This Oceanic Feeling is a new project which was formed by songwriter & producer Chris Braide. Along we have the notable drummer Ash Soan & the eminent bassist Lee Pomeroy. Their debut album “Universal Mind” blends rock, melodic rock, pop-rock, prog rock, art-rock, cinematic & synth-rock music. Chris talked to Grande Rock about his new project, the debut album & his influences among other things…
Hi Chris Braide… it’s wonderful to have you on Grande Rock. First of all, tell us… how did the idea to form ‘This Oceanic Feeling’ come about?
C: Thanks for having me. The drummer Ash Soan and myself have been mates or about twenty years of more, we’ve played on my solo records, we’ve toured with Blondie, Squeeze, done countless sessions together and in 2006 I brought Ash into the producers project with me and Steve Lipson and then Trevor Horn brought in Lol Creme. Ash has stayed working with Trevor since then but I left and moved to the US in 2010. We never lost touch and we’re always close friends and always talked about doing another project. In many ways we’re the glue that held the producers together being vocalist and rhythm section so I wrote some new tunes and he loved them so we formed the new band.
Did you actually want to form a band so that you can use some music/song ideas that didn’t fit on other projects/bands that you are involved in?
C: I wanted to write for my voice, my thoughts and I wanted to make an album that was close to my heart in terms of musical influences., I grew up with the 70s and early 80s progressive rock and art rock bands like Talk Talk and so it was a lot of fun getting into that widescreen mind set.
And how did the name This Oceanic Feeling occur initially?
C: It’s no secret that it has Freudian roots but I actually took it from the suicide note of one of my favorite authors, Arthur Koestler. He was very sick towards the end of his life and before he died he described the peace he felt having made the decision to exit as This Oceanic Feeling. It’s dark, yet beautiful at the same time. It also summed up the sound of the record to me. Big, cinematic with philosophical intent.
Was it crucial for you to cooperate with notable musicians like Ash Soan (drums) and Lee Pomeroy (bass)?
C: Yes, it was because I can make records on my own all day long and that is excaclty what I do for other artists most of the time. I sometimes feel like the Chris Braide Orchestra. But there’s nothing like playing with fantastic musicians like Lee and Ash, and especially when we all understand each other musically. That’s rare and so it feels special. It’s also great fun to hear how the other guys interpret the songs.
Can we consider This Oceanic Feeling as a real band or what?
C: Yes, absolutely! We are already thinking about the second album and this has been such an enjoyable album to make. I didn’t win any friends leaving Trevor and the Producers but I feel like my friendship with Ash has been rekindled. I’m happy about that.
How would you better describe TOF’s music style to someone who hasn’t heard of the album before?
C: It’s big production rock music with fantastic melodies and lyrics that make you think. I hope!
What lies behind the album title “Universal Mind”?
C: “Universal Mind” is a Buddhist concept. It means the peace within. The waves may be twenty feet high but beneath the surface is calm clear water. That’s my goal in life. Soul peace…
How is the cover art related with the cover artwork and the 3 ethereal figures that we see there?
C: The three figures on the front symbolize the real self without the masks we all wear or the uniforms or anything that is to do with the ego. They are post ego death. The ego is the trouble maker and most of the time a lot of our unhappiness is due to problems with ego. These figures have reached the state of universal mind while all around is a swirling storm filled sky and a threatening tidal wave about to envelope them. But they are cool and calm because they are true to themselves. Be true to yourself and you can’t go wrong in life.
Do give us a hint about each track…
C: “Lie Detector”: You cannot lie to yourself. You are your own lie detector. Lie to yourself at your peril. It will catch up with you in the end. Be real. Not Fake. It will shorten your life.
“Put Down the Gun”: The voice in your head that is telling you unkind things is your ego. He is giving you all the problems. He’s telling you to ruin your life and that you should have more and be more successful and more beautiful and he’s literally trying to kill you off. The gun may be a metaphor here but sometimes metaphors become real. Look at Michael Hutchence for instance… poor guy.
“Radio”: Trying to find the answers to the meaning of life and one’s mortality form psychology books can leave you numb and frightened. Music was and always is my escape from existential anxiety. Big, bombastic music makes us feel lee mortal. We feel powerful and immortal. Radio is another way of saying music…
“Logotherapy”: This was Viktor Frankel’s concept. He was an amazing human being. Read his book called “Man’s Search for Meaning” and then tell me you can’t handle your problems. Deeply affecting piece of literature. “Logotherapy” is about finding meaning in life in three ways, Good Deed, Creative Work & Attitude…
“Universal Mind”: Peace within when all around there may be chaos. Peace for the soul. The lyric says: “Seeking fame and the hollow night”, meaning all those nights of playing the “Rock Star” living an empty existence supported by drugs and sleeping with everything in a skirt! Might sound fun, but look at the real casualties. I’ve met some and they’re no longer pretty & some are no longer with us. Find peace in just being.
