out in a bad way about the track. Once a track is finished I do some mixing and mastering. Then I listen to it on all the different speakers I have available to me to see how it sounds. Sometimes I need to go back and make adjustments if it doesn't sound right in headphones or in the car for example. At this point if its meant to have a singer or rapper I write lyrics to it. After that I preform the lyrics myself or if I need someone to preform them I reach out to some one I think can do it justice. Then more mixing and mastering.

A sea of ideas that never feel i have enough time to get to. I would love to just write music all day every day but then nothing would get finished. When I sit down for a creative session I might write 3-5 songs in a few hours, take the best ones and share with the vocalists I work with. Once I have a vocal i will rework the instrumental to fit with the vocalists vision to create the final piece.

Either from dreams.. or in the shower.. or sometimes just washing the dishes. An idea will come.. and I wait a few days to see if it stays with me or if it was just a fluke. If it survives a couple of days.. then I record a bassline and percussion and begin the journey. Other times.. my wife has a catalog of song lyrics she has written and sometimes we'll just pick one and I'll compose music to it.

Sometimes I just get a new melody in my head and come up with suitable lyrics to go with it. Usually I’ve already had the idea of the next song I wanna make, and when the melody hits me the lyrics come to me naturally.

Very often, it is "Inspired Song". Other times we will put pieces several have written together. The arrangement process has mostly been an 'everybody in' sort of thing.

Most of the time, Lucy send me some lyrics. I compose the music on a ukulele, send it to Racquel for her wished singing key then I record a quick demo

I often have music pop into my head; I'm definitely a composer first. Then I have to sit down and fit the lyrics in like a puzzle.

I try to start with a verbal hook and compose something both familiar and daring simultaneously.

I write lyrics and Melodies, I often come up with these then work with a musician

I’m producer, so i’m recording music instruments on my studio and mixing them

Stumble on a phrase or melody, find time to write a song before I lose it

Listen to CCR records and then play the songs that are on the record

Spontaneous and random

 

Who is getting back to normal?? well these two for a start!!!

 Tracy Colletto

My first in-person live gig I had tonight in a long time. My last was on March 15, and I kept asking the venue owner if we were still having it because this was the week (where I live) when suddenly almost all live shows were being cancelled. Tonight I was at a cafe, set up outside at a safe distance. Right now, where I am, musicians can perform at outdoor concerts, most at wineries and restaurants. We still do not have indoor concerts yet for probably another 6 months or so

Luna Keller 

I've been doing a house concert tour through Germany and Switzerland throughout the last month. Due to covid most of the concerts turned out to be garden concerts.


https://lunakeller.com/


I'm also releasing a new song on the 18th, "Let Me Go Now" the third single from my upcoming EP "Prophecies and Silver Linings"

Whether its inside or outside. Some artists are getting back into live gigs if your one on them send your photo.

What first got you into music? Here is what some artists said

What first got you into music?

Here are some answers from 

Lachie A'rden
BlaziQue
The Zooeys
Yarku
Whitman Rinaldo
Jemas Collective
One Guild
Neutral on Paul
Living Waters
Jasmine
Danielle Hollobaugh
Lucy, Racquel and Me

My kidney transplant I.had in 2002 failed and I went onto dialysis in 2018. By early 2029 this had forced me out of my job (at the time working from home was not accepted) so when I finished up my last client I decided I'd do something I enjoyed (for fun) and booked a DJ course. One thing led to another, i started producing, found I not only loved it but was quite good and have been obsessed with music ever since. I had no previous musical background or training.

When i was 8 or 9 I played the saxophone for about a year. That was my first real focused experience with music. A few years later I got into hiphop music and movie soundtracks. A friend of mine introduced me to FL Studio and Mixcraft and I started to experiment making music.

My brother took guitar lessons and would show me what he learned every week. By the next week, he forgot it all and I had to teach him so he could be somewhat prepared at his lesson.

Singing is just something I've always loved to do, so when opportunities presented themselves to compete or perform I'd be there.

Being around family members from an early age that loved listening to and making music

I felt the need to express my feelings somehow so I started writing songs

Hearing The Beatles on the radio. Hooked for life.

I was born singing and hitting things in rhythm.

My ex girlfriend, she wrote songs and lyrics

My Dad playing guitar when I was a child

Classic 90s film “THAT THING YOU DO”

Praying and playing music together

My first band at 2013

Christian Classics Three due out on all platforms 2nd Oct 2020

 

Musical Artizan · Christian Classics 3

Musical Artizan Productions presents Ronan Furlong, Musical Artizan and David N Slater

Playlists featuring 
Ronan Furlong

 

Musical Artizan/David N Slater 

TO ADD TO THESE AMAZING PLAYLISTS

SUBMIT TO DAVIDNSLATER.COM

Releasing NOW ACROSS THE GLOBE Action an adventure into Fm Pentatonic

Musical Artizan · action

I composed this classical album to fill the time. I chose to use  the F minor Pentatonic to base the works around. On the whole I'm pleased. Turned out better than what I expected. As invariably they all do. 

Funny song about Trump