Causecast

Electric Touch brings together three Texans and an Englishman to make solid, adrenaline-charged rock. The band is young, but already has a growing following addicted to their energy.

Electric Touch found time for Causecast’s Brandon Deroche at the Mile High Festival, to discuss their inspirations and the hope they have in youth and America.

Causecast: As a band, you travel a lot. What are some of the most notable changes you’ve witnessed as you’re traveling?

Shane Lawlor: I see things, sometimes, some places I go, I see things not changing, unfortunately. I was in Detroit, a few months ago, and it seemed like a very, very different part of the world maybe to Los Angeles, or New York City, or something. It seemed like a place that was in a lot of trouble, and has been in a lot of trouble for many, many years. It used to be a vibrant city, full of industry, and now you walk past empty car lots, with two or three cars that were made in Canada. So, some places really aren’t changing, and I think that’s the problem. I believe that change can come from above, can come from leadership, and can inspire people. However, each individual has got to get out there and make a difference themselves, in their own community. You know, and I think that’s where the change is gonna begin. So, we do see changes when we’re traveling around, but all I really remember is the lack of change, in some places that I visit, unfortunately.

“I think that people in America should remember that this is a fantastic country that inspires people all over the world to do great things.”
-Shane Lawlor

CC: As artists, who are the musicians that inspire you? Are there any activists who have inspired you with current causes?

Ross DuBois: Well, mostly, a lot of art inspires me. I’m a really big fan of photography. One of the favorites is Jerry Uelsmann, because I think a lot things he was doing, just on analog film, really translates to what we do, because he put a lot of layers and stuff on top to create one image, and that’s what we do, we all create one, a lot of layers, and just create our own image. He just takes all these foreign things and puts them into an image, and that’s what we do. You know, a lot of things inspire us, and that’s just one thing, for me.

Christopher Leigh: Well, I’m not the only one, but I’ve always been a big follower of Bob Dylan. Not only because he’s a musical genius and a poetic genius, but he never lost sight of himself, I think, most importantly. He always put his family and love, love in his life above what everyone else wanted him to be. I think that kind of attitude kind of, spreads outward from you, the way you behave. I think it’s infectious; other people catch that. So I find that really inspiring.

Louis Messina: I get inspired by festivals like this, just awesome arena shows. Especially when it’s a show where I don’t have to go and play. I love playing, but when you’re playing, you really have to…it’s work, and it’s what we do. Like, last night, I got to see Tool, for the first time – it was just really cool just to hang out and watch and really enjoy myself, and not study. ‘Cuz a lot of times, I find myself studying shows, and I’m trying to learn not to do that, just enjoy the shows, like how I used to. But, yeah, just the energy that people give to the music. ‘Cuz you can listen to the CD, but people give out an energy that CD’s don’t have. Unless you listen to Kiss alive. One and two.

Shane: I’m inspired by all kinds of different people, really. I mean, Mum and Dad, really, came from a very, very different time and a different place. They instilled in me the, you know, you make your own opportunity, and you can manifest your own destiny if you work hard enough. I heard something great the other day, that, a goal without a man is just a wish. You can’t just wish for something and it’s gonna come around the corner. You gotta work, whatever it is. Whatever it be, you making rock and roll music, or you wanna change the world, or you just want to change, you know, your immediate surroundings, or you wanna change what’s inside. You got to work at it. Nothing comes just like that, you know.

“…A goal without a man is just a wish. You can’t just wish for something and it’s gonna come around the corner. You gotta work, whatever it is.”
- Shane Lawlor

And I think that America inspires me. I come from England, and rock and roll and jazz was born in this country. Great American writers here, and movies from here inspire people all over the world. And I think that people in America should remember that this is a fantastic country that inspires people all over the world to do great things. And so, I’m inspired by being here, being right here right now in Colorado. Meeting new people, it’s amazing.

CC: Also, that plays into something that we talk about a lot, which is consciousness. Festivals like this are definitely a conscious movement. You can feel the energy when you’re onstage. The minute you come in here you can feel like you’re at a conscious gathering. How does that consciousness affect your music?

Shane: Gives me hope. We sing songs about love, and it has to come from our hearts, be real. And people in the audience know if you’re faking it. And so, when I come to places like this, it’s the youth, basically, giving me hope. We’ve been having some situations at the moment – we can do anything we want if we put our minds to it. We’re really smart people. If we work together and think about our neighbor, and spread some love, you know, we can do anything. And so I have a lot of faith and a lot of hope and a lot of love when I come to these places, that the youth are going to change things for the better. And I believe it, I’m not just saying it, you know, I totally believe it. When we get up on stage and we sing our songs of love, there’s an audience that are willing to hear and willing to participate in the theater, be one with us while we’re playing. So yeah, it’s pretty inspiring, you know what I mean? It’s a gift.

Ross: Well, consciously, when you go to these festivals, and I’ve experienced it myself at Bonarroo, but when you, you literally feel like you’re one with everyone. It’s pretty special because it’s just one, one, everyone’s together, and it’s just so magical, and every time we go to these festivals, even when we just play shows, that’s what we strive for, just to be there and connect with every single person. It’s pretty powerful.

For more on Electric Touch, visit: www.electrictouchmusic.com.