Q: Gary, how would YOU describe your music?

A: That's a hard one. My music doesn't sound like blues or soul, it's rock and roll music. But those influences do run deep and you can find that in this new double CD release. You could call it a marriage between blues, soul and rock and roll (where each one is represented).

Q: This is your thirteenth release. What would you say is different (between the making of this CD and your first release)?

A: Every CD is a learning experience. Doing everything yourself (wearing so many hats), you have to get good at things you never envisioned that you would have to do. I started out as just a guitar player. Now I do a whole lot more and sometimes it's hard to find time to just play guitar.

Q: Do you find it difficult not to repeat yourself as a songwriter?

A: Songwriting isn't hard for me. I've written hundreds of songs. The lyrical aspect, however (writing something you haven't written before)...now that can be a challenge. Songwriting is a war of attrition. If you just keep writing, eventually you'll have stuff you'll feel good about. But, if you just keep writing... that is the key. Besides, as you get older, you view life differently. You look back on songs you wrote when you were young and you wonder if it's the same person because your view on people definitely changes as you learn MORE about them. In that regards, you always have something new to write about.

Q: When you go about creating a new song, how do you go about it? What is your process?

A: Once you have an idea, then you have to put on a new hat: the producer hat. You try to create a sonic landscape that lets your vision of the song come to life. At the same time, your engineer hat has to come on so you can keep a handle on the sonics of the music so they won't bounce up against each other. Once you've gotten to this point, the emotional content of the lead vocal and the lead guitar take the song to the next level. Now you either have something or you don't.

Q: How do you write an instrumental song? Is the process the same?

A: An instrumental track has to be treated the same as a vocal track, giving the listener something to grab onto. Not just flailing away on guitar. Instrumentals are crafted just as carefully as any vocal song. They are a lot of fun to do because you can flex a lot of different muscles (which would be hard to do under the constraints of a vocal song).

Q: How do you know when you're done?

A: The goal is to have something twelve times. Then you have a new CD. The new release (Under The Howling Wind and Under The Clear Blue Sky) has twelve vocal tracks and thirteen instrumental.

Q: So, how do you feel about this current release?

A: I just recently listened to Under The Clear Blue Sky, the fourth instrumental release to date. And to my ears, it is clearly the best of the instrumentals. Both in the production and as a conduit for emotional guitar playing. Under The Howling Wind feels one step closer to the sound that is in my head. That's not always an easy thing to get to. Hopefully before I die, I'll figure it out. Overall, I feel like my music is finally getting closer to where I want it to be. I am more proud (all the time) with what I am doing. My execution is getting better all the time (all the things that go into making an enjoyable CD).

Q: What does the future hold for Gary Eisenbraun?

A: This CD was a springboard for more stuff to come. I've found myself digging deeper into the blues and soul than I had ever considered before. The digital age is great for that (finding artists that slipped between the cracks).

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: Join me on my expedition. You're invited.

Gary Eisenbraun,
April 12, 2011