THE ARTIST:
With influences stemming from Robert Johnson and Hank Williams, to Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zeppelin, this southern rocker has a lot to say. The Georgia-based frontman BJ Wilbanks, who’s self-titled album is due for release April 28th 2017, incorporates, folk, funk, country, soul, blues, and classic rock to create a solid formula for good music that transcends taste and preference. How he writes his song structure and incorporates horns and old-fashioned techniques obviously resonates with a lot of people, and has given him a sound that certainly caught my attention.
THE ALBUM:
The first tune on the record reminds me of Otis Redding. The intro track “Healin’ My Blues”, captures my attention as a I feel an affinity for The Dave Mathews Band vibe mixed with a blues jam who’s mentality screams like a 70’s funk track.
The lead single “I Can’t Help It” is a crooning love song that showcases great horn instruments and a fully rounded sound that leaves nothing lacking.
The intro to the track “Cui Bono” is classic blues mixed with a Hendrix-esque blues vibe that descends into a thumping paranoid anthem of truth preaching about the system.
And finally the soul baring and personal track “Tied Up & Twisted” is a great song to vibe too. It commands your attention inadvertently, and tries to say all the things we don’t say in a nonchalant way. All the while, sprinkled with just the right amount of guitar riffs and solos.
THE INTERVIEW:
1.So in my review of the album I make a reference to the Otis Redding vibe that I felt on your first song, and unbeknownst to me, another writer recently made that same comparisons is there any credibility to that reference in your sound?
Man, that’s very flattering. I’d love to think so and I definitely get excited to hear people say things like that. I absolutely adore Otis Redding. That’s something my engineer, Kevin Sellors and I have in common. Nobody could bleed their heart out and cry when they sang like Otis! That man hits you to the core no matter what he sings. Thanks for the compliment. And hell yes, we definitely were going for that vibe on that song “Healin My Blues”, so I’m so glad you felt it! Otis is the man.
2. Which element would you call more of an influence on how you create your music, Funk or Soul?
That’s tough. Those two styles are rather vague, especially the “soul” label/genre. Good music is all kind of the same for me really. In the sense that I feel like if it’s “good music” it has to have some soul in it. Not the genre soul, but the human soul. There must be some spirit in the music for it to move you. That’s the element I feel that calls on us and really pulls our heart strings to make us feel it. That kind of feeling is almost beyond us. Both the Funk and Soul styles have a big influence in my music, but no style really has more than another. I dig Rock, Country, Blues, etc just as much. My favorite thing to do is to not even think about it and just let it what comes out come out. I truly feel it all depends upon the song. I do whatever the song needs. I really try to feel what the song is trying to tell me or how it is wanting to sound and let it come through as true as possible. So to answer your question, every style influences me, I’ve never been able to pick just one. I’m a musical omnivore.
3.What’s the deal with the Voodoo Chile-esque intro to the song “Change Your Mind”?
Haha! I totally understand where you’re coming from. I think it’s that notable muted, strings scuff on the wah-pedal guitar in the intro that reminds you of that. Whenever I hear someone scuff their strings with a wah sound on their guitar, I immediately think of it too. Voodoo Chile is such an amazing song and it’s been heard so many times over, that I feel that sound has been engrained in our hearts and minds. So much so that I didn’t even think about the similarity until after we recorded it. I’m glad we accidentally gave a head nod to him though, Hendrix is one of my favorite artists as well. What an amazing human he was.
4.What are the 2 favorite musicians that you love dearly, yet don’t feel influence your work musically?
Man. That’s a very different question. I’ve never before been asked who is a favorite musician that doesn’t influence me. Some of my favorite musicians/bands are The Band, The Allman Brothers, Bill Withers, Al Green…but they influence the hell out of my music. Hmmmm…I can’t really imagine any musician I love that doesn’t influence me musically. I’d have to stretch here, so I’ll say Huey Lewis and the News? And The Strokes? Dang, that’s a mind-bending question. I like it 🙂
5. What led you to decide that this style of music is how you wanted to make your mark in 2017?
I really have never had a set style. That has been something that people used to tell me was a bad thing. They’d always say, “You really need to pick a genre and stop playing so many different kinds of music.” I just never listened, because I can only do what I really love and dig. So I always just wrote, played, and sang whatever compelled me and grabbed my heart the most. So, to answer your question, I still haven’t decided on a style! Haha, I just wanted to make my first album full of some of my favorite songs. I really went with the tunes that moved me and the people listening the most.
6. Whats your favorite track on this release, and why do you feel it represents you best?
Wow, to pick a favorite is tough! I think they are all great, but if I had to pick the ones that I enjoyed making the most, it would be “Healin My Blues” and “My Whole Life.” Those songs really came through well and were very mesmerizing to record. They have wonderful melodies and really created themselves. Yet the songs I feel that “represent” me the best are probably “Change Your Mind” or “Cui Bono.” I’ve always questioned the questionable and un-questionable. Also, I have always felt there’s a lot more to life than what we are told or bought and sold. I sure hope I answered that question somewhat decently.
7. What skills do you seek to improve on as a musician, performer, and creator?
Anything and everything. Whatever I can do to improve, I always try and work hard towards it. Not just musically, but in all aspects of life. Music-wise, I am currently taking piano lessons and finally trying to learn to read music. While I still can’t read music all that well or play the piano the way it’s intended to be played, I am writing some really outstanding songs on keys lately. I love it. Also, I practice daily and try to keep my life in balance as well as I can. I feel like it’s important to focus on the full scope.
8. What’s Bj Wilbank’s next move?
Getting this album out and hopefully jumping back in the studio to do another one real soon. That’s my dream; to create music for a living. I’ll make every move I can to get closer to that reality. I also plan to get out of the city as soon as I can. I need more nature in my life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw4h3oSXYiw
Great Interview with a Great Artist, Follow Up with Him Here
YOUTUBE LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlP3xT2knTFaACY58wWcgw
FACEBOOK LINK:
https://www.facebook.com/BJWilbanksMusic/?fref=ts
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
https://www.bjwilbanks.com/
