Ramble, the new album from The Boom Chucka Boys dropped today (Tuesday, February 10) and we were lucky enough to get to chat with Ryan all about it! Read our Q&A with them below and then scroll down to enter to win a copy of Ramble!
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your new album? What can fans expect?
A: We’ve been telling people (with a slight smile on our faces that it’s ‘a lot more BOOM, and a little less CHUCKA.’ The sound is bigger. We wanted to create something that would play well on the big stage in front of an audience. Sonically it’s really, really good. We were incredibly happy that we managed to evolve into a more modern sound without losing ‘The BCB’ vibe.
For me, this record comes very close to sounding exactly like I imagined a BCB record would sound. When I started imagining what BCB records would sound like (does that make sense?). We see ourselves on the biggest stages country music has to offer. I believe this album reflects that.
Q: What was the process of creating and recording it like?
A: Again this time around we were fortunate enough to work with some incredible songwriters, who just so happen to be friends! Duane Steele, Phil O’Donnel, Buddy Owens, and Byron Hill. Which makes it even a little more special. This was also the first time we’d ever been pitched songs from outside writers. OH MY GOODNESS! There are so many stellar songwriters out there. Our goal was to pick the best songs available. There are 8 tracks on RAMBLE. We wrote 5 of them.
We recorded RAMBLE in Calgary, AB at CCMA Award winning studio, MCC Studios. As exciting as it was recording the first record in Nashville. Doing this one near home, surrounded by friends, in a very unique, and quirky, studio (the place just exudes what I call ‘vibe’. This is a good thing!) was an absolute treat.
Q: What’s a song on the album you’re particularly proud of any why?
A: The title track ‘RAMBLE’ is probably the song I’m most proud of and excited for. It was the first song we wrote with the new album in mind. We were at the 2013 CCMA’s in Edmonton, AB. I think it was day 4 and we were running on fumes. We ended up with a few hours of downtime. We had a choice, rest up for a couple hours or meet up with two award winning songwriters and write? We chose the latter. We met Phil O’Donnel and Buddy Owens at the hotel, pulled out the guitars, and BOOM. ‘RAMBLE’ came to be!
One more thing. It almost never made the record. We had so many great tunes to choose from and ‘RAMBLE’ was a little left of the center line. The night before we wrapped up tracking we texted our producer (CCMA Award winner Gord Bamford) and said, “what about RAMBLE”? It just feels like it fits.” Fortunately for us, Gord agreed. Hope you do as well!
Q: How would you say Ramble compares with your debut album?
A: As I mentioned before, it’s a lot more BOOM and a little less CHUCKA. It’s a bigger, more modern sounding, sonically scintillating:) album.
Q: You’re heading out on tour next month with Gord Bamford, what are you most looking forward to?
A: That feeling just before we hit the stage where you don’t know how it’s going to go. You prep, rehearse, stretch, and pray. But, the rest is out of your hands. Will people ‘get it’? Will they applaud? Will they sit in silence? Will you forget all the words?! That exact moment is exhilarating.
This is our first true ‘tour’. We plan on soaking up every moment of it.
You can purchase Ramble on iTunes here.
