Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter and instrumentalist Carlos Calvo about his new album “Further Down The Line,†as well as influence in Hollywood as the guitar teacher to the stars. Discussing his creative process as well as giving some tips to young guitarists, Calvo sheds some light on why he’s one of the most talented people in music today.
About Carlos Calvo:
In addition to releasing 2 full length albums, Carlos played guitar on the score of King of the Hill for 3 seasons, was a guitar coach on Californication, Ray Donovan, the James Brown biopic Get On Up and counts David Duchovny, Adam Levine, Marg Helgenberger, Ambyr Childers, and children of Neil Diamond and Joe Perry as current/former students.
For more on Calvo, click here.
Review Fix: What was the development of this album like?
Carlos Calvo: It didn’t start out as an “album,” rather just me writing a few songs and feeling good about how they were coming out. I always demo songs as I write them so I can hear them back with a bit of objectivity. The songs seemed cohesive in vibe, which gave the suggestion of an album.
Review Fix: How was it different from your first album?
Calvo: My first album didn’t start off as an album either, but back then, I was working with my friend Rob Zenn, he had a nice home studio and he recorded everything, sort of co-producing the songs that I was writing at that time. This time around, I recorded everything, except the drums, myself. I spent much more time (since my time was the only one I was spending) with the arrangements and lived with the recordings longer. I feel that this luxury of time resulting from recording myself allowed me to make the best musical, lyrical, and production decisions.
Review Fix: What makes this album special?
Calvo: I believe this album captures a time when I am at the height of my creative and musical abilities. It’s an artistically mature statement the does not belie the modern context in which it was produced. And as a great surprise, it seems to be a piece of work where listeners see themselves, in varying places from one another. Most people agree which song is the “poppiest”, but when people name their favorite song, I’m amazed at the widely it varies from person to person. I think that’s very positive.
Review Fix: What’s the standout song on this album?
Calvo: Well, I would so much prefer you to tell me rather than the contrary! I did record one song (Bayonne) twice, that’s certainly a sign of me feeling strongly about a song. Constellation stands out as a departure. I think it’s really modern in production terms as well as structure. And Hanging by a String feels like that pop gem that every songwriter, whether they admit it or not, hopes to write. Tough question!
Review Fix: How was it written? Is there a story behind it?
Calvo: Bayonne was written while I was playing around with my looper. I looped a repeating line and played chords over it. It immediately gave my a feeling of nostalgia, tinged with loss. Bayonne is playing the role of my hometown in NJ ( it is not), where the innocence of youth gets left behind by the ambitions that drive us into the world. Along with the passing of my Father as well as a close childhood friend. Cheerful! Ha ha!
Review Fix: How’s influenced you the most?
Calvo: Musically there is no force that has influenced my songwriting more than The Beatles. As an instrumentalist, I’d have to include Paco de Lucia, Andrés Segovia, Jimi Hendrix. As well as the guitarists that I actually interacted with in my youth; Al Di Meola, Juan de la Mata (my remarkable guitar teacher), and his close friend, the legendary Flamenco artist, Sabicas. You said the most, but influence is constantly happening. I love Courtney Barnett, I think James Mercer is an incredible singer and songwriter, whether in The Shins or Broken Bells. There is a lot of great music being made, and I think it’s a mistake for musicians who have been around for a while to stop searching and listening to new music.
Review Fix: How does one become the guitar teacher to Hollywood?
Calvo: Absolutely by accident. I took a job after music school at Guitar Center in Hollywood, back when it was a Mom and Pop store and that location on Sunset Blvd was the only one that existed, if you can imagine. A fellow employee was moving back to Chicago and he had been giving private guitar lessons in Beverly Hills. He asked if I would be interested in taking over his students, I said yes. Of that first group of students, one was Dionne Warwick’s son. Word slowly spread among the private schools on the West Side of Los Angeles about me. 28 years later, I’m amazed at the opportunities this has created for me. It seems very charmed, I love what I do.
Review Fix: Who’s your best student of all the celebs you’ve taught?
Calvo: I can say that the best ones aren’t necessarily the most talented, but rather the most passionate. My friend Rob Morrow is a good example, first of all, he is talented, but he truly loves music and he plays for hours a day, when he’s not acting or directing. Even then, he always takes a guitar on set with him. David Duchovny is another example, he was playing me the songs on his new record while he was writing them and I was totally amazed how well developed they were! In his case, his vocal approach reminded me that artists can take something that is a limitation and somehow making it an asset. Creativity is universal and in certain people it seems to translate across different mediums. These two talented guys are testimony to that.
I didn’t include Adam Levine from Maroon 5 because he was not a celeb when I taught him. I taught him to play from the time he was 10 years old, until he got his first record deal, in his senior year of high school. But the same holds true for him, his wasn’t the most naturally gifted, but he was obsessed with playing music. It seems to have worked out for him, ha ha!
Review Fix: What’s your best advice to someone who’s tried guitar but can’t stick to it?
Calvo: No pressure. People think that you have to practice hours a day. Most people don’t pick up the guitar with the goal of becoming the next Eric Clapton, they want to play for their own personal pleasure. Guitar is a relatively easy instrument to learn. You can pick it up for 15-20 minutes a couple times a week and still advance. Especially if you get yourself a couple lessons, which I recommend. Make sure your teacher is open to focusing on the music YOU want to play, they’re YOUR guitar lessons! But even without a guitar teacher, it’s pretty amazing what a learning tool YouTube can be.
Review Fix: Bottom line, why should someone pick this album up?
Calvo: I am a little bit of a rare commodity in music by being both an accomplished instrumentalist as well as a singer/songwriter. Usually, this workload is divided between two people, think Jagger/Richards, Perry/Tyler, Townsend/Daltrey, and many others. The best singers and songwriters are not often session quality musicians. But I also think it’s compelling to have been someone who has played a role behind the scenes who is now stepping upstage. I like to think of myself as a working class musician. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid, same as most people. And I think my music is very relatable to many people in those terms. I think most people will be surprised by how my music resonates with them.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Calvo: Spread the word every way I can. Place some of these songs in film and TV, play as many gigs in as many places as possible. Keep writing songs. Keep being that working class musician.
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