Photo Credit: Kyrani Kanavaros
Photo Credit: Kyrani Kanavaros
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Art of Dying’s Jonny Hetherington will be releasing piano versions of Art of Dying songs, starting with ‘Best I Can.' The Vancouver-based singer is making videos for them and has given Noisecreep an exclusive preview of his latest one. The song is also available on iTunes.

“This is in response to a really strong reaction to my piano version of ‘Sorry’ that I released on YouTube this summer,” he tells Noisecreep. “I brought a baby grand into my home studio this year and got really inspired by having an instrument like that in my daily space.”

Hetherington, who grew up playing on his mother's piano, only took lessons for a few weeks when he was 12. He recalls, “I already knew major parts of ‘Jump’ by Van Halen and my teacher wanted me to play ‘Yankee Doodle,’ so I quit.”

The rocker isn’t quite winging these versions but isn’t over-practicing either. He calls it “discovering” the Art of Dying catalogue on piano. He doesn’t even know which song will be next. He explained, “There’s an interpretation period, a few trials, and then a final version. I'm really trying to capture a rawness, which seems very achievable on the piano.”

The addition of the baby grand in his home has quite a funny story. “I was sick of having a normal dining room table, which also served as a kitchen island,” Hetherington begins. “It occurred to me that a baby grand piano could work as both and would also be a great excuse to dine around a musical instrument."

He adds, "It's been a great experiment as not only am I playing it, but many of my close friends have exposed themselves as accomplished piano players, so there's been a real musical uprising within my circle. Very cool to witness. Are you aware of which one of your friends took a few years of concert piano growing up?”

As for a follow-up to 2011’s 'Vices and Virtues,' Hetherington says the band is almost finished writing the new album and is selecting a producer. They are also no longer signed to David Draiman and Dan Donegan’s Intoxication imprint, via Reprise/Warner. The frontman says they're currently deciding how to proceed with releasing their next record.

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