Darwin's Radio Interview by Josh Turner

JT: Before we talk about the album or your music, I’m very interested in knowing how you got involved in RoSfest.

DB: I sent a CD to George Roldan, the organizer, following a chat with Scott Pierce who writes for Progressive World. He said we’d be in with a shot (nice one Scott). Anyway, George really liked it. We spoke on the phone and he offered us the opening slot on the Sunday. 

JT: I think it’ll be a landmark year. Are all of you excited to play there? I know I am. {Not play, but attend.} What does this mean for the band?

DB: We’re very excited about it, a wonderful opportunity. Essentially, we’re a live band and we’re looking forward to playing for the US audience who has been very complimentary in regards to the album. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to meet and greet. We’ll be playing most of the EOTW album, some new material and some from our EP “Pictures”. 

JT: What’s it like to be on the same bill with so many other talented acts?

DB: Very cool. We’re delighted to be involved. Looking forward to hearing many of the other groups. 

JT: What other gigs do you have lined up before the event?

DB: We’re playing at the Summers-End festival in October. Some great bands on the bill: PENDRAGON, FLOWER KINGS, John Mitchell & John Beck from IT BITES, as well as some very popular UK acts. Then some club dates all in the UK. 

JT: I had a friend in college with the last name Darwin and I’ve always been interested in the philosophies behind Darwinism? How did you come up with the name of the band? {Referring to Darwin’s Radio.}

MW: I had just finished reading the sci-fi novel “Darwin’s Radio” by Greg Bear at the time of the band’s conception. The book tells the story of what would happen if the next stage of human evolution was just round the corner. I thought that Darwin’s Radio would work as a band name on several levels: we as musicians have evolved both technically and creatively through previous bands, and as the book was relatively new, we figured that nobody else would have used it (although we have since found another Darwin’s Radio in the US).

SS: Like Mark said, Darwin’s Radio is a novel by Greg Bear. Mark and I both read Greg Bear and liked the title; in fact, I proposed it as a title for Grey Lady Down’s last album, but the rest of the guys were less than enthusiastic. 

JT: Speaking of names, I can’t say I’ve ever heard the name Declan before? What are the origins of your name and is there any known meaning behind it? For the record, mine is Josh of Jericho, soldier and leader.

DB: It’s Irish; I was born there and lived there until I was 18 then moved to the UK.

It’s pronounced Deck-lan, but my friends call me Dec. I think it means, “He who drinks four beers can drink the fifth beer faster than the lightning.”  {Declan and I both laugh.} 

JT: With a name like Sean Spear, you must have had or still have a lot of nicknames. Care to share any of them with us? Don’t be shy to share the best and worst.

SS: Surprisingly, I’ve never really had any nicknames.  A friend of mine called me “mint”, as in spearmint for a while when we were about six years old but that didn’t last long, maybe because I didn’t respond to it.  I’ve been called Seamus over the years by various people, but you can’t really call that a nickname. 

JT: Okay, I’m done goofing around with our names. Let’s stop avoiding the inevitable and start discussing the album…

DB: Cool. 

JT: Many passages are reprised, which leads me to believe there is a cohesive theme between the songs. What’s the concept?

DB: A lot of the basic songwriting and themes were written around the same time. We didn’t write one song and then move onto the next, but wrote parts of one and then of another. If there is a hint of a concept, it’s not intentional…at least I don’t think it is anyway. {Declan laughs.} 

JT: Why is the first song entitled “Erase...Rewind?”

DB: The song is all about dreams, and what it would be like if you could take charge of them, erase, rewind back, and direct them…but of course you can’t…so you just surrender to them and “your new world arrives”….weird? I hope so. 

JT: What is the notion behind “Stronger?”

DB: Don’t let them get you down. Do what moves you. Believe in yourself. 

JT: The boys from Asia joined forces with Ryo Okumoto and came out with an album called Window to the Soul. Are you aware of this album from this newly formed band called GPS? Is it purely coincidental that you have a track called “Window to Your Soul” on your album?

DB: Not heard of that one, sorry. 

JT: Why is the album named, “Eyes of the World?” Is there any relation to RPWL’s “World Through My Eyes?”

DB: It comes from the lyric in, “The Vast Within.” 

JT: What are you talking about when you sing, “How many colours did you spy through your glass tiger’s eye?”

DB: Not sure. Dave Pankhurst wrote that song, and he’s no longer with the band. 

