Exclusive Interview with Aaron Gardle of Lovotomy

All lyrics, music composition and production by Aaron Gardle

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

Aaron Gardle: I was looking for a digital place to promote my music and I liked the way it works. You get opportunities to be heard by many people in the music industry, it’s really cool.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become

an artist?

Aaron Gardle: I grew up in a small city nearby Monterrey, México. And I’m not sure what made me want to be a singer. But in my early years, probably I wasn’t able to say a word but I was pretending to sing. By 7 I was in singing contests performing pop songs and by 8 I was pretending to play guitar.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Aaron Gardle: I wasn’t sure the roots of my last name. I don’t have a clear idea where I comefrom, or who my relatives are or I just don’t like them. So I created this last name “Gardle”, so I can have a clear idea of who I am and where I’m going. It’s the way I named my own world, too oniric for some people who don’t believe in something beyond the reality and where I can be how I want to be, or look like or just do the things my way. It’s all about freedom.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away

for free? Why?

Aaron Gardle: I really like the idea of sharing to build a community. I don’t really think in audiences when I write my music but It feels so good when someone liked your music and comment or share. And sometimes I give my music for free, specially my demos, or some very special songs that I feel like people would like to get in their mobiles and share a moment of their lives with my music.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Aaron Gardle: I believe in authenticity as an artist. We all have influences and “want to be like…” but you got to try to build up yourself, so people can feel how honest you are and some of them must connect with you and some others will be hating on you because they can’t be original as you. When this happens, people will be contacting you and some of them can have very interesting opportunities for you. Or you can go the old way “the art of asking”.

You also need to find out the best place to play your music, in some places your lyrics must have not any weight or meaning for a wasted crowd.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Aaron Gardle: Performances are anything but perfect. To me are like sort of a rehearsal with many people listening and I’m always sweaty. But you must know that is common to be mistaken on stage; we are not computer-perfection. The great thing is that people watching, appreciate your effort and the fact that you’re not lip-syncing or pretending to be playing live. There’s also many tools to feel more confident on stage like make up, backing vocals, or just the right musicians that could also happen to be really good friends of yours, so you’ll be having fun all along.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Aaron Gardle: I haven’t tour yet, but I’m so looking forward to. Must be really crazy.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Aaron Gardle: It comes from different places. Sometimes I just need to write my mind down about my perspective in life and how to deal with society and being human. It also happen when a friend of mine is having such an awful situation and I imagine how does it feel. I often think of people who is already gone and no one is sharing their stories, so I write a song in loving memory of them. I also watch loads of drama movies and read some old books I find in my parents share.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Aaron Gardle: I’m currently working in the visual art for the website. To share my music I use:

http://www.facebook.com/aarongardlemusic

http://www.facebook.com/lovotomy

http://www.youtube.com/user/lovotomyofficial

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Aaron Gardle: I don’t really find it embarrassing when I like a song no matter the genre. I have a very crazy taste but I know what you mean so, it must be “Follow me down” by The Pretty Reckless or “I really like you” by Carly Rae Jepsen but I love how cheesy this song is.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Aaron Gardle: Producing my record, promoting it and performing in a really kick-ass live production.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Aaron Gardle: I’m recording new songs currently. Away from the line I kept in Lovotomy music. My new songs are by far super honest, playful and sarcastic going closer to a punk sound but still pop based but always trying new sounds and rhythms. I’m keeping is the orchestral arrangements, I love to make songs theatrical.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Aaron Gardle: Sharing with a visual support or the story behind it. My music is highly supported in visuals. I work in ideas for costumes/style, make up, moods and locations for photo shoots based in the songs. It pictures what you could find in the song or just going completely opposite.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Aaron Gardle: I’d really like to perform at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City with Avril Lavigne or Amy Lee. These girls are my inspiration in music and visuals. I grew up listening to their music and the way they write and record vocals (and play instruments) is the way I learned to create my music. I will be supporting them my whole life.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Aaron Gardle: My first full album is going to be really experimental but as I said before catchy and rock related. Like a bitter-sweet crunchy chicken. I already have the idea for the photoshoot, is very onirical, very “Gardle”. Probably I would be including songs from 10 years ago that are classic for me to play and they come straight from the source. The name of the album is “Aaron In The Gardle”. Probably there’s just too much narcissism in all of this?

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Aaron Gardle: Taking photographs, designing clothes, designing graphics, filming. Which happen to be all I also enjoy doing.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Aaron Gardle: It was the album “Britney” by Britney Spears. I have always been a fan of pop music but also rap and rock since I was a young boy. She was on the top of the world back then. I sometimes listen to some of her old songs, such good memories.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Aaron Gardle: It’s very hard for me because sometimes I don’t feel like singing of playing anything because other activities drain my energy, like stupid office jobs. I have learned that those places are not made for me so I must fight to stay as an artist, looking for new ways and people who can help .

A funny thing is that when I was in college I sold over 15 songs to my class mates and I used that money to build a home studio but the teacher who got all of the songs throughout the years, really hated my voice and my music, bad luck for her.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Aaron Gardle: I took a break to remember myself that music is my life and nothing else, I never stopped writing though. So I will be releasing so much music, coming up with videos and photos from now on.