A Chat with Howling Bee (12.01.23)
The brainchild of Wales-based musician Craig Marshall-Brown, Howling Bee connects with audiences in an energetic, enthusiastic and emotional way. We speak with this talented artist about his album Endings & Beginnings, greatest achievements and future plans.
OSR: What drew you to music?
Howling Bee: A few key memories here. I used to be obsessed with listening to my stepdad’s vinyl. I remember specifically Dire Straits Brothers in Arms and Telegraph Road albums, and Simple Mind’s Live in the City of Light from 1987. Younger than that I had a period of trying to copy Michael Jackson’s dance moves. But it was in 1991 when Nirvana released Nevermind that I needed to pick up a guitar. I started writing sad lyrics and simple songs from then on really and never stopped.
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
Howling Bee: It is therapy for me. It is an outlet not only for creativity but for acknowledging what is happening in and around my life at any given point in time. It helps me process things and find a way of saying what I mean or what I am feeling. So I guess life inspires me to make music.
OSR: What can you tell us about your album Endings & Beginnings?
Howling Bee: This album is a collection of songs written about life events from the last 5 years. A huge period of change for me. It is about relationships ending and new ones blossoming, the heart-breaking loss of friends, moving to a new country, and having the courage and support to take a leap of faith and find myself again. My wife suggested the title on a list of possibilities she made whilst listening to the songs on a long walk. I think it sums it up perfectly.
OSR: What was the production of Endings & Beginnings like? Did you face any challenges?
Howling Bee: Technically, the production was fun and I had complete control. I played and recorded almost everything on the record, apart from some orchestration by my good friend Nick Willes. That freedom meant things came together quite quickly once I committed to it. I had a huge learning curve in bettering myself as a writer, mix engineer and producer.
For me, the challenge was in the feelings connected to the songs. My last band, An Escape Plan, experienced the incredibly sad loss of two of our friends and bandmates to suicide. Going through the process of writing and recording music that talked about that, the memories of playing together, but doing it on my own was challenging at times. I am proud of the album and the songs will continue to help me in wonderful ways.
OSR: What do you find more difficult: melody or lyrics?
Howling Bee: Probably melody. I have realised I write songs in two parts. First, I will have an idea on the guitar with a basic melody for the vocal. Then I will sit down without an instrument, just pen and paper and write loads of lyrics. If there is an emotion present during that moment, the words come very easily. Then it is a case of putting them back together and refining them, usually simplifying the words. I find choruses come easier than verses, and I quite often neglect to include a bridge or middle eight unless it comes naturally.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Howling Bee: The thing with music, songs or a lyric is they can mean whatever the listener needs them to mean. I like to think that someone somewhere will have a connection with something I have said or a melody that resonates with that moment in their life. For me the songs are filled with hope and what is next rather than looking backwards, even if it feels at times like it is the hope that kills you!
OSR: If you could spend a weekend with any individual (not a musician), who would it be and why?
Howling Bee: Micky Flannagan. My favourite comedian, but also, he tells stories from the same part of London my Grandad was from and it fills me with nostalgia, familiarity and comfort. I would love a weekend with him in the pub, eating a roast dinner, walking about, and just laughing at how insane everyday life is.
OSR: What do you think is your greatest achievement?
Howling Bee: This might sound a bit bohemian, but the answer is where I am right now. Life is a lot for everyone. The world becomes tougher and tougher for people, their mental health and social well-being. How we navigate that, continually strive to self-improve and be present in the moment – that is what matters. I want to be the best version of myself as a husband, dad, son, brother and friend, and that is not always easy. Right now I am where I want to be, with my wife and dog. I am a proud father. I can spend time on what I love. That is all a huge achievement.
OSR: What advice do you have for emerging artists?
Howling Bee: I don’t think I am best placed to give advice, having spent years wiring and performing as a musician, I still feel like I am very much starting out. The good news is you can achieve so much yourself. Technology and services today, compared to 10 years ago even, you can affordably record, produce, and distribute your music and have fun doing it. I’m still getting my head around social media and how powerful that can be, I have a lot to learn. But you can do it. So, what is stopping you?
OSR: Do you have future plans for Howling Bee?
Howling Bee: Yes. I am looking forward to the album being released and playing some live shows this year. I would love to play some festivals and within the next 12 months I reckon I will be recording new songs, so hopefully another album.
Many thanks to Howling Bee for speaking with us. For more from Howling Bee, check out his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
