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Q & A: A PERMANENT SHADOW




PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOU AND YOUR MUSIC AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.


My name is CP Fletcher and I am the vocalist in A Permanent Shadow. I started working on this project in 2017 and released the album “Songs of Loss” in late 2019. A Permanent Shadow is basically my solo project in which I collaborate with different musicians from my hometown of Barcelona.


TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE?


Our new single “Shining Star” will be out on September 24th. Lyrically it deals with envy and jealousy among friends and family members, while musically it’s a bit reminiscent of early Bowie songs like “Starman” or “Space Oddity”, with lots of acoustic guitars and strings on it.


WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM OR SINGLE?


Well, as opposed to the first record which had the theme of loss as a common thread, the new album “Humdrum” will be a bit more diverse. I mainly write about stuff that I loathe or that amazes me. There are songs about the corporate world, tsunamis, self-help gurus and ageing among other topics.


CAN YOU SUM UP THE ALBUM IN A FEW WORDS?


“Humdrum” is quite an ambitious record that combines New Wave with elements of Dance and Electronica. It has an Eighties touch but with modern production values. First and foremost though, I’d say the songs are honest and don’t shy away from weirdness or quirkiness.


WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?


“Let’s Dance” by David Bowie. I was only a child when it came out, but it was the record that hooked me onto music and ignited my wish to be involved in music in whatever capacity. Looking back, it’s fair to say it’s not Bowie’s greatest moment, but I still have a soft spot for the album.


DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO FILMED BY YOUR BAND OR ANOTHER ARTIST?


For all our videos we collaborate with a very talented filmmaker named Daniel Moreno. My personal number one is the video we did for a song called “Radical Change” in which this very attractive bodybuilder lady transforms from undervalued housewife into a kind of Superwoman. The video’s available on Youtube:



When it comes to other people’s clips, my all-time favourite is “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys.


WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?


I live in Barcelona, so it’s very likely you’ll find me on the beach or taking a walk through town. I love the architecture and the Mediterranean lifestyle which consists of spending vast amounts of your time sipping coffee on a terrace and talking about the weather to people you don’t know.


DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING LIVE, IF SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?


I don’t tend to get very nervous up until maybe two minutes before showtime, but once I’m onstage the nervousness evaporates. What puts me at unease is when things are not well rehearsed in terms of lighting, visuals or performance.


HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?


I used to be a drummer but got increasingly unsatisfied with that role and decided to start writing and recording my own songs as a vocalist. It must have been around 2016/17 when I teamed up with this great keyboarder, Albert, who helped me whip my songs into shape. I’ve been working with him ever since, although he prefers not to be an official band member.


HOW DO YOU WRITE? - DO YOU HAVE A KEY SONGWRITER, OR DO YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER?


I write all the lyrics and basic melodies. I don’t play any melodic instrument – just drums and percussion – so I need other players to flesh out the songs. Luckily, I’ve established a modus operandi which works quite well. I work with Albert on pre-production and with another musician friend, Valentin, in the recording studio. Albert plays keyboards, Valentin guitars and bass, and some additional guests come into the studio for drums, strings and whatnot. Live we rely o hired hands to complete the line-up. You see, A Permanent Shadow is not a band in the conventional sense.


WHAT INSPIRES YOU?


If you wear your songwriting antennae, virtually anything is a potential inspiration. My own life experience, conversations with friends, some interesting comment you overhear on the street… Anything can trigger my imagination and push me towards writing a song. I also find a lot of inspiration in esoteric practices such as tarot or aura readings. That said, I am not a consistent writer. There are periods of absolute drought which are followed by episodes of frantic writing.


WHAT IS NEXT?


Our single “Shining Star” is out in autumn, followed by a further couple of singles, and then the album “Humdrum” in March. I am also working on album number three and a covers EP which will probably see the light of day towards mid-2022. Over the next few months, I will be quite busy promoting the new record and hopefully playing some live shows.


PLEASE TELL US ANY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SO WE CAN SHARE.


A Permanent Shadow is on Instagram (www.instagram.com/apermanentshadow) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/apermanentshadow). You can also check out www.apermanentshadow.com

for updates and more information.

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