“Intensive Care”: A little help and self explanatory…
“Wake Up”: It’s saying “for goodness sake wake up because your time is running out” every day you waste is one more you can never get back!
“I Play Debussy”: I’ve adored Debussy since I was seven years of age, when I first heard the children’s corner suite. It is his melan...
“Johnny Tragic”: Johnny is the ego again trying his best to kill the real you. H doesn’t want you to be happy in life. He wants you in pain or worse. Don’t listen to him!
“Karma Camera”: Christopher Hitchens inspired this lyric. During another on of his lectures, he talks about religion and the fear it instills in children. “Thought Crimes” he called it. It’s saying that even your very own private thoughts may damn you for eternity. A terrible thing to say to young impressionable minds. Leave the children out of it. Let them discover this beautiful world for themselves. There’s no “Karma Camera” taking photos and keeping tabs on you. It’s bollocks!
“Season of Light”: This is a light at the end of the tunnel song. It’s saying that even though you are at your lowest ebb and you think you’ll never get back up, you will overcome adversity. It can happen. Everyday there’s a new reason to care. Don’t give up even though life is sometimes unbearably hard. The alternative is not an option. Kiss your kids and watch them grow.
“Finale”: A good way to show off the dynamic between thee friends who have instinctive musical chemistry.
Where did the recordings take place and who mixed, produced and mastered the album? Are you totally satisfied with the final outcome?
C: The vocals and keyboards and some guitars were recorded in Los Angeles at my Studio Magical Thinking. The drums were recorded on the Norfolk Coast at Ash Soan’s studio and the bass was done at Lee Pomeroy’s studio in Kent. I mixed and edited it all back at my studio in LA. I’m totally satisfied. I think things like the track “Radio” are sonically spot on. I’m using my old fairlight version two which sounds better than any software synth. No doubt whatsoever. The sound of those samples is stunning and the fact that it’s only 8bit means it has an ethereal other worldly quality that you don’t hear anywhere.
The lyric video for “Radio” is already out. Are you planning to release a lyric or a concept video in the near future and if yes for which one of the tracks?
C: Yes, we hope to go with “Logotherapy” for the next video single. The Gilbert and George inspired artwork is already done for the sleeve.
What are your future plans for This Oceanic Feeling?
C: Future plans are to write and record the follow-up album. All depends on each other’s schedule.
Since you’re a prominent songwriter & producer how can you tell which song is for whom and what kind of orchestration it needs so as to get the best out of it?
C: I honestly just follow my instincts. It rarely leads me down the wrong path, if I let the music speak first. Also depends on how I will interface with the person I’m working with. Most time I can get on with all the artists I work with because I respect them and cuz I’m an artist myself I understand all the complexities that come with it!
Time for our “weird questions”!!! Which are those things that inspire you to write music in general?
C: Fear, sadness, elation and happiness although too much contentment can hinder one’s creativity.
What would the world be like without religions… can you imagine?
C: Religion thrives on existential angst and without fear it would be less significant than it is perhaps. There is also some evidence that goes to show that the least religious societies in the world tend to be the most peaceful. I’ve read some of the late Christopher Hitchens books and watched quite a few of his lectures and he was a fascinating, brilliant writer with very strong views on religion. In one particular lecture regarding atheism and the concept of the afterlife, he was quoted as saying: “Theists have everything to die for and Atheists have everything to live for”. Religion is a complex subject of course, I for one have no definitive answer…
Is music a gift from the Gods as the ancient Hellenes used to believe?
C: I think there is absolutely evidence of God in music especially when I hear choirs singing together for some reason. Humans making a wonderful nose together. When I play the piano alone I feel some kind if connection to a God. Certainly as I get older I feel an awareness of something bigger than myself when I play music. It’s a gift that is on loan and I want to play and write and sing and listen as much as I can while I have my name on the lease.
Top 3 sci-fi movies of any era?
C: Close Encounters, Alien, The Thing…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
C: “Merry Christmas Everybody” by Slade, cuz it’s fucking brilliant! It has absolutely encapsulated the feeling of Christmas and made Noddy Holder a considerable fortune. And I never ever get tired of hearing it. The Chord changes in the chorus are utter genius.
