That soundchecks serve to try out and jam together is nothing unusual. However, the fact that a band develops from these, including an official record release, is the exception. This is what happened in the case of the three Steven Wilson musicians Craig Blundell (drums), Nick Beggs (bass) and Adam Holzman (keyboards). We talked to the latter about the background of Trifecta.
eclipsed: The roots of Trifecta lie in Steven Wilson's band. How did it all start back then?
Adam Holzman: During soundchecks, we would often stay on stage when Steven was through with his part. We'd jam, and Craig Blundell in particular would occasionally fall into a groove that had hints of a song. More than just a beat, that is. Nick and I would whip out our iPhones and record everything. Those jam sessions spawned little ideas that we then fleshed out. About a year after we came home, the pandemic hit us. So we pulled out those files and used them as a kind of DNA. By the way, in some songs - "Venn Diagram" is a good example - you hear the actual raw loop before the full arrangement kicks in
eclipsed: So you didn't meet in person anymore?
Holzman: The recording process was done remotely, but because we've all been playing together for so long, the result doesn't sound like an email album. You feel what they feel ...
eclipsed: Bass, drums, keyboards. Quite manageable, the instrumentation. Did you find that a challenge?
Holzman: Not for a second, no. That's every keyboard player's dream: You have one of the best rhythm sections in rock music and all the room to unfold
eclipsed: Did you have a goal in terms of your instrument?
Holzman: I want to explore a new zone. Not vintage, not typically modern. Vintage sounds on steroids, so to speak. When I toured with Miles Davis, I was touring with racks of digital synthesizers. Since the '90s, it's been evolving back. To piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, Clavinet and maybe a Minimoog. By the way, even though it's "vintage", there's something timeless about the Minimoog ...
