One-Man Band Plays His Unique Sound For LA

Satellites

Satellites plays the Hotel Cafe Sept. 10

Satellites is a highly talented studio musician and one-man show who’s been touring for years now and constantly on the road. You can catch this one-man act perform at Hotel Cafe on Sept. 10 in LA.

Satellites is actually writer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Johnny Vic, an Englishman living in Copenhagen, Denmark, who has spent most of his professional life touring the world as a band member and musical director for other more famous artists. He’s slipped some disks throughout record stories around London and his music is now going viral.

This year, Vic is finally making his long-awaited jump across the pond, releasing 02 for an American audience. The American release will be available as a “producer’s cut,” featuring four more tracks than its UK counterpart and will be available in the states on Oct. 7.

The OC Concert Guide had the opportunity to talk to Satellites about his accomplishments, musical inspirations and upcoming endeavors.

OCCG: Why do you call yourself Satellites if you’re a one-man show? How did you come up with it?
Satellites: I wanted a project that was faceless and anonymous, to make the music the focus. And I chose Satellites because they don’t belong anywhere and never stay in one place for long. They just report back what they see. I was on a 16-month world tour playing bass for James Blunt when I wrote and recorded the first Satellites album on my laptop. I had my newborn son at home, so I felt so far away – it felt like an appropriate name for where I was at that time.

OCCG: What has been your biggest accomplishment thus far and what has been your biggest challenge as a solo musician?
Satellites: Playing Glastonbury main stage with Blunt was a lifelong ambition ticked off. Playing on Leona Lewis “Run” was the first number 1 I played on. But my biggest accomplishment to date was when my band Budapest released its first album. I wrote, sang and co-produced the album and it was the first album I released.

OCCG: You’re always writing records! Where does the inspiration for your music root?
Satellites: lyrically, anything that affects me inspires me. And as soon as I became a father, the state of the world suddenly came on the agenda. I was kind of apathetic about world issues prior to that. But what was OK for me to let slide is not necessarily acceptable for my son. Musically, I have little melodies, beats and chord progressions running around my head 24 hours a day. Which can be annoying at times…!!

OCCG: How do you feel about featured on the live cover of Kraftwerk’s “The Model?”
Satellites: I chose that cover because firstly, I loved the song when I was younger, and secondly, the subject matter is incredibly dark for such an upbeat song as the original is. So I slowed it down and made the lyric the focus.

OCCG: What was it like being noticed by Rough Trade?
Satellites: It was a great pat on the back for me, as up till that point, I had no idea how Satellites was going to be received. I knew that I loved it. And My manager and my girlfriend. And even my son. But for such a cool brand as Rough Trade to give it the thumbs up gave me huge confidence. Especially as I was recording the 2nd album at the time the first was released. I think you can hear the confidence.

OCCG: Are you happy with you are as far as your career goes?
Satellites: Yes. I would of course love to be able to make a living from just making my own music but, in this day and age, to make a living from just music is rare and I feel very privileged.

OCCG: If you could go on tour with anyone you wanted to, who would it be and why?
Satellites: I would love to tour with Radiohead. Or if Talk Talk every got back together.

OCCG: What are you most looking forward to your show at The Hotel Cafe on September 10?
Satellites: Playing in LA is always a thrill. And this place has hosted a lot of artists that I absolutely love. So I cannot wait to take my Satellites project to LA for the first time.

OCCG: What’s next on your agenda in terms of your career?
Satellites: I am recording the final pieces of the 3rd Satellites album next week in the UK. Then mixing it in September for a release next year. I’m incredibly excited about it as it was written in LA, when I spent 2 months there last year, so to mix it in the same city brings it full circle.

For a chance to win a pair of tickets to his show follow this link,