The Secret Handshake Q&A

Ok Luis, let's start at the beginning. What inspired you to start playing music?
Michael Jackson, hands down. That guy is the reason why I want to be a pop star. And then there’s Iron Maiden and Metallica too. And that’s why I started playing metal.

What was the first instrument you picked up?
I started off playing drums in a few bands in high school then later on, for better or worse, picked up the acoustic guitar as well.

Were you ever in a band or have you always worked alone?
Yeah, I was in a few really awful bands in high school and then right after I graduated I went on tour with a metal band, playing drums. But being in bands is what inspired me to do my own thing.

Ah so life is better solo then. How do you think being a lone artist has affected your music?
I think it’s good and bad because of the same, one thing- it means I get to do whatever I want. So I get to see every single one of my ideas come to life but sometimes I get carried away and no one is there to immediately shoot me down. But that’s what my girlfriend is for. She is always there to catch me and say 'that sounds too much like a Fergie song', ha!

Do you have any influences that might surprise people- any Slayer records in your collection?
Well I've definitely had some Slayer records before. I was into some bad stuff in high school, a lot of crazy metal bands. Now it’s like the other way around though, all I listen to is Nelly Furtado and Craig David and Kanye West. Which may or may not surprise people.

I’m not sure if much would surprise- your sound has changed a hell of a lot over the past few years. Why do think that has happened? Are you proud of all the different sounds on the records you’ve done?
Yeah, exactly. Luckily I feel good about most of what I’ve done. Of course everyone has songs that they listen to years later and wonder 'what was I thinking letting anyone hear this?' but I think that you have to have natural progression. And I think my next record will be a lot different from the last one too.

You worked on your latest album ('One Full Year', released here March 24th) with Cory and Jimmy who used to be in The Rise. What was that like? Did they try and get you throw any heavy sounds down?
Not heavy, as in metal, but maybe some really dirty sounding synths, like the keyboard equivalent of a distorted guitar. Which is an awesome sound but not always right for my music. Cory and Jimmy are definitely responsible for most of the Guitar Hero-like solos you hear on the record though.

Was the ‘One Full Year’ studio time a learning experience or was it just a case of getting things done as fast as possible?
It was definitely a learning experience. Cory and Jimmy and I actually took our time with the record. We spent a month at Cory’s house in Austin going through each song, picking it apart and putting it back together. It was fun.

Is anything about recording that you don’t enjoy?
It’s really hard for me to go back and re-do stuff. I hate returning to and re-recording vocals, picking apart lyrics and things like that, even if it’s totally necessary. I always remember it the one way I did it the first time and it’s hard to think of anything different.

Do you have a favourite song on the new album? Does that make it your favourite Handshake song or is there one from previous releases you like more?
My favourite song is ‘Midnight Movie’. Which is funny because that’s one I actually wrote and recorded late and added it to the album at the last minute just because I liked it so much. I think my all time favourite songs are ones you haven’t heard yet because I just wrote them. They will be on the next album, but by then maybe I will have a new favourite, who knows. Thing is, it’s easy to get tired of a song, even if I used to love it, when I wrote it three years ago and have been playing it every day for two years or something.

If people could only listen to one of your songs to sum up your music which would you pick for them?
I think ‘Make You Mine’. I feel like it kinda, maybe, sounds like Michael Jackson from the 70s. It’s still a pop song but hopefully it has soul, and that’s the direction I’m heading, that’s the kind of music I want to make.

So you haven’t settled on The Secret Handshake sound with ‘One Full Year’ then? Can you see it changing again as you soak up more influences?
It’s definitely changing. I think my next album will have more soul, more of an R’n’B feel. I’d really like to be an innovative songwriter and explore a lot of different sounds throughout my career.

How have the newer songs been going down live?
I’ve only played new ones a couple of times but so far people really seem to like them. I don’t want to start playing new songs too early though; I don’t want audiences, or me for that matter, to tire of them before they’re even released.

