They are a dynamic collective of introspective lyricists whose genre-blending melodies and captivating harmonies create a mesmerizing wall of sound, forging an intimate connection with audiences through deeply personal and emotionally evocative live performances. We are happy to introduce you to the talented music band – The Close!
[Blaster] Thank you for your time guys! How did the band come together?
The Close: We are long time friends and have mutual admiration for each other. We’ve always wanted to do music together and in 2018 the stars aligned and we were all in right place and it was the right time.
[Blaster] Describe the band or the band’s music in one sentence?
The Close: We’ve been called, “A wall of mesmerizing sound coming straight at you”…
[Blaster] As a band, is there one person who is the leader (so to speak) or do you work and write together tossing ideas around? How do you stay focused as a band and to avoid common band disagreements in all facets, including writing, recording and making the decisions?
The Close: We are a democracy and rely on each other’s individual strengths, experiences and skill sets to work and write together and we get together regularly to discuss pressing issues, goals, and timeframe. No Egos! That is the beauty of the Close. We can’t avoid disagreements, nor do we want to, so we expect and embrace them. We are truly a sum of our parts. it’s unbelievable how different we are from one another, but we have learned that this is our superpower.
[Blaster] Do you collectively have a favorite album?
The Close: We have had incredibly different careers up to now, though there are definitely songs that oddly unite us, such as “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell, which greatly influenced both Shannon and James earlier in life.
[Blaster] Is there an hidden meaning in your music?
The Close: We may possibly be mysterious individuals, and there may be a little in our name, The Close, but we like to think that our music is relatable, tangible and honest to who we are as writers.
[Blaster] For upcoming bands, can you tell us what the secret is of keeping a band together for so long?
The Close: Shannon: “Listening, communication are key. You have to Listen to each other’s ideas and be willing to bend sometimes and meet each other halfway. And you also must communicate openly! If you don’t let your band mates know what is on your mind, good or bad, then this can lead to major blow ups. It’s the foundation that you build together when things are going great, that keeps you together during the hard times.
James: My opinion of this is that 2 things need to be present. 1. People may be a great fit musically and or personally, but they have to primarily be in the proper stage of their life for the endeavor and know the expectations from the very beginning. 2. Most importantly you have to make a true commitment to each other. Many people think they are committed to something until it gets hard. We actually had this conversation in the car on the way from LA to Nashville before we even played the first note together as The Close. I said, “There’s nothing keeping us from success if we simply stay together.”
Lori: James brought this up from the very beginning and I agree: Don’t break up. You MUST stay together to succeed.
[Blaster] Where do you find your artistic inspiration?
The Close: Shannon: “Sometimes it’s as if the artistic inspiration finds us. I always have a song or melody in my head… I feel like I am always writing, regardless of what I’m actually doing. James: “I’m inspired by everything! Also, I stick to the mindset that as long as the people creating it like it, it’s good. Lori: “Inspiration to me is more about mood and emotion. I’ve been inspired to write a song by driving through the drive-thru at McDonald’s. Seeing the single mom’s at work at 5 am to provide for their families. Inspiration can hit for any reason.”
[Blaster] Any plans on new music? When can we expect a new album or EP?
The Close: The first single from our upcoming album dropped this month, it’s called Coming to Break Your Heart. The next single, Living it Right drops with our new album, Orbit, on Oct 27th! We have another 10 songs in the can that we originally intended to release with this album and wehave many new songs in the works. There have been talks of doing another EP recorded in the acoustic trio style of our first EP which we are in talks to record them at the Cash Cabin in the Spring. We also have 2 songs recorded just before COVID at Victor Records in New Jersey that were never released.
[Blaster] Where can people see you perform next? Do you have a 2023 tour scheduled yet?
The Close: We are already booking into 2024. Check our tour dates at www.TheCloseMusic.com. Next up, we will be at The People’s Room in Mobile, AL on Oct 6th.
[Blaster] Tell us about your latest song. Was it specifically inspired by anything or anyone? Where was it recorded??
