{"id":1562,"date":"2013-12-14T11:14:24","date_gmt":"2013-12-14T19:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/?p=1562"},"modified":"2014-11-11T06:58:21","modified_gmt":"2014-11-11T14:58:21","slug":"interview-todd-hannigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/interview-todd-hannigan\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Todd Hannigan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Todd Hannigan was navigating his way to LA to see friend and business partner, musician Jesse Siebenberg, who was playing at the Fonda. I had the pleasure of talking to the singer\/songwriter, record producer and Grammy winner who had a lot to say about music, surfing, film-scoring, turning 40 and his hometown of Ventura, California.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Todd<\/a>

photo by Bridgette Lopez<\/p><\/div>\n

Polly:\u00a0 You grew up in Ojai or Ventura?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd Hannigan:\u00a0 Both actually. We went between Ojai and Ventura but spent most of our time in Ventura and I went to Ventura High.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 In high school I was like a hippie theater geek, what kind of group did you hang out with?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0 I did as little time in high school as I could, haha, but when I was there I hung out with the surfers and I also played golf and tennis.\u00a0\u00a0 But mostly surfers, and I was trying to get out of class so I could ride the waves.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 So Surfing was a big deal for you as a teenager growing up.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yes it was like the biggest deal.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 I saw the short film posted on your website. Tell me about the Patagonia \u201cWorn Wear \u2013 A Film about the Stories We Wear\u201d project and how did you get involved?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0I was talking to Lauren and Keith Malloy (local surfer\/film maker) and they thought they\u2019d be making a short called Worn Wear and I told them I\u2019d like to be involved tell me a little bit about it and when it came time to do the music I was doing stuff with Emy Reynolds, a few other people and Lee Koch was going to be involved.\u00a0 So I\u2019d already been working on most of their stuff, so usually Keith asks me to do music for them.\u00a0 We actually co-wrote a song that\u2019s in there.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 I recognized Emy right away, her music starts out at the beginning of the film.\u00a0 Who else plays on it? You play on it and then you got the Malloys?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yes, me and Keith but I\u2019m still getting the artist list together I apologize.\u00a0 One of the things I\u2019m doing right now is getting an official list of all the songs that made it in and I\u2019m going to post it because a lot of people have been asking where to buy it.\u00a0 Plus I didn\u2019t do all the music so I\u2019m still getting all of that together.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Well it\u2019s a beautiful sound track and I can see how people are interested in getting it.\u00a0 What is the process that you go through in scoring a film?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Really I try and spend a little time before I start, getting a real good idea of what the director wants. A lot of the guys I\u2019m working with nowadays are more experienced and good at telling you what they want or whether you\u2019re allowed to do what you want.\u00a0 There\u2019s a couple different styles of how you approach scoring.\u00a0 See what comes to mind first.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 So it just depends on the director then, sometimes they have a clear cut specific idea and you collaborate and other times he gives you free reign.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Sometimes they say write something and they\u2019ll send me the idea\/theme and dialogue or they\u2019ll send me a theme with a track of something they can\u2019t afford like a Rolling Stones song with the tempo to cut to, and what the images look like and the rhythm they\u2019re looking for. From that you get the picture of what they want.\u00a0 I match the tempo with our song and throw that Rolling Stones sample track out.\u00a0 That way our song matches all the same cuts.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Cliff Montgomery<\/p><\/div>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Patagonia is such a huge presence in Ventura county and around the world. A unique business that\u2019s more a way of life. Do you know and have met Yvon?\u00a0 (Chouinard, owner of Patagonia)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yes, we\u2019ve met. I\u2019ve actually spent several hours recording an interview at the old Brotheryn.\u00a0 He told a lot of cool stories and a lot of my friends work there.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 The Patagoina\u2019s philosophy seems to have influenced in my opinion your lifestyle and a lot of people in Ventura.\u00a0 Do you see that? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yes, I agree with that. I don\u2019t do much climbing but I surf and do like their message with the worn ware philosophy. To re-think the disposable economy and plan on keeping your stuff for a couple generations and learn how to fix your stuff and buy stuff that will last at least your lifetime.\u00a0 Especially now during the holiday shopping season their campaign says a lot. And if they have the balls to do that with their advertising campaign then I should try and look long term.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 This is another great Malloy project. You\u2019ve been collaborating for years. How did that happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0We started hanging out together at Emma Wood and down around California St a long, long time ago when I was probably 9 or 10 years old. Then when I first started playing guitar I couldn\u2019t wait to show them my first riff or my first set of chords.\u00a0 And when I saw Nick Drake I told them hey check this guy out or check out Robert Johnson. We\u2019ve been really connected musically for years.\u00a0 So when they need music they call me.\u00a0 I was able to come through with a couple songs initially and as they\u2019ve grown I\u2019ve become more involved and that it\u2019s been good shit. I\u2019ve been really lucky, yeah lucky.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 It seems like they started out surfing and now they\u2019re making their name in the film world which is pretty cool.\u00a0 So you\u2019ve done a lot of soundtracks at Brotheryn.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0We actually got nominated for a second Grammy a couple days ago.