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A Perfect Circle

Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage/Getty Images

News
A Perfect Circle Talk Building 'Eat The Elephant' perfect-circle-influences-collaboration-building-eat-elephant

A Perfect Circle On Influences, Collaboration & Building 'Eat The Elephant'

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The influential rock group stopped by the GRAMMY Museum to discuss the impetus for their new music, their early influences and the creative process behind their big 2018 return
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Dec 25, 2018 - 7:30 am

A Perfect Circleis the kind of band fans wait with bated breath to hear new music from, no matter how long they are away. In the case of Eat The Elephant, the band's fourth album, the wait was a full 14 years. Still, the new material was met with much anticipation, a testament to the art.

A Perfect Circle Talk 'Eat The Elephant'

Back in October, we premiered a video for the title track from the album-length film the band made for Eat The Elephant. In the song, lead singer and songwriter Maynard James Keenan’s stark, haunting vocals creek and soar over lead composer and guitarist Billy Howerdel's dynamic backdrop. During a recent visit to the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles,as Keenan and Howerdel shared how they came to revisit the project after all these years away.

"I think it was just time," said Keenan. "I was really busy with Puscifer for quite a while. Then I was gonna get back into doing some Tool music, and they weren't ready, so I was like [to Howerdel], "Hey, what's up?"

The time passed since their previous album, 2004's Emotive, manifests itself on Eat The Elephant in the space within and around its songs, creating a new sonic environment from the band's previous work. This had everything to do with how the songs' foundations were built.

"A lot of times on this record we had the song kind of almost complete, and then he put the vocals on top. It was pretty amazing," explained Howerdel. "Maynard had a lot more input into the music this time, just to, you know, try to some things, because he knew where he was gonna go vocally. He wasn't in the room when I was working on the music, so we'd kind of lightly steer in that direction. And I think it worked out because he just had something in mind and then was able to throw the solid final performance on top of it."

When it comes to architecting a vocal, Keenan does it like no one else. The genesis of his genius instincts begin with responding to the music, as he revealed during the conversation. "First and foremost, it's a reaction to the melodies and structures and time signatures that the group of musicians are presenting me, whether it's Mat Mitchell, or Billy, or Tool," he said. "It's all a reaction melodically to those rhythms, constructing it in a way that feels like an actual conversation. And I of course react better when they're not in 4/4. I don't speak in 4/4."

"Then [I] figure out where that emotion is going, and then just look at your life experiences, what you're experiencing at the moment, and attach a set of words or a circumstance to that set of rhythms and melodies to see if it opens up a whole story, because you know, human interaction, human experience from birth to death, there's an infinite number of flavors and colors and bandwidths and emotions that come with those experiences."

Keenan also named an intriguing roster of early influences, providing a glimpse into his stylistic DNA. His early exposure to everything from Roberta Flack to Black Sabbath to Joni Mitchell led to an appreciation of Minor Threat, Killing Joke, Swans and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, which in turn led him to Gillian Welch and PJ Harvey.

"To me, there's a sadness that's captivating in that writing that's essential," Keenan says of Welch, Harvey and his tastes as they've evolved over the course of his life.

A Perfect Circle has evolved, too. At its core, it's a dynamic collaboration, which means Keenan and Howerdel cannot say what will come next.

"It's a marriage of sorts," says Howerdel. "You have to make this more than just the sum of its parts, more than the sum of the two of us. That comes from the unknown of collaboration… Having collaboration is the magic of never knowing what's coming next."

