Kyle Eastwood At Home With Songs From The Chateau

Kyle Eastwood

Live at the Blue Note 

CD Release Party for

“Songs From The Chateau” release date August 30, 2011.

Kyle Eastwood is an artist whose music embodies much of the free spirited adventurism he applies to his own life. I spoke with Kyle as he prepared to embark on a European tour to promote his latest CD, “Songs from the Chateau”.

SJM: Tell me a little about Songs from the Chateau. What inspired it?

Kyle: The French countryside mostly.  I enjoyed composing on the road away from the traditional recording environment. The process seemed less clinical than working in a studio.

SJM: How did the recording process differ from the way you approached previous material?

Kyle: We completed much of the recording in three days.  The band was already familiar with a lot of the material, so the process went smoothly. I did some writing and co-writing on the project, which made it all the more enjoyable.

SJM: Does any of the tracks hold special significance for you?

Kyle: Well, I’m very happy with the record over all. Although, I’m particularly fond of “Moon Over Couronneau”.

SJM: Tell me about one of the most significant and memorable experiences you had while working on this album.

Kyle: The atmosphere was amazing. Although we spent a lot of time recording, being there was like a mini vacation for me.  The music was very spontaneous. Not to mention hanging out with friends was very special for me.

SJM: How did your interest in music evolve as you grew up?

Kyle: I’ve always been into music.  Both of my parents are into music, and I grew up going to the Monterey Jazz Festival. I wanted to be a film director originally, but finally realized music was what I wanted to do. I started on the piano and my interest in music just sort of grew from there.

SJM: Describe the moment in your life when you realized definitively that you wanted to pursue a career in music.

Kyle: I got serious about playing right around my first year of college when I was 18. I played a few gigs here and there until things started picking up.  It kind of happened naturally over a period of time, but when I first started college is when I realized I wanted to do music.

SJM: Tell me about your creative process. How do you approach writing new material?

Kyle: It varies really. I try to practice whenever I can. Sometimes I’ll sit at the piano and work out a few cord progressions. I’ll work on a few ideas, put them away for a while and come back to them later.  It always helps to have a set deadline. Traveling and exposing myself to other types of cultural music helps as well.

SJM: You’ve composed for film. Does your creative process differ to a large extent from how you approach your own projects?

Kyle: It differs a great deal actually. There’s definitely more structure. The music length will vary and I’m usually writing for something already on the screen. It’s a bit more restrictive. A lot of it is trial and error, Also, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. I tend to play more of a supporting role when I compose for film.

SJM: Where do you see jazz as a genre in the coming years? With the burgeoning influence of Hip-Hop and R&B on the youth of the 21st century, do you feel the genre is adapting to reach a younger audience?

Kyle: I think it’s always good to turn people on to the music. There are a lot of great young jazz players out there who will do a great job of reaching young people. So I think jazz as a whole is in good hands.

SJM: Do you find yourself needing to step away from the music for a bit to recharge?  If so, how do you do it?

Kyle: It’s always nice to decompress for a while.  Touring a lot, I tend to enjoy when I get to stay in one place for a time.  Sometimes I’ll spend time practicing, so music is always in there somewhere.

SJM: What types of music do you like? What’s o your iPod right now?

Kyle: I like a lot of different types of music. If it’s good, I’ll listen to it. Benny Goodman, Led Zeppelin and Marvin Gaye are a few I’ve listened to recently. I also like North African, Moroccan music. Classical, folk, soul, you name it.

SJM: Do you typically like to listen to other music while you are recording new material?

Kyle: I like to give my ears a bit of a rest.  I’m usually in the studio all day, so I like to take a break and not listen to too much after.

SJM: If you had to describe your career so far in one word, what would it be?

Kyle: “Fortunate.” I think if you can make a living doing what you love, you’re not doing too bad.  It’s a great thing.