Q&A : Kevin McWha Steele – “The Ariel Trilogy”
Kevin McWha Steele discusses his new self-titled LP ‘Kevin McWha Steele’, the first in “The Ariel Trilogy” set in 2036.
Can you describe your most recent release and why you’ve written a trilogy?
I had come out with only an EP and a co-write before this album, so I wanted an album that represented just original solo work, and in this case, folk-pop. From the fall of 2008 through the spring of 2009 I wrote about 80 songs. I initially called the album “Medawin” to accompany a book of poetry and song lyrics of the same title that I had just released. It was to be sold as a book/CD package.
What changed your mind?
I had a lot of songs and it was big enough to have a multiple album release – the idea of just accompanying a book didn’t make sense to me anymore. The idea changed to a storyline in 3 parts, instead of a series of songs with no thread.
Are all of the songs in the folk-pop genre?
More or less, on the first album, with experimental electronic segments/collages between the songs.
So are the electronic segments not part of the songs?
No, not really. For the most part, they serve as transitions to advance the storyline.
So, tell me about the storyline?
It traces the life of a songwriter, his wife and child living in NYC from 2016 to 2036.
I noticed the dates on this first album are all in 2036 – are the next two going in reverse?
Yes, with the story in the 3rd release set in 2016. This album will also be released in 2016.
So, this current album is your projection of life in New York City 24 years in the future. What’s happening with this family in 2036?
At this point in the trilogy, the family is just the father and child. They are living in a city with heightened paranoia and distress – city curfews; many terrorist threats from a variety of different fundamentalist groups – including domestically – so, no common enemy; and heightened government mandates for civilian protection, including mandatory civilian participation. For example, the father must report bi-weekly for military anti-terrorism drills.
So, where is the mother?
That question isn’t answered in this first part. In fact, I don’t really know yet.
What else is going on with the father and son?
As previously stated, the father is a high profile songwriter and actively involved in the NYC art scene. He’s also a single parent with a 10 yr. old child. He suspects he’s on a government watch list, because he associates with people who are suspected to be affiliated with renegade groups. It’s interpreted that his song lyrics support the ideas of these groups. He is very protective of this son, because he feels they are both constantly being watched.
Most of the songs in the album touch on the circumstances of his life, living in NYC in 2036 as the backdrop, as a performer, art lover, and as a single father in search of new love.
So how do these electronic transitions fit in?
Each electronic section serves as a bookmark in the storyline, as indicated in the album notes – each instrumental is a diary entry during 2 weeks in April 2036, for example:
First: 4-11-2036, 8am. Current love leaving on a plane, then the song “Stay with Her”
Second: 4-11-2036, 2pm. 6 hrs. Later, he’s at a photo shoot with a friend at Roseland Ballroom, then the song “Jusy Judy”
Third: 4-11-2036, 10pm. 8 hrs. Later, he’s at an art opening after party with friends and his son, then the songs “Like We Did Back Then” and “William…”
The rest represent events like his civilian artillery training, his awakening with his son on his wife’s birthday, and attending an annual art gala, “At The Zoo”, etc.
Stay With Her
What can we expect from the next album?
It will take place in 2026 with the birth of the man’s son (going in reverse order, remember?). Right now I’m thinking the music will be more rock + roll… and experimental, but that all depends on how this current album is received.
When can we expect release?
Sometime in 2014 or 15.
Find Kevin McWha Steele on CDBaby, his website and last.fm.
