Meet AL, a musical maestro who first arrived on the music scene in Croydon before deciding to take on an even bigger one in the Capital, otherwise known as London. He has been making drumming, songwriting, and helping to create music for others for over a decade now and hasn’t slowed down yet. During the Covid pandemic, his ethic may have had to adapt but his drive remained the same. AL has worked with several musicians and singers and will be releasing his latest single, 1998, which is coming out on the 10th of January 2023. Check him out
“I began in bands and have always been in bands up until I released my first solo EP this year”
Your interest in music happened way before you were a teenager, just what was it about music that got your attention at such an early age?
My first memory of music was when we used to visit my gran in Scotland when I was a kid. She was an amazing pianist and I used to sit listening to her play classical music. Then my mum bought me a drum kit aged 10 and that was it! As soon as I hit those skins for the first time, I knew music was the way forward.
When it comes to artists in music there’s those who just sing and those who solely play instruments. Have you ever been tempted to go behind the mic?
Absolutely! We all want to have a crowd in the palm of our hand and have the stage presence of a Freddie Mercury don’t we? I’m used to hiding behind a drum kit or a guitar, but these next bunch of songs I’m currently writing for the next album, I’m on vocals too, so I’m hoping to get behind the mic live next year.
You’ve drummed for a lot of bands, what were the bands themselves like to be around?
I’ve always loved being in bands, especially when you’re starting out as a gang with big dreams. Feeding off other musicians especially bass players as the rhythm section has always been fun and inspiring.
And were there any moments of egotism?
No, not really, I’ve played with confident musicians, amazing musicians who knew they were good, but I think you need that little bit of confidence, especially to get up on stage and do your thing. After one of my tunes was played on the radio for the first time, the first thing my missus said was ‘you’re still putting the bins out Friday morning Buchanan’… I put them out with a bit of swagger that Friday… but still put them out!
Whilst honing your skills you began teaching music as well. Because you already had insider knowledge, as it were, did that prove useful to other students if they asked you for advice about pursuing it as a living?
Sure! I keep in touch with some of them and they have gone on to play in bands too. I’m always around for advice and it’s good to see them do well.
So how did things actually happen for you, did you begin as part of a band or have you always been solo?
I began in bands and have always been in bands up until I released my first solo EP this year. I was enjoying writing and recording at the start of 2022 by myself, then turned those sessions into songs. Although I have different artists guesting on it, so I`ve still enjoyed throwing ideas around with others.
You’ve played in several bands over the years. How much of a process was it to adapt to being with other musicians as you’ve all got to be on pretty much the same wavelength for music to work?
Wellbeing a drummer, my first job is to connect with the bass player, make sure that the rhythm section is tight and my kick drum is bang on with him or her. Then every band is different, sometimes you write as a band, sometimes a member will have the main structure and you write around it. With Elaine Palmer who I drummed for, it’s her songs, she’s an incredible songwriter so it was just a case of writing the drum lines.
So had you already known some of the other musicians already?
The bands when I was younger were school, college, and uni friends mainly, I met Elaine through her husband Jake who I’m mates with.
Now you’re from Croydon, what’s the music scene like down there, and what artists did you see growing up?
Well it’s been a while since I was down there, but Croydon is a stone’s throw away from central London, so when I lived there, I used to travel in as a teenager and see bands at the Astoria and Brixton Academy like Motorhead, Carter USM, Pop Will Eat Itself, No FX and loads more. The indie and punk scene was banging back then!
To anyone considering taking a break there which nightspots would you recommend?
Oh I`m not sure these days, I’ve been an honorary northerner for too long now to know!
You’ve made a few EP’S already; Bringing Me Back to Life, Only Positive Energy, and Don’t Eat The Daisies. Explain the process of putting them together
Well Bringing Me Back To Life was the EP I released this summer, they were musical ideas I had floating around for a while that I decided to put down and record, I was getting a huge buzz from what I was doing, so recorded all the music myself in my home studio and then reached out to a few different artists to sing and rap on it. That’s when I got in touch with Leo Valentine who sang on the title song of the EP and also the last 2 singles I released: Only Positive Energy and Don’t Eat The Daisies.
As with numerous other musicians and artists, their life influences their music from writing to producing the sounds. Are you the same?
Absolutely, I started writing Bringing Me Back To Life after I lost my parents a previous couple of years, it had a huge bearing on that song, and also Be Patient Now which was the first single from it. What has happened in your life, and your mood at the time of writing, all have a bearing on the style of music that comes out. Sometimes I feel like I have little control over what music comes out as strange as it sounds… It just flows out as it wants to.
Just thought I’d mention that you’ve worked with two known artists, Elaine Palmer and Leo Valentine. Describe working with them
Elaine is a huge talent, she is a solo artist, so as I said working with her really entailed writing the drum lines for the album I recorded with her and making sure they fitted perfectly with her music. Leo is a female up-and-coming singer from the US. I work remotely with her as I’m here in the UK, but we send ideas back and forth and write that way, then get together online as well to write that way too.
So was it easier to bounce ideas off each other?
With Leo, I find it very easy to write music to that voice for sure! Working remotely has its challenges but it works well. I do have to keep reminding her that when I say something she does is ‘wicked’ that means good though! American language barrier!
At the moment you’re working on a new album, tell us more about it including how it came together
I am! I’ve got a little way to go with it yet, but this is a solo record with me on all the instruments and singing too. Plenty of epic guitar, ambiance, and some funk threw in. I just want to keep writing and this is the natural next step, the first single is called ‘1998’ and will be released early next year with the album to follow.
You’ve also got guest artists featured on it, was it an easy process to get them on board?
As it stands it`s a solo record but Leo Valentine may make a cheeky appearance or 2 on it as well.
Looking back at how things have gone so far do you reflect on things much?
I’m more of a look-forward kind of person, always learning from the past, but preparing for the future!
In regards to your work would you say you’re similar to Calvin Harris and Disclosure e.g.: produce/write music for others, guest feature on musical collaborations?
I would always be open to collaborations in The future and writing for others, but just now my sole focus is getting this new album finished and getting out and playing it live for people.
As we go into 2023 what can we expect from you?
New single `1998` in January, album to follow, live shows, and world domination of course…
And finally, where can people find your music?
You can listen to all my music and follow me on Spotify, I am Al Buchanan on there: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2m0PsuuAnc296lQX1ftz7x
All my music is available on all online music stores as well: Amazon, iTunes, YouTube, etc
You can follow me and get updates on Instagram: @albuchananmusic
And Facebook: Al Buchanan Music
