I
travel a lot and I have lived in many different places. Therefore I
have not had the chance to start a firm band in one single place. I have
made Neon Legion a band of international musicians in different cities
that I go to regularly. Normally, you grow up with friends in one city
and you get together and play music. I have basically done that in
multiple places, like Buenos Aires, Toronto and NY. We all play the same
songs but with different sets of musicians, depending on where I am.
Thats why we are a Legion. A Legion of musicians.
2. Phillip, how did you come up with the tones for your band? Who inspired you the most?
I
started playing classical guitar when I was 12 and soon started playing
metal music. Later on, I discovered the more classic rock from the
60´s and 70´s. Parallel to that, I was introduced to electronic music
and later on to classical music composition, while I was studying music
in London. Neon Legion is the culmination of all these things. However,
the immediate inspiration comes from influences that are not directly
music related. Life, movies, current issues, personal events.
3. You did a few shows in Buenos Aires. How was it? Did most of the people there know you?
I
started my career in Argentina when I lived there for two years and
toured the country under the name Kirt. I am somewhat known in the
underground scene but as a Indie band every concert feels like you are
starting all over again, trying to win people over to what you do. It
takes time and repetition. I feel that with Neon Legion this process has
become much easier and more enjoyable.
4.
Have you ever made the a crowd eat their initial reaction to you? I
must say, you look a little like Bob Dylan did when he was young. Have
you ever been satisfied with the redemption you get from seeing people's
faces once they hear you?
Ha!
Thank you. I have played a festival in Argentina in front of 15,000
people and someone in the crowd shouted insults to me after a song and I
picked it up. I insulted him back and realized that no one else heard
him, but 15,000 people heard me countering his insult. I could feel the
mood change instantly and it was scary. From both views. I realized that
I have incredible power on stage and also that the audience has
incredible power as a spectator. It is real time communication. I
resolved it by making a great joke. It was in spanish and its impossible
to translate. I realized I must act responsibly with this power. I get
some kind of abuse once in a while but I let it pass. I do what I do and
if someone does not like it, they have the freedom to leave or not
listen. And the freedom to say that they don´t like it. Even though its
can be rude at times.
You can Listen to Neon Legion by visiting SoundCloud.com Here.
5. You have a very catchy sound. How did it develop?
I
have been very busy making complicated music in the past, but
complicating things is easy. Its harder to reduce music to its core and
make it speak directly to emotions. That is what I have been focusing on
in "La Revolucion". I suppose "catchiness" is a byproduct of that
process.
6.
"Time To Feed" is by far my favorite of your songs. Was there an
experience in your life that mirrored the lyrics in that song?
I
often write about things in my life before they happen. This was the
case with "Time to Feed". I was thinking about my mother when I wrote
this song and at the same time I was thinking about mother Earth.
My
mother became very seriously ill. I am happy that she is ok again.
However, our planet is still suffering and if we aren't careful it will
turn against us. It is the sign of our times. We (humans) don´t know
when to stop....when the party is over and its time to clean up the
mess.
7. Why Neon Legion?
"Neon" represents the modern and "Legion" the classical. That is the influence...the past and the future. Its retro-futuristic.
8. Who comes up with the themes for your songs? Do all of your band mates have input in the direction of each song?
I
write the basic framework, the harmonies, melodies, lyrics and some of
the synth lines and then the band mates put their ideas forward for the
arrangement of the songs. I am forever thankful to the amazing musicians
I get to work with and their input. They come up with things, I would
have never come up with on my own and it is because of the collaboration
that the band sounds as it does. Everyone puts a piece of themselves
in, and in the end you get the final puzzle image that is Neon Legion.
9. Your songs make me think of so many movies. Have you ever been approached to be on a motion picture sound track?
I
have written music for short films. One of them was nominated for
several things and won a series of awards and possibilities opened up. I
studied music and film parallel and I love both mediums. When I write
music, I have images in my head, and when I see images that inspire me, I
hear music. I
can see myself working on soundtracks at some point again. I had to
stop as it was also a hellish process. At this point of my career, I
can´t give myself to every whim of a director. This is what happens
sometimes. You have to extract the music from someone else´s mind.
Someone, who does not know much about music. It is very psychological
and exhausting. The result can be that you end up almost like an actor,
who is so immersed in his role, that it is difficult for him to find
himself again. I needed to concentrate on what I really want to do and
this is how Neon Legion came about.
10. What's next for Neon Legion. I know I'd like to see more of you on youtube. Do you have anything planned?
I
am planning a series of music videos and obviously releasing the album
"La Revolucion". I can´t wait to make the images that I see become
reality. And to play as many concerts as I can. Next up, we will be
playing shows in New York. Ideally, I want a weekly residence and make
it an amazing night of music together with other great bands and
musicians. I am close to making that a reality.
You can find Neon Legion on facebook, twitter, and their own site by following the links below.
