Chris Buchanan is the voice, songwriter, guitar player and composer of The Minds Web. It started with a second hand drum kit at 16 when his father bought and brought home from a co-worker that no longer wanted them. After a couple years of playing, realizing to be the next Travis Barker or Neil Peart was going to take a lot more patience in developing the craft of drumming to their level of ability. Learning how to play the guitar was the next instrument of choice on his mothers Yamaha acoustic but playing other artist and bands music was not of interest. Odd songs here and there were learned but Chris knew, to get to where his idols were and are, creating his own songs from his own experience or viewpoints was the way.
At 24 he suggested to a friend at the time who was a drummer in a band called Atlantis Blueprint to be their guitar tech and within the opportunity given, asides from the stereotypes (backstage hangouts, pre and after show tales) Chris was also wanting to learn the in's and out's and what to do and not to do that encircles the mysteries of bands / artist rise and falls. Well.....the guitar tech gig was short lived as the band members went separate ways and with having five years to reflect the experience, the answers to the questions had moving forward plays a part in todays development.
As the guitar tech gig ended, life for Chris was not in order like he had hoped it would be, going from job to job and a move back home, the direction in life itself wasn't good. Knowing where he wanted to go and where he was, he had to come to acceptance of where he was first, not easy for a man who has very high expectations to allow the understanding which came 5 years later with reasoning. A couple years now into his 30's Chris knew something had to be done and through a synchronicity moment he started going to classes on how to develop a better version of himself and knowing how to release the old to allow the new to ignite. Life was starting to turn for the better and not knowing at the time it was also preparing him for what was about to occur.
While rejuvenating himself mentally and physically, his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and later having another primary cancer showing up as colon cancer. In 2018 Chris's mom had passed away and It took a few months for Chris to find a place of his own and while waiting for his next place to live, he spent three weeks in a motel before finding a place in the York region of Ontario. Finally getting his feet moving again, a conscious decision to go to Peru and experience Ayahausca was made. " Its life changing-mentally and physically and to those who are wanting to do it for the betterment of self, I truly recommend it" says Chris and because of the decision, it was during a guided meditation where The Minds Web name comes from. After coming back from Peru with a clearer view of his path in life, a cleansed energy field and a new band name, the next 10 months Chris finally finished what he had started 5 years prior. Centre lane was complete and ready for the public to hear on April 20th 2020!
The Journey _ Centre Lane Ep.
The lead off track SUNRISE is a cosmic rock song that may take you to a place of wonder. When recording the demo at home on a recording device, a simple "High" was all that was said for the vocal mic check to start the song off. Having so much reverb and delay within the volumes, it created a Lucy in the sky mindset which painted the songwriting picture to its end. When it came time to record Sunrise in the studio, the cosmic sounds, the soaring solo of a PRS CE 24, the vocals, the mysterious vibe were all questions heading in "Can It All Be Recaptured Again" and actually the recording process in the studio surpassed the questions but one part, only having an acoustic and some effects as the intro - a little more attention was needed. A nursery rhyme vocal was the plan for the introduction and having a nursery rhyme like melody in mind, it was tried and done on the piano instead of a vocal take creating that far out mysterious listening that welcomes listeners to The Minds Web. Sunrise is written for the cosmics, the night life 6am travellers and a nudge to the people who need to "Have a look around" and "Exhale your doubts"
VITALITY, the second song on the ep, the second song to be recorded and two engineers (Jason Cabanaw & Matt Rideout) took part in this mysterious song, you can say 222 is the common theme in this one. Vitality at one point had three verses and a pre chorus before the chorus and even the chorus had two vibes going on. Due to scheduling differences, working with Jason came to an end early but before parting ways a big chunk of the ambient guitar parts you hear were done creating the direction of the continuation to final recording. Still at a thousand pieces, the paton was passed over to Matt Rideout who was recommended by a mutual friend/acquaintance Guillermo Subauste. During the process of Vitality with Matt, the drums were recorded, song structure was realigned, chorus was defined and the songwriting picture was fulfilled. "Honestly if it wasn't for the We're not alone - My eyes say so pre chorus" said Chris " I'd still be writing the song and god knows what I would be writing on about". Each section (intro, verse, chorus, etc.) of the song; whether it be the venturous guitar sounds, the delicate drums tones, the interesting song arrangement or the songwriting allowing those who look out and question life to feel that "We're not alone" and yes "It's within us all"
WE ALL WANT IT ALL is the chosen first single and video release from Centre Lane with its wall to wall electric guitars, swaggery drum beat and a message to carry within. There's a interesting back story which entails the very first engineer who has not been spoken of just yet and a verse inspired by a psychic encounter. We All Want It All was engineered first by James Pew, the one who opened the door to Centre Lane's journey but due to personal reasons outside the music and differences within, working together came to an end early and the song was re-recorded with the third and final engineer Matt Rideout. "Tell me - Gifted lady - Need Your Insights - So I Can See...." occurred after a recording session, finding multiple brochures of psychic reading promo's found on the car windshield and being at a standstill in life, taking that synchronicity offer up was taken. Due to miscommunication upon arrival of the scheduled appointment made, it was cancelled which led to a stop in on the way home to get a reading done elsewhere. Curiosity of this synchronicity had to be understood and with the readings accuracy given that day, it plays a big part in Centre Lanes journey. Its here we are ''I told you so" attitude is inspired by and written to bring out your inner Oasis, to trust the process of your desires and march to the rhythms within your Centre Lane !
The fourth and final track NO LONGER A STONE closes out the ep's long and winding road with its inviting piano hits, soft vocals and letting go message. After receiving news on being let go of a current job at the time, a little walk around a reservoir called Island Lake took place and with its calming naturistic views, ideas for the song was surfacing. In that time period of being let go, classes of learning how to transition oneself from what no longer serves you anymore was being had creating the lyric "What I couldn't see - I could feel" solely written on acoustic and done basically that night. Within a week it was tested out on an open mic night " I remember one night in Barrie @ the British Arms, my last song of the set, the pub being a full house and while singing No Longer A Stone the volume of the Pub went from 11 to a 3 , no joke - always a good sign" recalls Chris. A year later after writing the song it was time to head in the studio and record it how you hear it today. Minor changes were made during the process of recording, like the piano introduction instead of having an acoustic one which was Inspired by a song being heard on a co-workers playlist that had a compelling piano beginning giving the idea of switching the acoustic for piano as an introduction. After a call of "who do you know'' Dan Dwoskin was mentioned again by Guillermo, made a few inputs on the view of the song and without any changes, Dwoskin delivered as you hear it today. As the song was making progress each session at a time, guitars one day, drums, vocals, bass line and piano on others were all aligning but one? There was a section that needed conviction, that uplift and yes, it was the solo. After hearing 5 mins of trying to lay down a solo, Jason Cabanaw the engineer at the time took matter into his own hands and on the spot having a couple of tries, the uplifting drive of a solo it is, was created. The song was then basically complete and put on the shelf and was later revisited alongside new engineer Matt Rideout for minor touch ups in a few vocal areas but overall the process of the recording went smoothly and accurately prior. No Longer A Stone opens up on a persons journey of finally letting go and trusting without fear, the new unknown that is already ..... known!