HMTV Canada Tina Interviews Torman Maxt
www.tormanmaxt.com
www.myspace.com/tormanmaxt
www.hollywoodmusic.tv/tormanmaxt
Here you go Tina. Thank you so much for the opportunity!!
HMTV Canada Tina: 1. Hi Torman Maxt congratulations on your new album "The Problem of Pain Part 1" when can we expect The Problem of Pain Part 2?
Torman Maxt: We are scheduled to have it done and released by the end of the year. The Problem of Pain was written as a single concept album, but due to the large amount of music and the time it was taking to record it, we decided to split it up in two parts. The intent was to release part 1 in 2007 and then be able to have a follow up album a year later. HMTV Canada Tina: 2. Will you have a few teasers for the fans before part 2 The Problem of Pain is completed?
Torman Maxt: Probably in the fall. The recording and mixing can be quite tedious, and I have learned from past experience to not let people hear the music until it is done.
HMTV Canada Tina: 3. I am curious about your band name Torman Maxt, is there any meaning behind your band name?
Torman Maxt: The name goes back to my college days at the University of Florida. I am an architect by profession (not enough money to be made making music yet L ) and I came up with the name sitting in class one day. There was a beginning design class that I had heard of that the students were to make designs using their initials. My initials are TM, so I started sketching during lectures and soon came up with a logo that I liked. I liked the logo enough to want to come up with a band name that used TM; so after kicking it around a while, the name Torman Maxt just came to mind. So, I actually had a band logo and name long before the band or songs came along!
HMTV Canada Tina: 4. Can you tell us about your unique style of music and major influences?
Torman Maxt: I think that there are a couple of things that really contribute to our sound. First and foremost, the three of us in the band are brothers, and we began playing together in our teens. We were all influenced by the same bands early on. Rush, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin were tops on our list. I am the primary song writer, and I think the fact that I never played any cover tunes really influenced my writing style. When I started playing guitar, I just simply was unable to figure out other band's songs, solos, chords, etc. To combat this early frustration, I just decided to concentrate on my own song writing instead of being able to perform other guitar player's songs. So my background in music started with composition. I took a semester of music theory and learned all of my scales – that was the key that unlocked my playing. In addition, I am very influenced by classical music, especially the baroque period and have worked hard to introduce counterpoint and polyphony to our music.
HMTV Canada Tina: 5. Do you have and spiritual influences in your lyrics who writes your songs?
Torman Maxt: I write most of the songs and all of the lyrics; however, the values presented in the lyrics are shared by all three of us. Yes, there is a spiritual influence, as all three of us are Christians. We strive to be a band that makes well executed and original music with lyrics that represent what we believe in an honest manner. It is our desire that people who listen to our music view us as a sincere hard working band that are Christians and not necessarily just tag us as a 'Christian' band. There are certain listeners that will automatically discount us because of our faith, but in general, we have received great acceptance because of the quality of the music.
HMTV Canada Tina: 6. Can you elaborate on your latest CD The Problem of Pain Part 1 anything to messages to inspirations relating to the book by C.S. Lewis?
Torman Maxt: From the first time I heard Rush 2112 as a freshman in high school, I had always wanted to write a concept album. The problem was that I just never felt like I had a good story to tell. Finally in 1997, the idea of using the book of Job from the Old Testament came to mind as a story that has a great spiritual message, but also a message that every one can relate to, no matter what their personal religious proclivities are. Everyone has had pain and suffering, and at times felt like they didn't do anything to deserve it. The book "The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis is where I got the album title. While it is not specifically about the book of Job, deals with the problem of evil and human suffering, and how as a Christian intellectual, he can see the pain and suffering in this world and reconcile that with a loving God. It is a great read and I highly recommend it!
HMTV Canada Tina: 7. What is your perspective when it comes to recording music and criteria for a well engineered mixed song?
Torman Maxt: I firmly believe in taking as long as necessary to achieve the desired results. I don't think this philosophy is for everyone, however. I am sure there is many a musician out there who feels a fast and spontaneous recording session works best. I recorded the album at my home studio (except for the drum tracks) and kept working on it and adding tracks and redoing vocals until I felt it was right. It is quite satisfying to know that when a project is done I can walk away from it knowing that I had honestly done my best. My goal is to still be proud of this album twenty years from now.
HMTV Canada Tina: 8. How has your music evolved or changed since you first began playing together?
