The Harvest Ministers have just released their fifth album Strange Love Letter. We caught up with main minister Will Merriman and asked him a few questions.
What are the main changes that you have witnessed in the industry since the band started?
Mega changes, we formed in 1987 so you can imagine pre-internet days how things worked both in terms of trying to increase ones fan base e.g. through gigs and the occasional word in the press (if you were lucky). Though the treasured vinyl single / album is quite a loss in these new halcyon times of myspace/facebook etc when if you have something to say everyone is gonna know faster than a bullet, which is a good and a bad thing! And yes I know you can still release in vinyl if you so wish but it'd be more of a fashion statement than an actual necessity.
What are the main differences between releasing an album yourself and having the support of a label behind you?
I suppose an established label would have its own ready made 'book' of media contacts built up over a period of time, so when your album is set for release they've a tried and tested method in getting it through the press channels so to speak. All of which takes a huge pressure off a signed band. The opposite to that is how we are doing it with Strange Love Letter this time round, i.e. handling the press yourself. In this scenario you really have to work hard to try and get as much exposure as you possibly can, relying sometimes on editors to place your music with a journalist who may or may not like your work. You really have to do your research and take it from there. Also did I mention money? Thought I'd keep this little dirty word to the end. Money makes or can make a huge difference, lets put it like that, shall we?
Many acts have split up/called it a day since you started out. What keeps you going?
As a songwriter, composing a song is all that matters. If it's in the blood you'll never lose the desire to do it. That was an easy one Ed. Thanks!
Any particular songwriter/performer that influenced your decision to form a band/write songs?
Not really. I think I always knew I was going to be a writer of some sort from an early age, 7 or eight. I just didn't think it would be music.
You say in your press release that your fave track on new CD is "punks, maidens and genitalia". what is the song about?
Perhaps it's about a group of friends, real or imaginary, I had when I was a teenager, and it's my way of remembering them with varying degrees of fondness. The name mentioned in the song is 'Benny Wiseman'. Exactly who he is or what he represents, I'll have to ask my psychiatrist next time I'm in the chair.
My fave song is "life just put her in my way". it strikes me as almost an "anti-love-song" type of love song....what inspired you to write this song?
I can understand why you would think that. I don't recall any particular inspiration for the song. I must have just hit on the right melody and off it went. I tend not to remember how or when I wrote a song, probably because I'm always thinking of the next one.
You say that you realised at an early stage that you would be a writer of some sort, but you didn't think it would be in music - How did you get into music?
I picked up a friend's guitar when I was fourteen or so, started writing songs on the bass guitar & that was it. I switched from playing bass to guitar at 16. I did my first gig at a school concert singing one of my own songs, so I had no fear.
Have you written books/poems?
Poems yes, I was always into my Emily Dickinson, never got out much as a kid, still don't as an adult, agh well too late to change now!
You are a Dublin lad; the album was recorded in New York; and there is a London address on the album sleeve - Have you spent much time out of Dublin and has travel influenced your writing in any way?
I wouldn't say I have travelled extensively, no. I think Dublin is a great place to be a composer, but it's even better place to leave when you know you have an album full of songs. That's why I like recording in New York and am lucky enough to have a good friend there, Andy Fitzpatrick, who I worked with on Strange Love Letter.
What is your favourite city in the world?
Paris.
Can you share some high points and low points in the career of The Harvest Ministers
Well the new album is a high point , as was getting our debut album out 'Little Dark Mansion' in 1993. Also Mark E.Smyth of The Fall reviewing one of our early singles was a great thrill (he liked it by the way). As for low points, well you know this is a tough business, so I'm not going to dwell on them. You have to move on.
Have you recorded any covers?
Only live, songs from Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, The Kinks, Robert Johnson, Patsy Cline, to name but a few.
Has any artist ever recorded one of your songs?
Not yet, but here's hoping.
Who would you most like to cover one of your songs?
Never really thought about it, Anthony & The Johnsons maybe, love his voice.
What acts do you listen to/impress you?
I like singer songwriters Margaret Healy, Martin Egan & Adrian Crowley.
Miles Davis & Rachmaninoff's Vespers are probably among my most listened to CDs.
What are your fave 3 Harvest Ministers songs?
From the new album 'So You Finally Struck Oil', 'Life Just Put Her In My Way', & from Little Dark Mansion 'Railroaded'.
(But ask me tomorrow & I might give you a different three).
Any live shows lined up?
Maybe in the spring. In the meantime we'll be uploading several videos for songs 'Life Just Put Her In My Way', 'Punks, Maidens & Genitalia' & one other over the next couple of months. |