An interview with Bobby MC
An interview with Bobby MC
What inspired the name of the band? What are your influences?
The band is called Bobby Mc and The Dukes. As an artist, I am Bobby Mc but when I play live, I play with my band The Dukes. Bobby Mc is just another version of my actual name Bob Mc Quaid. When I decided to go with Bobby Mc, I thought that I wanted to give my band a name. I didn’t want Bobby Mc and band so I wanted to come up with their own name. I took inspiration from names like Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra etc… I settled on The Dukes after thinking about my favourite soul act, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes.
My influences would be Gregory Porter, Jamie Cullum, Carole King and Harry Connick Jr. All for different reasons but when I heard Gregory’s Liquid Spirit album for the first time, I couldn’t believe it had been released this side of 2000. I thought music like that wasn’t released anymore and that it had to be an old record. This was a moment for me when I released my music, this old style jazz with a modern tone, has a place in mainstream modern music. Jamie Cullum echoed this for me when I listened to his interpretations of classics with modern twists.
How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to explore when you start off?
Songwriting for me is never formal. It takes a period of time and there is a process. I like to play the piano every day and if I like something, I’ll continue to play it until it starts to sound the same or I’m happy with where it’s at. Then I’ll start to sing random words to fit the melody and then I’ll write my lyrics. Generally, the feel of the song will direct me in what I want to write about lyrically.
How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to explore when you start off?
Songwriting for me is never formal. It takes a period of time and there is a process. I like to play the piano every day and if I like something, I’ll continue to play it until it starts to sound the same or I’m happy with where it’s at. Then I’ll start to sing random words to fit the melody and then I’ll write my lyrics. Generally, the feel of the song will direct me in what I want to write about lyrically.
Why do you write the sort of music that you do?
I like to listen to melodies when I listen to music. Everybody listens to different aspects without even knowing it but that’s what I hear before anything else. That’s why I write the music I do, to make sure I can hear the sounds and melodies I would want to hear in someone else’s music. I am primarily a singer so I’m limited to chords mainly on the piano, this can sometimes lead me to writing slower ballad type songs as rhythmically it is easier and more suited to my standard of playing. In recent times I have started working with great piano players which has increased the possibilities for song types and different rhythms. This can be seen on my debut single, ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, where I worked with a friend of mine, Podge Kilbride, who transformed the track with his playing.
How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them into that live setting?
I decide on what songs based on the type of show we want to perform and the venue. Sometimes you can read the room and change the set but generally we will plan a set for the show. There can be difficulties transposing them to the live setting if there is a big brass arrangement or strings part on the record but we just change the feel slightly to make the arrangement work live for a smaller band.
How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them into that live setting?
I decide on what songs based on the type of show we want to perform and the venue. Sometimes you can read the room and change the set but generally we will plan a set for the show. There can be difficulties transposing them to the live setting if there is a big brass arrangement or strings part on the record but we just change the feel slightly to make the arrangement work live for a smaller band.
What plans do you have for the future?
I will be releasing three more singles this year with some big live performances and original material to come in 2022.