In this interview spotlight, I chat with Continental Lovers about their latest music, dream collabs, motivations and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Are you able to choose a favorite song of all time? Or would you label this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what’s your current Top 3?
It is pretty much an impossible task, however there are some songs that I always come back to, time after time. Swallow My Pride by Ramones, and Surrender by Cheap Trick are two of my all-time favourites. Maybe I’d also go for Drugstore Truck Driving Man by Gram Parsons, too. Ask me next week though, and I might give you three more.
What about this project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
Continental Lovers started out as a solo project for me and Wedding Song actually supersedes our other songs in terms of when I wrote it. It’s a little different in that it’s more laid back, but still has that trashy, Johnny Thunders style that our other songs do. I’m proud of it because I think it’s got a great hook, a strong melody and it’s an anti-relationship song, something I’ve never written before!
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
I very rarely write about real life, but I am inspired by how words sound and how melodies form. I love the creative process of writing. I usually come up with a melody first- the hook. I am big on hooks!! I also love being on stage and creating music with my band.
What motivates me to keep going? Getting positive feedback for what we do, enjoying the camaraderie of being in a band and honestly, I’d be bored if I wasn’t making music. I’m a music obsessive- not just creating and playing, but listening to and reading about music. I love music history and how it impacts society.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
Warren Zevon is probably my favourite songwriter, but he#s been dead twenty years, so there’s no chance of that happening! He was also quite a difficult person, so maybe that wouldn’t have been a good idea anyway. I’d love Jack Douglas to produce Continental Lovers. Maybe one day he will?!
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
I’ve been listening to Ming City Rockers latest album ‘Lime’ a lot recently, and an album by Shandon Sahm, which is an album of covers of his Dad’s songs. His Dad was Doug Sahm, a country rocker from Texas. The last song I listened to, though was one of my own- Tattered Star! Favourite artists, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, Warren Zevon, Ramones, Joan Jett, Johnny Thunders. That list hasn’t changed in years.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
Continental Lovers are pretty active on Facebook, so that’s the best place. We have all the usual social media places and we’re on Spotify, Bandcamp etc. Come and say hi!
I appreciate Your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways?
We are gigging all of the time. It would be wonderful to catch you at one of our rock n roll shows!