Which do you consider to be the best music era of all time & why?
C: I think every era has its place. I really do love music now. I’ll always love the 70s – yes and they have a special place in my heart but I don’t want to ever look back too much. The past is gone. It’s over, done. Even though our album is inspired by early 80s, Duran Duran and Police it’s still very much a now record. So when people say the 60s was the best era or the 70s, it is purely nostalgia. In those eras you had The Beatles for sure, but you also had The Carpenters and Lieutenant Pigeon. The same with the 80s, it was good from 80 to 84. Then it all went wrong with Stock Aitken and Waterman which was truly one of the worst periods in pop history. Am I wrong? Of course not! Yes, it was successful but as Roger Waters once said: “if it’s based on sales then ‘Greece’ is a more worthy album than ‘Graceland’”... sums it up perfectly.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
C: This is very difficult to answer but you wouldn’t go far wrong playing them “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. Great production, great singing, R&B beats that make you want to dance, ballads that make you want to have babies and a Beatle thrown in for good measure.
Best pick-up line that has worked for you several times in the past?
C: I wrote a song for you… can I sing it for you with my guitar?! Worked every time!
What’s the worst thing you can say right after sex?
C: Your ex-girlfriend’s name!
If you could only ever sleep with one Porn Star, who would you choose?
C: I could never sleep with a Porn Star. I’d be more turned on by talking to them about their psychological issues. Movie Star used to be Andie MacDowell in four weddings. Lovely she was. Lovely smile. Cuddly but a real woman who probably knows a few tricks… ha!
Which character from the “Game of Thrones” would you be if you lived in the Seven Kingdoms?
C: Honestly I don’t watch TV but I keep being told how fantastic it is, so I will make a note to watch from Season 1.
Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you reckon is the one, that’s more likely to send you straight to Hell, in the afterlife?
C: I would say wrath, cuz hatred towards another can lead to violence. How could anyone hate another person anyway? Beware of narcissists. They are the worst and can display many of the Seven Deadly Sins!
Imagine that your girlfriend/wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react? J
C: Material things are not important. I can stress enough how I’ve come to realize this. I just don’t care anymore. I like my gatefold Yes albums of course and I’d rather have them than not but I keep getting rid of stuff because it’s just stuff. You can’t take it with you. Don’t hold on to material things. It’s a trap! Plus I’d just buy her the ring so she didn’t need to sell them at all!
We have finally come to an end Chris! I wanna thank you for taking the time to talk to Grande Rock. Wish you the best. Take care dude!
C: Thanks… it was a pleasure!
C: Thanks for having me. The drummer Ash Soan and myself have been mates or about twenty years of more, we’ve played on my solo records, we’ve toured with Blondie, Squeeze, done countless sessions together and in 2006 I brought Ash into the producers project with me and Steve Lipson and then Trevor Horn brought in Lol Creme. Ash has stayed working with Trevor since then but I left and moved to the US in 2010. We never lost touch and we’re always close friends and always talked about doing another project. In many ways we’re the glue that held the producers together being vocalist and rhythm section so I wrote some new tunes and he loved them so we formed the new band.
Did you actually want to form a band so that you can use some music/song ideas that didn’t fit on other projects/bands that you are involved in?
C: I wanted to write for my voice, my thoughts and I wanted to make an album that was close to my heart in terms of musical influences., I grew up with the 70s and early 80s progressive rock and art rock bands like Talk Talk and so it was a lot of fun getting into that widescreen mind set.
And how did the name This Oceanic Feeling occur initially?
C: It’s no secret that it has Freudian roots but I actually took it from the suicide note of one of my favorite authors, Arthur Koestler. He was very sick towards the end of his life and before he died he described the peace he felt having made the decision to exit as This Oceanic Feeling. It’s dark, yet beautiful at the same time. It also summed up the sound of the record to me. Big, cinematic with philosophical intent.
Was it crucial for you to cooperate with notable musicians like Ash Soan (drums) and Lee Pomeroy (bass)?
C: Yes, it was because I can make records on my own all day long and that is excaclty what I do for other artists most of the time. I sometimes feel like the Chris Braide Orchestra. But there’s nothing like playing with fantastic musicians like Lee and Ash, and especially when we all understand each other musically. That’s rare and so it feels special. It’s also great fun to hear how the other guys interpret the songs.
Can we consider This Oceanic Feeling as a real band or what?
C: Yes, absolutely! We are already thinking about the second album and this has been such an enjoyable album to make. I didn’t win any friends leaving Trevor and the Producers but I feel like my friendship with Ash has been rekindled. I’m happy about that.