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 A second Grammy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yeah<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 That\u2019s awesome!\u00a0 I was going to talk to you about The BIG EASY EXPRESS. (Brotheryn 2012 Grammy winner for best long form music video featuring Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & Old Crow Medicine Show)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"big<\/a>Todd:\u00a0Right, which we mixed.\u00a0 That was one we didn\u2019t write any music for because it was about bands who make music themselves. We mixed all of the sound, the dialogue editing and final mastering.\u00a0 Big Easy was really fun to work on, a very exciting project by Emmett Malloy. That\u2019s actually the first time I\u2019ve worked with Emmett.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always worked for Chris, Keith and Dan (Malloy) and when Emmett hired me it was really kind of cool.\u00a0 It was his first Grammy too.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 That\u2019s a great accomplishment, so what\u2019s the second Grammy award for?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"green<\/a>Todd:\u00a0 It\u2019s a film called \u201cCuatro!\u201d a documentary about Green Day.\u00a0 We mixed a while ago, last year, but for some reason it really got no press, nobody saw it, nobody heard about it.\u00a0\u00a0 I was really surprised when it was nominated.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great film.\u00a0 A friend Tim Wheeler directed it and Tim Lynch produced it the same producer on the Big Easy, they are the guys from Farm League down in Santa Monica where I get a lot of work from.\u00a0 Farm League has really been responsible for getting me a lot of the work that I\u2019ve been doing and I owe them a lot.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 It seems like the connections that we make even at a young age and the friendships it kind of leads to other things and grows and these days, it\u2019s really who you know.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yeah, we definitely have to have the opportunity to do good work and to even learn how to do it.\u00a0 You also have to deliver once you get hired.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been in a position before where some friends were getting really popular or famous and making some moves and I wasn\u2019t ready to go along for the ride, I didn\u2019t have enough experience.\u00a0 You really have to be in the right place at the right time and be ready.\u00a0 So you work your whole life and try to get good at something and hopefully you get the opportunity to show that on a larger scale.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Your studio in Ojai – Brotheryn is a full service recording studio?\u00a0 Who are the musicians you\u2019ve worked with in studio? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Brotheryn<\/a>Todd:\u00a0This year \u2013 a musician named Johnny Boyd, Lee Koch, Dan Grimm, Dave Palmer are projects we\u2019ve done this year.\u00a0 Jason Mariani does a lot of the music work, a lot of the mixing and is the head engineer at Brotheryn.\u00a0 A lot of the bands contact him directly where as I\u2019m more hunting down filmmakers specifically.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Your partner in Brotheryn is Jesse Siebenberg, who\u2019s been out on tour with Lissie.<\/strong>\u00a0 How did you guys meet?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Well, you know that\u2019s so funny, I met Jesse Siebenberg when I was hired to do a session for a guy named Syd.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0<\/strong> You mean Syd, Syd?\u00a0 (Erin Sidney, local Producer, singer, musician and drummer for Mia Dyson, The Pullmen, Hotels and Highways)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yes, he was coming in to do his record when he was working with Hartley (Fitzgerald-Hartley) back in the day.\u00a0 That recording session with me was long, long ago.\u00a0 I had no partners, I was by myself at the Haley ranch (first Brotheryn Studios location in Ojai).\u00a0 He said he has this guy coming in that\u2019s going to play drums, guitar and bass on the album and he\u2019s awesome and it was Jesse!\u00a0 Jesse came in and said hey I can\u2019t believe this place is here.\u00a0 He\u2019d been in the area for awhile but didn\u2019t really have anyone to record or hang out with.\u00a0 He said you know I have a bunch of gear and maybe we can figure out a situation where I can leave it here and use it whenever I need to.\u00a0 So a week later we get a U-haul, drive it up to his dad\u2019s (Bob Siebenberg drummer for Supertramp) place in Yosemite. We got a mixing board, mics, a bunch of stuff and we became partners basically right then and there.
\n\"Todd<\/a>Polly:\u00a0 That must have been a long time ago.\u00a0 Was that in the 80\u2019s?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Hahaha, I wish we had started back then, no I was still in school in the 80\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Oh right haha.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0It must have been around 2001.\u00a0 No, 1999, I remember having conversations about Y2K with Jesse.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Right, all the world\u2019s computers were going to shut down.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yeah.\u00a0 Back then Jesse hired Jason to do some mixing on another record and also on Syd\u2019s record.\u00a0 Jason was freelancing in L.A. and we were giving him more work than he was getting in L.A.\u00a0 We told him move up here, in fact just bring your stuff up here and it\u2019s worked out for everyone involved I think.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 How did you get started as a musician? You mentioned you were about 10.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Well, I was infatuated with music as a listener.\u00a0 My brother had a guitar when we were growing up which he would hide from me but eventually let me play it.\u00a0 My dad also had a roommate who had a guitar who let me use it.\u00a0 I would play every day for months and months, I wouldn\u2019t put it down.\u00a0 After a while I got pretty good pretty quick.\u00a0 Then my uncle Peter a classical guitarist showed me a couple classical pieces where I\u2019d have to use my fingers. Which is the style I use to this day.\u00a0 Then I\u2019d just jam to cassettes. I listened to a lot of psychedelic music, a lot of Hendrix.\u00a0 I\u2019d just play guitar, no real songwriting, then record on a cassette deck.\u00a0 When I was about 25 for whatever reason I sang a song called \u201cBlue Sky\u201d and my friend who was making a movie heard it.\u00a0 He asked hey who\u2019s that?\u00a0 I want to use that in my movie.\u00a0 Well, that\u2019s me.\u00a0 He said bullshit I didn\u2019t know you could sing?\u00a0 I said I didn\u2019t either.\u00a0 And that track made it into the movie.<\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>