JT: The spelling of “colours” is a bit of a tip-off as we don’t spell it that way around here. Where do you folks reside?

DB: We’re from the UK. Mark and Sean live in Oxfordshire and Tim, our new drummer, and I live in Northamptonshire – central England (ish). {Declan laughs.} 

JT: What’s a lapse of sensation?

DB: In the context of the song, it’s the inability to gauge what’s right and wrong  

JT: To me, that particular song has a Genesis feel about it. When it changes moods, I actually hear a little Tony Levin. Are these intentional influences? {Referring to “Lapse of Sensation.”}

DB: Sean Spear groove master. {Big laughs from Declan.} 

JT: I’m having trouble gauging the mood of this song. Is it bittersweet, angry, distressed, disgruntled, or ecstatic? {Referring to “Lapse of Sensation.”}

DB: It very nearly didn’t make the album – I intended it to be a longer piece but it was cut short to avoid contention. I guess it’s a bit of a rant at the establishment and how things can be so materialistic and greedy.  

JT: There’s also a band out there with the name Eccentric Orbit. It’s an elusive concept. What does it signify to you?

SS: Dave came up with that name.  Whether it refers to heavenly bodies on a wobbly course or someone with wonky eye-sockets I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Dave. 

JT: To me, Amber Skies are good times, dusk and dawn, neither too bright nor too dark. They’re typically when you’re going home from work or just getting up. I guess you could associate it with The Twilight Zone. I can even imagine the nightfall represented in the opening sequence of Tales from the Darkside. You talk about loneliness, but also state you’re alive within this inner domain as there’s no war to rage or battles to be won. Is this a safe and healthy place to be? Can you elaborate on these ideas or did I just confuse you?

DB: Yikes! I don’t know. It just sort of came out that way 

JT: Following immediately thereafter is, “The Vast Within.” It seems the character in this story truly is trapped within some sort of limbo. How did he get there and what will it take to set him or her free?

DB: Yeah, you’ve got it. It’s a story about a person who is lost inside himself. The weight of the world has finally got him, and now he’s imagined and made up his own rules and answers to questions that play on his mind. Whether they be right or wrong assumptions, to him, he alone is right. The song then tracks his downfall and detraction from the world, where be becomes more and more consumed and confused as to why no-one understands him. Inside he feels he has the ability to go on and on, but really his own mortality becomes more evident, and he pleads to be set free from his plight. Hope that makes some sense. {Declan laughs.} 

JT: It’s subtle but the song has a slight trace of country twang. Explain yourselves. {Referring to “The Vast Within.”} 

What? {Confused laughter from Declan.} 

JT: Actually, I’m just being facetious. By the same token, it could be compared to Pink Floyd, which is perfectly acceptable to our tribe. On the whole, does this album constitute a happy or a sad story?

MW: There are somber, reflective songs such as “Windows to Your Soul” and “Amber Skies”, but I think overall there is a positive, upbeat vibe to the album.  I think it’s important to get the right balance between light and shade – there are too many bands out there that concentrate solely on the dark side, so to speak. 

JT: For me, I enjoy “The Vast Within” best. I like all the wacky progressive breakout sections and the bass section with the screechy keyboards and all the passionate singing is fantastic. What’s your favorite song, what was the most difficult to make, and which one makes you most proud? I’m assuming you’ll agree with me and pick what I picked for each of these answers. The cop out response by the way is to say you’re proud of each one or it differs each day. So, don’t be afraid to single one or two out.

DB: “Vast Within” and “Erase” are my faves. “Vast” was a real journey in terms of writing it. It was the first song we wrote together as a band even before our EP. There were sections that got taken out; replaced, changed…you name it. The middle section with the distorted bass was tricky. Dave our old drummer came up with this brilliantly sick off-time kind of vibe with Sean that I still struggle to count. So, I just try and go for feel, {Declan laughs} then Mark and I add some strange interval stuff. I’m proud of the lyrics on that one, took me a while to get what I wanted. We may revisit some of the bits we took out ‘cos they were quite interesting.

“Erase” was principally written by Mark who is just a great songwriter. That one took us a while to flesh out - some ridiculous time signatures in there. I’m proud of my vocals on that one. Great keyboard work from Mark. I have memories of the two us at my house trying to get that damned end section to come together, but it did…. hurrah!

