The Spanish Candles are Cam (Drums), Mike (Guitar/Bass), and Brent (Guitar/Bass/Vocals). The band formed when the members realized they would all be attending Belmont University. Cam, of The Spanish Candles, recently talked to TOWERMIX about the bands’ history, influences, and a possible new album!
Nashville, TN
United States
Genre: Self-Proclaimed Spanish Pop
Album(s): The Spanish Candles Are Playing Favorites
Website: http://www.myspace.com/thespanishcandles
MATTHEW: How long ago did The Spanish Candles form? What brought all of you together to start the band?
CAM: I’d say The Spanish Candles formed kinda as a mix of old bands from high school that we played in. When we found out we were all going to Belmont, we jammed on some stuff in the late summer before college. Then, we continued to play in the Maddox basement during the fall of 2007 and started playing shows spring 2008ish.
MATTHEW: Who are some of your major influences?
CAM: Although it varies with what we’re listening to, the biggest influences are probably Pavement, Misfits, early Weezer, and the Velvet Underground.
MATTHEW: How are the songwriting duties shared? (Do any band members focus primarily on the lyrics or the music)?
CAM: Brent definitely writes A LOT of the songs, but there are songs like Leave Me, Rooster that formed out of messing around when practicing. I wrote some lyrics recently too! We usually all come up with song titles right after we play the songs for the first time and record rough mixes.
MATTHEW: Last spring at one of your shows I got a copy of your covers album, Playing Favorites. How did the band decide which songs would be on the album? How did the themes of the album art come about (I got the monopoly guy smoking a cigar reclining in a chair)?
CAM: Basically while Mike was out of town over Christmas, me and Brent decided it would be funny to have a whole project put together when he got back. So we chose some songs, recorded them in my parents’ attic, and had a surprise for Mike when he got back in town. The songs are kinda goofy though. As far as the album art, we each got 10 covers and drew whatever came to us at the time.
MATTHEW: What are your plans for original releases in the future?
CAM: Well I’m headed to Spain in about 2 weeks until Christmas so Casey Weissbuch will be filling in for me at shows. We’re recording some new songs before I leave and releasing a tape and maybe a 7 inch. probably. yeah
