Mike Franklin: “What I enjoy is a hook laden melody...”
Shawn Franklin: “I have heard newer bands on Myspace”
We have got acquainted with group "The Scallions" on site Myspace.com where the huge army of interesting, creative people live and communicate with each other. Where everyone can find friends with similar interests, tastes and sights. Almost all kind people who living in civilized countries, have a similar scale of values, and on the first place are love to the family, to the close people around us and favourite business.
Today we have decided to talk about it with brothers Mike and Shawn Franklin, created "The Scallions ".
Powerpop.Ru: Hi, Shawn! Hi, Mike! The year 2006 is almost over. Were there many highlights as far as the band is concerned?
Shawn: Well, 2006 was quite a year. Our first international release came out as a CD/DVD package. It is packed with videos, live stuff, etc. It took us many years to get this project completed. Now that it's out all over the world, I spend a lot of time sending copies out for review. I am always trying to get press for the band. I am starting to feel the wrath of this little thing called Myspace. I can't believe how big it is.
Mike: The release of our CD was the biggest thing musically (finally!). It's amazing to now see our CD on websites from all over the world…and make contact with people from all around the world. Myspace has really helped us to establish those contacts and has provided the much needed exposure.
Powerpop.Ru: What was the name of the first album that influenced you in your youth? Do you and your brother have different musical tastes or do you like the same songs, albums?
Mike: Growing up in the same household and having similar tastes, we were influenced by pretty much the same things. Our parents brought us up on music from the 60's, the British invasion …with The Beatles leading the pack of course. My mother used to rock me to sleep with songs like Here, There, and Everywhere by The Beatles. A few years later, I'd play along on the drums with my father when he played guitar and we'd cover groups like…The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Cream, Deep Purple, and so on. They also exposed us to contemporary 70's artists as well. Radio was actually amazing when we were kids too (all of that great 70's pop). We've always had music in our lives. We'd make our own, listen to the radio, records, or good old 8-tracks.
Shawn: My first album was either Hotter Than Hell from Kiss or The Beatles' Second Album. I can't quite recall. I was only like 4 years old. I had some kids records, but my parents were super cool when it came to music. We were exposed very early. I have a 7 month old son and let me tell you I am starting early. He can boogie with the best of them.
Powerpop.Ru: I have found your album on amazon.com where I previewed some cuts from the album. It seems to me that it doesn't sounds like one group, but an album or soundtrack where different groups were invited. A different sound and many effects were used in songs. Tell to our readers about the album "Agony Through Ceremony". I know it was dedicated to your uncle.
Shawn: We started recording this album in December 1999 and took many years to complete. We were going through some tough times because a few of our loved ones had passed on. That is where the title "Agony Through Ceremony" comes from. We approached each song differently. We didn't want an album where every song had the same guitar sound, drum sound, etc. Every song on the record has different sounds and I think that is what makes it refreshing and exciting. From a production standpoint, it's pretty diverse. I think we used everything but the kitchen sink on there. Also, we wanted to bring back some 70's techniques like the art of fading out songs. It seems every new song I hear now has crazy, abrupt endings that are in your face. Yuck!
Mike: I like that you describe the CD as a soundtrack. I will admit that there are quite a lot of variations throughout, but to me it still sounds like the same band. We listen to and are influenced by many styles of music. We just like to mix things up too. It's not something that we do intentionally. I think we would get bored otherwise. We typically don't enjoy CDs that sound like one continuous song.
Powerpop.Ru: Do you guys find it easy to compose songs? Do you write together or separately? Is there any competition in the group?
Mike: Unfortunately, the songs don't always come to me as fast or as frequently as I would like them to. I wish that I was as prolific as someone like Elvis Costello. As far as writing together, we have such crazy schedules now. We don't have the opportunity to work together that much anymore. We present a song to the other and they provide feedback or additional ideas. Before we even start the actual recordings for a project, we both have to believe in the idea or we shelve it.
Shawn: We both have our own stacks of demos and ideas. We used to write on the spot in the studio but this takes a lot longer. Now, we come prepared with a basic song that we can work with.
Powerpop.Ru: When I learned that you were working with Chuck D from Public Enemy, it seemed strange to me... it's two absolutely different styles of music. Explain how you got acquainted and what you have learned.
