Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with Eaten By Trees
Eaten By Trees is the solo project of an artist from the Isle of Man, blending ethereal sounds and introspective lyrics to create a unique musical landscape. Beginning in December 2024, the artist has drawn inspiration from a wide spectrum of influences, ranging from the shimmering synths of Chvrches and MGMT to the melancholic atmospheres of The Smiths and Sigur Rós. With a sound that fuses elements of Heartworms, The Last Dinner Party, and Bright Eyes, Eaten By Trees crafts melodies that are as haunting as they are captivating. A lover of dreamy soundscapes, the project weaves influences from New Order, Pet Shop Boys, and Slowdive, all while embracing the experimental edge of M83 and My Bloody Valentine. Eaten By Trees invites listeners on a sonic journey that moves between the past and present, the organic and the synthetic, offering a refreshing and immersive experience. Stay tuned as the project continues to evolve, carving out its own space within the world of alternative music.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I remember writing rubbish lyrics even when I was about 8 or 9 years old and trying to play tunes on a little keyboard I had. Songs called things like ‘I’m a lonely guy’.
Some people might say my songwriting hasn’t improved !
My parents were in the church choir, so they loved music and were always singing, and I had to go with them because my Dad was the Sunday school teacher.
Me and my Mum bonded over 1980s pop music.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I always dreamt of being a rock star. I’m sure most people do at some point. I’ve always loved music. I bought a guitar in my teens, and Mum got me a keyboard, and I used to play with a couple of friends in my attic.
I think we partly just wanted girls to like us though, which being in a band supposedly helps with, but it didn’t work for us.
Then, when we lost touch, I just got lazy and didn’t do anything for ages.
A couple of friends have died in recent years though, which just made me think life’s too short to waste time, I need to get back into it and actually record something this time.
I’m more realistic now. It’s just nice to release stuff and have it there online forever, even if no-one listens to it or likes it !
Nowadays it’s so easy to release music yourself online too, which is great.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I just started trying to write a couple of songs on my keyboard, at first, messing around, because I was getting into conspiracies and stuff like that, so the first song, ‘Tell Me What You Believe In’, was about that.
But I enjoyed it so much that I just kept going and hopefully will release a new single every couple of months at least now. Hopefully an album eventually too.
My next single is out on 21 November, called ‘That Little Feeling’.
I used to say to my friends I couldn’t date anyone unless they gave me the ‘magic feeling’, so it’s sort of about that.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music
before?
Experimental electronic post-punk. Obviously it doesn’t sound like punk in the traditional noisy guitar way, but in the punk ethic way, that anyone can make music. I’m certainly not a great musician, far from it, so in that way, if I can get songs out there, so can anyone. Musically, I’d probably say I sound a bit like M83, Sigur Ros, New Order, the Pet Shop Boys, Carter USM.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Playing a synthesiser is a lot easier than playing a guitar. If you want to start making music easily, just get yourself a midi keyboard, connect it to your laptop and that’s it, anyone can do it.
Also, not to worry about whether anyone likes your music. Just record it and put it out there anyway. I don’t think there’s any such thing as good or bad music, it’s all subjective.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
A midi keyboard, which you can get quite cheap these days.
I’ve got a Nektar SE49 keyboard which was pretty cheap but you get some great sounds out of it.
A MacBook, which is of course a bit more expensive, but they are great investments if you decide you want to record regularly.
My first 4 singles, I recorded using an Asus laptop computer and it was a bit of a nightmare because it only had 4GB RAM, so it kept crashing and took about 200 takes for every part of the songs.
I used Bitwig’s Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to record the first 4 singles, but the new single I used Garage Band DAW which you get with MacBooks. For people who maybe don’t know a DAW is basically a recording studio, like a tape recorder, but an online version.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
My favourite current artist is Heartworms, she’s a UK gothic solo artist whose real name is Jo Jo Orme. I really like her music.
Newish artists that I also like are Hamish Hawk, The Last Dinner Party and Picture Parlour.
I still can’t go long without listening to some of my older favourites too though, things like M83 and Sigur Ros.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Growing up I was really into the Smiths, partly because I really related to their lyrics. I was quite a shy lonely boy, who was terrified of talking to girls. To be honest I haven’t changed much. I think it helps you writing music if you struggle with certain things though. If you’re happy all the time I’m not sure you can write good songs.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I think it’d be nice if people could relate to some of the lyrics, in the same way I did with the Smiths. I’m not deluding myself I’m going to be the new Morrissey or anything, but if even one person likes your song I think you’ve achieved something.
Hopefully shy, lonely, outsiders, maybe thinking, yeah I feel like that too, although that does sound like a bit of a cliche. Maybe it will inspire some people to make their own music too, thinking I can’t sound any worse than this guy !
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Just that you shouldn’t worry about whether other people will like your music. I used to worry about putting my songs out there, mainly because I’m quite a introverted, and was a little scared of people hating it, but I’ve sort of got over that now. I haven’t had any negativity, not that many people have actually heard my music, but as long as you enjoy doing it, that’s all that matters anyway.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Probably Glastonbury. It kind of seems the most spiritual festival. Although, I did go a couple of times a few years ago, and it seems these days to have gone a lot more commercial, so not sure it would be so good now. I’m not sure I’d go down well with Dua Lipa and Charlie XCX fans.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Probably David Bowie, in his earlier years around the time of Ashes to Ashes, Space Odyssey time, when he was a bit weirder. As long as he didn’t make me do Dancing in the Street.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
https://www.instagram.com/eatenbytreesmusic/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/EatenByTreesUK
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/eaten-by-trees/1793922508
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCktPbcShfos3JN4dX5rv0-w
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical
journey?
The dream would be a huge song making me millions, my songs in movies and TV shows, and a Grammy ! But in reality, I guess every songwriter would like a little bit of recognition and exposure, even if they say they don’t care about that, so it would be nice to get my songs heard a bit more and get a few more Spotify streams and build a little following.
If just one person likes my songs I’ll be happy, and even if they don’t I’ll keep making them.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Maybe that they can identify with some of the emotions and feelings in my songs, difficulties with shyness, problems talking to people you’re attracted to, or sometimes just talking to anyone. Or confusion about the world today, it’s become quite a horrible place these last few years, but hopefully some people might relate to my songs and realise there are other people out there that feel the same way, and maybe the songs will mean something to them.
