Lee Mcilmoyle

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What is music to you? What does it give you?

Music is the basic building block of communicating complex themes and concepts in a matter of minutes. Music gives me a means to share my thoughts and feelings without writing one of these long screeds that go unread anyway.

What is your music dream?

I would like to record a few more albums, and perform my best material to a group of my peers and friends, and maybe do a live tour, just once.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

Everyone needs to be given full access to free internet, with regular friendly reminders to vote for or against policies and issues plaguing their local and federal politicians. Everyone needs to be more in tune with the needs of both their society AND their ecosystem. Everyone needs to sit down and think really hard about why they are doing all of the crazy stuff they do every day. All I can do is write, illustrate and sing stories to teach people how and why to do so. Jury's out on whether I've succeeded or not.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band; song and album.

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, Brian Wilson, The Police, XTC, Big Big Train, Lifesigns, Mew, Marillion, Transatlantic, Carptree, Thomas Dolby, Gowan, Adrian Belew, Tori Amos, Billy Joel, Elton John, Todd Rundgren, Ian Thomas, Speck Jennings, The Rest, The James Rocket, Royal Seas, Hunter Eves, Soundgarden, Muse, Queen, David Bowie, The Cure. I could go all day, really.

What inspires you to make music?

My inner multi-track, the world around me, and jamming with sympathetic musicians.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

That person next to you, or behind you, or especially beneath your heel... is a real, live human being. If you want them to regard you as such, you might start by treating them like a real human being, instead of the competition.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

Scared, self-conscious, painfully aware of how badly my voice has deteriorated, and basically shaking my head constantly at the bum notes and poor performance. You know... ecstatic!

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

I think musicians are going to make a lovely rebound. The industry, on the other hand, is a mausoleum. The internet needs to be freed from its new nationalist and corporate overlords, including international trade laws. The internet is NOT a product or possession of any government or corporation. It can only do what it's designed to do properly if we back off and let it. And yes, this affects the future of music greatly.

What do you think of Drooble?

Drooble, where have you BEEN all these years!?

What frustrates you most as a musician?

My incredible lack of discipline? My bipolar disorder? My questionable fashion sense? Oh wait, I know: I hate being sidelined by music fans who prefer music to be very basic and very simple to grasp. I enjoy elegant simplicity, but complexity is how my brain speaks.

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

I do to the extent I can afford to. I have musician friends around town whom I have bought CDs from in the past, and whose musical careers I have followed with great interest.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

Curiosity. Passion. Compulsion. Humour. A Sense of Fun. And Patience. Lots of it.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

The James Rocket, Hunter Eves, Royal Seas, Pip, Freedom Train, and a little band I used to be in, called Etcetera Thesis.