Feyer is a singer/songwriter/composer/producer and multi-instrumentalist with diverse musical experience spanning all genres and styles. Feyer constructs his unique sound combining personal lyrics with his classically influenced melodic and instrumental style, and Electronic/Rock production.
Born in New York City, Feyer learned how to play the piano at the young age of 6 and began composing instrumental pieces. By age 11, Feyer had taken up drums and was singing, playing guitar, and writing songs. While in high school, Feyer became an instrumentalist in various rock bands, performing frequently at talent shows and band showcases. Simultaneously, he began recording and producing in his bedroom, beginning to shape his own style and studying film composition.
Feyer attended college for composition, music production, orchestration, vocal and instrumental studies, scoring, and musical acoustics/engineering. There he studied with renowned composers and professional musicians such Joan Tower, James Bagwell, Rufus Muller, Matt Sargent and Bob Bielecki, and performed as a choir vocalist at legendary venues under the baton of renowned musical directors.
Now based in New York City, Feyer is ready to debut his full-length album, planned for release in the not-too-distant future. The first single, “I Just Don’t Know”, is now available.
In this interview, Feyer chats with us about the new project, how he began down this path of music, navigating the digitized music era, and much more.
A stream of I Just Don’t Know as well as the Q&A and links can be found below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into you, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
When I began writing new songs and producing them on my laptop, it was difficult for me to decide which path to go down. I am all about blending genres, but I didn’t hear too many artists doing that, at least on the radio. But then I figured, why do I have to sound like anyone else? I just need to write good music regardless of genre, and hopefully people will get into it. I looked a little deeper into some artistic communities and found that I was not alone in the philosophy that good music can transcend genre. After the songs were written, I began producing them in Logic, and finally found the right sounds and samples for each song. The ending result was a hybrid of many styles that have influenced me, including rock, pop, electronic, experimental, worldbeat, musical theater, and soundtracks to film, TV and video games.
How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public?
As far as sharing music goes, I’ve been releasing some songs on my own since 2013. Before that, I was in a band in high school and we put out one EP but did not wind up distributing it. I put out my first solo EP in 2013 and then another single in 2014. The sound was relatively underdeveloped, so I spent 2015-2016 focusing on really developing my sound and crafting my productions. Right before I released my latest original single, I spent the early part of 2016 putting out cover songs, mashups, and remixes, which is a new activity for me.
Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going?
I am definitely influenced by the classic bands and artists that people consider to be some of the greatest acts of all time: Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, etc. I am really into artists that have an immediately recognizable sound or presence. I’ve been compared to progressive artists who aren’t afraid to think outside the box, such as Phil Collins or David Bowie. My modern influences include more alternative artists such Passion Pit, Grimes, and Coldplay, who are all real hands-on artists and seem to have a lot of artistic freedom with their musical productions. As for motivation, there are many times when I get discouraged, but what keeps me going is knowing that if I work hard and have the right attitude, I can achieve my goals.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
As I said, trying to find a distinct sound that fuses different styles together, as well as keeping my lyrics personal to my life, yet relatable to others. I don’t really want to sound like anyone else, but still have a sound that entices and engages people.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Hymn for the Weekend” by Coldplay featuring Beyonce.Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
All of the above, depending on the occasion. I mostly listen to MP3s, though, just because they are convenient. Vinyl is usually reserved for parties at my (hipster) friend’s apartment.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music?
The internet has made it so easy for artists and musicians to put their stuff out there, but as a result, the industry has become oversaturated. We have resources for anyone to get their music on SoundCloud, iTunes and Spotify. Sometimes it seems like there are more musicians than listeners. How is one to get recognition among the mass amount of artists without major-label support? Additionally, anyone can make themselves seem more popular than they are. We have artists literally buying Facebook likes and YouTube views, creating the illusion on social media that they have already made it. But I know that the real way to tell if you are gaining a following is to look at the metrics and see how many people are streaming or buying your music, as well as attending your shows. For now, I just need to focus on making the best music I can and showcasing it to the best of my ability, whether it be on the radio, in blogs and magazines, on social media, or live in concert. It all begins with the songs.
Tell us a little more about your upcoming album, Signals Internalized? What are you looking forward to the most with the release?
This will be my debut full-length album, release date TBA. It highlights my journey overcoming bouts of depression and anxiety. I feel as though art is the best way to express how someone is feeling, whether it be positive or negative. I don’t want to sound melodramatic or cheesy, but I know that with pain comes creativity. I am looking forward to getting my name out there as an artist, having listeners delve deeper into my musical vision, and showcasing my musical skills. This is my chance to step out and say, “Hello world! This is what I do.”
What’s your favorite song on the album?
Hard for me to choose, but if I had to pick one, I’d say the one I just released, “I Just Don’t Know.” It is probably my most energetic song on the album and is a blast to perform live.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music?
You can check out my website at www.feyermusic.com. I’m also on just about every social media site imaginable. Just type in my name and you can find me. My songs are up on my SoundCloud and BandCamp.
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
This is probably the hardest I have ever worked on a project, and I probably could not have done it without people by my side. Shout out to my family and friends for supporting my music and my journey, and be sure to look out for new music I will be releasing soon!
