Guitarist,
bassist, Theremenist, keyboardist, drummer, producer, arranger,
engineer, singer, and songwriter Fernando Perdomo is clearly a musical
multi-threat — and thus his new album
Dreaming in Stereo
is an almost entirely self-made affair. Chock full of vintage keyboards
and ’70s-inspired melodies, Perdomo describes his progressive pop as
“Mahavishnu Orchestra meets Todd Rundgren and Aimee Mann.”
Inspired
as a kid by Paul McCartney and his mother’s Michel Legrand records,
Perdomo played the family’s Story and Clark upright and eventually got
a Yamaha PSR keyboard, which he says had a great Rhodes sound. His
mother was classically trained on piano so she soon got him lessons,
though he switched to playing guitar. Once Perdomo realized that
McCartney played piano too, though, he quickly got back into the
instrument.
Nowadays,
Perdomo plays mostly by ear, though he can sight-read a little. His
practice regimen is as follows: “Wake up, turn on coffee machine, sit
at piano. It’s always the piano because then I don’t have to look for a
pick or tune up. It’s too early for tedium!”
Though
he still cites the Beatles and Rundgren as a main influence, Perdomo is
also inspired by all the Jellyfish guys, especially Jon Brion, plus
Kate Bush, Aimee Mann and Pete Sinfeld (of King Crimson fame).
Webpage: dreaminginstereo.net
Recording process for new album
Dreaming in Stereo: I commenced
shortly after leaving a band that got signed
in L.A. I went back home and started the
process of recording alone in my studio
and other studios. A handful of tracks date
back to 2006; the rest were recorded from
2008 to 2009. The album is half piano and
half guitar tunes. I recorded most of the
instruments because I hate arguing in studios
and I don’t usually get pissed at
myself. Unless I’m cutting vocals; then I’ll
get all Phil Spector, Ike Turner, and Murry
Wilson on my ass!
Favorite keyboards on stage and in
the studio: My fave keyboards are the
Wurlitzer 200A and the Roland XP-50 with
the vintage cards. That’s the sound of
Dreaming in Stereo, so that’s what is being
used live. The Wurlitzer is the first thing you
hear on “Steal this Song,” “I’m Not Gonna
Move to L.A.,” and “Half Dead.” I distort it,
phase it, delay it, and it always sounds
phat. The XP-50 is awesome for the Mellotron,
Moog, and organ sounds. I found
out the Cardigans used that same
keyboard on tour and in the studio. This
sold me! I want to get a Nord Electro to
take on the road instead of the Wurly; they
nailed it with that one. I’ve also become
obsessed with keyboard apps for my iPod
Touch. I use MiniPiano, Ellatron, and
MiniSynth. They sound awesome and they
represent the future, in my opinion.
Selected influential records growing
up: All Todd Rundgren and all Beatles;
Kate Bush’s The Kick Inside; King Crimson’s
Court of the Crimson King; the
Cardigans’ Life; Wings’ Wings over America;
Tori Amos’ Songs from the Choirgirl
Hotel; Genesis’ Trespass; Eddie Jobson’s
The Green Album.
Favorite keyboard works: Erik Satie’s
Trois Gymnopedies, Fred Lipsius’ “A Look
to My Heart” (Blood Sweat and Tears),
and Eddie Jobson’s “Prelude” from The
Green Album.
Biggest gear disaster: I’ve been lucky.
The biggest thing that I have to battle with
is DJs in Miami. A DJ tried to run us off
stage at our own CD release party. Another
night we couldn’t play “Smile” because a DJ
was playing in the other room of the club
and that song is too pretty and acoustic to
play with the
boom boom boom going.
Words of wisdom: Go to thrift stores and
flea markets and buy as many records as
possible. You may acquire some sick gear
in the process!
Top guilty pleasures: Major seventh
chords, the music of The Price is Right TV
show, the first Spyro Gyra album, and Gino
Vannelli.
Favorite artist we’ve probably never
heard of: Salem Al Fakir of Sweden, who
is like Todd Rundgren meets Stevie Wonder
meets Prince. Also Diane Birch — Carole
King meets Daryl Hall — and Curved Air.
Best gig experience:
Opening
for Todd Rundgren solo earlier this year. I played for people that
understood the music and I got to meet and talk shop with my idol. Todd
is the man!
Most underrated keyboard players:
Linda McCartney, Daryl Hall, Roger Manning, and the most underrated Gayle Moran — she had to replace Jan Hammer in Mahavishnu!