“Dogface and the Pony Soldiers” is an artistic project and musical outfit headed by Sean McCauley and based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Their latest album “No Better Time” was released recently on the 3rd of July, 2023. Sean uses his musical talent and ear for melodies to craft songs that are heartfelt, vibrant and full of soul. A veteran of the rock music scene Sean has been crafting music his entire life and bringing us soulful gems, and was kind enough to chat with us, giving us an insight into his musical journey, creative process and everything in between!
Hi Sean, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Could you tell us about yourself and your journey with music?
Thank you for taking the time as well! I am a desert native of Arizona and have been writing and recording music by myself and playing music in rock n' roll bands around the Phoenix area my entire life.
Tell us more about ‘Dogface and the Pony Soliders’. What are your biggest inspirations as a band and your creative process?
Dogface is basically songs I've written and performed on my own. I'm a one-man band like Dave Grohl and the Foos! Since the Covid crisis changed music, I haven't been playing in any bands and instead have been writing and recording music on my own. As far as my creative process, most of these songs started with an acoustic guitar and a simple melody and progressed from there. My inspirations are almost too many to name but a few include the Beatles, Nirvana, Blitzen Trapper and Nick Drake.
Your latest album ‘No Better Time’ is out now on all major streaming platforms. What can you tell us about this album?
This is the proudest I've ever been of any group of songs I've written, and I really think that with the help from Premier Studios in Phoenix, Arizona (where the album was recorded), I was able to put together a very strong bunch of tracks. Most of the songs are very personal to me as they deal with Covid, chaos and anxiety I've experienced in last couple of years. The tracks are also very different from the batch of songs from last year, "Higher Than High" which was a louder and more distorted collection of tracks.
What were the challenges you faced unique to crafting an album? How do they compare to the challenges of crafting a standalone track?
I always find that vocals tend to be the most difficult part to get right for an album. With this release, the most difficult track to record was the track "One Being" - both the harmony parts and the guitar solo took a very long time to perfect! Albums just take so much more time to do than a single track. I always try to make sure I am as rehearsed as possible before I go into the studio which helps the process go faster.
What is the track you are most proud of on ‘No Better Time’? Which track are you the least happy with?
The track I am most satisfied with is the title track "No Better Time." I wasn't expecting that track to be my favorite, but I really feel that it was mixed very well and flows very well as a track. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed with any particular track in particular, but I do feel that "Team By The Bay" could maybe use another guitar part somewhere to make it a bit... bolder.
What is an emerging trend in the rock music scene you despise? What trends do you see that you’d like to capitalise on?
Good question! Perhaps the trend I most despise is how artists have gotten away from "real" recordings and tend to use samples and electronics. I tried to make this recording as "rootsy" as possible without the use of any samples and as little electronic manipulation as possible.
What do you view as your biggest accomplishment as a musician? Why?
Well my favorite live show I've played is at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, Arizona, with my old band "Oliver House." Personally, my biggest accomplishment is probably finding peace and strength through the songs I write. Hopefully listeners are doing the same!
What are the lessons you’ve learnt in your time making music? What advice would you give new musicians trying to break into the rock music scene?
The biggest lesson I've learned is that no track and no album will ever be perfect. No collection of songs will ever be perfect. Sometimes it is the imperfections that give it character. The advice I'd give to new musicians is to never stop pushing yourself as an artist to find the right melodies that suit your lyrics. Don't be afraid to change keys, use strange chords or shift up the beat and tempo. Some music can be kind of boring these days.
How do you nurture your creative process? Have you ever experienced creative burnout? If so how did you overcome it?
Oh I've definitely experienced burnout. Sometimes I have to put a song down for months before I pick it up again and continue. Having "fresh ears" when you explore what a track can be is very important.
What does the future hold for ‘Dogface and the Pony Soliders’? What about you personally Sean?
Hopefully I will always be writing and releasing music and hopefully that music will find listeners who enjoy it and find beauty and strength in it. Maybe I'll even find a group of musicians to help me play the songs live as a band - hit me up if you'd like and lets jam!
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