"The Beat!" has the very best artists speaking to us exclusively like; Eric Alán, Cristobal, Ryan Adames, Deirdre, Guy Scheiman, Richie Arci, Eddy Barrena, Darren Cinque, Jesse Johnson, Max Merseny, Breaux Gargano, Sean O’Reilly, Luca Savazzi, Alex Serra, and MORE!
Let The Beat Hit You - is proud to be one of the best music online publication's for the past two years. We are celebrating in 2013, our 2nd year in circulation!
As one of our look backs we are celebrating "The Beat's Look Back on Interviews."
The past two years we have had the pleasure in speaking to such diverse and talented musicians. A wide breath of diverse people and music. Here are the first eight interviews "The Beat" had in our two years in being in existence. Take a look or revisit to these hot artists and their exclusive interviews with us.
Here is our 2nd part of the 3 installment series with the exclusive interview with Glimmer and the lead singer Van Hechter. The band “Glimmer” is
taking over the airwaves and everyone’s attention with their brand of
electro-pop along with their evolution along the way. They are a band that
takes a metamorphosis on both their sound and look which keeps them fresh and
amazing to watch. This band stands out in each track and music video. Glimmer’s
current album is: “Wouldn’t Change a Thing” that has created hits/hot music
videos: “Big Emotions” “Wouldn’t Change a Thing”& “Disco Predilection.”
Currently, the band
is getting ready to release an EP of remixes and also another highly
anticipated album with more originally written material. I was able to sit down
for “Let That Beat Hit You!”
with Van Hechter the lead singer of the band in Boston and speak about all
things “Glimmer.” Van is a total gentleman and a sharp dresser as we walked
around Boston and sat in the lobby of his hoteltalking about the band, up-coming projects and much more so enjoy!
Q.
Who are some of the artists that are part of your “dream list” that you would
love to collaborate with?
-The main inspiration;
my texts. Right now I mostly work with Baptiste Gissinger; I feel he is my
video soul mate. Shame he does not want to become a film maker...
When watching your music videos and seeing you live you do a metamorphosis where
you simply adapt and have many looks this is simply not seen with many
artists,
Q.
Van you are very successful with keeping your look and sound fresh and
evolving, where do you draw from your inspiration?
- I
would love to work with Adam Pallin (Little Jackie), I would love to work with
Dimitri From Paris, and lord lord lord I would just be on my knees if, say,
Giorgio Moroder wrote me an album...
Q. Tell us what is on board for you in
2012 for projects.
- Again;
I am really just being myself... If this business gives me a few years of
fruitfulness, you will see that some themes reappear periodically... I am a
complex person, and if I'm going to show you who I am, I have to submit you to
the different moods, even the different truths...
Q. Where do you draw upon for inspiration when
writing new material?
-
2012; new album, new videos, new fans I think. 2012; also, on the side, the conceptualizing
process of album 3...
Q.
What would you tell up and coming artists that are trying to get into the
industry?
- Most
of my texts are personal; I basically am the most honest when I put something
in a song. Lol; rest of the stuff I say part is bull!!!!!! All of what I'll
never say to your face gets expressed in a song; this is the inspiration behind
each track...
The band “Glimmer” is
taking over the airwaves and everyone’s attention with their brand of electro-pop
along with their evolution along the way. They are a band that takes a metamorphosis
on both their sound and look which keeps them fresh and amazing to watch. This
band stands out in each track and music video. Glimmer’s current album is: “Wouldn’t
Change a Thing” that has created hits/hot music videos: “Big Emotions” “Wouldn’t
Change a Thing”& “Disco Predilection.”
Currently, the band
is getting ready to release an EP of remixes and also another highly
anticipated album with more originally written material. I was able to sit down
for “Let That Beat Hit You!” with Van Hechter the lead singer of the band in Boston and speak about all
things “Glimmer.” Van is a total gentleman and a sharp dresser as we walked
around Boston and sat in the lobby of his hoteltalking about the band, up-coming projects and much more so enjoy the 2
installment interview!
Q. Tell us how the band came about
getting the name “Glimmer”?
A. - We wanted a "disco" name;
"Glitter", "Glitz", "Glam"... We wanted something
humorous, which reminded us of flashing lights and sequins... Then we wondered;
what would the looser version of "super flashy" be? Just a Glimmer. lol.
Sometimes I say it's because meeting my music partner was like a glimmer of
hope in a really really dark career, lol.
Q. Van, you and your band “Glimmer”
are a Montreal based group that is steadily gaining an international fan base,
what do you think makes your band stand-out and are getting exposure over many
others?
A. - What makes us distinct is our very
"out-of-the-box" personalities. Dr. Jerome (my musician) has to be
the most original, self-made man I've ever met. He has very strong, unusual
opinions about EVERYTHING. This translates in his music... I have always been
an outcast, even among the outcasts. I take nothing too seriously. I could
never be among the trendy rebels who are caught up in themselves... A part of
me always says (at parties, at fashion shows); "Really? Are we really such
hot shit?? ---- No we aren't, we are nothing, and none of this is
important"... This translates in my writing and in my voice.
Q. Tell us about how you came about
writing your up-coming sophomore album.
A. - This second album is our first real album, lol. It
reflects who we are, -- like we have come into ourselves... At first we didn't
know each other. And I trust with difficulty... Now I just feel comfortable
with Jerome, musically.
Q.
You have a new single coming out, tell us about it and the inspiration for it.
- "Love to Live", is much about how all humans
feel when they are burning the candle at both ends... Remember; when you were
22???
It's all about over doing everything and going for more... It's like
hyper-living at that age, or extreme-emotion... We shot a very simple video, in
the middle of Montreal for that track, more or less in all the spots where I
personally experienced some of my ultra-living lol.
Q. Your music as of this moment is
electro-pop and your voice is great for it, are there other styles you would
love to venture into?
- We want to explore different genres; all the genres that
we love will eventually be incorporated...
Q. Often male artists have made
statements; DJs are not really interested in playing male dance/pop artists,
only the divas, do you agree or disagree with this and why?
- If you are catchy enough; they will play you. --- And
hey; life is such a bitch for women in many regards, if we get to deal with
mild discrimination here; big deal!!!
Q.
As an openly gay artist, has this made it more difficult to shatter the wall
for success in the music business?
- As an openly gay man; things are harder, period. But I
wouldn't change a thing.
Q.
Do you have anyone in the music industry that is out, that you are impressed by
and think truly paved the way for you?
- Freddie Mercury... I wear a moustache sometimes,
literally in his honor. He scared the shit out of me as a child. But he was
just so blunt about who he was (in his gestures, in his look, in his songs), --
he didn't even need to make statements. He just WAS. I love that man.
Q.
What does it mean to you to be an openly out artist?
- It means I can never go back in the closet again, EVER!
Q.
You done terrific music videos for your last singles: “Wouldn’t Change a Thing”
“Disco Predilection” & “Big Emotions” tell us your inspirations for these
videos.
- "Wouldn't Change A Thing" was a collaboration with my
brother-in-law... I remember I wanted to start off clean and less goofy than I
normally am... I love what came out of that first idea...
But came "Disco Predilection", the sequel... That's where trouble
started lol; in this video, I am almost doing a parody of what I was doing in
the first clip...
From then on; I present a character that is less and less in control of him...
Just like arriving at a classy party which eventually degenerates hahahhaha.
