John Amadon drops his lockdown masterpiece!
John Amadon drops his lockdown masterpiece!
LISTEN FREE HERE:
His fifth album, Monarchs of the Spukhaus finds Reno, NV-based pop songsmith John Amadon following up his critically-acclaimed releases, including 2011’s Seven Stars and 2013’s The Bursting Sheaf, with another collection of haunting melodies that make good bedfellows with easy-laid beats. Set for a June 12th release, the album enchants you into Amadon's world of pop craft know-how.
A multi-instrumentalist, Monarch
BIOGRAPHY:
On his fifth album, Monarchs of the Spukhaus, Reno, Nevada-based popsmith singer-songwriter John Amadon follows up his critically-acclaimed releases, including 2011’s Seven Stars and 2013’s The Bursting Sheaf, with another collection of haunting melodies that make good bedfellows with easy-laid beats. Set for a June 12th release, the album once again finds Amadon enchanting you into his world of pop craft know-how.
A multi-instrumentalist, Monarch
“The pandemic forced me to cancel the studio dates I had booked with Chet Lyster (Eels). With no end to the pandemic in sight I ditched my recording plans, built a home studio, and taught myself how to use recording software,” Amadon says of the making of the record. “I learned quickly, and having the studio in the next room allowed me to take all the time I wanted without worrying about studio costs. Without people around I also felt more relaxed and more free to experiment.”
Moving to Reno from Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2017, Amadon started thinking about working on another record. But, as he admits, “I didn't really have any notion of what the record could be, or what to write about. I also didn't have the kind of frictions in my life anymore that gave me fodder for writing in the past.”
But, then the idea hit him, to make a Twin Peaks-inspired album.
“David Lynch is a huge influence of mine. As big as any musical artist. I’m a Twin Peaks devotee going back to when it aired on TV in 1990. It's been a huge part of my life for 30 years,” he confesses. “I view it as a perfect work of art. When Twin Peaks came back for a third season in 2017 it was one of the most exciting things ever for me. The anticipation was crazy for a year building up to it.”
That’s when he thought up the initial idea for what would become Monarchs of the Spukhaus.
“One day that fall I was driving around and thinking about Twin Peaks the Return (season 3) and all its mysteries. In a flash I got the idea to do a sort of concept record about Twin Peaks in which the songs would explore characters, themes, and episodes of the series. Not in the musical style of the show, but using my personal songwriting style. I wanted the songs to sound like my songs, and be written in such a way that other Twin Peaks fans would immediately recognize what the songs were about, but also that they would just be songs, songs that would still resonate for someone who is oblivious to Twin Peaks. I was fired up by this idea not only because of the enthusiasm I have for the show, but as an exercise in writing. I had never tried to do anything like this before.”
Over the next many months he wrote a bunch of songs revolving around Twin Peaks, which triggered him into writing mode once again, giving him song ideas that weren’t related to the Twin Peaks concept. That’s when he abandoned the Twin Peaks-only idea and the record really started to take shape.
“After awhile I started to think the idea of an entire record based on this concept was too much, and over time the Twin Peaks stuff became just a part of the overall jib of the record. Only a couple of the ‘Twin Peaks songs’ made the record,” he says. “But, there are allusions to the show and to other parts of Lynch's oeuvre strewn throughout the record. The record is somewhat of an ode to David Lynch, but it also ended up being an homage to other films and non-musical art that I've loved and been influenced by.”
Of the name of the record, Amadon says, “My wife is a research scientist who works with Monarch butterflies. I’m a Germanist who loves wordplay. The title is a kind of symbolic representation of my marriage.”
The result is a record that came out almost exactly how he heard it in his head, despite the fact that he engineered and mixed it himself, something he is very proud of.
“The record holds its own sonically with my other ones even though I had never engineered or mixed before,” he says with enthusiasm. “When I decided to go it alone I expected I would have to accept a significant drop in sound quality compared to the others. But it turned out great.”
