Interview with Craig Haughton

Q: You list several influences on your webpage, I was just wondering if there were any others?

A.  Well influences have evolved over the course of life, I mean there is
so much out there & if you keep an open mind you can still create a style that's original & not so far off the wall you lose mainstream audiences. Its just creating a route & bringing out whatever is inside.

Q: You style yourselves as a 3 piece band; are there any Morphine
influences? (yes, I know.. a double question.) Also, do you plan
on including more performers in the future?

A.  We are all multi-talented musicians, the reason we are a three piece
is that we haven't found someone to just come in and pick it up & we have
to have someone who is not instrument specific. Everyone has there own style
and some songs we need Michaels style on guitar or bass or my style on
piano or guitar so we need someone versatile. We play brass instruments
as well so its tough to find people who are up to the challenge of being
a dedicated, talented, artist of music. We're always looking.

Q: Your musical style, to me, is really unclassifiable; do you, yourselves,
classify yourselves in any particular style of music?

A. Any self-respecting original band wants to be unclassifiable, but we
don't want to sacrifice relating to mainstream society for music that is so
far out there you have to be a certain type of person to enjoy. We don't
want to sell out either, So we all just write songs and let each other put
melodies and our color & style, What comes out is what you get..

Q: Ok, here's a biggie: What are the plans for Velvet Rut in the future? Do
you WANT to make it big, or would you be happier being an underground band?

A. We don't make plans like that, whatever happens naturally, happens. The
more were doing it the better, it would be a beautiful thing to not have a day
job but whatever success that would come from writing music that people enjoy,
we would be grateful for.

Q: To me, Velvet Rut, has a rather raw sound. Is this intentional, or have I
simply not listened to enough tracks? ( not that I disapprove,
actually it's rather refreshing...)

A. Yes, our sound is raw, we love raw sound because it brings out the emotion. Its not so important that it was a technically proficient track its bringing back the energy & emotion you were feeling when you were playing it. But we do get on the ''studio produced'' sound for some of our songs while on others
well leave in maybe, not so perfect notes, they have their place and can give you a unique feeling when used appropriately.

Q: ok, here's one of the inevitable questions: You have an EP out, are there
any plans to release an entire cd? Fans are waiting for the answer.

A. Man, all we do is record, everything we do we record. We have a few different recording systems, We have a professional studio in our basement, We have recording
technology & equipment from the 80'S 90'S & the latest & greatest from the millennium. We use it all & sometimes mix & match, We just like to put 6-8 songs & call it an ep until we can get enough interest & stability to make an album that is focused on being an album. Being a band that's underground your constantly working on promoting yourself or gigging, writing etc. etc. There is always a project of some kind that your doing, If were going to do an ''album'' it has to be a focused venture where other people are handling our promotion & gigging. We don't want to do something half-assed.

Q: Lyrics-yours are succinct, but detailed. How do you come up with them? are they added onto the tune itself, or do you do the lyrics first, then set it to music? Also, how do you derive the inspiration for your lyrics and music?
As far as lyrics go-here's the ever-present question- do you listen to music when you write?

A. Its always about what-happened, we usually come up with lyrics while were writing the song or getting an idea together, sometimes its something already written. It seems easy to fit a set of lyrics or a poem to the song, its actually the easiest part of the song
as long as the lyrics are good. Its like eating chocolate cake after dinner. On occasion we might listen to the music but not typically. We like to keep the topic original and
sometimes simple. We try not to make it to specific so it can relate to something specific to
the listener. It relates to us specifically in a way but our goal is to give it to the listener so they can relate to what its about in their own way.

Q: Where did the name of the band come from?

A. Velvet rut means being in a place that is comfortable to you but your not completely satisfied.

Q: What do you (the band members) like to do in your spare time?

A. Well, we rehearse together three times a week minimum. The off days are usually spent recording
or dedicated to individual practicing. Keeping proficient at all the instruments we use requires
a little bit of time. We have all played since we were babies. Basically no one is married, and
all we do is music. Were like the monks of music.

