DB- What was the first tune you played on that day?

HC- We warmed up on “The Chicken.” It helped me relax. I didn’t want to sing first so we went in there and did an instrumental. I figured at least I can distract them with that (laughs). I remember the second song was “Hear My Song,” and that was cool too because that way I didn’t automatically have to do the lead parts. I got to warm up, hear everybody play, make sure everything was in tune. I think the first tune after that was “Breakfast at Volo’s” which I had a spent a lot of time trying to get down. It has a lot of words. We had a lot of fun doing that one.

DB- I’ve heard that one thing that really impressed everybody in terms of your vocals was that you didn’t come in and try to sound like Jen.

HC- I guess that over the past few years I think I’ve seen some of the best musicians both on the road and in Charlottesville and what I’ve taken away from them is that they always try to be themselves. That helped me to be a bit more relaxed because it’s all about being relaxed and in the moment. And that moment was not about me trying to capture what Jen did because no one could ever capture that, no one ever should try to capture that. What she did was special. I know that if I were in the same position, if we had decided to keep Baaba Seth going and bring in a new lead singer I wouldn’t want someone to come in be just like our lead singer Dirk because that was Dirk and that was a different band, and it would be weird. That wouldn’t capture the true essence of why we should play music, and why people do play music. It should be their own expression. So I felt going in, if they like it they like it, and if they didn’t then I did my best.

DB- When did you find out that they wanted you to join the band?

HC- We basically discussed it that day while were playing. I can tell you as soon as we started, it felt like playing with old friends. It was that déjà vu feeling you hardly ever get. It’s kind of magical. I kind of surprised myself too because I never really had a chance to do any of those tunes with them before that. I always had to sing along with Jen while I was working on the tunes, while at the same time I was trying not to sound like her. I went into that situation and just before we started I felt totally exposed but there was that energy.

DB- Do you think that you’ll bring any of you own music to the band?

HC- In time that may come but right now I’m just looking forward to doing whatever they tell me to do. I love writing music and I’m not going to stop writing music even if I don’t get to write music for them. If that happens, though, it would be great. I’m pretty sure on the road we’ll start getting into some things but I’m not going to rush into it. I want to make sure we all feel comfortable with each first and I’m not sure how long that will take. Hopefully it won’t take very long at all.

DB- Do you have any anxiety about going out there before audiences that will be familiar with Deep Banana’s sound with Jen?

HC- First and foremost it’s not about me, it’s all about the music. Life and music will always go on. I know that people will always love Deep Banana with Jen, and rightfully so because she’s awesome. I think people should be thankful to have some great musicians in Deep Banana who are willing to keep it going. I’m just going to give it a shot. If I were on the outside and I loved a band, I might be kind of skeptical- “What’s going to go on?” But I’m just going to live my life and do the best I can to play the music. I think that the earnest effort will come through. I feel so lucky to just have a chance to do this and I hope that people will see that. I’m just in it having a good time and I hope that the audiences will come along with me.

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