Propel Interview
Propel is a band out
of San Francisco, California, fronted by
singer/songwriter/guitarist Peter Kasen. Propel will be playing
here in San Antonio New Year's Eve on the Riverwalk (Peter
hasn't gotten all the details yet, but I'm guessing it's part of
"Celebrate San Antonio"). Peter was kind enough to agree to do
an e-mail interview with me so that SA could learn a little
about Propel.
Do you remember the moment when you first decided that
writing and playing music was what you wanted to do with your
life?
The first moments I realized that songwriting and music were
what I wanted for my life and for a career were early in High
School, with my first band BluRr. We sold 100 demos in 7
days...went on a mini tour from Miami to Orlando, and opened for
Marilyn Manson, all within about 2 months of forming and
releasing a demo.
I knew at 16 that songwriting was something that came naturally
for me and with little effort. The things I couldn't say in
words came out tenfold in song form, curbing my introverted
nature in High School to one of extroverted persona in my music.
I then decided to apply to Berklee College of Music in Boston,
MA. and was accepted with a Songwriting Scholarship, as well as
being accepted into Early Admission. I knew there was no turning
back, and years later, after fighting with family, society,
financials, and management jobs, I realized Propel needed to
happen ASAP. Hence we are now talking today, 6 months after the
Birth of Propel, and seeing how it has flourished into a signed
indie act of maturity and professionalism.
You found an outlet to express yourself. I totally understand
that. It's what writing is for me.
You credit 90's grunge artists like Billy Corgan and Kurt Cobain
as inspiring you. Your music still retains a taste of grunge, I
think. What was it about these artists that caught your ear?
Being a bit of a recluse in High School, and writing a storm of
songs along the way, I remember first hearing "Gish" by Smashing
Pumpkins. This was their debut album on an indie, a small one,
just like me now. Billy Corgan composed intricate guitar parts,
which flowed and had this huge wall of sounding force to it. He
used math in a way, to complex or fool the listener with changes
in each song, as to be completely original in his craft, and
always put guitars up front. He and Kurt, were sort of leaders
in a band, much like I try to be. They wrote all the music,
streamed the perception, sound, and image of the bands they led.
The lazy vocal style where the voice is tucked underneath a
wall of guitars kind of started with Jane's Addiction, SP, and
Nirvana, all hatching as you said in the early 90's. With Billy
and Kurt, it was different. They are two of the best, if not the
best, rock songwriters I feel that have graced us since say Led
Zeppelin. Songs like a "Disarm," or a "Rape Me," are imperative
and timeless to any generation.
This is how I eventually want Propel to be. Where the song and
the guitar melodies become synonymous with EPIC sound, and EPIC
memories of each of my fans' lives, and the connection there is
made. Obviously the strain of similarities do exist in tenfold.
Billy Corgan, studied, as I did, guitar. Both with parents who
don't really appreciate that as a career. Billy also can drop
from the heaviest of heavy to the quietest of quiet, all with
dynamics, much like Propel does. Not that vocals are not
important, as they are, however, it's the depth of the lyrics
and the melody which adds to the music, but the music is always
the foundation of the song.
Smashing Pumpkins was the first band to show me I could front a
band and be its lead singer, writer and only guitarist, and
that's where the parallels and my influence from them begin.
Propel being only 6 months old, things seem to be progressing
rather quickly for you. You were chosen to be in an
International Songwriting Competition, you recently signed with
No Left Turn Records, you've done a few big tours and have
another one coming up (including San Antonio)...what's next for
Propel? What do you see happening in the next 6 months?
The release of Propel's debut album in March/April of 2006.
Heavy West Coast touring from Los Angeles to Seattle and hitting
Nevada, Montana, etc. National Distribution which No Left Turn
Records and CD BABY have begun with I Tunes, Best Buy, Napster,
etc.
We will also launch a full campaign on all physical indie
retailers, up and down the West Coast, making distribution run
and focus on the coast in which I was signed first and foremost.
Best Buy, with I Tunes, will increase East Coast purchasing and
allow my fans to have access now immediately through these
channels.
No Left Turn Records will also be putting out a compilation for
Christmas, to whet appetites, and a sampler of unreleased new
music from Propel in Jan/Feb off of the debut album, to gain
radio airplay in the West Coast markets, through every college
that is known here.
Much more is happening, but I can honestly say we are working on
Propel becoming a regional songwriter and known throughout the
west coast in its entirety within the next 6 months.
We plan to jockey this debut album and get bigger labels'
attention in the process, and play festivals like CMJ and SxSW,
reserving national touring for down the line.
Wow. You have a lot going on. That doesn't surprise me,
though, because I know you have a real head for business and
promotion and that you work your ass off at it. What do you
think is the biggest mistake that bands starting out make when
it comes to promoting themselves?
I would have to think that for a new band, promoting themselves
at all would be a good thing. However, many bands on MySpace and
PureVolume that are young bands seem to throw up unproduced
music, that as a first impression is not where it needs to be to
gain reviews, press, shows, and most importantly, fans. It costs
money and time to put up a couple of well produced, thought out,
good songs. I also feel like lately, anyone who wants to play
dist. and power chords is calling themselves a band and
therefore is killing the status of Independent Music.
Independent Music used to be about songs that were good, deep,
however not readily accessible to mass audiences. I feel with
proper promoting and maturity, a band can and will eventually
leap out of this stage.
I thank you for your compliment, and yes I do work non-stop to
promote Propel night and day, and soon will have the label step
in on merch and promotions via College Radio on this coast, and
of course physical distribution to at least 2 indie record
stores in each major West Coast city by April of 2006 for the
debut album. Not to mention, Best Buy, CD Baby, Napster, I
Tunes, Rhapsody, and Walmart and Target Online Stores. This way
the whole country at least can have a option of Propel.
Ok, one more question. If you could sit down over a cup of
coffee (or a beer, whatever) and pick the brain of any famous
musician, live or dead, whose brain would you pick?
John Lennon, without question.