Q: Who are the dominant performers in the band? (i.e. who does the most songwriting, etc. I guess) You have a 3 wheeled machine, so you either have one in front and 2 in the rear, or two, with one in the rear. What's up, man? (badly phrased, probably, but I hope you
get the gist. )

A. Well, Jack is our percussionist but his vocal style is integral to our songs, we love our background vocals so were all singing. No one in particular is the lead singer, we are a unit, lead vocals depends on the song & who's style fits it. When Michael plays coronet, Id say its the dominate site on stage, people love it, when Craig starts the song with the piano its in the forefront. In the end we are a group, a team so-to-speak and wouldn't have the effect or same sound without one of us.
 

Q: You list several influences on your webpage, I was just wondering if there were any others?

 Radiohead, David Byrne, David Bowie, The Cure, The The, The Smiths.
 
 
Q: You style yourselves as a 3 piece band; are there any Morphine influences? (yes, I know.. a double question) Also, do you plan on including more performers in the future?

Morphine is an extremely fun band to listen to, and yes I would say they are definitely an influence. Velvetrut will always be open to working with talented musicians, our passion is to create, to share our favorites with the world, constantly evolving and experimenting with the textures and layers. Recording and documenting performances, Audio or Visual. Expect to see more Audio / Video from Velvetrut in the near future.

 
Q: Your musical style, to me, is really unclassifiable; do you, yourselves, classify yourselves in any particular style of music?

Our music is "moody", I think it's college Jazz, perhaps loungy spunk. We
indulge ourselves in as many emotions as possible and we have plenty more
hits waiting for you to enjoy.
 
 
Q: Ok, here's a biggie: What are the plans for Velvet Rut in the future? Do you WANT to make it big, or would you be happier being an underground band?

We have been romancing the concept of making it big. We are currently Giving our music away on MP3.com/ velvetrut and it is so pleasant, especially with the positive feedback we have been receiving. We are willing to take it as far as it will go. If the fans are appreciative,
we will make our presence known.
 
Q: To me, Velvet Rut, has a rather raw sound. Is this intentional, or have I simply not listened to enough tracks? ( not that I disapprove, actually it's rather refreshing...)

We try to do a lot of multi track recording where it's just live mixes, take Burning alive for example. Much easier to record live than any other way. There are more tracks to come where you will here perhaps a more polished
sound. I like listening to our mixes through headphones.
 
Q: OK, here's one of the inevitable questions: You have an EP out, are
there any plans to release an entire cd? Fans are waiting for the answer.

Absolutely, Velvetrut will continue to compose, arrange, record, sample,
loop, effect, sequence, fade, vibrate, and play LIVE!
 
Q: Lyrics-yours are succinct, but detailed. How do you come up with them? Are they added onto the tune itself, or do you do the lyrics first, then set it to music? Also, how do you derive the inspiration for your lyrics and music? As far as lyrics go-here's the ever-present question- do you listen to music
when you write?


Craig Haughton is the primary songwriter, I help complete songs in the studio with melody, a touch more lyrics and some phrasing.
 

Q: Where did the name of the band come from?
 

Michael Kimbrell knows of a Legend in Gainesville, Florida. Of a curse, put
on this town, by a Blackfoot Indian, he says "if you live in this town
(Gainesville). you can never leave". because it's so awesome, you just have
to stay. will as it turns out Michael is from Gainesville and he did make it
out a free man. Although, as I write this, he is currently in Gainesville,
on Christmas Holiday.
 
Q: What do you (the band members) like to do in your spare time?

I spend a fair amount of time working on 3-D and other graphics programs, as
well as composing, sampling and editing on a Kurzweil K2000S, an ADAT or on
a Mac. The goal here is to get all the tools necessary to start authoring
DVD's. I see this coming together very smoothly. Bike riding and nature
walks in Colorado is a great release as well.

Q: Who are the dominant performers in the band? (i.e. who does the most songwriting, etc. I guess) You have a 3 wheeled machine, so you either have one in front and 2 in the rear, or two, with one in the rear. What's up, man? (badly phrased, probably, but I hope you get the gist. )

The main thrust of the band lies in Jack Kennedy and Craig Haughton, with
Michael Kimbrell being a most recent addition to the tablet of pigments.