Energy on lost record deals, unfinished business and returning after 40 years

Energy join Blues Matters to tell the remarkable story behind the band’s return after decades away from the music industry. Ian and Stevie look back on forming the band as teenagers, touring Europe and the Middle East, playing New York and Los Angeles showcases, and the contract situation that halted their momentum just as record labels began to show interest. They also discuss recording the new album, their love of analogue-style rock production, songwriting, social media, surviving setbacks, and why the music still matters all these years later. More interviews at bluesmatters.com Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:21 How Energy first formed 00:28 Leaving jobs to become professional musicians 01:03 Touring Europe, the Middle East and America 01:27 Playing New York and Los Angeles showcases 02:03 Record label frustrations and management problems 03:24 Returning to the music decades later 04:59 Recording and producing the new album 06:42 Keeping music real in the studio 07:35 Songwriting as a band 08:30 Rebel With A Cause 09:22 This Part Of Town Is A No-Go 10:03 Fight For Freedom 11:34 Dream The Dream 12:11 Trash 13:35 Too Good To Lose 14:29 Cry Of A Child 15:45 Writing songs without commercial pressure 16:25 Getting music heard in the modern era 17:51 Energy’s musical influences and classic rock sound 18:45 Where blues fits into the band’s music 20:09 Middle East crowds versus UK crowds 21:04 Future plans and possible live shows 22:28 Building an audience through social media 24:11 Best advice for young musicians 25:57 The philosophy behind the band 26:31 A message to Blues Matters readers 27:10 Rising from the fall after setbacks and illness 28:13 The reality of being an independent artist today