Blazing Minds » artist interviews

Who’s the Band – Middleton Band

Karen — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 08:01:45 +0000

Something a little different for this weeks band interview, it is literally a band, the Middleton Band is a brass band and I was asked by Pam Smith aka @sterlingsop for an interview, so I’m proud to bring you the Middleton Band for this weeks ”Who’s the Band” so I hope you all enjoy the interview..

Q: Hi Pam, so how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: The band name is “Middleton Band” which is the area we are from in Manchester. Traditionally bands were called after the village or coal mine where they were based and we are no different. Most people have heard of the Brighouse and Rastrick brass band? Well that’s two villages in Yorkshire and the band drew members from both, hence the name.

Q: Which instrument do you play in the band?
A: I currently play tuned percussion (timpani, cymbals, xylophone, tubular bells, glockenspiel etc) but until this time last year I was the principal cornet player. I got ill and haven’t had the strength in my stomach muscles to blow properly so for now I’m hitting thing with sticks instead!

Q: What influenced you to be a member of a brass band?
A: My music teacher at primary school. He came into the classroom one day and said “who wants to be in the band?”. I put my hand up and tried to blow the cornet, which I managed ok first time. Nearly 33 years later – here am I still playing!!

Q: How long have you known each other? Where did you first meet up?
A: I joined this band back in 2004, but the band has been in existence since the 1880′s. I’m sure the chairman of the band was around then too….!

Q: How long have you band been performing/producing music?
A: I write and arrange music as well as play my instruments. I’ve been playing for 33 years or so and writing/arranging for probably about 20 years.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: No but I have recorded a CD. I played a solo too – scary moments!

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: You can visit the band site at www.middletonband.co.uk.

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: Gosh – every performance is live for us!! We do about 12 concerts and functions each year and we take part in a several competitions throughout the year too. Our next contest is on 27th February in Blackpool where if we come in the top 2 we will qualify for the national finals in September.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: All sorts of people – there are composers who write specifically for brass bands and there are arrangers who rewrite songs, film music, musicals and classical stuff from other sources too. I have done quite a bit for my own band and for our youth band too.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: Rehearsal rehearsal rehearsal rehearsal….!!!

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: The biggest challenge, as ever, is keeping all the members happy and motivated to go on especially if we do badly in a contest. There are 25 brass players plus 2 percussionists and the conductor so to keep all those people happy, engaged, involved and attending can sometimes be a big challenge. I think it’s because we are all musicians, and musicians like artists can be temperamental and musical differences are not unknown.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: The brass bands of the UK are graded into “sections”, similar to a soccer league and we are currently graded as Second Section (the top flight bands like Brighouse & Rastrick, and Black Dyke etc are “Championship Section”). We have worked ourselves up from the Fourth Section in the last 10 years or so and I think we are about as high as we can get with the players we have at the moment. The only way we would now move up the sections is to replace certain weaker players with better ones but we are a community band and we don’t do that sort of thing. We have young and old players, good, extremely good and some poor players and we all work as a team. So the short answer to the question, we just want to continue in the same line we are doing and we are happy with reasonable results in contests. We put on excellent concerts and the band recently recorded a Christmas CD to go with the one I played on a couple of years ago (I was ill and couldn’t take part those days). We have had some decent airplay on the radio with some of the Christmas tracks too which is very gratifying. So we are reasonably happy with where we are, and we *are* famous…..well locally we are anyway!

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own brass bands?
A: Make sure you have a dedicated hardcore of members that can cover the basic parts (cornet, horn, euphonium, trombone, bass) so that you can build it up from there. Ask for advice from other bands, and work on having as varied a repertoire as you can. The audience have got wide tastes and so should the band

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: Our website www.middletonband.co.uk has got some links but I don’t think there are music samples.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: As ever, my parents because without their support when I was a child I wouldn’t be still playing as an adult now. My Dad especially who taxied me and my friends from rehearsal to concert to party to function to rehearsal for a number of years. Without that I think there were too many points where it would have been easier to just give up. I’m so glad I didn’t – I met my husband in a band, and our two children now play too.

Q: Any last words?
A: Being in a brass band isn’t so much a hobby as a way of life. Two rehearsals each week with concerts or contests most weekends (especially in the summer) with a group of people who are good friends is something that has to be experienced to be believed. You get extremely close to people and there is magic in making something as beautiful as music with those that you love. Some people describe playing in a brass band as a disease – and I’m glad to say it’s a disease with no known cure!

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Who’s the Band – Middleton Band is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – Downfire

Karen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:32:23 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you another in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this time I bring you an interview with Downfire, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: Wish I had a great story for the name but was just a random thing we decided on.