A Perfect Circle’s Billy Howerdel On New Music, Touring Again & More

A Perfect Circle

A Perfect Circle

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage/Getty Images

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Premiere: A Perfect Circle "Eat The Elephant" exclusive-video-premiere-perfect-circle-eat-elephant

Exclusive Video Premiere: A Perfect Circle "Eat The Elephant"

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The supergroup returned with a new album 'Eat The Elephant,' 14 years since their last. They filmed a special album-length video for the release, and today we premiere the video for the emotive title track
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 11, 2018 - 3:15 pm

A Perfect Circle released their fourth studio album, Eat The Elephant, on April 20, 2018, 14 years after they put out their last album, Emotive. Their latest video for the album's title track is an emotive opening to the new album, with lead singer and songwriter Maynard James Keenan's haunting vocals supported by flowing, piano-filled notes by Billy Howerdel, the group's lead composer and guitarist. The group shot an innovative album length film for their new release, for which we see the first segment of in the new video for "Eat The Elephant."  

Always ones to put exquisite attention detail in their art, the rock group didn't hold back on their return to making music as A Perfect Circle. They worked with innovative filmmaker Steven Sebring to create a 58 minute film for the full album. The film was shot with Sebring's high-tech 360 degree circular camera system, creating what they are calling the "world's first hologram album." The latest video for "Eat The Elephant," premiering here today exclusively on GRAMMY.com, is a piece from the storyline of the new film.

The video is strange and intriguing, fitting for Keenan's piercing vocals, which begin with him singing; "Looming, omnipresent/This task ahead/This task at hand/Ominous and daunting." In the video we see a young girl sitting on a rotating bed, looking into a handheld projector. It gives you taste of the content of the album's full film, albeit in 2D, which takes you on a journey through the eyes of the same young girl across all 12 songs of the album.

"It's not so much a music video, so much as a companion piece to the song. I mean it is a video, but it's not," Howerdel recently told the Recording Academy. "Steven [Sebring] has this amazing loft in New York City, he's got this 360 degree camera array in there. We shot the album cover photos of Maynard and I there, and then he did the other video content. It's just amazing…It was an interesting process to see of how that booth worked."

The hologram film can only be viewed in 3D through a special prism placed on top of a smartphone. Watching it through the small silver pyramid-shaped device, which is available with the deluxe box set of Eat The Elephant, is next level visuals, like a live message being transmitted from another dimension, or from someone otherworldly.

"Having Maynard and Billy’s trust to create this for A Perfect Circle was a true artist's dream," Sebring shared on his site. "Their 14-year break allowed technology to catch up with their groundbreaking music and gave me the chance to apply new ideas of dimensional capture to this stunning album."

"It's incredibly refreshing to meet someone as bananas as I am," Keenan told Revolver. "Steven Sebring is my kind of eccentric. Top notch, Mr. Sebring. Top notch."

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYMuseum/status/1050503451770318856

Last night @aperfectcircle joined us for a special conversation and intimate performance 🎶 pic.twitter.com/DNUjUoXy2s

— GRAMMY Museum (@GRAMMYMuseum) October 11, 2018

Last night, at An Evening With A Perfect Circle at the GRAMMY Museum on Oct. 10 Keenan and Howerdel discussed their creative process on the new album, the new film and played some new material to an intimate group of fans. Keenan shared "it was just time" to make music together again.

The group continues their tour in support of the new album, with dates across the U.S. ending in Phoenix on Nov. 20, then crossing the pond over to Europe in December. More information on the tour as well as the special album box set can be found on the band's website.

A Perfect Circle Announce More U.S. Tour Dates In Support Of New Album

GRAMMYs

A Perfect Circle

Photo: Tim Cadiente | Design: F Inomata

News
Billy Howerdel On A Perfect Circle's Return & More perfect-circles-billy-howerdel-new-music-touring-again-more

A Perfect Circle's Billy Howerdel On New Music, Touring Again & More

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We go behind-the-scenes with the influential rock group's guitarist and lead composer, who shares what it's been like making music together again and hints that "Judith" could be heard live in the near future
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 15, 2018 - 12:06 pm

A Perfect Circle, led by Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel, released their ground-breaking, genre-nonconforming debut album, Mer De Noms, in 2000 to much critical acclaim. The group followed up with two more albums, Thirteenth Step in 2003 and Emotive in 2004, but then took a long hiatus to work on other projects, including Keenan returning to his GRAMMY-winning band Tool. Despite the time apart, A Perfect Circle wasn't over, and much to fans' delight the group started actively working together again in 2017, embarking on a tour and working on new music. They released their fourth studio album, Eat The Elephant, on April 20, 2018, along with a stunning album-length companion film.