photo by Pam Baumgardner<\/p><\/div>\n

Polly:\u00a0<\/strong> That\u2019s incredible.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yeah, then I knew, wow that\u2019s pretty crazy. So maybe I should write some more songs.\u00a0 So I ended up doing that.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 And it\u2019s served you well.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Well I didn\u2019t write my first song with lyrics until I was 25.\u00a0 Anybody can do it as long you have passion for it then you should just do it.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 You really need to have passion. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0With surfing and music the one good thing is how it\u2019s always different.\u00a0 Like waves are always different or your mood, that\u2019s why I never get bored with music or surfing.\u00a0 And that\u2019s why I love music – to go in and create is my favorite thing to do.\u00a0 It gets even more fun the longer you do it.\u00a0 Like surfing.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0<\/strong> I checked your website and FB.\u00a0 You just put up some new tracks.\u00a0 Are you working on a new record? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yes, I\u2019ve put a lot of new music up on my website because there are some composing agencies in L.A. and San Francisco who wanted to hear examples.\u00a0 So I posted those.\u00a0 To give those folks an idea of my writing style for film opportunities.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 What\u2019s your process when you write a song?\u00a0 Do you hear the music in your head or do the lyrics come first? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Usually I\u2019ll start playing a melody on the guitar, a certain rhythm will inspire me for the most part.\u00a0 Sometimes I\u2019ll wake up with a lyric.\u00a0 Not to be too literal but it could also be something that happens in my life that will inspire me.\u00a0 Sometimes the music and lyrics can come at the same time like with the song \u201cWhere I need to be\u201d<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0<\/strong> I was listening to your song \u201cEnd Game\u201d and there is a line that I thought was really interesting you say \u201cI\u2019m going to keep on trying til my dying day and I\u2019m going to keep on dreaming until they take it away\u201d\u00a0 Is that a message you\u2019re sending out to the Universe of where you\u2019re at?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Further<\/a>Todd:\u00a0Well I\u2019m trying to convince myself\u2026<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Hahaha<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Definitely to other people, and as you know life can beat you down a little bit.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to look far to see that.\u00a0 Often times I write songs to convince myself to keep trying harder.\u00a0 In this case it\u2019s about a goal.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 So I wanted to share something with you I don\u2019t know if you realize this but there are some circle of friends who lovingly refer to you as Todd Hattigan because of your hats. Did you know that?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Haha.\u00a0 Oh my God.\u00a0 That\u2019s funny.\u00a0 I\u2019m trying to grow my hair out so I don\u2019t have to wear hats.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 What was your most memorable gig?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0The Canyon Club with Jackson Browne.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 That\u2019s cool.\u00a0 Where is your favorite place to surf around the world?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Favorite place?\u00a0 Probably here when the waves are good.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great feeling to be at home and be surfing.\u00a0 When the waves are pumping and there\u2019s not a lot of people in the water.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 What advice would you give to up and coming singer\/songwriters?\u00a0 Any words of wisdom?\u00a0 I know part of it is to make sure you have the passion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0If I was starting out and I ran into myself in the future I would really wish I had read the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell\u00a0 which has a little bit to do with music but mostly about how to get good at anything.\u00a0 He talks about meeting your 10,000 hours. It\u2019s really fascinating and I\u2019d really recommend it. For me I\u2019m just starting to feel like I\u2019m owning what I\u2019m doing as an artist.\u00a0 It\u2019s a lifetime choice to be involved in music and it\u2019s not about the money. It\u2019s something you choose to do because it makes you feel good and hopefully you have something inside of you that you want to share with the world.\u00a0 Doing it for the right reasons and know that it\u2019s going to take awhile.\u00a0 And get a second job that allows you to do your music is something I figured later on.\u00a0 My job in studio allows me to not depend on making money playing music as much. That helps me writing wise that let\u2019s me write stuff that I believe in. Be a waiter or server or anything that pays you as much money in as little time as possible so you can play and write the rest of the time.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Amanda Peacock<\/p><\/div>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Right<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0And don\u2019t be afraid to play gigs.