Torman Maxt: I like to think that our music is evolving in terms of its effectiveness in communication, its sophistication in composition, as well as execution in performance. I have always admired the Black Sabbath albums with Ozzy. The sound of the band from the first to the seventh was the same, yet it changed in its timbre and instrumentation. Zeppelin was the same for me, as well.
HMTV Canada Tina: 9. What do you think of the music industry today?
Torman Maxt: The music industry as an industry that sells digital information on little plastic discs is dying and will be dead soon. However, I believe it will eventually be reshaped and restructured to keep up with technology; especially the whole download thing. For me, music on the internet is the equivalent to the Wild West…things are wide open and innovation has the opportunity to flourish.
HMTV Canada Tina: 10. How is the music scene in your area are you able to get gigs to play at on a weekly basis in California?
Torman Maxt: The music scene in Southern California has been the same for years. The bands are interested in playing shows to promote themselves and the club owners are interested in selling alcohol. Thus, the bands that can draw the best and help the club owners achieve their desired result get the best slots. This doesn't necessarily mean that they are the best band out there, but that they can draw. I don't have any particular issue with that; that is just the way things are structured. People around the country are surprised to find out that the band often pays to play, not the other way around.
HMTV Canada Tina: 11. Where are some of the hot spots you performed at local Hollywood clubs in the past and do you have any upcoming shows?
Torman Maxt: We are currently rehearsing and looking to do some shows in the summer, however, we are still very focused on Problem of Pain Part 2, so that is where the majority of our time is spent when it comes to the band these days.
HMTV Canada Tina: 12. Do you plan on touring outside of California in the future or have any band videos in planned for 2008?
Torman Maxt: At this point we don't; however we are looking to get into a few festivals out of state this summer and fall.
HMTV Canada Tina: 13. Are you affiliated with any Underground Music Scene?
Torman Maxt: Not specifically.
HMTV Canada Tina: 14. How has the internet helped, marketing your music and collaborating with fans and other Media?
Torman Maxt: The internet is the great equalizer. In the old days, the only way to make your music available was through the traditional distribution routes. With the internet, everyone's music is equally available. That's the good news. The bad news is that it is still incredibly difficult to get someone interested in your music! There are thousands of bands out there all trying to do the same thing; they make their album, get it on CD Baby or Itunes or snocap, and sit there and scratch their heads and ask "well, what do I do with this now?" I know this from first hand experience!!! However, the internet offers great opportunities for good old fashioned hard work. If one is diligent enough, one can find like minded people out there and really get the name out. Our current album is The Problem of Pain Part 1 and we have been offering it for free downloads.
The link is www.tormanmaxt.com/tpop.html Our intention is to put it in as many hands as possible and create some interest in our music. (In case anyone is interested, giving away free downloads isn't as easy as it looks).
HMTV Canada Tina: 15. What do you think of our music site at Hollywood Music TV?
Torman Maxt: Actually, I find it extremely well done. In the world of the internet, one has to impress the viewer quickly and I think your site does it well. The video in the upper corner is usually catchy, plus there are a couple of headlines that are straight to the point. Two thumbs up to your page designer. Cluttered pages do not appeal to me.
HMTV Canada Tina: 16. Do you have any advice for new musicians or bands starting out in the music industry that are based in California? Torman Maxt: I think there was a time when Los Angeles was the place to be to get noticed and signed, etc., but I believe now that things are being decentralized and the music business is changing so rapidly that it really doesn't quite matter as much any more. As I mentioned before, California is one of the only places on the planet where the band pays the venue to play. I have friends in the mid-west who find that amazing. Like any other industry in our free market system, supply and demand dictates the economics. In Southern California there is a greater supply of bands than venues. HMTV Canada Tina: 17. Before we close our interview do you have any shout outs or anyone you would like to acknowledge?
Torman Maxt: I would like to specifically thank the great friends we have made in Myspace land! There are so many great cyber friends we have made out there that I hope to see face to face some day. Also, I would like to thank you Tina, for this opportunity to share some thoughts and ideas.
Thank you Torman Maxt for HMTV Canada Online Ezine's opportunity to Interview your band. Looking forward to the release of The Problem of Pain Part 2.
You Rock
www.tormanmaxt.com
www.myspace.com/tormanmaxt
www.hollywoodmusic.tv/tormanmaxt
Hollywood Music TV Canada Tina
www.hollywoodmusic.tv/tina
