A Chat with I Have Four Names (25.08.22)
One-man band, I Have Four Names found his way into our hearts in 2020 with the single ‘The Other Hand Is Always Greener’, and now he’s back. We speak with this talented Australian musician about his latest album Suspended Sentence, uncomfortable situations, future plans and more!
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
I Have Four Names: Listening to music is a huge part of my life and being able to create music lets me immerse myself in that world even more.
OSR: What are the challenges and benefits of being a solo artist?
I Have Four Names: The major benefit to being a solo project is that I am free to explore whatever sound I feel like and also at any time that suits me. No arguments over what sounds best or what direction works.
On the other hand, not having anybody to bounce off means that I don’t get much perspective on the music. I might create something I love, but only because I know it so well… there’s nobody to tell me that my favourite part of the song actually doesn’t work. It’s also very hard to stay motivated when there is nobody forcing you to keep up a schedule.
OSR: What can you tell us about your album Suspended Sentence?
I Have Four Names: I was very lucky to finally find an audience with my first proper album, IH4N DX, and I wanted to build on that opportunity as much as possible. So for Suspended Sentence, I recorded some parts in a proper studio for the first time with live drumming, production guidance and proper mixing. It was a real game-changer to work with other people for the first time, but I wanted to get the best result possible and I think I did. I also wanted this to be my ‘sellout’ album, to be as commercial and as polished as possible. I’m not sure that worked…
OSR: Do you have a favourite track from Suspended Sentence?
I Have Four Names: I really love ‘D-FRAGMENTS’. It’s a mix of organic and electronic elements that just gets me really pumped whenever I listen to it. I think this is everyone else’s least favourite song. I can hear little cool parts that I don’t think anyone will ever notice.
OSR: What about the least favourite?
I Have Four Names: I really wish I’d ended the album after ‘Temple of Lead’. The last two tracks (‘Flashback Light’ and ‘Rat Sounds’) could have been left on the cutting room floor. I spent so much time on all the songs that it felt wrong to leave any off. This is why it’s hard being a solo artist – I need someone to tell me their opinion!
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
I Have Four Names: I just want to give someone the same feeling that I get from listening to other bands that I love – a short rush of excitement. My songs might not be lyrically deep, but I hope that if people dig into them they can find lots of complex instrumental and melodic layers that reward repeat listens. I never want people to be bored.
OSR: What do you believe makes you unique?
I Have Four Names: Because of the way I record things myself, all the ideas always get funnelled through my abilities. I might be aiming for a particular sound, but it ends up sounding like me even if I don’t want it to. Sometimes I finish what I think is a simple song, and people will say “wow this sounds so odd, very I Have Four Names”. I don’t know if that’s a good thing. I want to be unique but not so unique that it alienates people.
OSR: If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?
I Have Four Names: Let’s say mind control. Stream Suspended Sentence!
OSR: What’s the most uncomfortable situation you’ve ever found yourself in?
I Have Four Names: Too many to name. Last time I was in Japan I had a plan to get a famous record store to stock my album. They bought pre-owned vinyl, so I asked them to buy my record. I had to trick them by pretending I was selling them a real artist. My friend wrote me a note in Japanese saying “will you buy my record?”. It worked and they paid me 500 yen for my own album. I did this at 4 different locations of that franchise. I still sweat thinking about it.
OSR: What plans do you have as I Have Four Names?
I Have Four Names: I’m waiting for the Suspended Sentence vinyl to arrive, then I’m going to try and get it into as many hands as possible. After that… it’s almost time to start the process of writing and recording new music. That stresses me out!
Many thanks to I Have Four Names for speaking with us. For more from I Have Four Names check out his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
