Old Man Soul Club On the Making Of “Smiling Boogaloo”
Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in "Smiling Boogaloo?"
“Smiling Boogaloo” is an antidote to worldwide pessimism. Been too long since someone said, "For fuck sake, put a smile with that, your killing me". From the top to the bottom there is a tone of disapproval, disrespect, and disregard towards the people and we can help that by not giving into it and trying at least to have a grin or three.
You see it in the shops, the bars, the streets, so yeah it's my way of saying don't let the bastards get you down to myself and all on the planet.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for "Smiling Boogaloo?"
The track was recorded very spur of the moment, I'd written the lyrics on my phone in bed at 4 a.m. that morning so as not to wake the house up. When my wife and kids popped out shopping I just went for it and it was best part done by the time they came back. I love the little guitar slide that I "borrowed" from "The Monkey Speaks His Mind", which gives it a lovely looping groove.
What has been one of your most favorite memories along the path to making this track?
To be honest I wasn't expecting to release it until my wife and daughter nodded me in the right direction. They'd listened to the demo and were bopping to it you know, always a good sign. The feedback so far has been 100 percent from all ages and ilks.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I'm Steve Hanshaw, I've been involved with numerous band and solo escapades. Old Man Soul Club is my thing, a bubble of mine I can go to and make music as alter egos really I suppose. There's no set agenda or style intended for each song really, I just take the songs to where the song wants to go. I play in an acoustic Folk, Roots, and Blues duo "The Seventh Sons" too, we've just completed the writing of an LP and I also present a Radio show once a month for "Cultural Popcorn" on Radio 614, Columbus, Ohio.
I started playing at age 16, self-taught through years of swearing at the guitar, and jokes, I just kept going, until I sussed it and I'm still learning, I love learning. I always wanted to write songs you know, a writer of songs.
Where do you find inspiration for your songs or musical ideas?
Inspiration comes in many forms and disguises. Ideas come a lot and I have to be careful, you can have so many you don't complete the last ones. I listen to lots of different music due to presenting and researching for the radio show I do. So I guess there's some level of subconscious musings and inspiration, but mostly people give me inspiration. I really enjoy the process and can only explain it as maybe like a jigsaw or crossword puzzle, lots of different words, sounds, and images floating about and if you can get your mind to be still enough it'll all fall into place.