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I have the privilege of presenting this excellent interview with local music star Bondy, aka Andrew Bond.

How would you describe your music, live performances and ambitions?

The casual observer walks into the room and sees a bearded man playing nice songs on an acoustic guitar. He looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

I write the songs I feel like writing and I sing the songs I feel like singing. I like to share the songs I write. I must be doing something right because I’ve not had any death threats yet!

My music is far from straightforward though. I try to be as flexible as possible with my creative approach in songwriting, and try to make each song sound as different from the previous one as possible. I put a lot of work into the music and the lyrics I write. I hope that the words carry ideas that people like and identify with.

I love lots of different musical styles but my main influences are the Beatles, the Kinks, David Bowie and the Beach Boys. They’re the artists I’ve been listening to all my life and their music has particularly inspired me.

My live performances tend to fly by – for me it’s all about putting a sustained level of energy in and keeping the songs flowing thick and fast. I have a “rabbit in the headlights” look in my eyes on stage (so I’m told!), and there’s a lot of nervous energy in what I do, but I enjoy playing gigs tremendously.

My greater ambition is to form a full band and go on tour, but I’m equally happy playing low-key acoustic gigs like I do now. I just want to get lots of my songs out there so people can listen to them and enjoy them!

How did you first get started on the local music scene and what advice can you give?

I took a while to find my feet. I played in a band with my mates at college (from 1999 to 2001, though we never gigged), then I went away and worked on a few songs in my bedroom. Another friend suggested I record a demo CD of my songs, and that helped kick-start the whole process I’m in now.

Back in 2003, someone who was organizing an acoustic night at Gillespies (Blackpool’s famed watering-hole) heard the CD and offered me the chance to get up and play my songs. I was nervous as hell about doing it but I brought a crowd of my mates along for support, which helped immensely!

If you’re a new band or artist, even a basic demo CD (or website with audio samples) will often be enough to get you gig at a local bar or pub. Don’t gig till you feel you’re totally ready, but also you shouldn’t worry too much about playing the perfect gig first time round!

You’ll find your friends’ support is vital as you make those first steps of playing live, but once you’re out there gigging your following will start to grow. Try your best to network with other bands, as this can open up new avenues and help you get more gigs.

In your opinion, what makes a great crowd when you’re performing?

I’m not too fussy. A full house at the MEN for me and my band one day would be nice, but for now I’m happy playing to a few friends in my local pub. It’s nice to play to a few dozen people who appreciate the music. That would be a big crowd for me, and I’d be very happy. You see big concerts on TV at festivals like Glastonbury, and despite everything there’s not the same connection between the musicians and the crowd that there can be at a smaller gig. It’s not the same. I do want to be famous. Maybe I’m just jealous?

What is your first recollection of making music?

I can remember being taught the names of the notes on the keyboard when I was five years old, by my auntie. I’m from a musical background and as a kid I would often go and sit in my room or in my house teaching myself music. I wasn’t renowned for my suntan, shall we say! I’ve had the bug for music from an early age. Writing music is something I’ve always loved to do. I enjoy creating music as part of a band.

Have you ever considered giving up on your music career? What kept you going and what advice would you give to anyone in a similar situation?

I often feel disillusioned but I look upon it as a test of will and a test of character. With the music business being as competitive as it is, you need a generous share of luck to become successful, but it’s the love of the music that keeps you going. I have no regrets. You’ve just got to believe in what you do and hope you get the breaks someday.

How do you promote yourself and your music? What has been most effective?

In the past I’ve relied locally on word-of-mouth, as it’s like an exciting game of chance. If people go to a bar and like the band or artist that are playing, they’ll tell their friends and the word is spread. I send demo CDs to music magazines to review, hoping they’ll give it the thumbs-up. Promoting yourself via the Internet is very easy, and also, for major gigs, a well-timed press-release to the local newspaper will help you!

What direction do you think the music industry is going and how do you fit into this?

It’s hard to predict as ever. The music industry is getting more download orientated and in theory this opens up the floor for a lot of small independent acts to clamber up the ladder and achieve greater recognition in the charts.

I’m very confident I can achieve great fame through my music but I can only see a place for an artist like me on a good independent record label. I’m wary of signing for a major label for all sorts of reasons – lack of freedom and the worry they’ll rip me off being principal sticking points. Even if I’m still working a 9-5 job for the rest of my life there’ll be nobody telling me how to play my music, and that’s what I’m concerned about.

What are your thoughts on sharing music illegally?

I don’t have a problem with it. I think the issue is that a few people at the top are protective of their livelihoods. But what’s a few illegal downloads over Limewire when you’re a millionaire pop star like say, Cliff Richard, or Sonia?

I think it’s a great way to discover music you’ve always wanted to hear, but at the same time there’s something a bit sinister in the way the Internet gives you the ability to download an artist’s entire back-catalogue at the click of a mouse button. If you like someone’s music surely they’re worth more of your time than that?

Considering where I am now in my career, I certainly don’t have a problem with people sharing my stuff if it helps make ‘Catherine Wheel’ the surprise hit of the year! It would only be if another act copied one of my songs that I would start becoming angry, and when I become angry, bad things have a habit of occurring.

Do you see the internet as a good way to get your music out there?

For someone like me, it’s definitely a good way to get in touch with gig promoters, and get them listening to your music – but in the wider scheme of things if you sign up for a music website and upload some tunes it’s hard to get noticed by people at first.

The more time you put into promoting yourself online the more you get out of it, I’d say. It’s unbelievable to see just how many bands there are out there on Myspace who are trying to ‘make it’. There’s certainly a lot of competition if you want to work your way to the top so don’t let it faze you!

What is your single biggest musical achievement to date?

Releasing my album was a brilliant achievement. Hopefully it’s the first of many albums, but I’m more than happy with the way this one turned out! The tunes we recorded are immortalized forever. I was fortunate to have the help of some very talented people in producing it, and I had a great time making it. I was proud of releasing it off my own back, with no outside assistance. And the album launch party was one of the greatest parties I’ve ever been to!

What does 2007 hold for you?

I have a lot of plans! After an extensive period of songwriting I’m going back to the studio to record album number two in the summer. I’m filming a music video for the Ten3 festival (http://www.myspace.com/ten3northwest) with film-maker Hannah Dornford-May, and I’m also planning a special one-off performance of my songs with Blackpool Rock Quest favourites Ramonastone in the coming months!

As ever I will be playing regular acoustic gigs in Blackpool and beyond. Watch out for my face and my beard because I could be popping up in a bar near you to play a few tunes!

Many thanks to Bondy for taking the time to put together this fantastic insight into his music career. All the best for the year ahead and beyond!

Links:
Bondy Music
Bondy on MySpace