Eclectic Approach Releases New Song And Video

posted in: Features • Music News • Urban

Eclectic Approach has got its wheels in motion. Just last month, the self-dubbed “gritty rock ‘n hop”  group competed on behalf of the country’s western states to be the “Coldest” MC in OurStage and Coors Light’s “Search For The Coldest” Competition. While their opening performance for N.E.R.D. and PacDiv didn’t land them the Grand Prize, Eclectic Approach shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, they’re just getting started, vowing to release a new song and video every month and embracing social media to get even closer with their fans.

Today marks the release of their new song “Brother”, a track that some might say is a departure from their older work due to a new, heavier sound.  Below is our exclusive interview with Justin MacDonald. Be sure to check out the new video and show Eclectic Approach some love by buying the new song!

OS: Why the transition to this darker subject matter? What’s the inspiration?

JM: I think that we write music for whatever is going on in our lives at that particular moment. One of the challenges in the current music scene is being consistent in your sound and style, but not so consistent that when you move a bit left or right of that one “sound”, your fan base rebels and you lose your listeners and supporters. Luckily, we have always been all over the map, so I think our fans are just interested in hearing what the next thing is for us, and don’t really expect us to stick to one musical sound, subject or emotion.

OS: What was it like taking your sound in this direction?

JM: On our last album Jump Into Life, we had a couple songs that were a little more dark and emotional, so this song isn’t a complete 180 for us. However, it’s nice for all of us in the band to be able to sit down and write a song called “Boobies Make the World Go ’round” and at the same time be able to come to the table with something really serious and work with that. I think it’s a much more honest way to approach music, because you listen to some band’s music and either they have no sense of humor, their life really, really sucks or they just don’t let themselves sing about the humor in life. But there again, perhaps they are just giving the fans what they want. I’ll be honest, if all of the sudden Radiohead started releasing comedy albums I might be a little thrown off! But, being serious or funny all of the time isn’t us, so we mix it up.

OS: What went into filming the video for “Brother”?

JM: Ben Hampton from Magical Touch Media is a good friend of ours, and he and Jowed came up with the concept. When we were writing the song, it was obviously very personal for Jowed, and I think the video reflects that. We can all get nostalgic watching old family videos, and when you are dealing with a family member who is battling addiction, that can be a powerful combination. There is a real innocence to children, and when you compare the carefree kid playing to the person you know now, I think its not uncommon to think, “What happened to THAT person?!” I think the song and video explores that idea in a pretty intimate way.

OS: What’s next?

JM: We are rethinking how we are going move forward as a band. It used to be that touring was the most effect way of getting a following, but with how powerful Web sites like YouTube and Facebook have become, it almost seems like as a band you are better off focusing on giving your fans consistent content. We are committed to writing at least one new song a month with an accompanying video. We are going to sell these songs through our Wazala store initially (featured on our Web site www.eclecticapproach.com as well as our Facebook page), and then iTunes after they go through the approval process. We want to create a relationship with our fans that they can count on us for new music and content, and we can count on them to support us! Of course we will still tour and play shows, but we want to grow new markets through our online presence before going to them in the ol’ tour van!