Shawn: Well, I have been into Public Enemy since their first album. They have always been on the top of my list of favorites. Chuck has always been an inspiration to me personally and musically. Our band sounds nothing them but that doesn't matter. I listen to so many different styles of music. From Bing Crosby to Slayer, I love music. I have always wanted to meet Chuck. I ended up getting his email address and asked if he'd sign the guestbook on our website. I thought it would look great. He ended up doing it like 3 weeks later but he also downloaded some of our songs.
As it turns out, he was giving a lecture close to where I live and I got to meet him in person. When I asked him to sign some things, he asked "who do I make this out to?" I said "you actually checked out my band The Scallions" and he cuts me off and said my name. I couldn't believe it. I emailed him again saying how great I thought the lecture was. He responded saying that he wanted to know if we wanted to license out some songs for his online label Slam Jamz. At the time, he wasn't doing anything offline. Years later, he changed all that and we were chosen to do a proper CD/DVD.
Powerpop.Ru: New styles, modern dance drums and others do not influence me. Power Pop to me is bright and beautiful with songs that have a great guitar sound, simplicity, vocal kindness, absence of hatred in the soul...etc. If a group has a beautiful, fresh and original melodic/harmonious sound, then this is a good band! What does Power Pop mean for you? What is your opinion about what the ideal group would be?
Mike: What I enjoy is a hook laden melody (in the vocals, guitars, strings, etc.), big catchy choruses, harmonies, and detailed and interesting production. Power Pop usually delivers in all of these areas and more. I like groups that attempt to carry on what The Beatles and Brian Wilson were creating in their songs and their production techniques. No one will ever top them of course.
Powerpop.Ru: Do you believe that each artist has it in them to compose the world's best album? Bands can write great albums but every once in a while they write something that will go down as the best in their career. Do The Scallions have the desire to surprise the World?
Mike: Very few artists have a "world's best album". Most of us don't have a Pet Sounds or Spilt Milk in us. You could look at it as that particular band's best album. ATC is the best thing that we've done so far, but I hope we can top it with the next release.
Shawn: Yeah! I would hope that the people that have been following us for all these years would think that "Agony Through Ceremony" would be that album. I think we have surpassed everything we've ever done. Our first album "Mud Pie" was great in my opinion but I think we raised the bar dramatically.
Powerpop.Ru: Do you have any favorites in today's music world?
Shawn: For me, I am not big on any new bands. All the big name bands that are on the scene today leave me 100% bored. I have heard newer bands on Myspace that were awesome but as far as the big name bands now… BLAH!
Mike: I like some newer bands/artists, but it's not something that you are going to see on MTV or VH-1 unfortunately. Actually, most of them have been around for a few years, but I guess that's as new as it gets for me. Groups and artists like Saint Low, the late Elliot Smith, Jude, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr, etc.
Powerpop.Ru: Do you have any other interests besides music?
Mike: Spending time with my wife is at the top of my list. Our schedules usually have us headed in opposite directions. Aside from family and my animals, it's music, music, music. I read about it, watch documentaries about, listen to it and on and on. I guess I'm slightly obsessed.
Shawn: The biggest thing for me is my 7 month old son, Alexander. Besides family, I have many interests. I love doing graphic design work. I collect old video games. I am 1970's enthusiast.
Powerpop.Ru: Do you want to tell to our readers something that I forget to ask you?
Shawn: I think this covers it all. Thanks so much for your interest and thanks to all who support this band.
Mike: I hope that your readers will give our CD a spin if they have the chance. Thanks for the opportunity. Great questions!
Powerpop.Ru: Thanks,Shawn, thanks, Mike! We wish you and your relatives of creative successes, love and prosperities!!!
форум (rus) |
We have got acquainted with group "The Scallions" on site Myspace.com where the huge army of interesting, creative people live and communicate with each other. Where everyone can find friends with similar interests, tastes and sights. Almost all kind people who living in civilized countries, have a similar scale of values, and on the first place are love to the family, to the close people around us and favourite business. 
Growing up in the same household and having similar tastes, we were influenced by pretty much the same things. Our parents brought us up on music from the 60's, the British invasion …with The Beatles leading the pack of course. My mother used to rock me to sleep with songs like Here, There, and Everywhere by The Beatles. A few years later, I'd play along on the drums with my father when he played guitar and we'd cover groups like…The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Cream, Deep Purple, and so on. They also exposed us to contemporary 70's artists as well. Radio was actually amazing when we were kids too (all of that great 70's pop). We've always had music in our lives. We'd make our own, listen to the radio, records, or good old 8-tracks.
