The Vespertine Kind is a new project by Graham Iddon, the previous front man of Raving Wild. He is consolidating prior compositions along with new work utilizing recently acquired techniques and experimental production methods. Creating a curious combination of ambience and folk, The Vespertine Kind will be releasing a body of work later this year, punctuating the coming months with individual releases and music videos.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Graham about the music, the challenges, the technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create?
Initially from the Buckinghamshire area, I’ve recently relocated and currently reside in the sleepy town of Dawlish. It’s the varied array of performers in the west country which actually carved my stylistic choices. Traditional folk performances and original songwriting are prolific practises throughout the region, as such my focus isn’t on choosing a genre but in endeavouring to tell a story. The sound and production elements are secondary to the mood.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
I received a voucher as a child for a Christmas gift, I was going to use this on something fleeting like Pokemon cards (after their recent surge in popularity however, perhaps their value might not have been so discountable hindsight being the wonderful thing that it is). My brother encouraged me to instead pick up a guitar and I was glued to it ever since. I love learning new techniques, it’s always the next milestone which ensures my passion for performing, the road never ends!
How is Ignition different than previous releases? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
I wrote the song a considerable time ago, the initial demo production was somewhat under par but I enjoyed singing the track. It was after developing new vocal techniques and expanding the knowledge of production, with the help of a very skilled friend, that the final version was created. I wanted to generate a slightly “unhinged” composition and read heavily into pyromania.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
Simply put, the cost does not outweigh the benefit. Production is particularly costly when stacked against the quality which can be made by larger labels however nothing less will suffice. It’s difficult maintaining this, although to lead on to the second section of this question, it’s far simpler to distribute digitally to your immediate audience with the likes of Spotify, Spinnup etc.
What was the last song you listened to?
I listened to New Slang by The Shins, I always loved the song for the incredible lyricism with a straightforward yet well executed structure. Splendid build and scene setting although I did listen to Red Sky by Thrice shortly prior to this whilst watching a storm roll in over an agitated sea, it seemed appropriate at the time.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Ideally for the quality the vinyl is king, not handy for a stroll on the beach however! Given the choice in a digital format I prefer the cleanliness of a WAV file, it’s nice to experience the fullness of sound which the creator intended than the nuanced compression of an MP3.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Solid question! Soundcloud is extremely accessible to the passing listener but doesn’t offer as many facilities on their site. Whilst Spotify is popular it is over saturated. Spinnup is a viable option I’ve found, it automatically distributes to all online stores via one link and gives the listener the choice which will is invariably the most important factor.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
My personal recommendation would be Youtube or Soundcloud. Both one click, no fuss and I keep them as up to date as possible. Alternatively get in touch, I’ll gladly send files or videos and it’s a pleasure to hear from prospective music fans.
Anything else before we sign off?
Thanks to everyone for their continued support and assistance including Indie Music Discovery. It’s fans which keep the lifeblood of new music alive, I likely speak on behalf of most independent musicians when I say we’re very grateful for every listen, share or purchase, it’s what we do it for.
