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Interview: More Than Skies

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More Than Skies is the singer-songwriter project from Long Island’s Adam Tomlinson. With the release of his massive 24-song album back in March, Tomlinson is planning on making 2015 a year to remember, and Legendary Kids Press was able to catch up with him to learn more about his musical beginnings, the release and his touring plans.

How would you describe your sound to those who have never listened to More Than Skies before?

I would describe it as dynamic, orchestrated folk-rock. I might have to mention to them that it gets a little personal!

Who were your musical inspirations growing up, and how would you say they’ve helped influence the music you’re making now?

Musically, The Beatles were - and have been - the biggest influence on me. [I’m] pretty sure I had an “I Am The Walrus” birthday cake at 16 and likely subjected all of my friends to whichever albums I owned at that point over and over again. 

The Beatles covered enough musical territory to be an influence to me in a number of ways, from using characters in songs, creating conceptualized albums, their harmonies, their musicianship and the wide range of dynamics their songs can have on just one album. The fact that a song like “Julia” can exist in the same realm as “Helter Skelter” really blows the lid off having to subscribe to one particular sound. Therefore, I don’t!

How would you describe Long Island’s music scene? Is there much support for up-and-coming acts?

Long Island has an incredible variety of original music, even beyond who I have interacted with. In the past few years, I have been in cahoots with a scene that blossomed in Babylon. My long time friend Pete Demaio has made a lot of strides bringing us all together, from starting an open mic at a drive bar called The Twisted Shamrock to booking shows, collaboration with various bands and, as of late, creating a kind of musical collective to help overcome issues that happen within our local and extended circles. Some notable mentions are Rice Cultivation Society, The Vigilance Committee, Killer Wails, Tom Moran, Christine Sweeney, AllOne, Heavy Duty Super Ego, Moon Tooth, Sojourner, the Phantom & the Fox, Golden Wave and My Summer. 

The problem with Long Island is that the majority of places you can book are 21+ and occur very late in the evenings. Thankfully, the “pay to play” scheme certain places have adhered to seems to be on its way out. There have been a few DIY venues here and there, but they never seem to last very long. Soul Sounds Record Store in Sayville has been putting on shows and that’s been a nice change. 

As much as I want to blame venues and bars for the fluxing scene, it really comes down to people coming to shows. Promoters and local bands need to work together. New York has so much going on all the time, it’s hard to get people to commit to anything. We are living in an age where convenience is king and communication is staring at our phones while life is actually happening. I’m not one to preach, but until listeners realize the value music, it will continue to be hard to get people out to a show or pay for an album and it [will be] hard to be taken seriously as an artist/musician. We’ll get there!

You’ve been involved in quite a few musical projects (both solo and full-band). What is it about music that pushes you to pursue it for a living?

Now that’s a question! I feel like music has become so much of a part of me that I need it to keep living. I know every generation has its problems, but I’ve got to say it is a particularly tough time to be an artist or musician. I was born into the unique time frame of witnessing a few different formats rise and fall. I remember when everyone I knew carried their tape/CD music collection around and went in droves to pick up albums when they came out. Then Napster hit and the value of music plummeted. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, ya know?

The benefit to this hit that music took is that it eventually broke down walls and opened up communication between artists and fans. Streaming media has potential, but we haven’t reached the best scenario for musicians yet. What I’m getting at is that I grew up holding value to music, so I still believe in making albums and not just releasing songs. But [I] also know how futile the pursuit can feel because this insta-everything generation has grown up feeling entitled to what’s available. Most don’t know how much money is put into making a quality product. 

[The] funny thing about music is, no matter how much a hit you take financially, it always feels worthwhile creating something new. Nothing can measure up to the feeling of losing yourself in a performance or how priceless it is when someone tells you they like your song. Music is therapy. If It wasn’t making it, I would still be thinking about it, so while I still have breath in me, I’m going to do what I can.

You released your epic 24-song self-titled album back in March. What made you decide on such a large release, instead of splitting the tracks across two or three albums?

I released all of these songs together because I couldn’t imagine them apart. They were written to be together. 

I flirted with the idea of releasing it in segments, but felt it needed to be listened to as one cohesive unit. The other part is that this animal of an album has been hanging over my head for a number of years and I’ve been eager to get it over with, so I can start catching up on other material. Onward to the next one!

How has fan reaction been thus far?

I don’t know whether it’s because I’ve had a bit more exposure with this album, but I haven’t had such positive feedback on anything I’ve done until now. Before this record, I’m pretty sure the only song anybody ever cared for was “We’re Getting Older from the last one! More Than Skies is a thick album, but those that have taken the time to digest it have offered very encouraging and humbling words. [I’m] very thankful.

It’s probably hard to choose, but which track would you say is your personal favourite?

That is a tough one. There is certainly a wide range of feelings throughout the songs and I could answer that question in a number of ways based on instrumentation or mood. But right now, I’m going to have to go with “Fever Dream”.

What plans do you have for the summer?

Summer is coming upon us faster than I would like, but I am to play as many city shows as I can, make weekend trips to bordering states and hopefully tour by the end of the summer or early September. It’s a lot of work planning everything as as one person operation, but where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?

Where do you hope your music takes you?

It’d be a dream come true if I was given the opportunity to tour in Europe or was able to release music more comfortably. [It] would be interesting to be able to work with film, maybe even collaborate with other musicians/artists. I’m open to any opportunities I am presented with. I’d settle for some peace of mind!

Any last words?

Live in the moment, make sure the people that you love know it and most importantly, eat more ice cream!

You can find More Than Skies on Facebook and Twitter, and be sure to purchase Tomlinson’s new album over on Bandcamp.

By Clare Fitzgerald