Exclusive Interview with One Eyed Mule!

Check out our Exclusive Interview with One-Eyed Mule!

This is the 115th post in our Musician of the Day series.

One-Eyed Mule is a band that has been strumming its chords to its own unique beat since 2006. They are known for combining rock, folk and blues in a way that creates a unique sound. They have been featured on the television show The Cleaner and they are currently working on their next album in Sweden. The band consists of Rasmus Dall (Guitar and Vocals), Uffe Ipsen (double bass and organ), Soren Anderson (Guitar, banjo, organ), Rasmus Bonde (Harmonica) and Mads Tender (Drums).



Click Here to listen to "Where You Don't Belong" by One-Eyed Mule which was featured on The Cleaner!
[audio http://fansiter.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/02-where-you-dont-belong-11.mp3]

Stephanie Schoppert: How/when did the band form?

Rasmus Dall: Well One-eyed Mule started out as a country blues outfit playing the songs of Blind Wllie Mctell, John Hurt, Furry Lewis at smokefilled bars and taverns. It was just guitar, doublebass and harp. Then in 2005 we started writing our own songs, got a record deal an released our first album "Hobo in the land of love" in 2006 and for those recordings Soren who plays banjo/electric guitar/organ and everything in between joined the band and brought as well his drumming roommate Mads. That's it.

Stephanie: Who are your biggest influences?

Rasmus: Since we started playing a lot folkie blues stuff all of those ol'time blues masters. Then Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan and Lou Reed.

Stephanie: If you had to, who would you compare your music style to?

Rasmus: Hmm the lyrics are country/folk, the feelin' is bluesy and the energy is rocky!

Stephanie:If you had to pick, which of your songs is your favorite and why?

Rasmus: That's really hard to say but it's usually the last song you wrote cause it's still very pure and fresh so I'd say the new songs we are recording now for our new album.

Stephanie: You’re currently working on a new album, is there anything you can tell me about it?

Rasmus: We rented a big old house in the Swedish woods and recorded as much as possible live in the living room with our amplifiers hidden all over the house. The new album will be more acoustic than our last album "From the Beats to the Bible"

Stephanie: What is your writing process like?

Rasmus: It is mainly Uffe (doublebass) and I who write the songs. At our homes on the acoustic guitar and then we'll meet for some coffee in our basement studio and play the latest songs and tricks and then try to work it out.



Stephanie: Has your music style changed since you first started playing?

Rasmus: Not that much no though the latest album was more electric than acoustic. Uffe has done a lot of bowing on the doublebass so that's pretty much a trademark. But the new album will be a little more bright and light than our previous albums.

Stephanie: You use a lot of unique instruments for your songs what is the reason for this?

Rasmus: It looks really good on the stage and it's just funny to bring in some sounds that you don't hear all the time,- and it's funny to learn how to play them most of the time!

Stephanie: Where do you get inspiration for your songs?

Rasmus: That's a big one, but I just like to walk around (or bicycle as everybody does in Copenhagen theese CO2 days) and then sometimes you get something for the notebook that calls for a little more attention someday.

Stephanie: What is your favorite memory from touring so far?

Rasmus: Crossing borders with the ukulele in my hand

Stepahnie: What was the most awkward/embarrassing moment you’ve had while performing?

Rasmus: We were once hired to play a labour union congress that took place on the 4th floor and then they put us on the 3rd floor so people could only hear and not see us!! But we got our money so pretty easy job.

Stephanie: As an emerging band what do you think about file sharing and musicians giving away music free online?

Rasmus: It doesn't upset me. You'll give something away for free and hope you'll benefit somehow and it is easier to be up and coming these days but if it's all "DIY" you'll end up having little time to write songs.

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