Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with David Laborier
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Both my parents were classical orchestra players, so I’ve been in touch with music all my life. I think the earliest memories I have are from Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, which my parents had on vinyl. As my dad was a basoonist I found it terribly funny that he should play the part of the grendfather in the piece, and mym mom was playing the bird on flute.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
When I was a student at Berklee College of Music. I was taking a performance and jazz composition double major, but ended up graduating in performance only. The composition aspect stuck with me though and I took it up again soon after graduating.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I recorded an album for WPR Jazz back in 2019 called NE:X:T, with a sextet which featured a power trio alongside a 3 piece horn section. We ended up performing this music before and after the COVID lockdown period and I had prepared a repertoire of new music to prepare the folluw-up album. This led to recording sessions at Studio Tonmeister in Mainz, where we focused on the rhythm section and the horns. When I started adding guitars to the tracks and mixing the record, I ended up deciding to try and give each tune a distinct identity and focus on releases as singles, promoting each release individually and filming video content for each release. The fifth tune of these sessions has just been released and I’m working on the next one.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I’d call it accessible, guitar-driven, rock-infused jazz fusion. For me personally, it blends all the influences I’ve had since learning to play the guitar at age 13.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
At the moment it’s learning Pro Tools and the basics of mixing music. It made me way more conscious of the roles my instrument takes within a piece of music, about faults in my playing technique, and most important, the tone of the instrument.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
For writing, it’s Sibelius. For recording, it’s Pro Tools.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Ariel Posen. What a sound!
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I think that for any artist, life experience is what gives content and context to their work. That is certainly true for me, at least on a subconscious level.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope that they find a way into the music that is more intuitive and visceral, keeping the experience fun and accessible to everyone. Of course, I am conscious of the fact that instrumental music isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea, even less so guitar music.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
That one never ceases to learn. I try to approach it as if it was completely new every day.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
New Orleans Jazz Fest, among many. Just for the location and the history!
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Anderson .Paak – I‘m a huge fan of his groove, drumming and voice
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
www.youtube.com/@davidlaborier
https://www.instagram.com/davidlaborier
https://www.facebook.com/DavidLaborierOfficial
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I have been quite docused on the creative process at the moment and the performance side of it has been slower, so I’m hoping to get the new music out in front of audiences as soon as possible.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That’s a hard one. I’m not a very extroverted person and I like to have a private life. Maybe listeners might find out we share a common love for the guitar and music. Who knows.
