Even though Bobby Long released his debut studio album only two months ago, the 24 year-old British singer/songwriter is already being likened to a young Bob Dylan. Of course, such a comparison can be a tremendous blessing or curse depending on your point of view. Fortunately, Long takes the compliment in stride, opting instead to focus on touring and promoting his CD A Winter Tale (ATO Records). On Tuesday, April 5, Long - a current New York City resident - will make his Workplay debut with an 8 p.m. performance. Recently, we caught up with Long by phone from his tour stop in Greenville, S.C.
Birmingham Weekly: Bobby, thanks for your time today. How does your schedule look in the coming weeks?
Bobby Long: Were out for about two weeks and then I have a brief four days off in New York. After that, Im off to Australia. As long as Im keeping busy, Im happy.
BW: If you will, talk about your adopted home of New York City.
BL: I love it - its great and its constantly changing. I get bored really quickly and its impossible to be bored there. The only bad thing about it is its all or nothing. Youre either in your apartment or youre out and about in a blistering city, but if you need to escape you can jump on a train.
BW: Your new CD is garnering a tremendous critical response.
BL: Im really pleased - its really fun to have a product that Im happy with. Im really pleased that I was able to record it in the way I wanted to record it, doing it live and on tape and the musicians I got to work with were great. Im proud of it, but Im also thinking about the next one. I want to do one (album) a year.
BW: Are you still writing and developing new ideas while youre on the road?
BL: I can definitely work on ideas, but its difficult to write in a van with six people. Im definitely writing, but its more lyrical rather than full songs, so to speak. Im always able to keep moving forward with it, which is great.
BW: How do you feel about technologys prominent role in music? Is it a positive thing or does it create an unhealthy overabundance?
BL: With technology, everyones making music now. You dont have to learn to play an instrument anymore - you can get (software) Garage Band and use samples and all of the sudden youre called a musician. You have to cut through the clutter, which is different than in other times. I feel differently about it on a day-to-day scale. Sometimes it can get frustrating and the next day its great because I can write a song and give it to people on Twitter and get 200 more fans on Twitter, which is great. Im forced to play that game a little bit. Over-saturation is not a good thing in terms of art.
BW: You recently appeared on The Tonight Show. How was the experience?
BL: That was great and very unexpected - the album had been out for two days. I thought those kinds of things would come around maybe a year after the album came out. It goes by fast, but the half hour before you go onstage is the longest half hour of your whole life. You panic and say, I never wanted to play in front of 5 million people. I just want to go back and make records in my bedroom (laughs). But after its done, you say, I could do that again.
Tickets to the all-ages show are $10 and can be purchased at www.workplay.com.
Birmingham Weekly: Bobby, thanks for your time today. How does your schedule look in the coming weeks?
Bobby Long: Were out for about two weeks and then I have a brief four days off in New York. After that, Im off to Australia. As long as Im keeping busy, Im happy.
BW: If you will, talk about your adopted home of New York City.
BL: I love it - its great and its constantly changing. I get bored really quickly and its impossible to be bored there. The only bad thing about it is its all or nothing. Youre either in your apartment or youre out and about in a blistering city, but if you need to escape you can jump on a train.
BW: Your new CD is garnering a tremendous critical response.
BL: Im really pleased - its really fun to have a product that Im happy with. Im really pleased that I was able to record it in the way I wanted to record it, doing it live and on tape and the musicians I got to work with were great. Im proud of it, but Im also thinking about the next one. I want to do one (album) a year.
BW: Are you still writing and developing new ideas while youre on the road?
BL: I can definitely work on ideas, but its difficult to write in a van with six people. Im definitely writing, but its more lyrical rather than full songs, so to speak. Im always able to keep moving forward with it, which is great.
BW: How do you feel about technologys prominent role in music? Is it a positive thing or does it create an unhealthy overabundance?
BL: With technology, everyones making music now. You dont have to learn to play an instrument anymore - you can get (software) Garage Band and use samples and all of the sudden youre called a musician. You have to cut through the clutter, which is different than in other times. I feel differently about it on a day-to-day scale. Sometimes it can get frustrating and the next day its great because I can write a song and give it to people on Twitter and get 200 more fans on Twitter, which is great. Im forced to play that game a little bit. Over-saturation is not a good thing in terms of art.
BW: You recently appeared on The Tonight Show. How was the experience?
BL: That was great and very unexpected - the album had been out for two days. I thought those kinds of things would come around maybe a year after the album came out. It goes by fast, but the half hour before you go onstage is the longest half hour of your whole life. You panic and say, I never wanted to play in front of 5 million people. I just want to go back and make records in my bedroom (laughs). But after its done, you say, I could do that again.
Tickets to the all-ages show are $10 and can be purchased at www.workplay.com.
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