Seven questions with ... Chris Weeks

Following on from my review of Chris Weeks' "The Ebb and Flow" ... I thought it apt to get to know him a wee bit better.

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
Chris Weeks. I am a music-maker/artist. I’ve been making music for a number of years under various guises, namely ‘Kingbastard’ (Alternative/Electronic Music) & my Lo-Fi/Pop alter-ego ‘Myheadisaballoon’. I’ve recently switched to creating music under my real name; to release two albums on the on the new label ‘Nibbana’, a sub-label to Kid606’s Tigerbeat6 imprint, focussing on Ambient/Drone & Minimal composition. In addition to my output on Nibbana, I have taken to self-releasing limited edition runs of EPs, on mini cd format; creating all the artwork myself.


2) What are you working on at the moment?
I am currently focussing my attention on a new release for Nibbana called ‘Contemplation Moon’, following on from my previous albums ‘A Haunting Sun’ & ‘A Deconstructed Sun’, due for release in 2013; the not too distant future.


3) Who inspires you?
- Name an artist who has inspired you.
So many artists have inspired me at different times in my life, too many to list. However, I would say that Bob Dylan was one of the initial reasons why I started to pick up a guitar and teach myself to play, which set the ball-rolling for my love of creating music, many moons ago.

- Name place that has inspired you.
I would have to say Pembrokeshire in West-Wales, which is where I currently live. It’s a place of natural beauty, unspoiled countryside; a constant source of inspiration.

- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
The book: ‘Other Days, Other Eyes’ by Bob Shaw.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
I constantly feel the urge to do something creative, be it music or art. If I’m not ‘hands-on’ creating, then I’m thinking about my next project, scribbling ideas down in my sketchbooks. I love the creative process of composition. Searching for inspiration, envisaging an idea, hearing/seeing those initial thoughts grow into a fully-realised body of work. It’s my passion in life.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
I try to approach everything I do with a sense of honesty & integrity, open-mindedness & thoughtfulness, so I would hope that my creativity expresses these qualities.


6) What role does community play in what you do?
Being a solo-artist, I’m not sure that community plays any part in the actual creative process of composition itself; it is a very individual and solipsistic process. However, community, in the sense of ‘where I live’ and my surroundings allowing me to gain inspiration does play its part. Also, the ‘community’ found upon the internet. The music & social networking websites encourage a sense of community, which can lead to sharing your creativity with a wider audience. So I would suggest that community plays the role of ‘an implementer’, allowing the artist to develop & grow.


7) What is next for what you do?
Next up, I will be working on artwork for a new EP; finishing off a trilogy of self-released EP’s on limited edition mini CD. Then all my attention will be focussed on my next release for Nibbana, Contemplation Moon.

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Thanks Chris!

Please take time to listen to Chris' music and support his particular style of independent musical excellence where possible.

Tx