Opening with the breezy jangle of “Poor Teresa,” Amadon immediately establishes himself as a devotee of all things pop. Some may quickly reference The Beatles, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, reminiscing melodically about the glory days of AM radio.
The aptly-titled “Entering a Northwest Town” basks in a late-night, subdued variety of pop, putting the warmth and overcast summers of the Northwest into a sound. “Without a Doubt” is rich with harmonica, piano, gentle acoustic guitars, and rain-like drums (courtesy of Scott McPherson) pushing the song, while Brainard bursts the song wide open with a mesmerizing pedal steel solo.
But the album isn’t without its rock, either. “Lighthouse Keeper” showcases Amadon’s love of power-pop, while “Parable of the Lone Mare” takes it even further with straight-ahead rock ’n’ roll, without losing his eye on the pop prize.
“Flamethrowers in the Mall” once again returns Amadon to the jangly core of the album, while “To Get Back Home” offers a swaying number you can dance to.
Ending with “Here You Are,” Amadon finishes with one of the album’s most tender, heart-on-the-sleeve numbers on the album.
When asked how he feels the album fits in with the musical landscape of today, Amadon is at a loss.
“I couldn't say,” he quickly responds. “I don't pay too much attention to the musical landscape. If there are still people that are into songwriting and the range of pop-rock genres I write in, then I think the record has a place in the landscape. Admittedly, my music is very album oriented though. Ideally, it's meant to be listened to from start to finish, preferably with headphones. I could be wrong, but in the age of streaming I don't think many artists are still approaching music making this way. I hope I'm wrong, because the journey that listening to records from beginning to end can take you on is one of the deeper things that music has to offer.”
Monarchs of the Spukhaus is music made by an artist without any financial support or promotional backing from a label. Knowingly off the beaten path of the music industry, the record is the sound of an artist not driven by the pursuit of fame or money, but by a passion for songwriting. All for art's sake; not to please A&R guys, not to create something Amadon thinks will turn elitists into his fans, and certainly not to "sell out." Monarchs of the Spukhaus proves that Amadon does it to make himself happy, to make records he can play for friends with a smile and pride. But, that doesn't mean he doesn't want people to take notice and find enjoyment in his music either.
While Amadon rarely plays live and doesn't tour, he keeps writing, recording, and working on his songwriting, getting stronger with each new song. You can hear this in Monarchs of the Spukhaus, a soothing blend of the upbeat and the relaxing, a well- grooved record that is as much a headphones listen as it is something to play in the car, cruising down the highway, with the windows down and sun giving you a driver's tan.
A multi-instrumentalist, Monarch
“The pandemic forced me to cancel the studio dates I had booked with Chet Lyster (Eels). With no end to the pandemic in sight I ditched my recording plans, built a home studio, and taught myself how to use recording software,” Amadon says of the making of the record. “I learned quickly, and having the studio in the next room allowed me to take all the time I wanted without worrying about studio costs. Without people around I also felt more relaxed and more free to experiment.”
Moving to Reno from Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2017, Amadon started thinking about working on another record. But, as he admits, “I didn't really have any notion of what the record could be, or what to write about. I also didn't have the kind of frictions in my life anymore that gave me fodder for writing in the past.”
But, then the idea hit him, to make a Twin Peaks-inspired album.
“David Lynch is a huge influence of mine. As big as any musical artist. I’m a Twin Peaks devotee going back to when it aired on TV in 1990. It's been a huge part of my life for 30 years,” he confesses. “I view it as a perfect work of art. When Twin Peaks came back for a third season in 2017 it was one of the most exciting things ever for me. The anticipation was crazy for a year building up to it.”
That’s when he thought up the initial idea for what would become Monarchs of the Spukhaus.
“One day that fall I was driving around and thinking about Twin Peaks the Return (season 3) and all its mysteries. In a flash I got the idea to do a sort of concept record about Twin Peaks in which the songs would explore characters, themes, and episodes of the series. Not in the musical style of the show, but using my personal songwriting style. I wanted the songs to sound like my songs, and be written in such a way that other Twin Peaks fans would immediately recognize what the songs were about, but also that they would just be songs, songs that would still resonate for someone who is oblivious to Twin Peaks. I was fired up by this idea not only because of the enthusiasm I have for the show, but as an exercise in writing. I had never tried to do anything like this before.”
