“We’re making this record for ourselves and for all the cool people who have chipped in to make it happen.”
-Angelo Gianni, Treadmill Trackstar
You may have heard by now that Treadmill Trackstar is back together and recording an album. If you haven’t, well thank heavens I am here to tell you. If you are scratching your head wondering who Treadmill Trackstar is, go find a way to listen to “Shouldn’t I Take” right at this moment. In their heyday Treadmill was one of Columbia’s most successful artists who managed to make a career through intense touring and unique, cello laiden rock.
The band reunion set the Columbia music scene abuzz in 2007, and now in 2009 they are working on finishing off a brand new album. Since the band had been inactive for 9 years, and has no immediate plans to tour, they launched a campaign to get help from fans to pay for the record. I recently talked with lead singer Angelo Gianni and he had a lot to say about the campaign: “The problem of raising cash for a record from friends and fans is that we didn’t think we had any friends or fans anymore.” This has not been the hurdle that the band expected, as they have raised over seven thousand for the record and as a result those who helped out were treated to a great deal of bonus content from the band.
“Making a record for the joy of it is way different than making a record to try to further your career, or to become a rock star, or to make cash” he says, and all of us who are musicians can definitely believe that.
Next week I will continue the interview with a discussion about the sound of the record, so be looking forward to that and plan to see Treadmill Trackstar at St. Patrick’s Day in Five Points!
