Hurricane Bells

Katie from Live.Love.Twilight. did an interview with New Moon Soundtrack artists, Hurricane Bells, and she’s let us reprint the interview.
Hurricane Bells at Pete's Candy Store. I love this venue, I l... on Twitpic

Tell us a little about your background in music. How old were you when you stared? Where does the name “Hurricane Bells” come from? What are some of your major influences?

I  have been the singer and guitar player in a band called Longwave for years. Longwave has put out 4 records, two for RCA. I have also played guitar on tour with Albert Hammond Jr and Teddy Thompson. I started playing guitar when I was 10, and Longwave is the first band where I ever sang.

I made a record by myself and wanted to call it “tonight is the ghost”. Then I decided I needed a name for the “band”.

Hurricane Bells were heavy stone bells that used to be hung high in trees, by the sea. The only way the bells would sound would be if a very dangerous storm was coming. I thought that was an evocative image and decided to call the thing that.

Can you describe your music/sound?

The Hurricane Bells stuff is kinda stormy, late night kinda music, or rainy day. There is a bunch of echo and reverb on things. Longwave is a pretty guitar heavy band, and I wanted to make something a bit more mellow, that I could put on at night.

Have you read the Twilight series or watched the movie previous to being selected for the New Moon soundtrack?

Nope. sorry! I am reading book 1 now…
If so, what is your favorite book in the series or of the ones you’ve read thus far? Do you have a favorite character or set of characters?

I like bella!

What was your inital reaction to being selected for the New Moon soundtrack?
wow…


Can you describe the process of being chosen for the soundtrack?

It came as a bolt out of the blue to me. My manager had asked for something “exclusive” about 3 months ago. I already had the Hurricane Bells record done. He said the people he was talking to wanted something not on the record. I had “monsters” left over, and I sent it. I told him I didn’t want to know what it was for.

Then I found out that it was really going to happen last week, maybe a week before it was announced. They wanted edits of the song for the movie, and I had to do them. I couldn’t tell anyone, and it was pretty nerve wracking. When it was announced I was so relieved….and excited.


Have you met the director, Chris Weitz? If so, what was that experience like for you?

I haven’t met him.
What the song Monsters previously made and just not released or did you have to study up on the books and write a new song for the movie?

It was already done.
If it was previously created, what was your inspiration for the song? what were you thinking when you wrote it?

I dunno, I guess I liked the image, “monsters”. The line in the chorus is, “you gotta look before you go, deep into the darkness where I hide.”


Can you describe the song? What is the mood of it? Fast paced or slow and somber to fit the theme of heart break?

It’s more uptempo. That is actually why I left it off of the Hurricane Bells record. There is some fuzzed-out guitar. and a ripping guitar solo…


Have you seen any parts of the New Moon movie? Do you know where your song will be placed in the film?

Yes i have the clip with my song in it. I was told that it is going to be the first song in the movie, when Edward walks onscreen.
Do you feel prepared for all the overwhelming response your involvement in the soundtrack will bring you? (We notice your amount of Myspace friends going up each day!)

Ha! Well I had to get that MySpace page together pretty quickly! The woman who is doing the press for the HB record, Amanda, didn’t even know my manager was pitching the song. Then she got a call from entertainment weekly…we had JUST put her name up as a contact on the myspace page…

Do you have a favorite movie soundtrack?

Saturday night fever!


Out of everyone in the Twilight cast, who do you want to meet the most and why?

Can you introduce me to bella??

When can we look forward to seeing Tonight is the Ghost on shelves? Do you plan on touring anytime in the near future?

the plan is to have it out in US and japan in february, 2010. there will be touring around that time. there is still no deal for the record in UK, or europe.
Thank you so much for your time, Steve! We are so honored to have a chance to ask your our questions. I know a lot of fans have already taken a great liking towards your music! best of luck in the future and we hope to see you around soon or keep in touch.

thanks guys!! take it easy.

steve