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?
A: David Diaz – Vocals / Guitar
Carlos Vega – Guitars
Ignacio – Drums
Ronnie Bucker – Bass

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: Best genre is Rock/Metal. We have such diverse influences and you hear it in our songs from bands like Black Sabbath, Megadeth, Metallica, Black Label Society, Judas Priest, Dream Theater and more.

Q: How long have you known each other? Where did you first meet up?
A: Dave and myself (Carlos) have known each other for 12 years. We meet when I was the house band at a bar and he came in to jam. He ended up dating and marrying one of my friends and we stayed in touch. So when my former band was done he was starting a cover band and asked me to join. From there It progressed into Downfire.

Ignacio came into the picture around 3 years ago. He came to see us perform after we placed an ad for new drummer as our old one was doing his last show with us. He rehearsed with us 2 days later and did a show that following weekend.

Ronnie is the newest member he joined a few months ago and we’ve all been working really well together.

Q: How long have you band been performing/producing music?
A: Individually 20 years or so. As Downfire 7 years.

Q: What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: We’re all diverse people and so are our musical tastes outside of the rock and metal genre. So collectively we write stronger and with more dynamics that we did when we wrote individually. We write whatever feels right there isn’t a
goal of staying to a certain style. On our first record Redemption there is a song that is very different from the rest of the record “Yesterday” but it’s one of the most requested songs.

Dave brings a sense of progressive style to our songs, I (carlos) bring more of the anthem and funk portions, Ignacio has brought a heavier edge to our writing.
Ronnie we’re seeing his influence slowly but you’ll have to wait for the next album to hear his influence fully.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: Labels aren’t what they use to be. Now a days production and distribution is easier and more cost effective to do on your own. We’ve considered labels and are open to the idea but the biggest benefit a label would bring us is booking/tour support. For now our albums “Redemption” & “Damnation” have been selling very well world wide.

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: Our music is available on itunes, Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, Digmetalworld.com and every major venue for music distribution. We do offer deals for both albums and sometimes merchandise on www.Downfire.net so look for those!

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: We lost count a few years ago. We’ve been very lucky to be able to perform as often as we do and share the stage with such diverse acts such as Testament, W.A.S.P, Overkill, Metal Church, Kings X, The Misfits, Extreme, Bret Michaels and more. It’s a big compliment form their fans that we can open for a band like Metal Church and the next night for Bret Michaels and be excepted musically by both diverse audiences.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: We all write the music it usually starts with a riff from Dave or myself and then the entire band shapes it into a song. Lyrics can come from all of us as well it depends on the track as to who if not all of us have a hand in it.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: Fun and Detailed. We write from playing live together and we continually work the songs even if it’s just one section until it feels good to all of us. And as we grow as musicians we have been known to revamp older songs. So it’s always an on-going process. But it’s a labor of love.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome
that challenge? If so, how?
A: The biggest challenge that faces all bands is staying together and keeping it fresh. Bands are no different than a marriage you have to keep the love alive! We’ve watched several bands and friends over the years just give up or move past it.

We make sure everyone has a voice and we try any idea instead of just saying no to it. We don’t let personal bullshit build up that is usually the nail in the coffin for most bands, they hold in something bothering them till it builds up to a point of no return and then things just go bad. All of this has kept us going strong over the years and made us better musically. When you get your voice heard and try everything no matter how odd it may seem to one or more members it makes you grow and go in directions that surprise you.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: We’re seeking experiences. When all is said and done we want to say I played these shows, played with these bands, recorded these albums and saw these places and it’s because we had this band Downfire. No Regrets is our goal and however
far that takes us is alright with us.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Do it no matter what level you’re at musically and don’t over think it just play and perform what comes naturally. It’s surprising what will happen. And or those that think using 50 effects in 50 songs to get diversity you’re just hurting yourself. Effects are meant for flavour not as a tool to replace effort or developing talent.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: They can see and hear us on www.Downfire.net, myspace.com/downfire and they can listen to tracks on iTunes.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: Our family, friends and fans have been all the support we can ask for. Thank you all for being there and continuing to be there. Same to all future fans!

Q: Any last words?
A: Yes Support Music Local and National bands!

———-

Thank you to Carlos from Downfire for the awesome interview, don’t forget to check them out

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Who’s the Band – Downfire is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – Dysfunctional Kid

Karen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:36:08 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you another interview in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this time I bring you an interview with Dysfunctional Kid, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: It was made up one night, I don’t remember when. Dysfunctional Kid was kind of
my solo project back in the day, now that we’ve grown to a full band we’re
stuck with the stupid name.

