Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with Tone Ranger
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My grandpa was a drummer and my earliest memories were of him playing big band style drums, and I’d get to bash around too. Drums were my first instrument, though they weren’t allowed in the house so I switched to guitar. Definitely a blessing in disguise
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I learned to play music with my best friends in middle school. We’d push each other to learn our instruments and wrote our first songs together. We had a band called Drop the Churro.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I moved to New Mexico because I was very inspired by the landscape and there was something calling me to make art there. Much to my surprise, I discovered electronic music as a path when I got there. I was inspired by the Mesa crew that did sound for the Meow Wolf exhibitions, who threw really cool parties, and I realized there was a place for me to make electronic music. I never would have expected to go that direction, but that’s what happened. These days, I feel like my songwriting roots are meeting up with what I’ve learned in production and it’s been really fun to bring all the elements together.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Going out to the land for inspiration is the cornerstone of my creative process
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I use a Tascam 2400 board which routes all my instruments and signals through a collection of wild effect pedals by makers like Hologram Electronics, Chase Bliss, and Kinotone. I love all instruments, but pedal steel is a spirit instrument for sure.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
BowAsWell and Magdalena Bay have been nice recent discoveries. I’ve been on a Vampire Weekend kick recently too, digging back through their old albums and marveling at the production and songcraft
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Keep going
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Keep going
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Red Rocks
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Lord Huron. I love what Ben Schneider and the band are doing to bring expansive ethereal arrangements to the songs and the visual world is a seamless match. Very evocative, very inspiring.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
@tonerangermusic
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
A bigger stage show with more musicians and a strong live visual component.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That I am a lot like them
