Marykate O'Neil is a NY-based singer-songwriter who has just released her fourth solo record called "Underground". Marykate recently told us a little bit about her instruments. For more on Marykate please visit www.marykateoneil.com.
Can you tell us about your touring instruments?
I have a Demeter tube direct box I use for my acoustic. For smaller venues I usually use my toy drum kit. I also have my laptop set up for the live set so we can use samples of mellotrons, banjos, or whatever fake sound is needed.
Do you use any specific instruments in the studio?
I tend to stick to toys and vintage equipment. Roger’s studio is pretty great. It has all kinds of toys both new and old and he is a master at being creative with sounds.
strings: I use d’addario custom lights. I don’t change them much because I am lazy. I only change them when I notice that my guitar is sounding bad.
tunings: I used to use all kinds of open tunings when I first started …lately I have been sticking to standard tunings.
picks: I don’t use a pick.
slides: Ken Maiuri did all that slide guitar work on the record. Roger had a cool old Hagstrom set up for it …so Ken just used whatever Roger had it the studio. And on the song Nashville, that slide work was done by James Mastro. James is playing in Patti Smith’s band right now. He used to be in the Bongos.
effects/pedals: Besides my Demeter, I use Frantone pedals. My friend Fran who owns the company made me a couple of cool ones – I used the Vibutron on this record.
Who has influenced your playing style the most?
I don’t think I am good enough to be influenced. I really just think in terms of the song and what it needs. If I am not good enough to play it, I ask someone else to. My favorite guitar player is George Harrison. I like the way he came up with melodic lines that both supported the song and yet could be as memorable as the song itself.
Do you have any superstitions?
I always have a gin and tonic before I get on a plane. I also think if I change strings before a show they will break during the show. I also don’t walk under ladders. I guess I don’t believe in superstitions but at the same time, just in case they are true – I don’t want to take any chances.
Related Posts:
Q&A with Marykate O'Neil
http://www.indiepulse.net/2009/01/qa-with-marykate-oneil.html
Buy this album:
From Insound
http://www.insound.com/search/results4.jsp?from=23890&query=marykate+oneil
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