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?
A: Levi “Multiple Beards” Netto plays drums and does none of the singing. Marl
Bro plays bass and takes care of some background vocals. Erik B. plays guitar
and does half of the singing and I play guitar and sing the other half.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: I think Punk Rock is the closest you can get to naming the music we play.
We’re mainly influenced by a lot of cool bands (too many to name them), D.I.Y.
ethics and cool or uncool things that happen to us and people we care about.

Q: How long have you known each other? Where did you first meet up?
A: I’ve known both Marl and Erik for a long time, since we used to be in another
band a few years ago. Levi was a good friend of a good friend, we needed a
drummer and we got together in my bedroom and from that moment on it just
happened. Erik was the last member joining the band after being a three-piece
for a year. He played in a band called Well Known Secret before joining us.

Q: How long has you band been performing/producing music? What inspired you to produce your style of music?
A: It started out in 2006 with a few songs I wrote all by myself. Then two years
later we got the band together and started writing new songs more and more. We
started playing live shows from 2009 and on..

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: No, we’re taking things the D.I.Y. way. We’re releasing our stuff on our own
record label of Suburban Sultan Records.

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: We don’t have an official website, people can check our MySpace page
(www.myspace.com/dysfunctionalkid) which is official enough I guess.

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: Yeah, as said before we started playing live shows from 2009 and on. We’ve
played quite some shows so far in several places on several festivals in the
Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Sometimes in front of 10 people, sometimes in
front of 100 people but we don’t care about that, as long as we can play,
we’re happy.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: Most of the music is done by the entire band, we all have our touch to it.
Lyrics are done by Erik and myself.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: It starts out with a cool idea, most likely a simple/standard guitar riff with a
vocal melody and a rhythm in mind, then we come together and everyone adds his
bit and then work it out. It’s a great feeling when a song comes out of just a
simple basic idea.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: When we started out in 2008 we just wanted to do one show but after that show we
decided to do some more. We kind of missed the feeling of playing live shows and
it was great to experience that feeling again so we just played as many shows as
possible in our first year of existence and I think it worked out pretty good.
We had some great nights, met cool people and played with really awesome bands.
We’ll continue doing that.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: We are definitely not looking for fame and fortune. We just want to have a great
time playing live shows with great bands and meet awesome people. Beside that we
just want to record and release an album every now and then.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Start out by doing what feels right and stick true to it.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: Some of our songs are showcased on our MySpace page (again that is:
www.myspace.com/dysfunctionalkid). We don’t mind if people illegally download
our music, it’s a great way to get our music heard and if someone thinks
it’s cool, come to one of our shows and we’ll have a great time.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: All of our friends and families for both offering financial and emotional
support, we love you guys and girls. Also, big thanks to Patrick Notten for
recording most of our stuff for free, you’re the best.

Q: Any last words?
A: If there’s anyone who likes us, get in touch, we’d love to play at your
house, in your basement or anywhere else. Alright!

Thanks for the interview guys

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Who’s the Band – Dysfunctional Kid is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – Brad Reason

Karen — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:18:03 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring another in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with Brad Reason, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: I stuck with my name, Brad Reason. Then there was a time where I was doing a lot more DJ work, so I decided to pick a DJ name, and I went with DJ Doubledown. I loved the movie “Swingers” so I went with Doubledown. When I entered Second Life to begin my virtual world performance career, I used the first name Doubledown, and then at registration, I was given the option of several last names. I picked Tandino. So, my name became Doubledown Tandino in the virtual world, Second Life. In the real world, I stick with Brad Reason.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself?
A: I’m Brad Reason, solo-artist. I am a digital electronic music composer, producer, editor and remixer. I have collaborated with many other musicians, singers, and music artists over the years as well.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: I create all forms of instrumental and electronica music which includes house, breakbeat, drum-n-bass, trip-hop, chillout, nujazz, avant-garde, and experimental.
My influences stem from The Chemical Brothers, Prodigy, Air, Talvin Singh, Medeski Martin & Wood, jazz legends such as Miles Davis and Coltrane, and funk legends such as Commodores, Ohio Players, and James Brown

Q: How long have you been performing/producing music? What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: I began creating music on computer in 1996 with now ancient spread-sheet based sampling software . By 1997 I was creating music and sharing with with like minded communities on the internet.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: I am not signed by any record label, but I have had some of my individual tracks signed and released through a label or distribution company.