MW: “The Vast Within” is my favourite to play live; I think the different sections work well together.  It’s one of those songs that went through so many changes, and some sections were dropped or re-worked to fit into the overall theme.  On the album my favourite is “Erase…Rewind”.

SS: “The Vast Within” is my fave. 

JT: Hmm. There seems to be quite the universal consensus. For the record, I like each one. {I laugh.} Anyhow, let’s continue with our discussion of influences … While I listen to your music, I also hear Kansas at times. The singing in particular, while not identical, has a bit of a Steve Walsh feel to it. Any comments on this claim?

DB: Wow, what a compliment! Yeah, I love Kansas. I played in the covers band years ago just as the guitarist. They used to get me to sing the high parts to “Carry on My Wayward Son.” That’s when I first had people say that I should lead sing, haven’t looked back since.  

JT: What popular bands from the past have influenced you and your sound?

DB: Well, we all listened to Yes, Floyd, Genesis all the usual stuff and mixed it up with the newer things we liked and just started writing really. 

JT: I hear bands such as Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic, A.C.T, and Simon Apple...

DB: Love Spock’s Beard. Got a chance to meet them when they were last in London. Really great guys – Mike Portnoy came on and played “The Light” with them. Got to meet him too and got a few photographs. It was great! 

JT: What modern day bands in the genre of Progressive Rock are influencing you?

DB: I’m listening to Spock’s Beard, Neal Morse, Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, Flower Kings.

MW: Most of the bands I’ve been listening to recently seem to be Swedish, such as Pain of Salvation and The Flower Kings. Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree are other bands that I admire.

SS: Porcupine Tree keeps turning up in my CD player at the moment. Kate Bush’s Arial gets aired when my girlfriend’s round. 

JT: What commercially successful artists have inspired your music?

DB: I really like The Feeling, Muse. Doesn’t have to be rock just as long as it’s melodic. I can’t stand Dance Music. No heart and soul. It just refuses to go away. But, as long as there’s money to be made out of it I guess we’ll have to live with it. 

JT: To change gears, let’s discuss your songwriting… The songs are complex, but rather accessible. To sing along you’d need to have it memorized or have the liner notes at hand, because they’re so intricate. However, when listening to them, there is quite the urge to sing. I’m sure many listeners will be humming, mumbling under their breath, or whistling, until they eventually pick up the chorus lines. It’s absorbing and well-written. Please explain how you went about writing this material. What’s your songwriting process?

DB: That’s a tough one. Generally, we jammed over a riff or chord sequence. The music came first then vocal melody. The songs were built bit-by-bit, with the exception of “Stronger”, which came together very quickly. I had the riff. Mark and I had the chorus. Sean and Dave came up with the section under the solo and bang it was done in two practices I think. “Windows” came together quickly too. The others took a bit longer. “Amber Skies” has a different vocal melody. I changed it just before we recorded it. 

JT: Is it the melody or the lyrics that’s typically given first priority? If I had to guess, I’d probably have to flip a quarter first.

DB: It really depends, but usually music first then vocal melody 

JT: Considering your songs range from four to eleven minutes. What decides the length of the song?

SS: The lengths of the song aren’t predetermined. Really they just happen. The song ends when it’s ready.  We might say; “lets write a short song,” but it invariably ends up being eight minutes long or more. We have prog in our blood.  {Sean laughs.} 

JT: Any idea what else we can expect from the studio and more importantly, when? Would you like to coordinate a release of some kind with the festival?

MW: The new album should be ready towards the end of 2007, as long as our day jobs don’t get in the way too much. Writing will commence in January so expect to hear a few new songs at RoSfest. 

JT: Yippee! Really, that’s great to hear. Has there been any consideration for a live album or a DVD?

DB: Not yet. At the moment, we’re just trying to raise our profile as best we can, which without a record deal is hard work. It’s not to say we’ve not been offered anything, but it has to be the right thing. If all else fails, we’ll just continue to manage and promote ourselves. But, the sales have been excellent as has the feedback. A lot of interest in the states, which can’t be bad. Certain European countries don’t get it, as it’s hard to categorize it – it’s quite an eclectic album. The next one will be more centered in terms of direction and style. 

JT: Are any of you in other projects these days aside from what’s been mentioned?

DB: No, right now it’s Darwin’s Radio all the way – but I would say we will independently work on other projects at some point. I think that’s healthy.  

JT: Going back to the beginning, how did each of you get involved in music?

DB: Just the love for it. 

