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The Eighth Note: Mitch Alderlieste

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‘The Eighth Note’ is 8 quick Questions with Wellington Musicians.

A chance for us to catch up with people & see what they’re up to, or introduce you to a new musician or band and their music.

Today’s guest is Mitch Alderlieste.

Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music.
I’m a 20 year old singer-songwriter based in good old Welly (originally from Blenheim). My style has been described as “Blended elements of rock and melodic indie pop, topped off with soaring, husky vocals.” Personally, I find it quite hard to place my songs into a specific area of music as I have been influenced by a variety of different genres over my years of being a musician. I like to think of my songs as people…no two songs are the same!

What have you been working on lately? Any new tracks or albums on the way?
Last month I released my debut EP City Calling. I started recording near the end of 2015 in a small CBD apartment and eventually finished it off mid way through this year with the help of my good mate and talented sound engineer Blair MacDonald (Matrix Studios). We are very happy with how it turned out! I am already planning on getting into the studio with a band in 2017 and recording my next release. ‘City Calling’ is pretty tame compared to what I would usually write so I am planning on going back to my rock roots for the next one! It will definitely be a more intense, that’s for sure!

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Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
The best bet is to like my Facebook page as it is where I keep everything! My new EP however is available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Google Play and Bandcamp. Lots of places to check it out!

What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
Coldplay: Parachutes – There is a lot of nostalgia associated with this album. I always remember dad chucking this one on. ‘Yellow’ gets me right in the chest everytime – so good! I have always respected Coldplay’s ability to evolve with each new release. They like to change it up!

Shihad: Killjoy – Wellington boys! Shihad have definitely been a huge influence in terms of how I sing and perform live. You can feel the energy in the room during their live shows and it’s absolutely incredible! ‘Killjoy’ harbours quite a few heavy and raw rock anthems. I was lucky enough to receive mentoring from Jon Toogood when I was in high school – amazing band!

Pearl Jam: Ten – Classic, classic and classic. I always put on this album for inspiration. I like to write/I relate best to songs written about the surrounding world we live in. Songs like ‘Alive’ and ‘Jeremy’ are extremely honest and deal with some very touchy subjects. Massive respect for Eddie Vedder!

Which other Wellington musician(s) would you most like to work with?
It would be awesome to have the opportunity to work with Thomas Oliver. He seems like a really cool and down to earth dude. I’m a big fan of his song writing as well. Very talented muso!

What’s your favourite Wellington venue to play in?
I always enjoy performing at Bodega (very sad that it is closing) but the best fun I have had while performing in Wellington is at Bad Grannies on Cuba Street. Good people and good times!

In your songwriting or composing (or the band’s songwriting) how do the compositions and songs take shape?
I always start with a chord progression or riff and slowly build on it from there. Some songs will be finished in a day and others can take up to a year to complete. I am definitely a night person and I reckon I have written my best songs around 2am. Sometimes I’ll wake up from a dream, grab the guitar, write down lyrics and record a demo on my phone. It’s really strange when I listen back the next day because I will hardly recall anything. Great for the repertoire but terrible for work the next day!

Where/when is your next gig?
No gigs planned for the rest of 2016 unfortunately as I’m out of the country for a bit but come 2017 I will be right back into it. You can keep an eye on my website and my Facebook page for upcoming gigs. See you at the shows!


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