Chaser Eight
Indie alternative rock band Chase Eight is hot, hot, hot. *AUDRA* and Pat Walsh are the songwriters behind the hit tunes of Chaser Eight.
*AUDRA* and Pat grew up a quarter mile apart from each other, and they’ve been friends since they were children. As *AUDRA* told me, “When we were around 10 years old, we decided that we wanted to play music and that we wanted to play music together. We took off from that point. We’ve been playing together ever since. We have a really great working relationship and, as time has passed, our working relationship and songwriting relationship has gotten better and better. ”
Chaser Eight recently released the hit single Always Be Yours. *AUDRA* gives Pat most of the credit for that song, “I think you need to congratulate Pat Walsh, because he was the man behind the curtain on that entire project.” Pat smiled and added, “We don’t have another album coming out until the end of the year, and we didn’t want to leave the fans hanging for too long without hearing anything, so we released that song and another song called Twelve Days Ago.”
My favorite single from Chaser Eight’s last EP called At the 426 is Never Enough. *AUDRA* commented, “That’s a fun dance tune. It’s a fun way to start off the album. I don’t think people were expecting to hear that type of song when the album started, and I think it took everyone by surprise.”
When I asked *AUDRA* and Pat how they would describe their alternative sound, *AUDRA* commented, “That is such a tough question. The first answer we always say is rock, but on top of that we are influenced by so many different things, I don’t know if you can pigeon-hole us into one genre. I think that’s what makes our music so interesting.”
Pat continued, “As we’ve solidified our lineup, we really started to hone our sound. We’re certainly a rock band. I think our sound at the moment and going forward is a little bit harder and edgier. We want our music to reflect what we go for in our lives, which is: have fun, have high energy, have some edge to it and have people remember that we were there.”
Chaser Eight calls their music “lifestyle music.” When *AUDRA* first started writing music, “I listened to The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and amazing songwriters like, which inspired me to start writing. Now, it’s become such a personal process that, even though I listen to a lot of other genres of music, I’m not sure I pull from anyone but myself. It’s a very alone process, where you just write what you’re feeling. Who hasn’t had their heart broken? Who hasn’t been sad? Who hasn’t been happy? Who hasn’t wanted to go out and party? It’s all these emotions and not one specific genre that we focus on.”
Pat goes on to explain, “Any kind of music that I enjoy feels authentic. I can tell the writer drew from their own personal well of emotions. While *AUDRA*’s songs are more autobiographical, mine tend to be more from a character’s perspective. I find that helps me get through a tune. There’s a lot of variety in our writing style.”
Pat Walsh has been playing guitar since he was 10 years old. “When I first started out, I was self-taught. As I got older, I took lessons. I played in a jazz band in college, which is a totally different style from what we do now. A lot of times in rock-and-roll, it’s ‘3 chords and the truth,’ so sometimes it’s best to forget some of the formal training, depending on the type of song.”
*AUDRA* added, “I went to Fordham University and studied music. A lot of people have said to me: ‘Your degree has helped to be a better songwriter.’ I don’t think so. I think getting my heart broken a million times is what’s helped me become a better songwriter.”
To get the word out, Chaser Eight has a website and uses both Facebook and Twitter. *AUDRA* explains, “We just try to post content that’s funny. If you’re in a room with the five of us, we laugh all the time. We try to use that vibe, keep things light and be very friendly with people. When someone reaches out to us, we always respond. That’s important, because we love, love, love our fans. Those are our Crazy Eights and we love them very much.”
Pat advises not to post too much. “If you inundate people with too much content, they can get lost. Make sure you post only what’s important.”
When I asked Chaser Eight what advice they had for other indie bands, *AUDRA* told me, “Keep pushing, keep innovating. After our show the other night, Pat and I sat down outside with a beer. The first thing he said to me was, ‘It was good, but it could be better.’ That’s the way it should be. Constantly try to improve your craft.”
*AUDRA* added, “Spend a lot of time with each other. When we started out, we didn’t really spend the time getting to know each other as people. Over these past couple months, since we’ve been doing this album, we’ve also been doing more hanging out, getting to know each other as people, so we trust each other more at practice and on stage. That’s huge. And never give up.”
Pat continued, “It’s important to have perseverance and to work on your craft. That’s the main thing you need to do. In today’s music environment, there’s a lot that you can do yourself. We did a lot ourselves, before we sought outside help. If you can build your website, build a basic social media presence, get some fans online and get some competent recordings, then outside folks will take you more seriously.”
Chaser Eight has been working on a new album all summer. The album is in post-production and will be ready by the end of this year. They are working with producer Phil Mann from the Silk City Music Factory. The artwork will be really cool too, but the concept is still under wraps.
This new album is Chaser Eight’s fourth. *AUDRA* told me, “For the first three albums, Pat and I were trying to find out who we were. I think this album is where we decided: OK, this is who we are. This is our sound.”
Well, I’m excited to hear Chaser Eight’s new album and to see that amazing cover art!
Watch the complete interview on the Amused Now YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/YdIekbpuODk
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AUDRA and Pat Walsh
*AUDRA and Pat Walsh , Chaser Eight
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Cynthia Kahn, Founder of Amused Now
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