An Interview With the Hybrid Blues Band
Q) Please introduce yourself to the readers and how you first got into this field of work –and who were some of your influences growing up?
I am the Lead Singer/Songwriter for Hybrid Blues, Roy Hudson and the band are Mike Everard (Lead Guitar) Adam Pendred (Bass), and now Grant MacCracken who has replaced Mark Shaumann (Drums).
I learned how to read music and played lead trumpet for Tauranga Boys College, Aotearoa (New Zealand) but didn’t start writing originals until my late 30’s while teaching myself how to play guitar soon learned I got bored quickly with playing covers and started writing my own songs.
Influences growing up Mr. Billy Joel, David Gates, and Bread, Quincy Jones, Eagles the list goes on…..
Q) What kind of training have you had, if any?
Self-taught, listening to endless hours of different genres of music, and of course using music/writing more as self-therapy than the purpose of becoming famous, etc.
Q) What has been your favourite project to work on so far?
I think every new song that comes along becomes your new favorite, however sometimes listening back at a lot of songs you kinda begin to wonder how you ever managed to avoid being placed into a straitjacket or even managed to be here today. But hey that’s life and nice to be here still for sure.
Q) How did you get the gig?
I mainly got the gig from belief and learning from many, MANY mistakes in Life.
Q) What sports do you enjoy watching?
Sports?!! Being brought up in Aotearoa (New Zealand) we’re lucky enough to be taught and appreciate a very wide range of sports. Mainly our national sport Rugby but enjoy any opportunity to supporting our national teams to which at the moment is The Americas Cup Yacht Boat Racing.
Q) What has been one of the biggest highlights/achievements of your career?
To me, every gig/festival is an achievement, but headlining in Germany with UK band Loose Moorings is definitely up there, however, there are also other elements of sense of achievement like performing at the Legendary 100 Club, Oxford St, London and staring at pictures on the wall of previous performers/bands such as $ex Pistols, David Bowie, Rolling Stones thinking “Duuuuuude!!! What am I/We doing here?!!”
Q) If you had a chance to work alongside anybody who would that be?
I’d be happier just to have the opportunity to talk freely over a beer or two with songwriters eg Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, David Crosby, John Fogerty, etc just to dig a little more into who they really are, and where their songs come from (If there is actually any place or person) but to perform beside any top artist would be an honor.
Q) What projects do you have coming up?
Aotearoa (New Zealand) has been fortunate to have been free from Covid 19 for months now so currently we have a Blues, Brew’s and BBQ’s family festival coming up with Short “Surf’s Up” Tour Jan 2021 with up and coming to North Island Bands Lionyze (Reggae) and Copper Feel (Surf Stoner Band) Offering a very wide range of genre’s in one night currently Waihi, Whakatane, and Gisbourne with another beach town to confirm. And due to go back into the studio to record the second album Feb 2021.
Q) Who is your inspiration?
My personal inspiration for turning to the Blues is Mr. Freddie King. Loved his Funky take on the Blues.
Q) What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week?
Like Mr. Frank Zappa I try not to get too involved with watching too much tv, especially the news but recently read The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku which certainly makes you appreciate a lot of things in Life for sure.
Q) What are your favorite venues to perform in?
Never performed at Smash Palace, Gisbourne before but we get our opportunity very soon in Jan 2021 to which all the boys are very excited about but our ultimate goal at the moment would be Byron Bay Blues Festival, Australia.
Q) Social Profiles:
https://www.facebook.com/hybridblues
https://www.instagram.com/hybridbluesmusic/
https://www.twitter.com/blueshybrid
Q) Do you have any advice for young music makers like yourself?
Extra advice to up and coming music makers……
Stay true to yourself, your music, and especially your audience
