Chris Foreman grew up in a family of musicians. His father did the first live record in New Zealand in the 1950s. Right since birth there has been music in his home. His mother was a backing singer for tv shows and she tried to teach him 3 chords on a guitar that Emmy Lou Harris (Family friend) had given him at 6 years old. She told him he had to learn those three chords properly before she taught him any more. He decided he had. She decided he hadn’t.
Onto drums. As an 8 year old he had lessons from two of the most amazing jazz drummers ever Bruce Gaylor and Frank Gibson Jr. They both thought he was meant to be amazing because of his dad. He just wanted to play The Ramones and anything fast and loud.
He kept breaking and banging daily and through time and darkened rooms over 30+ years he played in countless bands on countless instruments until they kept him in the padded room at Swampshack. He is allowed visitors and they do make a lot of noise.
Now he uses the studio as a tool. When he was a drummer it was fustrating supporting other songwriters. Other instruments were the same. Just one colour. The studio is a palette and now he doesn’t need to learn to play anything. There is colours and tambres all within easy reach. The instruments call him when needed. He find this way less contrived. Start with a feeling. Leave as much room for the listener as possible so they can imagine their own book.
Listen to 4min ”Messages” here.
