Interview With Sniper Hill 2013
-Who are all of the band members? And what do they do in the band?
My name is Daniel Irvine, and I play all of the instruments as well as sing, write, record, and mix all of Sniper Hill's music.
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-What's the origin of your band name, Sniper Hill? Have you changed the band's name before?
Oftentimes, warriors will send a sniper onto a hill overlooking the battlefield for the purpose of taking out priority targets while the tanks are sent into the valley to occupy the enemy's attention. Because it is solitary, small, and overlooked, this sniper can change the outcome of the entire battle. Sometimes in life, the sniper on the hill is greater than the tank in the valley, and those that seem small and insignificant can alter the tides of the world. I think life is about finding your Sniper Hill, the vantage point from where you may conquer your inner enemies and triumph over battles that change not just your own world, but everyone around you.
I've gone through a few name changes, but with each title came a new concept and musical vision, a new atmosphere. I first began experimenting with recording music acoustically under the name Solitaire. Then I got an electric guitar and started branching out, making rock songs as Bloodshot. But soon later my attitude towards creating music and my conceptual vision changed drastically, warranting another name change, so I became Sniper Hill.
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-What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
I think my music falls basically into either the rock or acoustic categories. I love so many different styles and genres of music, and I think that has influenced me to simply create whatever I feel and not worry about what to tag it with.
Some of the bands that inspire me and whom I consider my biggest influences musically are My Chemical Romance, Camille, Switchfoot, The Used, Underoath, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, The Fratellis, Green Day, and Nouvelle Vague.
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-How old were you when you started this band?
I think I was around sixteen when I wrote the first Sniper Hill song.
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-How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
On a dark autumn road where cattails grow, halloween night.
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-When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
I like to think is was October 31st, 2009. It was just before midnight and I was cutting a pizza and listening to the wind. I always wanted to make music, but only knowing how to play the drums and not having anyone to join me was a problem. So I learned all the other instruments. Problem solved.
-Do you have a record label? If so, what is it?
Most definitely not. I don't really know if I'd ever consent to being signed to a record label in today's music industry.
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-What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
Brands mean very little to me, of course some will be of better quality than others, but I like to think every instrument is itself different and unique. Zollie, my electric guitar, is an Epiphone Les Paul custom. Saturday, my acoustic guitar, is a Yamaha. Wednesday, my drumset, is a Pearl Forum series. Obviously cost and quality must be weighed together when purchasing an instrument. The instruments I have I bought because they sounded the best to me and were within my range of price. I've used various brands of keyboards and pianos, and an array of other instruments over the years. I use a single Samson podcasting mic to record everything in my music.
-Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Unfortunately being a one-man-band has its drawbacks, one of them being it is nearly impossible to play any rock versions of my songs live. I have played a few acoustic sessions for the fun of it on a street corner or two, but until I can find other band members or conjure up a few shadows to play for me, I must limit my music to recording.
-Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list for your shows?
There are a few covers I like to play, it helps to mix things up and keep as relatively versatile as possible. As for my own songs, those that convert best to acoustic are the ones I play most frequently.
-Who writes your songs? Is it a group effort?
I like to think it is a group effort. Every now and then a ghost or goblin may lend a metaphorical hand to the songwriting process, a cry of the wind here, a snip snap of scissors there.
-What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Mostly I write from what I experience, or what my imagination deems fit to bestow upon me. My topics and conceptual horizons are always changing, I guess I tend to write in allegories and symbolism more than anything, a lot of my songs will have several different meanings in a single stem of thought.
-Could you briefly describe your music-making process?
I suppose it could start with anything. A concept, a phrase, a set of notes, and over time, or sometimes all at once, the music materializes. Inspiration has no rules, no boundaries.
-What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Definitely spontaneous. Whenever I feel the urge to pick up an instrument, their they all are waiting for me.
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-How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Hopefully it has improved, I like to think it has. Since I've taught myself everything I know about mixing and musical structure, most of my earlier works were simply trial and error, though in essence the songs themselves were of good basic quality, I like to pull an old one out of my mental cabinet every now and again to dust off and play. After all, music is pure emotion, so real music will be relatable no matter when it was written.
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-What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
So far I guess the biggest challenge for Sniper Hill has been the fact that I could never seem to find any other band members. But that challenge has been solved by the fact I play everything myself, so therefore have the utmost control over every aspect of my music.
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-What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Fortune in today's music industry is a bad joke. And from what I see of the artists with so-called "fame" I'd like to stay as far away from that spectrum as possible. Of course, it would be nice to spread my music as far into the world as I can so more and more people who enjoy it could listen, and it would also be nice if I could scrape enough money together to go on tours and not have to worry about starving to death, but music is what I love and I'll be doing it wether it pays off in those respects or not.
-What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Basically, be who you want to be. Don't let anyone else's vision of who they want you to act like corrupt your dreams. Write music that you would want to listen to, be your favorite band, create your own world. And if you can, do it with people who share your vision and value the goals you set for yourselves. Music is all about self expression, it's art, it's pure emotion. You are who you choose to be.
-How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard your music before?
Ghostly, dark, surreal, virulent, symbolic, swampy, mysterious, theatrical, undead, colorful, ghoulish, bloody, vibrant, ecstatic, angry, sharp, emotional, terrifying, nostalgic, raw, wild, and luminous.
-How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Yes, you can go to the music section of my Facebook band page and download my latest album Sunrise At The Morgue, or get it directly from my bandcamp site page. Or you can listen on myspace, as well as watch my music videos on youtube.
-Website links in which other people can find your music, or more information for your band?
Here is a list of some of my sites. I'm also always on the lookout for band members, so if anyone is interested you may contact me by the press email listed on my Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sniper-Hill/296794230358635
http://www.youtube.com/user/sniperhillmusic
https://twitter.com/sniperhillmusic
http://www.myspace.com/sniperheaven
http://sniperhill.bandcamp.com/
-Would you ever do an interview like this with us again?
Perhaps.
-Would you like to do more fun/funny questions in another interview?
I warn you, my sense of humor can be somewhat perturbing.
-Any last words?
Abracadabra.
