The Color Blew

The Color Blew Interview with Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (Interview With Liaan Horton – Vocals & Rhythm Guitar)

PD: How would you describe yourself as an artist?

LH: Very original and very influenced at the same time… I study musicians, writers and producers. Personally it’s a passion that now at this point surpasses any commercial success for me and I am infatuated with the craft… which is cool place to write and create from.

PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.

LH: I was born and raised in a small mining town just outside Johannesburg called Springs. Early on I decided music was what spoke to me when I discovered my Fathers old acoustic guitar. I dragged it behind me singing La Bamba and the rest is history.

PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?

LH: When I was younger it was all internalised feelings, angst, melancholy all that teenage bullshit, and as I progressed it shifted to people I would meet and their stories. Currently its all about moments I try and derive a picture from the music…and the lyrics then describe only that moment or feeling.

PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?

LH: To be remembered and to give back and teach, help and assist where I can.

PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?

LH: There has been many… from having a song featured on a huge TV series all the way to staying on the SA Top 40 Charts for 3 Months amongst many others.

PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms in the day of the home studio. How is that going?

LH: I believe the cream will rise to the top… there are many tastes and many ears… We should never focus on competing it distracts from delivering your best… focus on what you do learn from others success and mistakes… Make it happen regardless of what preconceived ideas you have. Adapt and flow with the market.

PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?

LH: We have a wonderful agent and we also hustle with our contacts we have built up over the years. We are currently finishing up our next single and the shows should follow shortly!

PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?

LH: Nothing beats holding the physical product reading the album liner notes or dissecting the cover art… but everything evolves and we must also adapt or be left behind. There are many advantages and disadvantages that we could discuss at length but overall it does allow the artist more freedom to create but the payment model must be relooked …

PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?

LH: There are so many but if there was one it would be Starlight from Myles Kennedy and Slash.

PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?

LH: Pretentious bias towards acting a certain way and sounding a certain way that is designed to only sell you as the product wrapped in layers of music that is manufactured and not created… this would make sense to those that get it.