Bob Findlay Talks About His First Digital Release
Scots-born rock musician, Bob Findlay, initally humbugged the notion of what he termed “overdoing technology.”Since returning to the music industry in later April, 2007, he seems to be leaning more towards the avenues presented by this relatively new mode of music production and promotion. I spoke recently to Findlay in regard to his first digital album release, ‘Blind Horse’, and was surprisingly enlightened by what the usually outspoken and forthrightScotsman had to say about the album, how his attitude towards the internet has gradually changed and the effect it is currently having on his musical direction.DF: Bob, ‘Rough and Ready’ was releasedless than three months ago and now you’ve released ‘Blind Horse’. Why theshort time-frame and why digital?B.F: Well, you’ve almost answered your own question. The short time-frame is because of the time saved by the digi guitar scales tal process. Once an album is recorded that’s pretty well it. There’s no physical time constraints to mess about with; cover design, CD design and so forth. All the packaging side of it is totally gone which is a huge time and cost saver. The fact that the album only has two new track, so to speak, also helped bring its’ release date forward quite a lot.D.F: In the past you’ve been critical of companies such as iTunes and Amazon for not really backing their artists.B.F: I have, but I missed a big point. No-one is actually an iTunes or Amazon artist. These companies are basically charging artists to use their advertising power to help promote their work.D.F: Isn’t it possible to do this by utilising free sites?B.F: It is but they don’t seem to have the same scope or reach. I used them, quite a lot of them, for a while and still do but they seem almost regionalised.