EMQ’s with A PERMANENT SHADOW
EMQ’s with A PERMANENT SHADOW
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Barcelona, Spain based Electronic Rock project, A Permanent Shadow. Huge thanks to main man/vocalist CP Fletcher for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is CP Fletcher and I am the singer in A Permanent Shadow. I am actually the only fixture in this project. For recordings and live work, I surround myself with different musicians and producers. A Permanent Shadow came to life in 2016, since then we released one album, “Songs of Loss”, and have a second one ready for release in early 2022.
How did you come up with your band name?
I read about permanent shadows on the moon and then found out that the same expression can also refer to a human skin condition as well as the after effects of a nuclear disaster. I thought it’s quite an apt name for a band project, and that aside it sounds really good.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
I am of Austrian origin but have lived in Barcelona most of my life. It’s fair to say that the Spanish metal scene is very vibrant, though stylistically A Permanent Shadow is very far removed from Metal.
What is your latest release (Album, EP, Single, Video)
We have a new single out on September 24th, it’s called ‘Shining Star’ and you can pre-save the song and register for the video premiere via this link: https://hypeddit.com/link/037tml
‘Radical Change’ (Official Video) (2020)
‘Empty’ (Official Video) (2019)
Who have been your greatest influences?
David Bowie. I got into his music at a very early age and he still is my undisputed musical hero. I wept a lot the day he died, and on our debut album we included a song about his passing, called ‘Sailor’.
What first got you into music?
Again, David Bowie. My sister bought the album “Let’s Dance” when I was little and it was a real eye opener for me. I knew from early on that I wanted to be involved in making music one way or another.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I would like to work with The Anchoress. I think her music is very original and she’s an extremely talented vocalist and piano player. Her new album “The Art of Losing” got great reviews and quite rightly so.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Primavera Sound in Barcelona because afterwards I could go home by bike. And usually, it’s quite a cool festival with an amazing line-up.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I don’t receive gifts usually, mainly abuse. We recorded a cover of a Simple Minds song on our first album and Simple Minds themselves shared our version on their social media. You wouldn’t believe what kind of comments some of their more over-zealous fans are capable of.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Give the songs a few spins and let me take you for a ride!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
That would, without any doubt, be David Bowie, closely followed by Lou Reed.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love the creative process: writing, arranging, recording, even the audio visual aspect of it like photo sessions, video shoots etc. It’s all great fun. What I don’t like so much is the hassle you have to go through for media attention and getting gigs.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I don’t know. It is what it is and as a musician you have to adjust to today’s reality. I rarely think about what could’ve been. Was it easier in the past? I don’t think so, it was just different.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“The Idiot” by Iggy Pop. It’s an astonishing record and in my opinion the blueprint for everything from Goth to Post Punk. I’ll never grow tired of it.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
For me, downloads these days. I used to buy lots of CD’s until recently, but then I would rip them and play the MP3 on my player or on the PC, so what’s the point. After many years in music, my hearing is not good enough anymore to appreciate the much-cited “warmth” of vinyl.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Our album presentation in March 2020 was a great experience. Big crowd, good response, a fun night. Looking back though I have some bitter-sweet memories as a week later we went into lockdown.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I trained as a grief counsellor, so I guess I would help people get over traumatic events in their lives. Now I hope our music does the job, at least to a small extent.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Some ex-girlfriends and their current partners. It would make for an awkward social experiment.
What’s next for the band?
After ‘Shining Star’ we plan to release another single and then our second album “Humdrum” in March 2022. We are also working on some live-in-studio stuff and the videos for future singles.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Our website is www.apermanentshadow.com
From there you can access all social media channels and digital platforms where we distribute our music.
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Good one! I used to love them as a child but I’ve never ever wasted a thought on what they actually are. I’ll have to think about it a bit.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Don’t expect a song about Jaffa Cakes anytime soon!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
