Featured IPO CD Artists: Brent Windler, The Arcadeans, Stephen Lawrenson
Featured IPO CD Artist: Brent Windler
IPO Vol. 23 CD Song: “Around The Bend”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
I thought putting my song “Around the Bend” on the IPO CD would be a good fit, and also a good starting point for the music I make; I also really enjoy the way that one came out on my record.
2. Please describe that pivotal moment when you first realized you wanted to create music or become a band.
There are too many to choose from, but if I had to, the first one that comes to mind is getting into my father’s cassettes and loving The Monkees and The Beatles Greatest Hits he had when I was very, very young.
3. Which other artists (living or dead) do you admire most and why?
Here are a few I have been listening to as of lately that I admire greatly – Supergrass, Superdrag, The Breeders
4. How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact you and your music?
It was a long scary/strange time for sure, a whole lot of not knowing what was going on, and when or if things were going to ever be so or so called normal again. Musically it gave everyone I think a lot of time to just work on writing and do something positive as the world seemed to be crumbling, so if anything, for me it made me focus on finishing a proper record, and kept me sane.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
It was great to be a part of the long running festival, I had a great time up in Chicago meeting new folks and getting to share the stage and the compilation with so many great artists.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
You can listen to my new record New Morning Howl on any streaming service, you can also find show dates, CDs & Vinyl, and other merch & music on my website brentwindler.com
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Arcadeans
IPO Vol. 23 CD Song: “99 Reasons”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
It’s a short punchy upbeat tune that gets your foot tapping from the first note and puts a smile on your face. Think it represents what The Arcadeans are all about.
2. Please describe that pivotal moment when you first realized you wanted to create music or become a band.
We’ve all played music for years, grown up in families of musicians and entertainers. It’s in the blood, I guess. And then you get influenced by some the world’s best musicians and entertainers who also happened to be Irish, Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore. How could you not try humbly follow in their path?
3. Which other artists (living or dead) do you admire most and why?
Thin Lizzy, Green Day, Quo, AC/DC all great song writers, musicians with longevity. And most of all they knew and know how to put on a live show. They can play but they also know how to entertain.
4. How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact you and your music?
It gave us space to write lots of new material. We have enough new tracks to release 2 or more full CDs. And we were lucky enough to share some of them live for the first time at IPO.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
IPO is like an extended family, it’s such an honour to be associated and appreciated with and by the festival. We get to share a stage and a CD with outstanding artists, some internationally recognised and legends in their own right. And to see the same returning faces at IPO every year, musicians and fans, it’s just one big party.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
Website: https://thearcadeans.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearcadeans/
Spotify: https://found.ee/TlKxN
Featured IPO CD Artist: Stephen Lawrenson
IPO Vol. 23 CD Song: “Blue Room”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
I chose the brand-new song “Blue Room” as I felt it would fit the overall vibe of what the IPO comps are all about. It’s a straightforward crunchy pop tune with hooks. This may be my 3rd or 4th track on the IPO volumes over the years and I’ve collected nearly all 23 so far.
2. Please describe that pivotal moment when you first realized you wanted to create music or become a band.
It came at a very young age…and of course it was a Beatles thing, but not in the tradition of “I saw them on Ed Sullivan” as I wasn’t yet a year old when that happened. That being said, I have 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters so I’m sure it was on the living room TV that night…and the records were in the family collection. So the real moment(s) for me were the singles that my older siblings had. The Capitol label yellow and orange singles that I would play over and over on a little Philco hi-fi – both sides. They were magical to me. To be fair, those orange and yellow singles also included a few Beach Boys records and even a Letterman and Nat King Cole single. However, prior to being able to read whom the band was on the label, I just knew those songs were great. I didn’t know the hype around the Beatles until I was a bit older (and now able to read…). I knew at some point I wanted to make songs like those that were tuneful, melodious, harmonious and relatable.
3. Which other artists (living or dead) do you admire most and why?
There’s many, actually and not enough space to expand on here…but I have to cite Jeff Lynne. An obvious heir to the sound of the Beatles as we all know, and a major influence on me and my writing. Also, anything that happened in 1967 seems to be pervasive for me. Kinks, Zombies, Beach Boys, Byrds, Love, The Who, Moody Blues et al. And I’d be remiss if I excluded Neil Finn in any incarnation (Split Enz, Crowded House, solo etc.). I’d also have to include Queen, Cheap Trick, The Jam, XTC, Squeeze, Cotton Mather, Jellyfish/Jason Falkner/Roger Manning, Smithereens, Velvet Crush, Posies. The list goes on and on…
4. How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact you and your music?
Many life-things happened prior to the pandemic that took me away from music for a while. During the pandemic, I was able to get back to writing and recording. And so, my fourth album is in “the can” so to speak and will hopefully be released at some point the end of this year or beginning of 2023. Titled Chants of a Lifetime. Stay tuned…
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
Best parts of my involvement with IPO were playing shows and meeting other bands/artists who I’ve maintained some relationships with over the years, including David Bash and Ray Gianchetti. It is a thrill having a track on the IPO comps with so many others that I admire.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
I have never been one to seek out the spotlight, which in turn, has made me really lousy at the promotion end of this thing and wish I were better. My music can be found on Facebook, https://www.reverbnation.com/stephenlawrenson , BandCamp, http://www.koolkatmusik.com, CDBaby and Amazon.