JT: Any of you ever had qualms about your chosen instrument and/or considered playing a different instrument altogether? I’m curious about the path you took to your specialty.

DB: Mark plays guitar too, in fact he’s very good! I play keyboards a little. I write some of my ideas on keyboards then morph them into guitar parts. Speaking for myself, I’m happy on guitar, but it would be nice to get Mark to play some guitar live in the future. 

JT: How did you all meet?

DB: I was looking to form an original band. A friend of mine knew Mark. He had just finished with GLD and suggested we get Sean in – advertised for a drummer and away we went. 

JT: What motivated you to do this album?

DB: Music. We wanted to create something of our own. Sure, there were influences and you can no doubt hear them, but I think we sound like us and that’s the objective really. 

JT: Who was responsible for the cover design and who is that in the window? It appears as if they’re at a small airport or a farm. Where are they? What is their standing against the glass with their arm spread-eagle supposed to represent?

SS: A good friend of mine, Jonathan Sivyer came up with the design. I have no idea who the guy is or where for that matter. We decided on that image because of its ambiguity. What’s the guy thinking?  There’s a sense of yearning there, maybe, or loss or something, which Jonathan has accentuated with the large black area above the image. 

JT: What’s the worst or hardest part about being a musician?

DB: Lifting my rack. It weighs a ton. 

JT: I’d like to find out about your current musical tastes… What’s the last CD that you purchased?

DB: The Feeling’s Twelve Stops and Home is my fave album so far this year. Favorite prog album this year would be Frost* Milliontown.

SS: A couple of jazz albums; Neighbourhood by Manu Katche and Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus. Ghost Reveries by Opeth and Jadis’ Photoplay. 

JT: Interesting choices. I really like the Frost* album too. It must be exciting to know that you’ll be on the same bill as them in the near future. {Referring to RoSfest 2007.} Along the same lines, what’s the last concert that you attended as a fan?

DB: Dream Theater on the Octavarium tour – great gig. If John Petrucci keeps practicing, he’ll be really good one day. {Declan and I laugh.} 

JT: I must admit. That was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. I saw them in Chicago on that that very same tour actually... Jumping to the next topic, I’d like to find out some of your favorites… What are your favorite albums? Is there any CD or tape for that matter that you’ve worn out?

DB: I love Wind & Wuthering – Genesis. Snow – Spock’s Beard. Scene’s from a Memory – DT.

Moving Pictures – Rush….there’s just too many. 

JT: I agree... What’s gotten the most spin-time lately?

DB: Just recently it’s been Millontown – Frost*.  Paradox Hotel – Flower Kings.  BE - Pain.Of.Salvation. 

JT: Same applies here... Who is your all-time favorite band?

DB: Mine would have to be Dream Theater. 

JT: Again, I must agree. They’re up there for me... Let’s talk about some favorites that aren’t necessarily related to music… What is your favorite movie?

DB: That’s a tough one... Shawshank Redemption…anything with Morgan Freeman, great actor. 

JT: That would make another ditto. We share a lot of the same tastes it seems... What is your favorite TV show?

DB: To be honest, I don’t really watch a lot of TV. Just cartoons with my son. 

JT: I’d like to say I’ve outgrown them, but... {I chuckle} Do you have a favorite book?

DB: 101 Ways to Cook Chicken. 

JT: Are you a sports fan and if so, what’s your favorite sport and who’s your favorite team?

DB: No, sorry. Not really into sports. 

JT: I like to ask this, because it helps me to identify with the artist and I’m allowed one stupid question, but do you have any pets?

DB: Two cats. 

JT: Before we wrap up, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans at this time?

DB: Yeah, thanks for your support and feedback. You’ve been just fantastic – thank you! 

JT: Well, I have to tell you, I really enjoyed this album. Honestly, it gets better with every listen and I really like the build up to that last song. I wish you a lot of luck and hope this album earns a plenty of notice. Keep with it and continue to make more great albums well into the future. And, let’s not forget, I’ll be seeing you at RoSfest relatively soon.

DB: Cheers Josh. 

JT: Anyhow, that’s all I have for you at this time. Thanks for taking the time to perform this interview.

DB: That’s a pleasure. See you soon. 

JT: Goodbye.

DB - Declan Burke - Guitarist and vocalist
SS - Sean Spear - Bassist
MW: Mark Westworth - Keyboards

Darwin's Radio official website  http://www.darwinsradio.co.uk/