Over the next many months he wrote a bunch of songs revolving around Twin Peaks, which triggered him into writing mode once again, giving him song ideas that weren’t related to the Twin Peaks concept. That’s when he abandoned the Twin Peaks-only idea and the record really started to take shape.
“After awhile I started to think the idea of an entire record based on this concept was too much, and over time the Twin Peaks stuff became just a part of the overall jib of the record. Only a couple of the ‘Twin Peaks songs’ made the record,” he says. “But, there are allusions to the show and to other parts of Lynch's oeuvre strewn throughout the record. The record is somewhat of an ode to David Lynch, but it also ended up being an homage to other films and non-musical art that I've loved and been influenced by.”
Of the name of the record, Amadon says, “My wife is a research scientist who works with Monarch butterflies. I’m a Germanist who loves wordplay. The title is a kind of symbolic representation of my marriage.”
The result is a record that came out almost exactly how he heard it in his head, despite the fact that he engineered and mixed it himself, something he is very proud of.
“The record holds its own sonically with my other ones even though I had never engineered or mixed before,” he says with enthusiasm. “When I decided to go it alone I expected I would have to accept a significant drop in sound quality compared to the others. But it turned out great.”
Opening with the breezy jangle of “Poor Teresa,” Amadon immediately establishes himself as a devotee of all things pop. Some may quickly reference The Beatles, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, reminiscing melodically about the glory days of AM radio.
The aptly-titled “Entering a Northwest Town” basks in a late-night, subdued variety of pop, putting the warmth and overcast summers of the Northwest into a sound. “Without a Doubt” is rich with harmonica, piano, gentle acoustic guitars, and rain-like drums (courtesy of Scott McPherson) pushing the song, while Brainard bursts the song wide open with a mesmerizing pedal steel solo.
But the album isn’t without its rock, either. “Lighthouse Keeper” showcases Amadon’s love of power-pop, while “Parable of the Lone Mare” takes it even further with straight-ahead rock ’n’ roll, without losing his eye on the pop prize.
“Flamethrowers in the Mall” once again returns Amadon to the jangly core of the album, while “To Get Back Home” offers a swaying number you can dance to.
Ending with “Here You Are,” Amadon finishes with one of the album’s most tender, heart-on-the-sleeve numbers on the album.
When asked how he feels the album fits in with the musical landscape of today, Amadon is at a loss.
“I couldn't say,” he quickly responds. “I don't pay too much attention to the musical landscape. If there are still people that are into songwriting and the range of pop-rock genres I write in, then I think the record has a place in the landscape. Admittedly, my music is very album oriented though. Ideally, it's meant to be listened to from start to finish, preferably with headphones. I could be wrong, but in the age of streaming I don't think many artists are still approaching music making this way. I hope I'm wrong, because the journey that listening to records from beginning to end can take you on is one of the deeper things that music has to offer.”
Monarchs of the Spukhaus is music made by an artist without any financial support or promotional backing from a label. Knowingly off the beaten path of the music industry, the record is the sound of an artist not driven by the pursuit of fame or money, but by a passion for songwriting. All for art's sake; not to please A&R guys, not to create something Amadon thinks will turn elitists into his fans, and certainly not to "sell out." Monarchs of the Spukhaus proves that Amadon does it to make himself happy, to make records he can play for friends with a smile and pride. But, that doesn't mean he doesn't want people to take notice and find enjoyment in his music either.
While Amadon rarely plays live and doesn't tour, he keeps writing, recording, and working on his songwriting, getting stronger with each new song. You can hear this in Monarchs of the Spukhaus, a soothing blend of the upbeat and the relaxing, a well- grooved record that is as much a headphones listen as it is something to play in the car, cruising down the highway, with the windows down and sun giving you a driver's tan.
Comments
Post a Comment