7 Questions with Love The Ghost Band Founder
Andrea L.

Who are some of the artists or some of the works that inspired you to get started in this field? Of today’s current artists, who do you draw inspiration from?

I was personally inspired to become a musician by Queen and the Sex Pistols, but the music I produce as Love The Ghost is clearly in the classic Darkwave vein of acts such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure and The Mission. Although less evident, I can also hear influences by Pop Rock bands I love such as Billy Idol, Roxy Music, Cheap Trick, Japan and Duran Duran.

I’m quite ignorant regarding today’s music scene, but one band that I do enjoy very much is GHOST… and no, the name Love The Ghost has nothing to do with this as I only discovered the Swedish band in late 2017.

Another current music project I enjoy is Angels of Liberty and I do believe they have influenced me somewhat as I immediately fell in love with their atmospheres.

What have thus far been some of the negatives of being an indie artist in your field?

Honestly, I cannot think of a single negative aspect. However it must be duly noted that I approach my music not as a way to make a living or to nourish my ego but simply as a creative outlet so, simply writing/recording a song that I like is in itself, the ultimate objective.

What have thus far been the positives of being an indie artist in your field?

Everything has been positive. The fact that I do what I want, when I want to, and some people seem to like it is simply wonderful. Every once in a while, I get an e-mail from somebody around the world who feels compelled to tell me they enjoy my music, and that in itself is mind-blowing because it is an honest reaction produced by the power of the music alone. There’s no hype-machine pushing Love The Ghost down anyone’s throat, and any attention it is getting is based solely on the music and the people who choose to share it on social media.

Also, hearing my songs played by DJ’s from around the world has been an unreal experience. Last but not least, even the fact that MyIndie is giving my music some attention is quite a compliment.

What have been your favorite completed projects to work on up to this point? Can you tell us a little bit about them?

Love The Ghost’s first album, 2017 A.D. is a dear project because it contains many different emotions expressed in a variety of ways. I find this album to be interestingly introspective and extremely honest in the sense that I wrote and recorded songs that I would like… totally disregarding trends and/or current styles.

Although I love all the songs on the album, Treason is perhaps one of the best things I’ve done in my life and I’m extremely proud of it. 

The album is currently available for download on Bandcamp.

What projects are you currently working on or have planned for the near future?

Love The Ghost’s first album has garnered some positive attention so my next step will be to follow it with a second collection of songs/music that I’m already writing and recording. This second album will be even more diverse with some heavier material right alongside dreamier and more experimental compositions. As with the first one, my ultimate goal here is to produce an album that I would enjoy listening to from start to finish during a long car drive.

I also very much enjoyed the experience of producing [rudimentary] videos for these songs and, although it is not something I’m good at, I realized that I would love to work with video makers and/or directors to try to put music to their visions (or vice versa).

Where do you see yourself in a few years and what would it take for you to consider your career a success?

When I was a young man living in Los Angeles, I was offered the opportunity to pursue a music career but declined because I did not feel I could accept the compromises required by the entertainment industry. I chose a different path (Advertising) and have been very happy with that decision because it gave me the financial independence to keep my music free of any pressures and/or outside expectations.

Love The Ghost wasn’t supposed to be anything, so the fact that it being listened to and appreciated by complete strangers around the world is already a huge success to me.

Hopefully, in a few years, I will be a better songwriter/musician who still produces music he can be proud of.

If you couldn’t do this anymore, what career path do you think you would have followed and why?

As mentioned above, I chose not to pursue a career in music although I do make a living through the very creative field of advertising which I find just as exciting and rewarding. The main difference is that music comes from my soul whereas advertising concepts are generated in my brain… and I don’t have any problems accepting compromises with the latter.

However, I do fear the day that either health or age will prevent me from playing/writing music as I simply cannot imagine my life without it.