Let's redefine the phrase “solo album,” shall we? While most folks would think of a bearded man with less-than-excellent hygiene skills plucking away on his beaten but trusty acoustic guitar, Chad Hines thinks of “solo album” in an entirely different way. For Chad, it is a chance for total creativity and control. A place where ideas flow unhindered to create full, vibrant songs rich with both musicianship and provocative meaning. And this is exactly what you find on Chad's newest release, “Local Rockstar,” a fully-self written, performed, and produced album that in no way sounds “solo.”
Growing up in NC, Chad first became interested in music during his teen years. He started a band with some friends, “Smurf 1270.” The only problem: no one could play any instruments. This prompted all 5 boys to pick up a guitar furiously and begin learning how to play such epic songs as “Wonderwall” by Oasis and “Last Resort” by Papa Roach. While Smurf 1270 never panned out, it led Chad to become part of another group with some friends in which he was the drummer, Nine PM Traffic. While playing drums with the group, Chad continued to be fascinated with the guitar and was constantly found in his bedroom practicing.
As Nine PM entered the college years, they began to experiment with recording and electronic synthesis. It was through the process of recording several less-than-good home demos that Chad became enticed with recording and the digital manipulation of music. He became determined to not let himself fall into the trap of the “indie music production” that he was surrounded by in Chapel Hill and Carrboro and learned how to produce stuff that sounds good. Crazy!
Around this time, Chad was approached by a connoisseur of fine Euro-dance music, Julian Burton. This enigmatic man came with a simple plan: produce a electro-pop record that will give the kids some good clean music to dance to. Always up to a new musical challenge, Chad agreed and jumped into the electronica scene. Chad and Julian released an EP in the summer of 2007 that can be found on iPods across the county: “They Said Yes [but they meant no]” by the overlapse.
After 8 great years with Nine PM Traffic (and 3 glorious months in the overlapse), Chad decided to head out to LA and chase the dream. Armed with his computer, some guitars and a GPS, he hit the road in September 2008. Upon arriving, he realized that he had no job and no friends. This led him to set up some gear in his bedroom and begin writing and recording the songs that you hear on this site. What started out as a few demos has turned into an 8-track album which has piece of Chad's past all over it. The opening track “Restless” immediately grabs you with a delay-soaked guitar run that pushes the song along until it bursts into a furious guitar lead. A few tracks later, a somber acoustic guitar piece is accompanied by thundering drums and strings in “The Color Red.” Borrowing some techniques from his overlapse days, Chad mixes rock and electronica a la MuteMath in “The Cry of One Afflicted.”
