LAist Interview: Layton and 'Shattered Kiss EP'

What is your musical background?

I started playing music my freshman year in high school (guitar) and became immediately addicted. Started writing songs the minute I learned a few chords, and then started a band - the whole thing.

Once I graduated high school I formed a group with my sister Lara. We quickly made a demo that ended up in the hands of Bob Hurley (President of Hurley Clothing Intl.). Bob is an amazing person and a great supporter of the arts. He ended up giving us some cash to record a few singles at a fancy studio in LA. We hired studio musicians, spent a bunch of money and got three professional-sounding songs. The idea was to get the singles played on like “Rodney on the ROQ,” get them to some record industry peeps and get a deal (which was a fairly realistic venture in the '90s). It was during this time that I started to figure out what I really wanted to sound like, and unfortunately it had little to do with the recordings we had just finished.

Right around this time my friend Peter King (who had produced the demos) phoned me up to tell me about this brand new home recording system called Pro Tools. We went to a live demonstration of this new space age technology, and needless to say, I was sold. There was this realization that I could have my own home studio and make an infinite amount of music for the same price we spent on those songs we didn't like anymore. That was it. I got a system and have been recording at home ever since.

Can you talk about your songwriting process? Are you inspired and begin writing the music first, then the lyrics, or vice versa? Do you collaborate with others early on or does that happen later?

On the traditional sounding stuff, I always write the melody first. Once I think I have a song, I’ll write lyrics. Sometimes the words you've been mumbling under your breath in the process stick, or at least give you a head start on a concept. After that, I’ll track all the instruments myself. The only thing I usually record outside of my studio is the drums. On this album I had the pleasure of working with two sensational drummers: Frank Lenz and Aaron Redfield. If I have enough cash, I have someone else mix the tunes (which was not the case on this record).

Can you talk about “Living Alone?” Did you write that with Gena? How is it working with another accomplished musician/vocalist?

“Living Alone” is one of my newest songs. It's about as "smooth jazz" as I get. I wrote it and initially tried to record it solo. It wasn’t really working with my voice. Gena Oliveir, who has been a friend for years, immediately came to mind for this one. She has such a lovely way of singing. Working with her was great. She's a true vocalist. Nailed it in like one or two takes - and that was it. I'm actually working with her on a new project as we speak.

I know musicians hate this question, but what artists would you compare your music to? Who has informed your sound?

Most of my inspiration comes from visual artists at this point. I really connect with the idea of a painter staring at a blank canvas and creating something from start to finish with only his imagination to guide him. I'm essentially a bedroom musician who writes and records everything from start to finish myself. As far as musical influences - I think there is a time in most musicians’ lives when they are soaking up the vital influences that will shape what they make in the future. For me this would be loads of 60's and 70's pop, mostly from the U.K. I still discover new music I dig, but I think I'm less influenced by the new stuff I hear. A part of me just likes to keep up with what's happening.

You have a very simple song like "Julie" that's extremely intimate and urgent - why did this song call for this kind of production and vocals?

That song came from a real personal place and lent itself to a stripped down production. I did that one live -- vocals and guitar -- and then overdubbed a simple piano line. The funny thing about that song is it took like 20 minutes to record and seems to be many people's favorite track. My knee jerk reaction is, “How can that be your favorite track when the others took so much more time and energy to create?” I would hate to think there's a lesson to learned somewhere in that.

Where did the title Shattered Kisses come from?

The album gets its name from the common theme of tragic romance. Almost all of the songs deal with relationships I’ve either been in, or imagined. The imaginary ones are a little less taxing on the emotions ;) I like writing love songs, but happy love songs are so hard to write without coming across corny. There's a bit more drama to be found in a love gone wrong.

What's coming up for Layton?

I'll be playing a few shows with Gena Olivier. Plans are in the works to play at Spaceland.