May 294 min read

NAS 10 Questions with The Midnight Wrens

This time, we get to know The Midnight Wrens, a five-piece indie folk-rock band consisting of Tom Powley - Singer and Acoustic Guitar, Sue Fitzgerald - Singer, Bryan Killough - Electric Guitar, Jon Hawes - Bass, Andy Herrick - Drums and based in New Hampshire.

The track "Still Remain" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.

Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:

https://www.newartistspotlight.org/playlists

1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.

The Midnight Wrens are an indie folk rock band based on the seacoast of New Hampshire in the good ol' USA. We play predominantly locally as we spread our original music to the surburbanites of New England.

2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?

My musical inspiration began at an early age. Music was always blaring through the sound waves of our home. My father was a huge Doo Wop and Motown fan. I later picked up the guitar as a foreign exchange student in France. With a tremendous amount of time on my hand, a practiced many hours a day and began to dabble in writing.

𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?

I'm a sucker for a good ballad and love music by the greats. One of my first albums was Deja Vu by Crosby Stills and Nash. As a kid I loved Prince and as I grew older, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, and Robert Hunter. My musical preferences have broadened tremendously now to include all styles and genres including Anderson .Paak, The Smiths, Tupac, The Wood Brothers, Fixx, Jon Scofield, and Marcus King. There are so many. I matured as a musician playing in the jamband scene with a band called Percy Hill.

4. What are your goals in the music industry?

My goal in the music industry to expose my music to as many people as possible and to be content with where I am. I enjoy playing live shows and the more people present the merrier. I also am looking forward to collaborating with younger artists. Be on the lookout for my next release in the Fall!

5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.

Typically writing music for me involves sitting down with my guitar and experimenting with different melodies and chords as I drop phrases down onto to paper. Eventually a theme starts to develop and I let the song brew for a few days. I go back to it and rethink the written expression, trying to come up with clever and more image provoking lyrics. The real work comes next, playing, replaying, hating the song, refining it months later, playing it in different ways, sometimes getting inspired by new songs that I've heard. Other times I've gotten inspired by experimenting with different tunings and have discovered new ideas.

6. What is your all-time favorite song?

This is a tough question. You wouldn't suspect his by the style that I write but this song has always been able to hit me to the core."How Soon is Now" by The Smiths. Morrisey has an incredible way of expressing raw human emotion through his lyrics and performances. The chords are so simple yet expertly chosen.

7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?

Music is not a competition. There is no room for ego. Be supportive and encouraging of fellow musicians. It benefits the community as a whole. I unfortunately learned this lesson later in life and would have been much happy as a fledgling artist.

8. Proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment is to have sold out several venues in New York City, Boston and around New England and hearing people sing the lyrics to my songs in different places. It's an amazing hair standing on end outer body experience that I never thought I would every be part of.

9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?

My most embarrassing moment is to have shared the stage in New York City with Victor Wooten who is one of my all time musical heroes. He sat in on bass with my band, Percy Hill, at the time and we played Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage which I proceeded to flail on but Victor held it together with a smile.

𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.

My highest point in music so far is feeling confident enough in my ability so that I am now comfortable collaborating with any group of musicians or playing a solo show.

My lowest point in music was when I was younger, in my twenties, and I was playing with a group of judgmental and overly critical band members. It wasn't fun nor good for the soul.