Tobey Lucas is a Swiss musician and has been around for quite sometime. Kekoas Korner’s Country Music Week gave me the opportunity to interview him. I’ve met him in his studio full of instruments. So let’s start:
You’ve played at Moon and Stars and the Seebad Enge – these venues are quite special. So what would be your favourite or most special venue you played or want to play in?
Tobey Lucas: Already played in is Seebad Enge. It was wonderful and very magical. It was one of the first hot summer days in May. It was packed. In fact there were so many people on that raft that it nearly sank. It was awesome. The sunset was wonderful. It was the perfect concert. Another nice one was Jazz Festival Montreux 2015 where we also played on a stage outside called „Music in the Park“. The atmosphere was kinda similar and absolutely beautiful. We also performed with the biggest „Tobey Lucas“ band ever. 7 people normally we play with 4 or 5. Just awesome.
A venue I’d like to play in. Once I went to see John Mayer in Los Angeles in the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Today Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre) and that’s a venue I’d like to play in. It’s a big dream of mine it will probably never happen though. Or maybe generally to play in an Amphitheatre.
I’ve just seen P!nk in an amphitheatre-like venue in Berlin called Waldbühne.
I don’t know it but I’m in! 🙂
Country Music is not very big in Switzerland. How come you started to play Country Music?
Well, I don’t really play traditional Country. Especially my new album will be really rocky but it has certain elements of country music and american music. It sounds very american. But it’s not about that actually. I commemorate the Nashville style so it’s not particularly Country like Johnny Cash. The „Nashville Spirit“ that what I like. It’s basically just about playing music – spontineously. So in a bar or club the musicians gather around and play together. Maybe they played together before or maybe they didn’t. What they all share is the love for music and they’re completely devoted to music. That’s the Nashville style. There are no DJ’s there because they don’t need it. Everyone carries a guitar and you play the famous songs by yourself so you don’t have to listen to a record. This is something that I commemorate and that I want to bring to Switzerland and that’s what my music is about: To play songs with a band. No electronic instruments just handmade music. That’s what makes it country or rocky but my range is very broad.
Which artists were/are your musical influences?
Quite a few. Eagles influenced my a lot. I adore them and I listened to them when I was a child. Aerosmith inspired me. It’s the attitude that I like – it’s incredibly infectious. Ryan Adams inspired me a lot too. I have a few songs of his in my repertoire which I turned into my own versions. I also like to listen to Metal or the 80’s music. It’s a mix. When you listen to my music especially the new record then you really hear the different influences.
So we’re really excited to hear the new stuff! When is it coming out?
I will release a single in Mid-October. The album will be release next year. I am taking my time with it. There might be another single coming before the album.
As you’ve heard Kekoas Korner is in a Country Music Week right now, who is most favourite country music artist at the moment?
I love to listen to Lindsay Ell at the moment.
Oh wow. I’ve seen her as a support act a few years ago! Lovely person.
I also really like Chris Stapleton and Eric Church. They are my three favourites. Lindsay Ell is the most recent one but the other two are also important for me.
Last question: I don’t know if it’s already happened but what needs to happen for you that you would say „Yup, I made it with my music!“?
Quite difficult. I think I already made it. The most important thing that you can reach is freedom and I am free. I can play the music that I want, I can play the concerts that I want, I can write the song the way I want it and I don’t have to adapt to anyone. I haven’t signed anything and I’m completely free and that’s the way it always will be. That’s the Nashville Spirit. I’ve reached a place where I wanted to be and I am happy but it’s a journey. Life is always a journey and music too. I’m excited for the new release of the single and the album next year where it will take me and what concerts I will play. Concerts are most important to me. The other things are not that important to me so when I can play good concerts I’m stoked.
Sounds brilliant. That was it. Thank you for the interview!
Unfortunately I somehow managed to have never seen him live which is a big regret of mine. I always see the concert dates and it never suits my busy concert schedule. But let me tell you guys this needs to change! After this amazing interview and the way he talks about concerts I will deffo make sure to see him live next year. Stay tuned to Kekoas Korner or follow Tobey Lucas’ music journey to get all the updates!
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www.tobeylucas.com
Get his old records on Cede.ch!
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!