Review Fix Exclusive: Ed Tang Talks ‘Magic Tricks Rolling Stone’

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Ed Tang, who gives us an inside look at his band’s newest album, “Magic Tricks Rolling Stone.” Detailing his and The Chops’ creative process and goals for the future, Tang assures us there’s plenty to be excited about.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like for this album?

Ed Tang: These songs came about in a variety of manners.  A few of them we’d been playing live for about a year, a few were actually introduce to the band while we were in the studio, and a few were partially completed songs I had laying around that we took and dressed up with the full band.  Regardless of when they were conceived, the process is pretty much always the same.  As the main songwriter behind these tracks, I’ll bring an idea to the band in its most naked form; just acoustic guitar and lyrics.  Then we’ll begin cutting and tweaking and layering on instruments until it sounds like nothing I could have ever imagined on my own.

That’s the best part of playing in a band.  It’s a collective effort.  I’ve been incredibly lucky to get to collaborate with such a talented group of musicians.  Everyone comes from different musical backgrounds and it shines through on these songs.  I think there is a very ‘chops’ sound that we’ve managed to create over the years.  Producer Paul Ritchie had big hand in developing the bulk of these tracks as well. Because we were arranging and composing many of these songs on the spot in the studio, he had a great deal of valuable input that really shaped how these tracks turned out.

Review Fix: How did the other two EPs influence this one?

Tang: This album has the songwriter-storyteller qualities of “Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner,” and the fast driving energy of our self-titled EP, ‘EdTang & The Chops’.  It was composed with our live show in mind.  The songs are upbeat and rowdy and intended to get the crowd on their feet and dancing.

My first album, ‘Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner’ was released before we actually even formed as a band and the songs on that album are more folksy and singer-songwriter influenced as a result.  Once we began writing and performing together, it was clear we were headed in a heavier direction.  This album combines everything we’ve learned playing live these past few years.  We tried to create lyrically entertaining songs that would be fun to perform and create a passionate exchange of energy between the stage and the crowd.

Review Fix: How have you changed as a musician over the past few years?

Tang: I’ve grown in leaps and bounds playing with this band these past few years.  As with any discipline, the only way to improve is to practice with the best, and for me that has surely been the case with The Chops.  Additionally, Vic Fraternal and Geoffrey Myers are both songwriting savants. To be able to exchange ideas and hon my skills with such masters of the craft has been a dream come true.  I’ve learned a ton from these guys.

Review Fix: What’s your standout original song on this album? How was it written?

Tang: I have a few songs on this album that I’m proud of, ‘Kerouac’s Curse’, ‘Orlando Bloom’, and ‘The Chops’ being at the top the list, but if I had to pick the one that stands out for me personally as a songwriter, I’d have to say it’s the title track ‘Magic Tricks and Rolling Stone’.  Where most of the other tracks exercise a great deal of creative license, ‘Magic Tricks’ is a deeply personal song about the passing of my uncle at an early age.  He was a huge influence on me as a kid and I never truly found closure after his death.  I’ve held these lyrics and melody with me since he left us over 9 years ago. It feels good to finally get it out.

Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2016?

Tang: My wife, Mollie and I are getting ready to have our second child, a baby boy so I’ve cleared my schedule completely.  My goal for the rest of 2016 is to just try and be present and enjoy all the love, caring, and craziness that a new baby brings. I can’t wait.  I’m an extremely lucky man.

Review Fix: How do you want this album to affect people?

Tang: We hope this music will help put an end to war and poverty.  It will align the planets and bring them into universal harmony allowing meaningful contact with all forms of life from extraterrestrial beings to common household pets, and . . . it’s excellent for dancing. Ha… nah, I can’t rip B&T’s Wild Stallyns like that… I don’t know… I think we just hope maybe it will make a few people smile.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Tang: This is the best part.  There is going to be A LOT of new music following in the wake of this ‘Chops’ experience that I’m very, very excited for. Currently Nick and Brad are members of two separate bands; ‘Canoe Club’ featuring Geo’s songs, and ‘Bobby Teenager’ behind Vic’s.  Canoe Club has already begun performing live at various clubs up and down the Jersey Shore, and Bobby Teenager is in the studio at Insidious Sound, Neptune NJ with Paul Ritchie working on their debut release.  I’ve been fortunate enough to hear a few early tracks from each of these camps and can honestly say it is going blow away anything we’ve done before.

As for me, I’d love to put together a really stripped down, solo acoustic release.  I have a few songs already in the bag, but I am going to wait and put things on hold for a little while as I meet and get to know my newborn son, appreciate life, and refuel my tank with simple everyday observations, reflections, and inspiration.  Life is good.