Richard Marx Interview Part 2
The interview with Richard took place at the end of October and before the start of his European Solo Acoustic Show Stories to tell. In the meanwhile this short tour is almost over. Two more concerts in Germany (today in Hamburg and Friday in Berlin) and two in Paris and London on the days inbetween. I had the luck to see him live last week Friday here in Munich and it was a great show.
In the second part of the interview he told me more about the great time he had during the Joe Cocker tour in 2005 in Germany and how he fell in love with the home country of his great grand father. Also he told me his thoughts about the music business and what makes him happy in his profession.
In the very interesting Interview with Charlotte Magazine you said that you can´t stand major record companies and that you do your own deals with independent labels now, like with the current album. But these times with iTunes, Amazon and artists releasing songs and albums on their own websites, do you really need a record company anymore?
I am friend with a guy who is the president of a major label. I worked for him as producer and consulted him. Two days ago for example we talked on the phone about the state of the music business and stuff and he said “You know, the days when I see a band in a club and think that is great band I want to break this band, I can´t do that anymore. The only way I sign somebody is, when they done a lot of the legwork on themself. When they have an x-number of hits on their website, have a viral presence and builded a fan base on their own. Then I might come in and help out and distribute a record.”
So what we called artist development. It´s gone. If there is no artist development and you can hire independent radio people, independent press people, independent marketing people, what you need a record company for? So that they can take your money? Especially for an artist like me, who don´t need somebody to give me money to make a record. I can hire all the individual people. It makes perfect sense not to make deals with a major record company.
But for young artists it´s sad. I wish I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. But I don´t see it. I only think, it´s get darker.
When you toured with Joe Cocker in 2005 I heard that you walked through the cities you visited?
Every morning I walked in every town we were ever in. I find a coffee place, write in my journal, write lyrics and wander through every town we were in. When we were in Berlin, we had three days, because Joe was playing a big arena here. One of these three days I spent the entire day on a bicycle tour. One day were driving to Frankfurt and my driver made a suggestion for a little detour to Heidelberg, because he knew I loved the Starbucks coffee shops and they had one there. We stopped and I looked and said, no, no, we gonna be here longer, because I need to walk. And I fell in love with Heidelberg. Never even heard of that place until that day. I had that with almost every town I was in. I found so much beauty here, that I never saw. I just greatful to took that tour. Because it was good for my head. But it also bonded with me Germany for the first time, because the first time I saw it and I have been here twenty times.
You write and produce a lot for other artists. Among them guys like Chris Daughtry, Jason Wade from Lifehouse or Chad Krueger from Nickelback. A lot of people who might know you as the Right here Waiting and Ready to fly guy would be surprised to hear that. If you would let them using your songs like Part of me or From the inside from your new Emotional remains album, they probably would become great chart and airplay hits. But why you not just promote them yourself?
You know, I love singing. I love being in the studio and making records. I don´t really look into the idea of chasing another hit song. I had ten years where I really had a lot of hit songs. For me chasing another hit song feels a little creepy. If it happens it´s great. But for me it´s really just about coming and singing. Showing up every year and half saying “Hi I got few new songs I am exciting about and want to sing for you”. I´m done making plans, like career plans. Really now it´s about having fun. And I think the new music which is coming out of me it´s probably gonna get channelled more and more into other artists. I always write and record stuff but I don´t have any expectations for it. It comes with age. You figure out what´s important and what´s not. Writing better songs is important for me. And If I feel the songwriting is getting, than that makes me happy.