How would you better describe TOF’s music style to someone who hasn’t heard of the album before?
C: It’s big production rock music with fantastic melodies and lyrics that make you think. I hope!
What lies behind the album title “Universal Mind”?
C: “Universal Mind” is a Buddhist concept. It means the peace within. The waves may be twenty feet high but beneath the surface is calm clear water. That’s my goal in life. Soul peace…
How is the cover art related with the cover artwork and the 3 ethereal figures that we see there?
C: The three figures on the front symbolize the real self without the masks we all wear or the uniforms or anything that is to do with the ego. They are post ego death. The ego is the trouble maker and most of the time a lot of our unhappiness is due to problems with ego. These figures have reached the state of universal mind while all around is a swirling storm filled sky and a threatening tidal wave about to envelope them. But they are cool and calm because they are true to themselves. Be true to yourself and you can’t go wrong in life.
Do give us a hint about each track…
C: “Lie Detector”: You cannot lie to yourself. You are your own lie detector. Lie to yourself at your peril. It will catch up with you in the end. Be real. Not Fake. It will shorten your life.
“Put Down the Gun”: The voice in your head that is telling you unkind things is your ego. He is giving you all the problems. He’s telling you to ruin your life and that you should have more and be more successful and more beautiful and he’s literally trying to kill you off. The gun may be a metaphor here but sometimes metaphors become real. Look at Michael Hutchence for instance… poor guy.
“Radio”: Trying to find the answers to the meaning of life and one’s mortality form psychology books can leave you numb and frightened. Music was and always is my escape from existential anxiety. Big, bombastic music makes us feel lee mortal. We feel powerful and immortal. Radio is another way of saying music…
“Logotherapy”: This was Viktor Frankel’s concept. He was an amazing human being. Read his book called “Man’s Search for Meaning” and then tell me you can’t handle your problems. Deeply affecting piece of literature. “Logotherapy” is about finding meaning in life in three ways, Good Deed, Creative Work & Attitude…
“Universal Mind”: Peace within when all around there may be chaos. Peace for the soul. The lyric says: “Seeking fame and the hollow night”, meaning all those nights of playing the “Rock Star” living an empty existence supported by drugs and sleeping with everything in a skirt! Might sound fun, but look at the real casualties. I’ve met some and they’re no longer pretty & some are no longer with us. Find peace in just being.
“Intensive Care”: A little help and self explanatory…
“Wake Up”: It’s saying “for goodness sake wake up because your time is running out” every day you waste is one more you can never get back!
“I Play Debussy”: I’ve adored Debussy since I was seven years of age, when I first heard the children’s corner suite. It is his melan...
“Johnny Tragic”: Johnny is the ego again trying his best to kill the real you. H doesn’t want you to be happy in life. He wants you in pain or worse. Don’t listen to him!
“Karma Camera”: Christopher Hitchens inspired this lyric. During another on of his lectures, he talks about religion and the fear it instills in children. “Thought Crimes” he called it. It’s saying that even your very own private thoughts may damn you for eternity. A terrible thing to say to young impressionable minds. Leave the children out of it. Let them discover this beautiful world for themselves. There’s no “Karma Camera” taking photos and keeping tabs on you. It’s bollocks!
“Season of Light”: This is a light at the end of the tunnel song. It’s saying that even though you are at your lowest ebb and you think you’ll never get back up, you will overcome adversity. It can happen. Everyday there’s a new reason to care. Don’t give up even though life is sometimes unbearably hard. The alternative is not an option. Kiss your kids and watch them grow.
“Finale”: A good way to show off the dynamic between thee friends who have instinctive musical chemistry.
Where did the recordings take place and who mixed, produced and mastered the album? Are you totally satisfied with the final outcome?
C: The vocals and keyboards and some guitars were recorded in Los Angeles at my Studio Magical Thinking. The drums were recorded on the Norfolk Coast at Ash Soan’s studio and the bass was done at Lee Pomeroy’s studio in Kent. I mixed and edited it all back at my studio in LA. I’m totally satisfied. I think things like the track “Radio” are sonically spot on. I’m using my old fairlight version two which sounds better than any software synth. No doubt whatsoever. The sound of those samples is stunning and the fact that it’s only 8bit means it has an ethereal other worldly quality that you don’t hear anywhere.
The lyric video for “Radio” is already out. Are you planning to release a lyric or a concept video in the near future and if yes for which one of the tracks?
C: Yes, we hope to go with “Logotherapy” for the next video single. The Gilbert and George inspired artwork is already done for the sleeve.
