Sam Bradbury Interview

1) Sam, you're here to tell us about this fantastic charity album Whorl Clock, but first tell us why you felt the time was right to set up a charity album? 

​I've seen a lot of charity work happening during this pandemic, I think one of the few positives to come out of it is that it's really highlighted how much people in a community care for each other, especially here where I live in Cornwall. 

The music community is no different and I'm impressed with how many people jumped at the chance to help. 

Another positive from lockdown has been the time it's given people to work on electronic music. I've seen a lot of new artists posting debut albums and asking advice in various online groups, I think a compilation album like this one gives them a platform to make new contacts and give their music an audience they might struggle to reach when first starting out. 

I myself only started Humm Bugg in 2020 and it feels really good to be part of a project like this and join forces with other musicians, coming together through a love of music. It's hard for everyone at the moment and I've really enjoyed focusing on something that does some good. 

2)  What can we expect from the charity album Whorl Clock?

Whorl Clock is a time travel themed album. Every artist on it has made an original song based on this theme and subjects include primordial ooze, childhood dreams, time traveling adventurers, the perils of time travel, utopian ideas, time travel jet lag and lots of other imaginative interpretations. 

Genres range from synthwave, chiptune and breakcore to daz-core, apathy jazz and metal so there's a great range of different music. As different as it is however, it still holds together as an album beautifully. 

3)  You've invited so many different bands from so many different countries to be part of this project, has this given the album a lot of different styles and culture?

Massively. The album features artists from Siberia (SpaceMan 1981), Sweden (Riddlis), Hungary (Bitrotator) and Arizona (Creepy Pizza); many from all over the UK; and even one from a parallel dimension in the year 2080 (S A Z E R). 

Every song is very different from the last, I think this is due to the different music they grew up with geographically but also because there is so much variation in electronic music now. The electronic music community is a global one and it's so great to be able to discover different genres, styles and ways of making music so easily and it's great to be a part of this ever changing and exciting culture.

4)  Out of the 12 tracks on the album, which one is your standout record?

Oof! That is a tricky question but the two I've listened to the most are probably Strawberry Galaxy by Riddlis and The 61st Second by S A Z E R. 'Strawberry Galaxy' is a dreamy, spaced out lullaby with a touch of melancholy and I just love it. 'The 61st Second' on the other hand is like being stuck in a nightmarish trip to the future and has that 80's horror movie vibe. The album is full of gems though.

5)  Please feel free and go ahead and tell us about the charity involved with the album and how the money from this album will help them?

The chosen charity for this album is Doctors Without Borders. They bring medical care to those who need it most to over 70 countries around the world. 

They've been helping those affected by conflict, natural disaster and epidemic since 1968 and with a global pandemic stretching medical services everywhere, they're needed now more than ever. 

I also wanted to pick a charity that helps globally to reflect the fact the album is also multinational. You can find out more about Doctors Without Borders here: https://msf.org.uk/

6)  Producing an album during lockdown must have been challenging, how did you get around this challenge?

​It was actually pretty painless. I started making electronic music myself at the start of lockdown last March and have just dived right into the whole thing. 

Under Humm Bugg I had already released a solo album and a few singles in 2020 but I found promoting these and getting more people listening to be quite tricky, especially when you don't have your heart set on one particular style or type of music. I posted my woes on some online groups and found many others had the same problem. 

It was then that the idea for themed compilation albums came to me- it gives the artist an opportunity to try something different, provides a unique and interesting listening experience and is really fun too! Working as a group who are all promoting and sharing the album also helps more people listen to your music and the most exciting thing for me has been the introduction to lots of musicians I wouldn't normally have discovered. 

The whole exprience has been just brillaint. There are already plans in place for another themed charity album later in the year- this time 'Robots'!

7)  The name of Three Eyed Cat Records is a great name for a record label, tell us what their involvement with the album has been?

I came up with the name after trying to think of something that didn't just lend itself to one genre and would also draw people in. I'm a big Sci Fi and horror fan so I also wanted a name that had an air of the curious and mysterious about it. I also love cats! The logo that was made for Three Eyed Cat Records by Animalsoup Art also helps encapsulate what the label is about- it's neon and simple and is reminiscent of neon and club lights, she's managed to get it looking retro and futuristic at the same time and it reminds me of graffiti painted with light. I love how this project turned out and everyone has been so helpful and encouraging. 

8)  Lastly where can our readers get their hands on this album and help out the charity?

The album is available to download on Bandcamp and is 'pay what you want' to download so you can give as little or as much as you like. All money made on the Bandcamp site will be donated to Doctors Without Borders. Thank you!

https://threeeyedcatrecords.bandcamp.com/