Howard Herrick
Produced by Christian Cassan (Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, David Byrne of Talking Heads, Ronnie Spector of The Ronettes, They Might Be Giants, the New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Broadway production of Passing Strange)
Beatles, Yes, Genesis, CSN&Y, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Jeff Buckley, King Crimson, The Police, Green Day, Fall out Boy, Supertramp, Nick Drake, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Gentle Giant, PFM, Styx, Foreigner, Black Crowes, Rolling Stones, 10CC, Wilco, Fifth Dimension, The Cars, Ryan Adams, The Alan Parsons Project, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Rufus Wainwright, Sloan, Fountains of Wayne, James Taylor, Squeeze, XTC, Brian Eno, Crowded House, Elliott Smith, Verve, Todd Rundgren, Blur, Pulp, OK Go, Jethro Tull, Ramones, Wilco, U2, Weezer, Cheap Trick.
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Though there has been a decade long space between albums, Minister Hill front man Howard Herrick has not been idle. “I spent most of the last few years honing my skills, just basically starting from scratch again.” In that time he recorded over 100 songs and acted as the Executive Music Producer on the Renee Zelwegger and Kevin Bacon movie My One and Only.
It was Herrick’s latest foray into writing for the silver screen that reignited his passion for Minister Hill. “I just wasn’t entirely happy yet with the stuff I did prior in the time off,” says Herrick. “I started writing for a movie and while I was writing for that movie, I met a lot of people that are extremely talented, out in LA and it not only inspired me, it influenced me enough to sit down really in a week and write and almost completely record this whole new record.”
The new direction of Minister Hill is very evident in the Christian Cassan produced first single “Everything.” The song which is about a significant other who holds grudges is highlighted by the very melodic hook, can’t you just let things go/and know that I love you so/ do you have to keep everything. Though it’s filled with sarcastic lines that Herrick is known for “Everything” is the most universal sounding record in MH’s sporadic yet long history. “Everyone has had that person in their life that they are just infatuated with and that’s kind of where that song came from,” says Herrick.
At 44 years old Herrick is not your typical musician. He’s a father and husband who is much more concerned with making good music than with touring and enjoying the lifestyle that comes with it and that mind state is reflected in his writing.“ As you get older you really do mellow out. I’ve actually watched and noticed how I’ve changed as a writer, I started out not following any rules at all and as I’ve gotten older I realized how much structure means and realized how much you really need to have elements to make that song stick in the listeners head.”
Aside from Herrick’s improved songwriting skills he also had to deal with the change in how to market and sell music since he last released an album. “I look at the internet as a whole new world and I feel like I had to completely start over and figure out how to reach my listeners.” The solution to this problem was creating a one stop shop of sorts in howardherrick.com, where the MH front man streams and sells his music but also showcases his photography, sculptures and a forthcoming children’s book/CD companion package.
For a guy who’s been playing guitar since he was 7 and writing songs since he was 10 there is no doubt that Howard Herrick loves music. With 3 decades of experience under his belt and a rejuvenated spirit to make great songs, not only will Tinsel town benefit from his skill so will the East Coast die hard fans who still email him to this day asking for new Minister Hill music. As they say good things come to those who wait.
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Minster Hill - Join us in congratulating record producer Kim Copeland for her work on the Rachel Williams album, Lonely At The Bottom. Check this great review by R.K. Oermann with Music Row Magazine on Rachel's current single, The Only Thing Harder Than Leaving.
"She has the goods. This creeps up on you with cat’s paws. The languid pace, echoing instruments, spacious production and her hushed, aching delivery are all immensely seductive. The lyric of leaving home is full of terrific details. And her falsetto leaps in the bridge are like little daggers to the heart. A mini masterpiece. This, by the way, is the third single in a row that I have raved about from this performer. "