The Close: So, for our latest single, Coming to Break Your Heart, we were very patient with it and waited until it was the right time to write it. Lori wrote the bass line and some of the music years ago when she was not quite a teenager. She always knew she wanted to use it complete it, but never found the right melody or lyrics. A few years ago, Shannon came up with this great earworm and partial chorus but still, it didn’t feel like the right time. Fast forward to a writer’s retreat with James. Lori played her version on the piano. James transitioned it to guitar, and the rest is history and we finished it that very night. It’s not about breaking someone’s heart outright or hurting them, but showing them that it’s breakable. To show you how much you do love me, but your actions are saying something different. So I’m going to show you that I’m not breaking your heart; you are. Coming to Break Your Heart was the first song written by the three of us. This is not the reason for it being a single, but we all feel like it’s a fresh sound and equally excited about how it turned out. We did some tracking sessions for this album with Engineer Michael St. Leon at the Switchyard in Nashville TN, but this particular track was recorded and mixed at my home in Hendersonville TN.
[Blaster] What is one musical goal that you have had for this year?
The Close: Releasing our new Album “Orbit”, Oct. 27th , was one goal of ours, certainly, but the cumulative goal is to connect with as many listeners as possible. Our strength is our listeners, whether they are first time or longtime fans. Their feedback fuels us. We are reminded at every show how blessed we are for this opportunity to share our passions and hearts.
[Blaster] Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be in this group?
The Close: The very second that Lori told me (James) that they were moving back to Nashville, we jumped on it. There was NO QUESTION that we were forming a band together! Regarding our name, we had spent several months meeting two to three times a week to practice before we ever discussed a band name. Probably six months in, we began searching for not only an appropriate name but an available name. It was excruciating because everything we liked was already take. But once James offered up the name, “The Close”, and the meaning behind it, there was no push back. We were all on board.
[Blaster] Do you all hang out socially apart from the music?
The Close: Absolutely! We are best friends! Our hang out time usually ends up in a band discussion though. We all enjoy golf. Now that I think about it, our time spent working on the band is our hang time. We love this project so much. It’s our favorite thing to talk about and do!
[Blaster] Where do you think you are all happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?
The Close: Shannon: “I enjoy every aspect of creating music with Lori and James, no matter what stage it’s in. Writing the song, recording the song or performing the song. I love every bit of it. James: I’m happiest when playing golf! I stay fired up about all bits and pieces of the music creation and performances, but those things aren’t about my happiness.
I love working on a new song and the endless possibilities. I love recording, that’s my wheelhouse but there is a level of pressure and tediousness.
Performing for me is about the listener. I’ll happily play with blistered fingers and on no sleep to create wonderful memories but it’s not my happy place!
Music, as it should be is a reflection of me. It somewhat defines me. But just like being a parent defines me, it’s not all cupcakes and cracker jacks!
Lori: That’s tough for me because all I do is work on music. If it’s something involving creating it, recording it or performing it, I’m in my happy place. I have a harder time with the in-between parts, like traveling to the gigs or getting to a gig and waiting those hours between soundcheck and the performance. I am IMPATIENT, but anything music is my happy place. This band is my happy place. I can’t believe I get to make music with these two people. It blows my mind sometimes that they chose to do this with me. I don’t take it for granted.
[Blaster] Are there any funny stories that happened to you while traveling together, that you want to share with our readers?
The Close: James: So many! We have created many traditions over the years of traveling together. One in particular is Lori and Shannon singing a Didi they wrote when approaching and crossing the Nickajack River. No matter what conversation is underway the moment we hit the bridge they break into harmony. I find it humorous because of their conviction and almost scary change of character and attitude in that moment. I challenge the readers to confront them about this if given the chance!
[Blaster] What do you hope is the message of your music?
The Close: I’m not sure of a message but I’m convinced that people all have their own takeaways. Even as writers we are working on the same song with different experiences and voices and deep internal thoughts that we bring to it. I would guess that each and every song in our catalogue is different to each of us!
[Blaster] Would you like to give any message to your fans?
The Close: We appreciate you in every capacity. Don’t get stuck on who we are, we are evolving every day and have so much to offer. We will always try our best to be the best people we can be. We hope you’ll stay tuned and be part of this lifecycle with us!
[Blaster] Tell us where fans can follow your work and access your music?
The Close: www.TheCloseMusic.com and all platforms that have music.
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