The group visited the GRAMMY Museum on Oct. 10 for an intimate conversation and performance at the Clive Davis Theater for 200 lucky fans. Before the event we caught up with Howerdel to ask what he's been listening to lately, how the group's creative approach has shifted, his favorite songs to play live, what he'd like to say to fans, and more.

Billy Howerdel On A Perfect Circle's Return & More

Howerdel, who composes the majority of the group's music, with Keenan writing the lyrics, shares that their creative process has indeed shifted, and in working on the new album they took extra time "breaking things down a bit more" on each song. The guitarist also reveals that "Delicious" is one of his favorite tracks to play from the new album, and he's looking forward to playing it live for the first time soon. He also hinted that he wants to play "Judith," a fan-favorite from Mer De Noms, with the group again soon, one they haven't performed together live in quite some time.

Exclusive Video Premiere: A Perfect Circle "Eat The Elephant"

Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle

Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle 

Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

News
A Perfect Circle Add More U.S. Tour Dates perfect-circle-announce-more-us-tour-dates-support-new-album

A Perfect Circle Announce More U.S. Tour Dates In Support Of New Album

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The band plot more dates this fall after releasing their first album in 14 years, 'Eat The Elephant'
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Apr 25, 2018 - 8:24 am

A Perfect Circle are back. Last week, the band released their first new album in 14 years, Eat The Elephant, and now they've announced more U.S. tour dates this fall.

The run of shows will begin Oct. 20 in Salt Lake City and hit cities across the U.S., including Denver, Austin, Atlanta, New York, and Las Vegas, before wrapping up in Phoenix on Nov. 20. This fall trek comes after a short summer tour kicking off May 12 in Somerset, Wis. and concluding May 26 in Dallas. The band also has European dates booked in June and December.

Eat The Elephant was released April 20, marking the group's first album since 2004's Emotive. A Perfect Circle singer Maynard James Keenan explained the hiatus to Rolling Stone, saying, "Part of it was me having to step away for a while. Part of it was my winery and trying to get Tool nudged forward, and Puscifer. All those things were going on simultaneously and I just lost track of time, honestly… Anything's possible now, and we're able to blow the dust off that and go, 'Oh, yeah, we can do this.' And [guitarist] Billy [Howerdel] always has material up his sleeve."

Tickets for the new set of dates go on sale Apr. 27 via the band's website.

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Marsha Ambrosius

Marsha Ambrosius

Photo: Schyler O’Neal/GRAMMY Museum

News
Marsha Ambrosius On Soul, Motherhood & Matchmaking real-marsha-ambrosius-soul-seeker-mother-matchmaker

The Real Marsha Ambrosius: Soul Seeker, Mother & Matchmaker

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Unlocking life’s secrets of human connection and true love through music with the sultry soul producer/singer/songwriter
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Feb 4, 2019 - 4:04 pm

Masha Ambrosius exudes realness from the moment she walks into the Clive Davis Theatre at the GRAMMY Museum in downtown Los Angeles. As an artist known for her authenticity, this genuineness has always followed her, but now, not only is she an eight-time GRAMMY nominee, she's a mother. And her art and life have intertwined so inextricably that her latest album and her two-year-old daughter share a name: Nyla.

"This is my life now," she says, laughing, referring to the fanny-pack baby bag she's removing from around her waist before sitting down for the interview. "Everyone’s like, ‘What’s changed for you?' This."

The album Nyla ushered in a new phase of the multi-talented music maker's career. Boasting an impressive resume filled with dream-come-true moments like writing and vocal producing Michael Jackson's "Butterflies" and working with Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Dr. Dre, a successful career with poetic neo-soul duo Floetry, and now three albums into an explorative solo career, Ambrosius' resume continues to expand. But as she moves further away from where she started in Liverpool, England, here are a few ways how she's moving closer to herself, closer to her real.

