Davison/Coleman

‘Onwards and Upwards’

By Russell A. Trunk, Exclusive Magazine

Forward Motion “…a deeply musical expression of sincerity coupled with poignant lyrics, superb performances, and a sparse but lush arrangement style that is beautifully warm and lends a classic and ageless quality to the tracks… Most of the songs have a hopeful tinge to them, addressing various kinds of struggles… showing that it’s possible to break free from the emotional chains of the past.” — Russell A. Trunk

Interviewer (Trunk): For the average Joe who may not have heard of you, how would you describe your sound?

Lynn: Organic, uplifting, modern with a medieval flavor, vocal textures and orchestral embellishments, familiar and different… its own category. We’ve had people tell us that they enjoy listening to it while sipping coffee and staring out the window, or to start their day, or on the way to a job interview because it puts them in a positive state of mind. An overall theme of the CD is optimism in the face of adversity. 

Cole: I’d say “Joe, do you like acoustic music?” I play a medieval instrument called the Laud throughout the CD, which makes it unique – a one-of-a-kind. We’ve kept a contemporary vibe to it and produced it with just a touch of strings and keyboard textures. it’s a great CD to chill to…

Interviewer (Trunk): Was incorporating the sound of the Laud always going to be the instrument of choice here? Please describe the sound of the Laud for our readers and exactly why it was chosen.

Lynn: Yes, the CD was created with the Laud in mind, but it wasn’t our original intention. We were actually going to do a rock CD, but the project took on a life of its own when we started actually working with the Laud and we just went with it. It sounds like a cross between a mandolin and a 12-string guitar, very exotic and magical. 

Cole: yeah, the Laud was always there from the beginning of this album. Lynn and I previously had a full band, but we wanted to get out to some smaller clubs and do some acoustic shows. I’ve had the Laud for years sitting in a closet and saw it as an opportunity to use it with our music – and do something different on the scene than the usual guitar stuff. People in the audience responded pretty dramatically to its sound. Our very first time out at a local performance room we got a standing ovation. 

Trunk: Naming your album Forward Motion is interesting, but I’m wondering if it originates from a more personal standpoint for you both, perhaps?

Lynn: Sure, we all go through tough times, and it can be really hard to pull out of that negative place, but it’s the challenges in life that get us to the next level, whatever that is… so really, it’s all good… it’s all forward motion.”

Cole: Lynn came up with the name for the album and it sounded good to me. It really wraps up together the over-all expression of all the songs collectively. 

Trunk: This album took over two years to finally come together. What slowed the work progress down?

Lynn: We did a preliminary recording of five songs and then a year later decided to do a whole CD with a more finished sound. We had to match the older tracks with the newer ones and that was tough. We were VERY selective about every detail of the record. It’s easy to get 80% or even 90% of the way there, but that last 10% is painful! Also, there were some gear issues, in that halfway through the record we realized that we needed a vocal preamp and experimented with four different ones before settling on the Avalon. 

Cole: This album is the result of a natural progression of events. it’s not like we sat down deliberately to record an album project and then were delayed by this and that… As we got out on the Los Angeles acoustic scene, people began to ask for our music and it felt wrong to be giving them a full-band production of songs they had heard live as acoustic pieces and liked. So, Lynn and I initially recorded a few songs acoustically as an EP to have at our acoustic shows for those who like it. As time went by, we began to realize there may be an opportunity to do a unique album, a collection of acoustic focused pieces featuring the Laud. So, that’s the point where we decided to record an album’s worth. 

Trunk: If you could cover, in your unique style, any ’80s pop song, which one would it be and why?

Lynn: I like a lot of ’80s music but nothing jumps out as a remake. We recorded Cat Steven’s “Moonshadow” because it was perfect for the sound of the Laud and I knew we could expand on the vocal arrangement while remaining true to the essence of the song. 

Cole: Ha ha ha! You’d like me to say something preposterous wouldn’t you! Something like, “You Got Another Thing Comin'” by Judas Priest, or “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def leopard! But seriously, I have heard some amazing and unlikely remakes from artists, most recently, “Holding Out For a Hero” by Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth (originally Bonnie Tyler). So maybe something slightly poignant for us like “Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears or maybe “Blasphemous Rumours” by Depeche Mode. And why? Because if you can pull it off right — it can be brilliant!

Trunk: Lastly, I like Penquins… do you?

Lynn: Penguins are brilliant … black and white, dark and light, yin and yang, reminding us that there are two sides to every story!!”

Cole: They march you know, for miles and miles… I saw a documentary on it called “The March of the Penguins” I think they’re drilling their troops for world conquest (he laughs).