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Xfm Meets Howlin Rain
Californian psyche-roots rockers Howlin Rain took a little time out from their current UK tour to talk to exclusively to Xfm about music and their future plans to work with a legendary record producer. Sit back and enjoy...
Currently touring the UK in support of their second album, 'Magnificent Fiend', Howlin Rain are reigniting the kind of melodic, groove-laden rock not seen since the tail of end of the 1970s. Formed by singer-guitarist Ethan Miller - formerly with the highly-lauded neo-psychedelicists Comets On Fire - Howlin Rain are blazing a trail that's thrilling fans and picking up converts along the way.
In an exclusive interview with Xfm, Ethan Miller gives us the lowdown on the band's history, what drives them and their future plans...
How did Howlin Rain form as a band?
"[Bassist] Ian [Gradek] and I lived across the street from each other in Santa Cruz..." [Listen To Full Answer]
It seems that you have taken a different direction in Howlin Rain compared to your previous work with Comets On Fire. Was that a conscious decision?
"It's a matter of duality. Yin and Yang..." [Listen To Full Answer]
What is it about classic rock that fascinates you so much?
"You listen to old Elvis recordings and he's singing right there..." [Listen To Full Answer]
Should people listen to your album as a whole rather than individual tracks?
"Magnificent Fiend is definitely an album to listen to the whole way through...." [Listen To Full Answer]
Did you intend for each album to become such an epic journey?
"It's like your whole album is mini-epics..." [Listen To Full Answer]
What is the main motivation behind Howlin Rain?
"This is the most natural way for me to write music..." [Listen To Full Answer]
Your roots are evidently in classic rock. Do you ever feel you might go in a completeley different direction?
"The threat that lies in the music that something unhinged could happen..." [Listen To Full Answer]
Are there any bands or musicians you feel a kinship with?
"We saw Black Moth Super Rainbow...I like this band a lot..." [Listen To Full Answer]
A lot of the current crop of American bands have their roots in classic rock. What do you attribute that to?
"People say how much we sound like a Seventies band..." [Listen To Full Answer]
Are you planning your next album already?
"We are probably going to record with Rick Rubin..." [Listen To Full Answer]
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