Do you enjoy touring?
No, I’ve really started to hate it. That’s not because touring is unbearable but because I love being home. I love doing nothing and watching movies and hanging out with my cats. I’ve been touring for so long now that I’ve already burnt myself out. God that’s awful! Haha.

Do you ever get stage fright?
Yeah, but only at really random shows. Not even if it’s a big show, but if I know there’s a crowd of people who are there just to see me, I feel the pressure to put on an amazing show for them.

Do you prefer playing live on your own or with a full band? What do you get from the different ways of doing it?
Usually I play with a drummer, I prefer that. But on my last tour I had my friend play bass as well and that was awesome! Adding a bass player makes it a lot more fun live- there’s another person on stage moving around, adding energy to the music. Eventually I think I will start having a bass player at every show, and then maybe another keyboard player too.

You’ve toured here in the UK twice now, what do you make of our little island? What’s been better than you were expecting? What’s been not quite as good?
Wow that’s a really involved question. First off the crowds have been really great; everyone is so excited about every show and life in general. It took me aback at first, just how energetic kids can be. On the flip side, everyone in American thinks UK food is awful and I thought it was just a myth until I went over there. I hate the food. Sorry, but it’s true!

Have there been any places round the world that have massively exceeded your expectations?
For sure. In fact London has, both times I’ve played there. The first time I played was at the Barfly. I had no record out, no press, and no airplay but the show sold out and kids were going crazy! They were so stoked to be there and there’s no better feeling to think that the music I wrote reached halfway across the world and better still, people like it!

If you could tour anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I want to go to Japan SO BAD. It’s like my one goal in life right now, and I just want to go there and buy a lot of STUFF. Like toys and candy and video games. I’m not even kidding. I can’t wait.

What’s the one thing you’ve seen on your travels that you never want to forget?
Stonehenge! I went there with The Rocket Summer. I never really get to see the touristy, world-renowned landmark type stuff, so it was definitely neat. I’m not used to being a tourist, and that was an amazing place to get to do that.

There are a lot of electronic sounds and tuning at a Secret Handshake gig, how much of the material is coming out live and how much is pre-recorded?
Right now, most of it is pre-recorded. My drummer plays along to the pre-recorded track coming from my laptop, and I play along on my Wurlitzer to the pre-recorded keyboard sounds. Eventually I plan to have more live musicians but I just haven’t really had the space or money to bring more people along on tour.

Do you worry about those pre-recorded elements taking some of the spontaneity out of your shows?
Yeah, definitely, but I think once anyone sees my show that’s the last thing on their mind.

How do you deal with a power cut?
That’s crazy that you asked that! It just happened to me on tour last night! Luckily it’s really rare but anytime that there are sound problems you have to be patient, you can’t let it upset you because then it makes the audience feel really awkward. Sometimes I don’t follow my own advice with that one, but last night I kept my cool. The right audience will understand.

Are there any UK bands you’ve gotten into, maybe while you were over here?
When I was recently over, someone showed me FrankMusik – he’s really amazing. I’ve been listening to him a lot lately.

Are there any Texas bands that we should know about?
Actually there’s a band (or maybe it’s just a guy) that lives right near me called Ghosthustler. His stuff blows me away, it’s great. You don’t hear much great dance music coming out of Dallas so it’s really exciting for me.

Starting as young as you have, you’ve been making music for years now but did you ever think it would take you this far?
I think I always wanted it to, but I had no idea how it would. So realistically, no, I had no idea and it’s really awesome to step back and think how I’ve even gotten a little success doing exactly what I wanted to do.

It’s ten years this year since the summer of 98- what’s changed for you since then? What changes are coming in the next decade?
Well, I’ve grown up! I think I’m officially an adult now, which is crazy, but I really like the place I’m in personally. I think whenever I slow down or am finished touring, I want to start producing or recording other artists but really, i have no idea what’s going to happen in the next ten years.

Watch this space then.