Greenville Scene

by: Michelle Hannon

GS: Your first full-length album just came out last year. It took 3 years to record, that’s kind of unusual for an indie band. Was that part of your plan or just what happened?

Andy Lehman: Wow… you guys have done your homework! I feel a little ‘stalked’ right now…. I’m totally kidding. You know, many young men view that long, hot, miserable summer working construction for their uncle’s friend as the season of life where they ‘came of age’ and entered into the world of responsibilities and self-sustenance. Well, making Landline was my coming of age experience, in that I had to essentially duct tape the process of life, responsibilities, and making a record together into one. I had just graduated college and I had no money, but I knew I wanted to make a record. So I strolled up into a Palmetto Bank location one day, I didn’t really know a soul in there, and presented them with an essay on why they should loan me the money to make a record. Eventually, they did loan me the money and off I went. The loan, however, lasted all of four days in a respectable studio and I was left with a shell of half of a record, so I had to figure something else out. I had been cutting people’s grass for income, so the logical decision for me was to turn the little side job into something more professional (and lucrative), all with the goal of making my record. It only took three years, but at the end of it, I had a legit business and my record finished, all nice and tidy and neat. And at the end of the process, I was a full blown, responsible man… which is not what I set out to accomplish, but was in fact a nice by product of the process…

GS: Who did you record with and how was that experience?

AL: Great question. I aimed high. I had a list of people that I wanted to work with, and it just so happens that my first preference for producer took the bait and jumped headfirst into the project with me. His name is Holiday Childress of Asheville’s The Goodies. He is, quite simply, a musical genius and a longtime hero of mine. I was absolutely stunned when he emailed me back and said that he would produce the record. Spending time with one of my rock heroes was by far the best part of the experience. I also got to work with a guy named Jayce Fincher, who was the bass player in my all-time favorite band, The Marvelous 3. He played bass on 5 of the tracks, and that was a bit of a dream come true itself. All told, the process of being in a professional studio making a record is amazing… when you can afford it. The other part of the process, making the money to get back into the studio when I would run out, was not very fun. It’s quite a downer to be all amped up one day laying down tracks in a studio, then be at work the next, exhausted.

GS: You seem to have quite a bit of tenacity. What are your goals for your music career?

AL: Oh thanks! I appreciate you saying that. I don’t know if it’s as much tenacity as it is brute stubbornness. I wasn’t going to let Landline slip through my hands and not finish it. And I certainly wasn’t going to let the process itself beat me. I was going to finish making the record if it was the last thing I ever did. It was really hard at times, because while many of my friends were off having fun on the weekends, I was commuting to the studio in Asheville, working until the wee hours of the morning, and then driving back. That was hard. However… NOW I have the knowledge of how to make a record. I essentially went to production school for 3 years. So, as I am promoting Landline, playing shows, and getting the word out on what myself and the band are up to, I am also in the process of writing the next record. I will head back into the studio this winter and hope to release it in the fall of 2009.

My overall goals, as far as music is concerned, is to continue building a fan base, garner trust with the public that our material is worth checking out, and hopefully have a career in songwriting and performing. I even have plans to convert an old hearse and use it for a tour bus; anything and everything to grab the public’s attention and hold onto it. Ha!

GS: How has the response been to the record?

AL: I have actually gotten a really great response to the record. It really seems to be striking a chord with people. I suppose it’s a good sign when all kinds of different people state different songs from the record as their favorite. It shows me that the record is full of songs that appeal to different people in different ways, which means a lot to me. “Winter”, for example, seems to be a song that people can identify with when they miss someone. “Stop” is a big, loud, rock song that a lot of younger people seem to really enjoy. “I Don’t Think of Love” seems to be a popular, almost anthemic song among twenty-something’s that are feeling a little upset about their current breakup fiasco’s. “Carwash” is popular among people that are more into the singer-songwriter scene. So all told, I’m getting some really great feedback from people in many different seasons and walks of life.

GS: Did you play out much before the record came out?

AL: I did play out some, but not too much. Acclimating to life after college, building a business to finance a record, and recording were all combining together to consume all of my time. I spent very little time doing anything else. The weeks were filled with work, and the weekends were filled with studio time, so I didn’t have much time to play shows. But I do now, and we are beginning to play live more and more.

GS: Is Greenville your hometown? How has being from or living in Greenville affected your music career?

AL: I am from Greenville. I was born and raised here. And I would say that growing up in Greenville has most certainly affected things for me musically. I’m a big fan of fall here and I love to put the windows down, crank the heat in my car, go for a long drive and take in the world around me with all of the colors and beauty during the autumn months. I would say I’m most inspired as a songwriter during that time of year, and some of the best material I’ve written to date have been written during the autumn months. I love that we have four complete seasons in Greenville. Summertime is hot, autumn is incredible, winter is cold, and springtime is completely miserable for anyone with allergies… I didn’t realize this until after the fact, but there are two songs on Landline that have seasons as titles: “Summertime” and “Winter”. Those are two of my favorites… both of which were written during the fall months. Neither of which is a song about fall, but nonetheless came to me when I was inspired by my surroundings here in G-Vegas.

GS: What advice would you give kids who are maybe in high school and wanting to pursue a career in rock music?

AL: I say go for it! A word of warning though… Your parents will most likely try to steer you towards a more stable career. And you can’t blame them for that. My parents were skeptical at first and raised an eyebrow or two when I started chasing this, but now they are two of my biggest fans. They often come to our shows in Greenville, and buy the record for all of their friends. The BIGGEST piece of advice I would give though is to be passionate about what you do. Whether it’s medicine, law, construction, teaching, caring for others, whatever. Be passionate about it and chase it down.

One of the greatest influences on my life to date, among many others, is Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter. What Steve taught me, as I watched countless hours of his show late at night, was to be passionate. He devoted his life to what he did. He got excited about what he was doing in the world. I was devastated when he died, and cried my eyes out. But the man taught me something. He taught me and showed me how to do something I had a passion for. No matter what I do, I never want to give it anything less than I’m capable of. So, whether I’m making music, performing music, recording music, helping someone, or just hanging out with friends, I want to be all there, living completely in that moment, with passion. That’s the best advice I know to give.

www.myspace.com/andylehman