By: Matt Warnock
Photo courtesy of Irvine mgt.
Modern rockers Irvine have recently released a video for their single “Welcome Home.” The song features strong lyrics, great musicianship and a vocal hook that sticks in in your head and just won’t let go. Irvine brings a maturity to their songwriting and performances that one would expect from a band much older and experienced, a testament to their natural talent and ability to play off their strengths.
Guitar International recently caught up with Irvine guitarist Tripp Morgan to talk about the video to “Welcome Home,” his gear and where the band goes from here.
Irvine
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Matt Warnock: It seems like music videos are making a comeback with YouTube, after MTV and VH1 basically ditched them at the turn of the century. Do you feel that music videos are again becoming a necessity for any band, upcoming or established, to have for each single they release?
Tripp Morgan: I think music videos on YouTube now are a great way to help you get recognized quickly. I feel that if videos get that big again, it’ll make it back on mainstream TV. Frankly, as long as people are watching videos somewhere it doesn’t matter to me how or where they see them.
Matt: What was the inspiration behind the song “Welcome Home”? Did it come from a real life experience or is it fictional?
Tripp Morgan: It’s not fictional, more like a realization that everybody goes somewhere when they pass. Our video and song portrays the feelings surrounding people going to a better place.
Matt: Most of the guys in the band sing backup vocals. Was this a required skill to have when you put the band together or did you just all realize you could do it and added it to the mix afterwards?
Tripp Morgan: No, not required because I personally couldn’t sing at all at first. Slowly I was able to grasp the concept. Working harmonies and backups in a song is something we always try to do. If it fits it fits, if not then it doesn’t.
Matt: What guitar are you playing in the video and is this your main axe?
Tripp Morgan: I’m playing an Ibanez in this video and yes it’s my main axe right now. I like Ibanez guitars but would love to pick up a PRS or Gibson and experiment around with those some more in the future.
Matt: What amps and effects did you use for the video and does this differ at all from your stage rig?
Tripp Morgan: I’m using a Marshall JCM 2000 Dual Super lead amp and Garett is using an Peavey head. Everything you see in the video is what we use on stage, except the swinging mic. We’re working on incorporating that for Lucas though.
Matt: The guitar solo sounds like it could easily be a melody line to this, or another, song. Did you work that out ahead of time or just improvise it in the studio?
Tripp Morgan: Originally when we were writing the song, I was very picky about how the solo was going to be. When we were in the middle of writing the song, the same night it just came out and stuck. I was satisfied with it right from the start, as was the rest of the band. It just worked.
Matt: With the launch of the new video are there plans for a new record in the works for 2011?
Tripp Morgan: Yes, there have been plans for a full length album release this year since the Fall of last year. We’ve been brewing some killer songs at practice and we’re very much looking forward to releasing them soon. We should be able to get back into the studio again by spring.