MY NEW ALBUM
"... leave it in and let go music..."  #NYLA THE ALBUM
PRE-ORDER NOW https://t.co/K5di6lLWAD
AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE
SEPTEMBER 28TH pic.twitter.com/MqI3BVCQhi

— MARSHA AMBROSIUS © (@MarshaAmbrosius) August 31, 2018

"I find soul in anything"

Nyla showcases a dizzying list of musical influences, including, according to her, everything from Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye to Queen and Duran Duran. The album also covers a lot of historical ground, from the intoxicating modern soundscapes of "Bottle Fulla Liquor" to throwback soul on "Today," which came naturally for Ambrosius.

"Anything in three-four [time] just sounds like the right thing to," she says of "Today." "It floods out of you because it's a natural element of soul that is in the body. It's instilled in me."

Ambrosius also talks about the need for soul in our world, and how an open mind can manifest that soul through music. 

"It's feeling. Especially currently, with the social climate, we music that just makes you feel," she says, dismissing labels of her new album as simply R&B, pop or hip-hop. "Everyone's like, 'we need good soul!' I'm like, 'what's soul, ultimately?' I find soul in anything."

"I feel like I’ve been a mother forever"

As an artist who emotes, literally, for a living, becoming a mother has put Ambrosius in direct touch with the way music affects her daughter.

"Music is the soundtrack, and my daughter’s already grasping what songs evoke certain emotions," she says. "She'll know what a sad song is, and she'll know when it's time to get up and dance, or she knows when it's time to just chill. Having her learn emotions through music is a beautiful way to instill it."

This intrinsic connection between music and motherhood extends to her connection with Nyla.

"I can hear my daughter down the hallway right now. I think there's a spidey-sense or a radar that stays with you," Ambrosius says. "It feels like even though she’s two [years-old], I’ve been a mother forever."



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#NYLA AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE NOW what’s your favorite song so far?! Comment below! I’m tryna shoot a video

A post shared by marshaambrosius (@marshaambrosius) on Sep 30, 2018 at 10:23am PDT

"I just want everyone to be in love"

Looking for a love connection? Just grab a ticket from Ambrosius’ next show.

"I'm all for opportunity, and music does that," she says. "During my tour right now, I encourage the audiences to raise their hands... [I ask] who came here single? Who would come to a Marsha Ambrosius concert single to hear 'Your Hands,' 'Say Yes,'… 'Freak In Me'… absolutely a bundle of sexual joy, and not wanna [say to someone] 'hey, can I take your number? Can I take you out on a date?' So I'm like, 'Look around the room. There it is. I've presented you an opportunity.'"

Ambrosius speaks from experience, as she met her husband on tour. He was a roadie for the Floetry reunion tour, and she seized the moment. Not only is she passing along the opportunity as matchmaker, she feels a deeper connection to her lyrics now, having lived real love first hand.

"I feel corny, because I'm like… 'I just want everyone to be in love like I'm in love.' And now that I've found what [being in love] actually is, it's way more incredible than I could have attempted to word in any song," she explains, "because I was lending from what I thought it was until it happened to me, and now it's the most amazingly terrifyingly gratifying experience I've ever had."

"You can get rich so easily and get broke twice as fast"

After our one-on-one interview, Ambrosius speaks with a large group of high school students at the GRAMMY Museum, providing valuable insight on her career and life in general. Her parting advice for the group is as encouraging as it was cautionary, letting the young people in attendance know they should not be pursue becoming lesser versions of their heroes, but the best version of themselves—and it doesn't happen alone.

"You can get rich so easily and get broke twice as fast. To be wealthy is a whole other animal," Ambrosius says, later adding wisely, "Find your tribe and stick to it."

Diana Ross Set To Perform At The 2019 GRAMMYs

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.