What are your future plans for This Oceanic Feeling?
C: Future plans are to write and record the follow-up album. All depends on each other’s schedule.
Since you’re a prominent songwriter & producer how can you tell which song is for whom and what kind of orchestration it needs so as to get the best out of it?
C: I honestly just follow my instincts. It rarely leads me down the wrong path, if I let the music speak first. Also depends on how I will interface with the person I’m working with. Most time I can get on with all the artists I work with because I respect them and cuz I’m an artist myself I understand all the complexities that come with it!
Time for our “weird questions”!!! Which are those things that inspire you to write music in general?
C: Fear, sadness, elation and happiness although too much contentment can hinder one’s creativity.
What would the world be like without religions… can you imagine?
C: Religion thrives on existential angst and without fear it would be less significant than it is perhaps. There is also some evidence that goes to show that the least religious societies in the world tend to be the most peaceful. I’ve read some of the late Christopher Hitchens books and watched quite a few of his lectures and he was a fascinating, brilliant writer with very strong views on religion. In one particular lecture regarding atheism and the concept of the afterlife, he was quoted as saying: “Theists have everything to die for and Atheists have everything to live for”. Religion is a complex subject of course, I for one have no definitive answer…
Is music a gift from the Gods as the ancient Hellenes used to believe?
C: I think there is absolutely evidence of God in music especially when I hear choirs singing together for some reason. Humans making a wonderful nose together. When I play the piano alone I feel some kind if connection to a God. Certainly as I get older I feel an awareness of something bigger than myself when I play music. It’s a gift that is on loan and I want to play and write and sing and listen as much as I can while I have my name on the lease.
Top 3 sci-fi movies of any era?
C: Close Encounters, Alien, The Thing…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
C: “Merry Christmas Everybody” by Slade, cuz it’s fucking brilliant! It has absolutely encapsulated the feeling of Christmas and made Noddy Holder a considerable fortune. And I never ever get tired of hearing it. The Chord changes in the chorus are utter genius.
Which do you consider to be the best music era of all time & why?
C: I think every era has its place. I really do love music now. I’ll always love the 70s – yes and they have a special place in my heart but I don’t want to ever look back too much. The past is gone. It’s over, done. Even though our album is inspired by early 80s, Duran Duran and Police it’s still very much a now record. So when people say the 60s was the best era or the 70s, it is purely nostalgia. In those eras you had The Beatles for sure, but you also had The Carpenters and Lieutenant Pigeon. The same with the 80s, it was good from 80 to 84. Then it all went wrong with Stock Aitken and Waterman which was truly one of the worst periods in pop history. Am I wrong? Of course not! Yes, it was successful but as Roger Waters once said: “if it’s based on sales then ‘Greece’ is a more worthy album than ‘Graceland’”... sums it up perfectly.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
C: This is very difficult to answer but you wouldn’t go far wrong playing them “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. Great production, great singing, R&B beats that make you want to dance, ballads that make you want to have babies and a Beatle thrown in for good measure.
Best pick-up line that has worked for you several times in the past?
C: I wrote a song for you… can I sing it for you with my guitar?! Worked every time!
What’s the worst thing you can say right after sex?
C: Your ex-girlfriend’s name!
If you could only ever sleep with one Porn Star, who would you choose?
C: I could never sleep with a Porn Star. I’d be more turned on by talking to them about their psychological issues. Movie Star used to be Andie MacDowell in four weddings. Lovely she was. Lovely smile. Cuddly but a real woman who probably knows a few tricks… ha!
Which character from the “Game of Thrones” would you be if you lived in the Seven Kingdoms?
C: Honestly I don’t watch TV but I keep being told how fantastic it is, so I will make a note to watch from Season 1.
Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you reckon is the one, that’s more likely to send you straight to Hell, in the afterlife?
C: I would say wrath, cuz hatred towards another can lead to violence. How could anyone hate another person anyway? Beware of narcissists. They are the worst and can display many of the Seven Deadly Sins!
Imagine that your girlfriend/wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react? J
C: Material things are not important. I can stress enough how I’ve come to realize this. I just don’t care anymore. I like my gatefold Yes albums of course and I’d rather have them than not but I keep getting rid of stuff because it’s just stuff. You can’t take it with you. Don’t hold on to material things. It’s a trap! Plus I’d just buy her the ring so she didn’t need to sell them at all!
We have finally come to an end Chris! I wanna thank you for taking the time to talk to Grande Rock. Wish you the best. Take care dude!
C: Thanks… it was a pleasure!