While some American listeners will already know Bell X1’s music from television shows such as The O.C. and Grey’s Anatomy, others will find their upcoming release to be completely new. Although they might be best known in their native Ireland and the surrounding U.K., Bell X1 is gaining fans and listeners in the United States at a good pace. Their fourth full-length album, Blue Lights On The Runway, was released on March 3, 2009 by Yep Roc records and will be supplemented by a few live shows in selected cities. While it must have been somewhat thrilling to hear their songs on primetime television shows, for Dave Geraghty (lead guitar), the most important part of being in Bell X1 has been the chance to continue to work creatively. However, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the growing notoriety has provided Bell X1 with some new and exciting opportunities.

For some bands, each new album brings with it new hopes and goals. Sometimes the goal is to break into the Top 10 on the charts. Other times it is to increase radio airtime. For Bell X1, the most important part of working on Bright Lights On The Runway has been the continued creative exploration. “I’ve always maintained that as long as you continue to turn yourself on creatively and this allows you to continue financially, then this is success. I think it’s over when the ego needs to be fed above the desire to create and connect,” Geraghty says.

Their creative drive is not limited to making music but also includes the production and labeling side of things as well. Like a number of other artists, Bell X1 started their own record label for all their Irish releases. As the record industry continues to evolve, Geraghty feels this is a good opportunity for musicians to take more control of their own product. “We had parted ways with our record company and wanted to release a live DVD of what was the pinnacle of the Flock chapter. So, we set up Belly Up Records and now release in Ireland this way. The decision is now ours to license our music with other companies in different territories,” Geraghty explains.

While beginning their own label might have increased the band’s workload to an extent, Geraghty feels that the work is worth it with the increased control they have over their music. As the industry changes, so too must musicians. Geraghty explains, “I think the role of the record company has shifted a lot. I think it’s a good thing that the power and control is in the hands of the self-releasing musicians. They learn to be more in control of their own destiny. Licensing with smaller indie labels in different territories is a more common practice these days and feels more partnership-based and built on the music, as opposed to how much a huge, multinational record company can claw back from their bands.”

While being in the United States means leaving their work with Belly Up Records somewhat behind them, they also have found the U.S. to be an ideal place to push the boundaries of their music. While many Americans see the U.K. as the next area to conquer when forging a musical career, Geraghty sees things a bit differently, “It’s hard to be sure right now, as we haven’t spent much time in the U.K. of late. But having spent so much time in the U.S. over the last year, it feels a lot more diverse. Where the U.K. is home to some great music, I think it constricts itself on what the ‘next big thing’ is. The U.S. seems more open to new things.”

It could be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that with four full-length albums under their belts, there is nothing new to learn, but Geraghty says that there is always something new to learn in the writing and recording process. Rather than get stuck in a rut of their own making, Bell X1 has tried hard to avoid such a pitfall. “I think working with different people or on new projects always reveals new ways of doing things. Sometimes it can be as easy as someone else’s attitude when approaching a certain process. We all continue to be proactive in this respect. I have started to release my own records on my own label in Ireland and this has given me an even deeper understanding of what making a record is all about. You consider what can be going through everyone else’s mind outside of your own role in a band. It’s a musical journey, man!” Geraghty says.

For Blue Lights On The Runway, Geraghty and his bandmates tried a few new things in an effort to break away from their usual approach. Although sometimes new techniques and approaches can be dangerous, Geraghty found the challenge to be a good one. “There are moments caught when the tape was left running, say at the end of a song. We’d seaway into a reprise of the vibe of the song. Trying to dance that fine line between self-indulgence and creating something spontaneous that holds the listener. I think Blue Lights On The Runway sounds much less considered for that reason. With our last record, Flock, the song structure is much more evident, which is not a bad thing either. It’s just nice to break the mold with which you’ve always worked,” Geraghty explains.

As Bell X1 has evolved musically, they’ve also had to deal with the shifting and departure of band members. Brian Crosby (guitar, keys, vocals) left the band in 2008 to pursue a career in film scoring and producing. With his departure, the remaining members had to decide how to go about filling the spot. Although they were a bit hesitant about how to deal best with this change, Geraghty feels that things have sorted themselves out for the best, “Brian hasn’t been involved in this album, which we had been recording on and off between touring since November ’07. So, I suppose we’ve had quite a while to think about who the right person is, to realize the sonic of Blue Lights On The Runway in a live context. Having played for so long together there was a certain reticence on how the ‘new blood’ would fit, but we all exhaled a sigh of relief during our three-date ice-breaking Vicar Street shows in Dublin last November. It feels right.” – EVELYN MISKA

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