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10 Questions with ... Old Dominion
October 12, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Consisting of four Virginians: Matt Ramsey (Frontman), Geoff Sprung (Bass), Whit Sellers (Drums), Brad Tursi (Lead Guitar); and one Michigander, Trevor Rosen (guitar, vocals), Old Dominion eventually came together in Nashville, TN. During the past 10 years of writing and honing their sound as a band, a number of their songs have been recorded and released by an impressive list that includes The Band Perry, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Chris Young, and Craig Morgan. Out on the road, the live show is dialed in. Opening for acts like Trace Adkins, Brett Eldredge, and Jake Owen, their sound has tightened into a cohesive blend of Country lyric and Rock instrumentation, fused with Pop and Hip-Hop sensibilities. It even led to a debut on the world-renowned Grand Ole Opry. The extensive touring has also helped ease the transition into the studio. Working with Grammy Winning producer Shane McAnally and acclaimed studio veteran Ilya Toshinsky at the helm, Old Dominion is one of the few bands in Country music to write, record, and perform all of its own music.
1) Old Dominion, thanks for taking time to chat with All Access! You just released your self-titled EP on October 7th. Is there a certain vibe to this album? What can we expect?
Matt Ramsey: There is a vibe to it, and that is fun!
Trevor Rosen: When you look at the album cover, you'll see that we don't really take ourselves too seriously! (laughs)
Brad Tursi: We have fun with it and as a result, you get some catchy, fun songs.
2) Shane McAnally, who recently won a GRAMMY for producing Kacey Musgraves' album, is also the producer on your EP. How did that pairing come about and do you believe working with him has brought you a different kind of "sound" than you've had in the past?
MR: It started with me, him, and Trevor writing together. We talked a lot about this EP and who we would want to produce it, and it just seemed like a natural fit to go with Shane because we had this 'thing' when we would write together. He's such a creative guy and he definitely has his own style. I think it's a nice addition to what we do.
3) As a band full of songwriters, you've received cuts by The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Jake Owen and a lot more. There is a lot of money to be made that way. What makes you want to do the artist thing?
MR: It's not about the money for us.
TR: That's what we started out doing. We didn't start out doing it because we wanted to make a lot of money; we started doing it because we love music. Secondly, it is a vehicle for you as a songwriter.
MR: Yeah, it's awesome to get outside cuts, but when you're an artist, there's no bigger reward than writing a song and hearing the crowd sing it back to you. It's great to have other artists sing your songs, it's amazing, but being an artist and seeing people respond to different songs is the ultimate validation.
4) SiriusXM's The Highway has been big supporters of your music since early this year, really growing your fan base. In fact, your current single, "Shut Me Up," reached #11 on SiriusXM's The Highway Hot 45 Countdown. Where is your focus more right now... getting out on the road to continue building that fan base through shows or to head out on a radio tour and build fans that way?
Geoff Sprung: Our focus is on both at the same time. We're out there doing shows and then visiting radio stations in those markets.
MR: It's not a traditional "radio tour" but we're out there as a touring band and making sure to visit our friends at radio along the way.
5) Speaking of SiriusXM, you're currently out on the road with Chase Rice, who built a big fan base by touring and gaining airplay on SiriusXM. Do you see this as a template for an upstart for your band and has he given you any advice on how to navigate the industry as artists?
MR: We haven't had a chance to get advice from him yet, but what we are going to benefit from touring with him is that he's had a lot of success from getting played on SiriusXM, much like we are starting to. We know that his fans like to discover new music, and that is going to be really awesome for us to be out on the road with him. The crowd has responded really well so far and I feel like it is a great fit for us.
GS: On a big picture level, I think you can do something easier if you know it's been done before. Chase has created a model, and now we're kind of following along doing the same thing.
TR: I feel like there's not just one way to do it anymore. I really think the way Chase has done it is a viable model.
6) You all have been hitting the road a lot lately. Do you remember the first show you had where the crowd was singing the lyrics back to you and you all thought, 'Hey, Maybe we've got something here"?
MR: Absolutely! It was in Rome, GA at a place called Brewhouse Music & Grill. There's an older song of ours called "Day One." The only way people would know it is from seeing one of our live shows, or from having one of our older EPs we use to hand out. This was the third time we had played this particular venue and the crowd started singing the song back to us. I thought to myself 'What is going on? This is crazy!' It was amazing.
7) You're a band. Currently, on Mediabase there are only three "bands" that are in the top 50: The Eli Young Band, Parmalee, and the Cadillac Three. It seems like there's a lack of both females and bands on the Country charts. Do you think there is a lane for bands in Country music and how hard to you perceive that road to be?
TR: I definitely think there is room for it.
MR: I think it's harder for solo female artists. It's easier for bands to set themselves apart from other bands; whereas with a female artist it's a little harder to do that.
GS: With a solo artist, you have one person, one personality. But, with a band, you have multiple people and multiple personalities. When you see our band name, there's not just one face you put with it. We all have different personalities, and I think that shines through in our music, in our shows, and on our CD cover.
8) Staying on the subject of lanes, your music has got a rock/edgy feel to it. Do you feel like that lane is wide open for the taking?
GS: Let's hope! (laughs)
MR: I think it definitely is. I don't think we would be here talking to you if it wasn't. The genre lines are kind of blending together right now. People like Sam Hunt are proving that you don't have to just do the traditional style of music.
9) As we mentioned, you all are a great group of songwriters. A big artist like Chesney or Luke Bryan wants to a cut a song that you feel could be a big hit for Old Dominion. What do you do?
MR: If we think it's going to be a big hit for Old Dominion? Then, I guess we say no! (laughs)
TR: We use to always say yes!
MR: We're reaching that point now, which is a great place to be. On one hand, as songwriters, it awesome that we have artists like that who want to record our music; but, at some point, we're going to have to start saying 'no' so we have the material for us. Like I said, it's a great problem to have! It's not an easy decision. There will probably be a few times where we'll be like 'Ehhh, maybe we should let them have that one!' (laughs)
10) A lot of Country programmers and industry folks will be reading this. What does Old Dominion bring to the table that you want them to know about you?
MR: Our personalities shine through in everything that we do: in our songwriting and our performance of those songs. Once they see that, they're going to feel that personality. We just like to have fun and have fun with each other. I think once our songs hit the radio, the listeners will be able to feel that and hear that too.
Bonus Questions
1) It can be pretty interesting being out on the road with five guys. About how many days or weeks in do you all start to get sick of each other?
GS: Never!
BT: We just did our longest run, almost 3 1/2 weeks, and I feel like we could have kept going!
TR: We're lucky because we all get along really well.
MR: Everyone needs their break every now and then and everyone else recognizes that, so we usually don't run into many problems.
2) As we all know, bunks on the tour bus are all very close in proximity. Which one of you is the early riser who wakes everyone up and which one of you is the night owl who won't let anyone go to sleep?
GS: Wait a minute, let's backup and talk about this tour bus! We're still in a van! (Whole band starts laughing)
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