In
Conversation with
Beth
McKinney
A
little background:
Being a trying time for ‘Setting Sun’ recently
For a whole host of reasons I won’t go into here
As I have had quite a lot on, which has neglected
Interviews I have received and in the case of
This interview by Austin (Texas, USA) based
Beth McKinney for example by a good week
or two for which I humble apologise.
Like Beth’s music, these are all certainly of interest for people
Who enjoy their music to be challenging and mood building?
For more information on Beth’s music – please go to her
Myspace.com page, which can be found at this address:
http://www.myspace.com/swallowswithoutsight
Thanks again to Beth for her time and trouble with this interview.
Regards
Andy N
Setting Sun:
How are tricks and what's happening at the moment?
Beth:
Things are good; I'm trying to make more time to make music
Out of the memories I have of some people in my past that were
Really important to me at one point or another.
They're coming along pretty well.
Setting Sun:
Next can you tell us a little bit about the history of
your music - i.e. –
what started you off or as I like to say who fired the
starting pistol?
Beth:
I started playing music in school when I was in the 5th grade-
the trombone. I kept on past high school... though as much as I
liked what we would create as a whole, I would get Goosebumps
whenever we would just be warming up, and there would be all
of the different tones and notes coming together making this
one wonderful, soothing tone. You could hear a melody coming
from all of them. I started hearing more and more music as I got
older that was less sing-song stories about the artists life and
what-not, and started playing around with anything that I could
find that would make noise. Putting them together and recording
them to make something bigger was the next step.
Setting Sun:
Music wise, what are your influences and what have you
being
listening to recently?
Beth:
I've always been someone who needs to be in the city. It has it's
own sound that's relaxing and inspiring. I've always liked
Takagi Masakatsu and Stephan Mathieu. Steven P.
McGreevy has some really great stuff recorded with
Aural Chorus: Music From the Magnetosphere.
I love the Bird and the Bee as well.
Setting Sun:
I have been listening to your music a fair bit
recently and have
being quite interested to see most of your tracks are
number codes
like 4537369 or 82156 but I was also interested to see
one of
them was called Buddha - can you tell us a little bit
more about
This track?
Beth:
The codes all mean something to me... but I feel like a jerk titling
Anything. I went to Thailand about a year ago, and Buddha was
How I tried to recreate my trips to the various temples there.
Setting Sun:
Also interested to see that on your page that also
have a
Remix on there of '121' by 'mister martin’, which was
quite beautiful –
Can you tell us a little bit more about this?
Beth:
Martin was on my Myspace friends page, and had asked if he
Could have permission to remix one of the songs that I'd had up
There, "121". His work is all very good and I was extremely flattered
That he'd even consider doing so... I sent him the song, and a while
Later he sent me what he'd done with it. I have it up because I'm still
So excited that he took the time to do that...
I think I'll have it there a while, he did a great job.
Setting Sun:
What's next for you? Do you have any more recordings
planned –
Maybe even some concerts?
Beth:
I don't have anything scheduled as far as concerts... I've had a couple
Of people ask if they could use the music in small documentaries,
Which I would love to do.
Right now, I'm just trying to make more, and get it out there.
Setting Sun:
A few lighter questions to finish off, I notice from
your
myspace.com - you are from Austin, Texas - What's the
music scene
Like down there nowadays - have you being to any good
concerts recently?
Beth:
There's a lot of really good music here, it's a great place to be.
The Octopus Project is by far my favourite local band, and
They put on an amazing show.
They'll be playing at SXSW, and I recommend that everyone
Try to make it there to see them live. The energy they have is
So positive, that by the second or third song you can't help
But be in the best mood along with everyone else
In the audience. They make everyone into this great big room
Of friends for the time that they're playing.
Setting Sun:
What would you be like to be doing when you are 60?
Beth:
Living somewhere where I can rely on my bicycle and
Public transportation... Creating as much as I can with
Sewing, crochet, photography, music... Gardening... And I want
To be doing it with someone that I love.
Setting Sun:
Lastly, what will be you doing when you are 60?
Beth:
Everything that I want to be doing when I'm 60. I can't imagine
Anything that would stop me from doing those things.