Interview by John Wisniewski
Bandcamp:
https://glassapplebonzai.bandcamp.com/album/brother-bones
Canadian songwriter and producer Daniel Belasco “is” Glass Apple Bonzai, a retro dark synth project that recently released ‘Brother Bones,’ via the Distortion Productions label. ‘Brother Bones,’ the fifth full-length from Glass Apple Bonzai, is an extremely personal album about dealing with the passing of Daniel’s brother in 2021. The sound is fuller and a bit different from its predecessors yet maintains Daniel’s knack for hooks galore tinted with melancholic lyrics. We recently chatted with Daniel about the new album and what motivates Glass Apple Bonzai.
John Wisniewski: . Daniel, what were your very first recordings like?
Daniel Belasco : Primitive haha my first recordings were done on a 4-track tape machine back in the late 90’s. It didn’t sound amazing but I look back at that time with great fondness because everything was so fun and new.
JW: What was the experience like recording the new album ‘Brother Bones’? What was the inspiration behind it?
Daniel: The whole album was put together in the wake of my oldest brother’s passing in 2021. Some of the songs were written before that but they became integral to the album’s completion for various reasons and the whole package is, and was, a very personal experience. Even the name “Brother Bones” is a tribute to my brother. It’s all for him…in his memory. I used one of his paintings as the cover art as well.
JW: Tell us about your creative process and how do you begin making an album.
Daniel: Most of my songs start with drums and bass, either synthbass or bass guitar, and grow from there. I find it easier to come up with vocal melodies when a song is bare bones, just drums and bass. Then once I mostly figure out where the song is going I start to add more synths, then more…then some more. Then vocals and guitar riffs.
That pretty much it for most songs, sometimes is varies depending on if I come up with a cool riff or line on synth or guitar first.
JW: Are you inspired by film soundtracks?
Daniel: Absolutely! Wendy Carlos’ score for TRON is some of my favourite music every written and definitely influenced me when it comes to synthesizers. Danny Elfman’s entire career (Oingo Boingo and film scores) has had a huge influence on me musically as well.
I’ve actually done some score work myself for two web series called The Spell Tutor and Illuminagents, both available streaming online if you want to check them out.
JW: Can you tell our audience about some of your go to favorite musical gear that you like using.
Daniel: I don’t know where I’d be without FL Studio. I’ve been using it since 1999 for all my sequencing and recording needs and it is simply the most important piece of gear/software I own. Also my one bass guitar that I’ve had and modified extensively is a favourite.
JW: Are there any emerging music artists you are listening to these days?
Daniel: I don’t know if I’d call them “emerging” but ACTORS from Vancouver, BC are one of my more favourite bands of the last few years. Also Male Tears, Wants, Uncanny Valley, Hem Netjer, and a slew of others. Check them all out if you like good music!
JW: I’m curious, where did the Glass Apple Bonzai name come from?
Daniel: It came to me in a dream.
JW: Are you playing any live dates or festivals soon?
Daniel: We’re playing Terminus Festival in Calgary, AB at the end of the July as well as a few other shows being planned for later in the year, around October/November.
We’re hoping to tour quite a bit in 2025 but we’ll see what happens.
JW: What lies in the future for you? Any new projects?
Daniel: I have two side projects that need some attention paid to them, specifically my gothic rock project The Necromancers Union which released a full-length album in 2021.
That’s what’s next on the menu for me.