\u00a0 I was petrified Polly, when we played our first gig at your old place upstairs.\u00a0 I was so, so scared.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 You\u2019re kidding!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Oh my gosh I was so scared for the first couple of years but you know that was a really, really cool way to jump into the music world.\u00a0 But I think maybe even the first 25 gigs at Zoey\u2019s actually\u2026haha<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0<\/strong> It definitely is the more you do the more comfortable and better you get.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yes, that\u2019s what I was trying to say it helps doing open mics and what you were doing where you were encouraging up and comers.\u00a0 Another thing I would suggest is don\u2019t be so concerned about money from the gig so much.\u00a0 Just play as many gigs as you can so you get better at your craft.\u00a0 Then you can worry about making a livelihood from your craft as you get better.\u00a0 Don\u2019t put money before the craft, put it after.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0<\/strong> That\u2019s good advice.\u00a0 Well I was going to ask you, because you just recently had a birthday\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a040!<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 40 years old really\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Four Zero<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 How do you feel about that? hahaha<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Oh man, I don\u2019t know, how should I feel? I don\u2019t know, I was fine for my 30th .\u00a0 As far as turning 40 I\u2019m trying to ignore it and keep running laps and eating organic food.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 I don\u2019t think age is that important anymore as far as a number.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s just what\u2019s in your heart and what you put out there. I mean, 40 is like the new, what 29?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Hahaha, yeah, The Heavy 29\u2019s (name of his band).\u00a0 Well I hope so, I wished I\u2019d said that.\u00a0 40 is the new 29.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 I was going to ask you, okay so you\u2019re 40\u2026or 29, are you where you\u2019re at or did you ever think you\u2019d be where you\u2019re at now personally and professionally?\u00a0 Are you in a good place? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0Yes, I think I\u2019ve already reached a path where I\u2019m achieving as far as being involved with music, yes, I\u2019m very happy and surprised actually. I still have a lot of time to get better and work on the highest level in the world.\u00a0 I\u2019m actually further along than I expected.\u00a0 It\u2019s kind of crazy.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Good for you Todd.\u00a0 What\u2019s your assessment of the local music scene, you\u2019ve been involved for so many years?\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0I would say the number of artists that I\u2019m aware of seems to be growing. There are pretty solid artists that have put in their time. But I\u2019d say we need to work on more venues that are basically like the ones you guys had (Zoey\u2019s) because I think that helped cultivate the most.\u00a0 That\u2019s like having a farm and the musician is like the crop.\u00a0 It seems like with the absence of Zoey\u2019s the scene is more about drinking than listening to the music.\u00a0 Some places are trying like Bombays.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 I know Diego is trying.\u00a0 It\u2019s almost Christmas, are you ready? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0As ready as I\u2019ll ever be.\u00a0 I\u2019m doing memberships to the Organic CSA, buying vitamins. Thanksgiving was great.\u00a0 I like spending time with the family.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0 Any New Years resolutions?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0None this year but I make and break them all year long.<\/p>\n

Polly:\u00a0<\/strong> Last question, you\u2019ve played music and surfed all over the world. What keeps you coming back to Ventura County?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Todd:\u00a0It feels like home.\u00a0 And this place is as nice as anywhere.<\/p>\n

www.toddhannigan.com<\/a>
\nwww.brotherynstudios.com <\/b><\/a>
\nwww.wornwear.patagonia.com<\/a>
\nwww.bigeasyexpress.com <\/a>
\nwww.<\/a><\/b> greendaycuatro.com<\/a>
\nwww.grammy.com<\/a> <\/b><\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>

photo by Pam Baumgardner<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Todd Hannigan was navigating his way to LA to see friend and business partner, musician Jesse Siebenberg, who was playing at the Fonda. I had the pleasure of talking to the singer\/songwriter, record producer and Grammy winner who had a … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1,257],"tags":[173,203,226,276,249],"class_list":["post-1562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interviews","category-polly","tag-brotheryn-studios","tag-jesse-siebenberg","tag-polly-hoganson","tag-polly-the-musicmuse","tag-todd-hannigan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1562"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1562\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3999,"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1562\/revisions\/3999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/venturarocks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}