Let's Talk Punk with CPG
Interview By Lisa-PunkrPrincess
Punk Globe: Hi, thanks for chatting with us. We hear you just released an acoustic album. What inspired this? How long did it take to complete, and are there any videos?
CPG: The inspiration was that I had been accumulating these acoustic songs for a while, intending to do an acoustic album. My wife was probably tired of hearing me play them all the time, so she told me to put them on an album.
So spring was late this year, so the time seemed right to choose some songs and at least put out an EP.
These were songs that didn’t fit with my heavy stuff. When you’re writing, your emotions come out in all different ways. There is a song about losing my parents, another reminiscing about my childhood, another about so: It took about a month, finishing the writing of the songs, arranging, recording, mixing, and mastering, and artwork.
The biggest challenge is the same with all my recordings: the struggle inside my head. I have to keep everything straight and organized in my head, being there is only myself in that crazy place…. Considering this is my 5th album, I kind of have a process. Sometimes everything goes smoothly, and other times you’re an angry bear, but it’s a process that seems to work.
All the video recordings of live shots are done by my wife, Paula. I use some stock videos, and my video, and you have to put them together with the music to show what you envision the song is about. It’s a whole other creative process, you have to put the emotions in your head into a video format. Again it’s likemeone who pissed me off,,, so maybe I wanted to tell them to fuck off in a mellower more casual way.
I’m a crazy person, the voices, the voices! Seriously, though, the emotions and thoughts about my music in my head now have to come out visually. Also, learning a new software program is always so fun,… not
Punk Globe: Tell us what you are doing when you are not making rad music? What song is your favorite and why? What’s a goal you have that you haven’t done, but are determined to do?
CPG: Spending time with my wife. We go camping, sit on our deck, work around our property, and do outdoor stuff.
If I have to choose now from all my “children”, I would say “FLY”, because I wrote it about my parents and sister. Unfortunately, almost everyone can relate to that song because we all experience the loss of loved ones during our lives. Regardless of anyone’s beliefs, we would all love to see them again.
Releasing all the music and ideas that I have, and making them into listenable recordings. So many ideas, so little time.
Punk Globe: How many hockey pucks can fit on a bus?
CPG: 25,834 all Canadians know this, it’s mandatory learning in grade one.
Punk Globe: Please explain your creative process
CPG: It starts with inspiration, it can come out of nowhere or struggle with almost daily. It almost always starts with the music and playing the guitar. Then, depending on the situation, what you’ve been doing recently, what’s on your mind, it comes out consciously or unconsciously. Sometimes, you write something, and have to analyse your own thoughts and where it came from. Sometimes, you write and record a song, and it’s only when your wife listens to it and says, “Were you thinking about such and such when you wrote that”? Then you analyze and realize that is where it came from…. sometimes it’s mind-blowing.
Punk Globe: If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and how would you use it in the music scene?
CPG: I want to be like Thanos, snap my fingers and have all the other bands disappear and only have CPG… lol … On a slightly less selfish note, I’m going to go with mimicry, because you could sure see some awesome concerts for free. .. haha…Also, maybe pose as some CEO’s of streaming services, and give the independent artists the money they deserve.
Punk Globe:What’s an average day like for you? What advice would you give to someone wanting to start making music? Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
CPG: I don’t think anything is hidden, but people can interpret things differently. When I’m writing about something specific, I know what I mean from what I have said, but it doesn’t mean someone else will hear it the same way. I might have written a song about a particular person that the listener might not know, but the listener can interpret the lyrics to someone they know. Which is always amazing to hear. Someone just told me a whole story about my song “Staying Gold” and how it touched them. Thinking about themselves and their kids, growing older but realizing how things change but in the end love is the most important thing…. keeping that “gold The average day depends on the season, but we spend a lot of time on our property, whether clearing snow (unfortunately), sitting on the dock, or doing projects. My wife has certain interests she does, and I have mine; there is always something to do. Write your music! From the first time you start making chords on a guitar, singing, or playing piano, make your own music. As you get better at playing your instrument, you will get better at writing your own music. They really go hand in hand. Creativity breeds creativity!! Not everything is going to be a masterpiece, but it’s always wiring your brain to create.
Punk Globe: Where can we find the new and all your tunes? Besides Whatever68 Radio lol
CPG: You can find CPG on all streaming services and Band Camp (of course, WE68). There are links on my Facebook page, which is @CPGrocks.
Punk Globe: Thanks for chatting with us and thanks to all the readers.
CPG: Thanks, Lisa, you are always an awesome supporter of independent music, you, your station, all the independent Dj’s, and of course Punk Globe Magazine!!!