Frank Turner
Frank's latest album, Poetry of the Deed
Released September 2009
on Xtra Mile Recordings
*Frank was interviewed by Pete Briley for Tin Robot Records on 7th January 2010.
Tin Robot: You have seen success both as part of a metal band and as a solo acoustic artist. Were there any common factors in your approach to gaining exposure for your music?
Frank Turner: Yeah I'd say there's a general approach, a mindset, that's useful for getting somewhere. It should also be noted that a lot of my solo success built on things I'd achieved with Million Dead - I didn't have to start again from scratch, basically. But a dedication to hard work, along with a healthy dose of self-belief, goes a long way, as does educating yourself about the workings of the industry.
TR: Both Million Dead and yourself released records through Xtra Mile Recordings. Do you feel that having contacts in the music industry is important? Did the contacts you made as part of Million Dead aid your success as a solo act?
FT: "Contacts" are important, but I suspect they're a little over-hyped. It's equally important to be both disciplined, organizationally speaking, and most of all good at what you do. Remember that people in the industry would be nothing without the people making good music. If you make a good sound then contacts will come to you, to some extent. Just be ready for them when they arrive! As mentioned, yes, a lot of my solo work has been built on the foundations laid in my earlier days. I stayed in touch with a lot of people, and my pedigree made a lot of people more receptive to what I am doing now.
TR: What did you learn about the music business in the days of Million Dead that you were able to use to your advantage as a solo act?
FT: I learned about how the industry is structured - from management, through labels, agents and lawyers, down to stuff like street teams. I was careful all the time in Million Dead to be keeping an eye on how things worked. Too many bands don't pay enough attention to the organizational side of things; it's vital to understand what's going on around you, it's not simple, but in the long run you'll do much better if you understand your industry, your environment.
TR: You are currently touring the US alongside Flogging Molly. How does an unsigned act go about getting tour supports that can help them gain exposure?
FT: Tour supports, or even just playing local support for touring acts for shows in your area, is, in my opinion, probably the best and most important way of moving forward. Sometimes it can really feel like the whole thing is wrapped up and it's hard to break into, but that's because there are always so many bands going for so few slots. That's why agents are important reasonably early on, they have the ins on that kind of thing. But to start with, just pester people basically: pester the bands, but just as much pester agents and local promoters. Send them Myspace links or give them demos. Be brief and to the point, present yourself professionally, and make sure your best song is first. If you get shows and they go well, make sure people like agents and promoters know about it. That's how you build things up.
TR: Youve been on the road almost constantly since October 2005. How did you manage, particularly in the beginning, such a large task of continuously booking, playing and traveling to gigs?
FT: Well, it was a lot of work, and I tapped into the underground independent / DIY touring network a lot. It's an ever-changing scene, but people talk to each other - talk to other bands at your level and find out who is booking shows in which town, and whether you can play too. I just spent a lot of each day on emails and Myspace and so on, making contacts, booking shows and so on. You make your own luck in this business, and the more work you put in, the more you get out.
TR: What advice would you give an unsigned act looking to develop a full-time career in music?
FT: Work hard. It's going to be loads of work, at every level - I still work my arse off in everything I do. Make sure your music is as good as it can be, that's the most important thing, it sounds obvious but a lot of people forget about that when getting wrapped up in industry stuff. Understand your environment and the business around you. And love what you do.
Thanks to Frank for taking the time to answer our questions - what a hero!
© Christopher Dibble
www.christopherdibble.com
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