Interview with The Twilite Broadcasters
by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Christian Lamitschka: Country Music has many new fans in Europe, who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who’se never seen or heard you before.
The Twilite Broadcasters: Vintage Coutry duet singing with rural American fiddle and mandolin and guitar.
Christian Lamitschka: How was the last year for you? What were the highlights?
The Twilite Broadcasters: The last year has been great highlights include recording our new Cd and getting out to play in various parts of the USA
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your latest CD and how’s it doing?
The Twilite Broadcasters: The new Cd is called TheTrail of Time and as of last week it was one of the top 5 most added recordings on The Americana Music Charts
Christian Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD, is there a story behind it?
The Twilite Broadcasters: The title is he name of a song on the CD.
Christian Lamitschka: Do you write the songs yourself and if not, how do you go about finding the songs for the your CD?
The Twilite Broadcasters: We do write our own songs and instrumental tunes,however most of the material are older songs. Mark and I like to find songs with a great hook that works for our voices and we try to find more obscure material so that people can hear great songs they are not familiar with.
Christian Lamitschka: Please tell us about the songs on your album.
The Twilite Broadcasters: The songs on the new CD are a mixture of pre Bluegrass duets some arrangements of 1960’s classic country and rural fiddle and mandolin instrumentals.
I composed the first cut on the recording.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s the difference between your last CD and the current one?
The Twilite Broadcasters: Our new Cd was recorded live with no overdubs and we used a bass player on some cuts,we feel this is a more live sounding recording over all.
Christian Lamitschka: Your current single is being played by radio. What do you thing is specail about this song that makes people what to hear it?
The Twilite Broadcasters: The featured cut is called „Lorene“ we feel it is a alluring and sad love song that sounds timeless… it could have been in the Beatles or the Everly Brothers catalog
Christian Lamitschka: What will your next single be?
The Twilite Broadcasters: Perhaps it will be „Where is my Sailor Boy“ an old Scot/Irish song that made it’s way to American shores a long time ago.
Christian Lamitschka: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
The Twilite Broadcasters: We like songs that have a story that isn’t specific to a time or place but tells a story everyone can connect with.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your favorite song among all the songs you’ve recorded and what’s the story behind it?
The Twilite Broadcasters: Probably „The Trail of Time“. Mark and I were enjoying listening to The Delmore Brothers while we were on the road last year and this song came on and knocked us both out,it is avery different kind of melody for us.
Christian Lamitschka: How much creative control do you have over your music?
The Twilite Broadcasters: 100%
Christian Lamitschka: There’s a lot of work that goes into a Number One hit … what did it take to make it in your case?
The Twilite Broadcasters: This is an optimistic question since we have never had a #1 song … apprently the #1 songs of the world often become #1 for a multitude of reasons „hard work“ seems to have very little to do with success of them.
Christian Lamitschka: Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?
The Twilite Broadcasters: On the road we meet people in there 60’s and 70’s who heard the music we are playing when they were young and really identify with it. When they tell us we remind them of the old days it makes us feel great.
Christian Lamitschka: Who do you look up musiccally and how deep do your musical roots run?
The Twilite Broadcasters: I look up to all the pioneers of Country Music,from the beginning ;Jimmy Rodgers,The Carter Family and all the great rural American recording artists of the 20.30’s 40’s 50’s and 60’s. Both Mark and I learned to play and sing as teenagers,so we have a lot of time devoted to music under our belts.
Christian Lamitschka: What do you think about today’s Country Music versus its roots and where do you see it going in the future?
The Twilite Broadcasters: The Country Music of today bears no relationship to it’s roots in either sound or content. As time moves on there will always be mainstream artists trying to tip their hat to the Country Music of long ago without much attention. My personal opinion is that some non mainstream Americana musicians will find more favor with those who have more sophisticated and eclectic tastes.
Christian Lamitschka: In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between „traditional“ and „new“ country
music?
The Twilite Broadcasters: New Country artists often appear in the mainstrem when a hit single on commercial Country radio becomes a reality. Many of the stars of the older Country music were known as great performers with a distinct style and vision which made for longer careers and more interesting music.
Christian Lamitschka: If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?
The Twilite Broadcasters: Bring back vinyl !
Christian Lamitschka: As an artist you have to do so many different things such as recording, touring, doing interviews etc. What do you like best, what’s your favorite activity?
The Twilite Broadcasters: I love to play concerts for people who enjoy our music.
Christian Lamitschka: Are you doing anything to take country music beyond it’s courrent borders or are you happy where it is?
The Twilite Broadcasters: I would love for people to discover vintage Country Music,perhaps learning something from history would improve the quality of newer music.
Christian Lamitschka: What inspired you to become an artist?
The Twilite Broadcasters: Bill Monroe’s music has always been an inspiration.
Christian Lamitschka: What inspired you to become a songwriter?
The Twilite Broadcasters: The Ideas I have when I write present themselves to me mysteriously and I just let them take over,it’s best to stay out of your own way.
Christian Lamitschka: What drives you?
The Twilite Broadcasters: Happiness!
Christian Lamitschka: When you get time off, how do you like to relax?
The Twilite Broadcasters: I live in The Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina and I love to hike,swim and enjoy nature.
Christian Lamitschka: Is there anything in your life that you would change if you could?
The Twilite Broadcasters: No not right now.
Christian Lamitschka: What has been the biggest disappointment in your life?
The Twilite Broadcasters: The slow collapse of values in the USA in relation to the importance of the Arts.
As my life contiues I continue to see this getting worse.
Christian Lamitschka: Is there anyplace you haven’t played that you would like to?
The Twilite Broadcasters: The Twilite Broadcasters would love to travel and play all over Europe including Germany!
Christian Lamitschka: What can your fans expect to see when they see you in concert?
The Twilite Broadcasters: Great harmony singing and Kick Ass Fiddle,Mandolin and Guitar playing.
Christian Lamitschka: When you’re on tour, do you have time to play tourist?
The Twilite Broadcasterse: Sometimes we have a chance to see a bit of the place we play which is always a treat!
Christian Lamitschka: Many music fans today get their information about artists via the internet. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?
The Twilite Broadcasters: www.twilitebroadcasters.com … ,photos,bio,videos,sound samples.
Christian Lamitschka: Tell us about the fan club and how people can join it.
The Twilite Broadcasters: Please join us on Facebook and Reverb Nation both links are on our homepage.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your favorite song that you wish you could have recorded?
The Twilite Broadcasters: George Jones,“He stopped loving her today“
Christian Lamitschka: What message would you like to send your European fans?
The Twilite Broadcasters: Please request our music on the radio and suggest we come play a show to the folks who run the music venue you enjoy hearing music in.
Christian Lamitschka: Fans are always hungry for good road stories. Do you have one you can tell?
The Twilite Broadcasters: We played a club where the sound egineer was tripping on LSD and insisted on running a smoke machine and light show despite the fact that both are inappropriate for our show.
Christian Lamitschka ( Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de )