Troy Redfern Talks New Album, UK Tour Plans And More

Your new album ‘Invocation’ is released on 17th May 2024. How did you want to approach the making of the record?

With ‘Invocation’ I wanted to make a record that was immediate and inspired primarily. I felt that I needed to reach deeper into into my psyche to get to the essence of what makes me tick as an artist. The initial ideas needed to be as unconscious and as unfiltered as possible, but the arrangements needed to be tight, and all the fat trimmed away. 2 – Where did you record it and who produced it? The album was recorded in part at Dulcetone Studios in Kettering, a beautifully converted chapel. The last album “The Wings of Salvation’ was recorded there, and I really liked the drum sound we got there, so I decided that we’d go back for “Invocation’. For production duties I called Dave Marks back in. He’d worked with me on “The Wings of Salvation’ and that project worked extremely well.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

Not necessarily from the actual recording sessions, but I tried some unorthodox approaches to song writing that included meditation where I would imagine hearing a song in my mind, as complete as possible including visualising the performance live. Next, I would pick up the guitar and capture the idea on my phone. That way I wasn’t led by what I would usually do when I pick up the guitar. It was a very freeing, powerful experience, and a discipline that I’ll use again to write more songs in the future.

In addition, you have your third single ‘The Strange’ being released. What was the inspiration/story behind the song?

I wanted to make a bold musical statement with this song. I condensed a lot of ideas that I had for this one down to simple, memorable lines to make it as strong as I could. This song really is a melting pot of a lot of my influences from the past forged into something new. ‘The Strange’ is about the realisation that a relationship is falling apart in slow motion. Despite how difficult it may seem to break away, it’s about the sense that life is slipping by is an ever-present feeling. I wanted to make a bold musical statement with this song.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals?

My favourite instrument by far is my 1929 National Triolian. It really is my go-to guitar to generate ideas, it feels like a part of me. As far as effects go, I love my old 80’s Rat pedal in combination with the Hermida Distortion pedal. I also use a Digitech Whammy to live set on the upper octave setting. It’s great for adding intensity to solos. I also love using my 1935 Dobro M-32 live. These old guitars aren’t super easy to play, they force you to think outside of the box when improvising. For me it becomes more like creating a soundscape rather than playing licks.

Do you have any live plans for 2024 in the UK and Europe?

My first headline UK tour starts June 17th and runs until June 27th. Tickets are available from www.troyredfern.com. We’re also going to be playing a number of festivals this summer. I will then be on tour in November with an American guitarist (the latter will be announced at the end of February).

I really love the graphics and artwork for the album which you designed. When did you start designing and creating your own artwork? Do you have any favourite comics, graphic novels or artists?

Thank you! I’ve always had a love for drawing and especially comic art. As a kid I used to get lot of Marvel Comics and wanted to be a comic book artist when I left school. My favourite comic book artist is the late, great Jack Kirby! His work in the late 60’s on the Fantastic Four Galactus saga is, to me the pinnacle of the comic book art form. The Silver Surfer has always been another favourite of mine, along with The New Gods that Jack did for DC Comics. I started doing my own artwork on The Fire Cosmic album. It wasn’t planned, but I’d started using Procreate and was getting into understanding what I could do in that medium. I did a homage to Kirby with that cover, and it really seemed to resonate with people. The Wings of Salvation I tried charcoal and pastels one afternoon and that became the album artwork, and for ‘Invocation’ there are two alternate covers. One is my own comic art and one is a photo portrait by Jason Bridges.

How do you look after your voice?

Usually on the road I just do a quick vocal warm up, nothing to elaborate. If it’s a long tour I might inhale some steam or take honey before a show, but generally it’s just a couple of cigarettes before I go on stage 🙂

Was ‘Invocation’ a difficult album to write?

No, it was really easy! It was written and recorded from scratch in about 5 weeks. I’ve always felt like my musical tap is always on, so when I focus to record ideas, I’m getting little snapshots that would be different day by day. If I’d have written ‘Invocation’ a month later it would have been a completely different record because the ideas that unconsciously come through are always changing, like turning a kaleidoscope, same pieces but rearranged into a new structure.

What makes Troy Redfern happy and what makes you unhappy?

What makes me happy… spending time with my family, finishing a project or song. When you spontaneously come out with solo live that is in the flow state, when it feels like you are the observer and the music is just happening by itself, that’s one of my favourite feelings. What makes me unhappy… probably the reverse mirror image of what I’ve listed under what makes me happy. The weight of the world can sometimes get on top of you, but dwelling on it doesn’t help, it’s always better to try an focus on the positives in your own life.