2/11/2006

Dom Bryan - Near Life Experience

Leftfield observationalists Gamma Ray Sam came together in a most unusual way. After a near death experience, where he was electrocuted while working as a roadie for musician Pete Wylie, founding member Dom Bryan decided that life was too damn short and formed a band, now known as the highly acclaimed Gamma Ray Sam. Mark Langshaw interviews him here.

Sounds like there is quite a story behind the formation of the band, can you elaborate?
I began playing the drums from an early age and was entirely self-taught. I played in many bands around Formby, including my brother’s, until I started university in Manchester in 2001. After the said life altering experience, I switched to guitar and returned to Liverpool to form a band.

How did you come up with the band name?
We picked it because it rolls off the tongue. At first we liked the idea of being called Sugar Ray something… but that was already taken.

Your debut album is released on October 30th; will it be accompanied by a tour?
I would like to but nothing is planned. I am working full time but cannot afford to pay my musicians for the duration of a full tour. However, we will be playing a few dates in Liverpool such as Music Week at Bumper on the 12th November.

Who are your biggest influences and which bands to you admire at present?
As you can probably tell from the record, Wilco and Bjork are among our biggest influences, but I am also inspired by a lot of country musicians such as JJ Kale. The last album I bought were the Magic Numbers' latest release, which I think is excellent.

As a local musician do you feel that there has been an overreliance on Beatles culture in Liverpool over the years?
Yes and no. It depends on which perspective you take – from a tourist point of view it has been of great benefit to the city but as a local musician I feel like the media references them too much; even the American media has referenced them when reviewing the record. In any case, using the Beatles culture is understandable as they were the biggest selling band of all time.

What is you opinion on people downloading their music? Have sites like iTunes revolutionised the industry, and do you think CDs will be in jeopardy as the preferred medium in the future?
Possibly. Sites like iTunes have definitely revolutionised the music industry. The CD may be in jeopardy at some point in the future; after all it isn’t the most environmentally friendly product due to the chemical products used in manufacture.

How big an impact has MySpace had on the industry?
MySpace has had a huge impact on the industry and I am all for it. It is a good way of reaching a large audience. Inevitably it will become a commercial vehicle as Rupert Murdoch has now purchased the site.

Who are your favourite artists on there at present?
One of my favourite artists on there at present is Abby McGivney, a singer/songwriter from the U.S.

What does the future hold for Gamma Ray Sam? Do you have any aims and objectives for the band?
With this record I am hoping to generate enough funds for its follow-up, which I almost have enough material for. I want to get a producer involved this time as I did it myself on A Short Course in Long Term Happiness, which impinged on the creative side somewhat. Realistically, I am looking for a publishing deal and will take things from there.

Finally, would you sign a big-money deal with a major label if you felt it would compromise your artistic integrity?
This is a difficult question but I like to think I am quite headstrong and would reject the offer if I were certain it would compromise my integrity. I do not think anybody can make me into something I am, so the result of such a deal would likely be a contrived one. At the same time, however, the money would be nice as I could use it productively.

Visit website: www.uncleslack.co.uk
To read Mark Langshaw's review of A Short Course in Long Term Happiness click here