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: I’ve performed live non-stop since I started. A lot of the shows I do are also DJ based, so I mix DJing with original music and remixing. From 2000-2006 I was DJing on the East Coast of USA, primarily in Baltimore, Maryland. From 2006 to current, I perform live online to people across the world through virtual worlds such as Second Life.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: I create and compose everything I make.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: I have no process. I simply either get in the mood to create some music, or I have some sounds or beats in my head and I want to lay them out and record.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as an artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: I wouldn’t say I have had many challenges. If anything, I would say that it is sometimes tough to stick within one mainstream style. Usually I like to push the boundaries of music, and make what isn’t the normal standard. I like to create what I want to hear, which may not be considered a mainstream hit. Sometimes, it is tough to garner a large fan base because each of my music pieces is so varied in style and genre.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: Not at all. I have no interest in fame and fortune. I simply want people to listen, appreciate, and respect my music as art.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Stop waiting around and thinking about it. Just start!

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: http://reverbnation.com/BradReason for over 90 of my original tracks. Currently I am running a contest. I am giving away my not-yet-released new 2010 album for free. The top 5 people that listen to the most songs on my page between now and March 15th will receive the digital copy of my new album.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: I would like to thank all of the Second Life music performers, supporters, and fans. The live music community in Second Life is thriving, and without their constant daily support, I would not have been able to maintain performing live in SL for so long. Also the inspiration for the tunes on my new album came entirely from my experiences in Second Life.

Q: Any last words?
A: thank you
Brad Reason
aka Doubledown Tandino
http://reverbnation.com/BradReason
also, other music of mine is at http://thesixtyone.com/Doubledown
my blog: http://djdoubledown.blogspot.com
recently, a piece about me performing in Second Life aired on CNN

Related Posts
Blazing Minds Interviews Blogger Brad Reason, Who’s the Band – K-TRAXX, Who’s the Band – Middleton Band

Who’s the Band – Brad Reason is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – K-TRAXX

Karen — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:45:00 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you another in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with K-TRAXX, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: I actually had a few name but this one was bassed on an Idea for a productions company and I liked it as an artist/producer/dj name so I kept it.

Q: So please introduce yourself to our readers?
A: As a Producer, Composer, and DJ, I enjoy all types of music. Never prefered a specific style but my style reflects to what I listen to the most. It all started in 96 with my passion for music DJ’ing at house parties around town, and then at local clubs I got herd. Then in 98 me and a friend started messing around with anything we could get our hands on to make music. I don’t have a specific style but I create with what I am feeling.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: For now I would say electronica/ambient/hiphop or anything actually. I create all genres. My influences vary from John ’00′ Fleming to Buddy Guy to Oros de brujo to Manu Chao.

Q: How long has you been performing/producing music? What inspired you to produce your style of music?
A: I have been producing for 10 years. I always enjoyed listening to music and I love all music however I always wanted to be able to express myself with music so that is where most of my inspiration comes from.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: Not signed yet.

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: I can be heard at www.reverbnation.com/ktraxx or at www.ktraxx.com

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: Not yet. But In the next coming year I will be working towards that locally.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: I do.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: Very creative and captivating.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band/solo artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: Well my biggest challenge was to share my talent. For so long I had never shown what I was doing in my home studio and once in a while a friend here and there would here it and say WOW. Until people started asking me for copies and to go public with it. I then overcame my challenge to share my projects and create a profile on a musician site and got very good feedback eversince.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: No fame and fortune is seeked I now enjoy sharing my music with anyone who appreciates it.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Just do it and don’t stand in your own way. If you fell it then go for it no matter the outcome. Firstly do it for yourself. You have to enjoy yourself at the same time.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: I would like to say thanks to all family friends fans for all support given no matter the form it was given.

Q: Any last words?
A: Music is from the heart and should be natural not forced. We need it in our life. Keep it loud K-TRAXX

Related Posts
Who’s the Band – Middleton Band, Who’s the Band – Brad Reason, Who’s The Band? – Davidoth

Who’s the Band – K-TRAXX is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – Sunrise Sunset

Karen — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:15:13 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you another in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with a local band in my area “Sunrise Sunset”, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?

A: I used “Sunrise Sunset” as a username for a social networking website a few years previous to writing songs. It seemed to catch on as an alter ego to me so I thought I’d use it for my stage name.

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?

A: I am Nia Roberts and I sing and play guitar. I am backed by the band consisting of Ben Tunnicliffe who plays bass guitar, Gareth Thomas on electric guitar or mandolin and Dewi Thomas on drums.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?

A: My music has been described as acoustic, folk and soul. I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as fusion. Each song seems to vary from the next in terms of style at the moment. Perhaps I will settle on a genre to write in consistently or just continue to flit like a butterfly. Either way, I’m expressing myself. My main influences are Bob Dylan, Elliott Smith and Conor Oberst because they love words and I deduce a lot of inspiration from literature and films.

Q: How long have you known each other? Where did you first meet up? (ignore this if you are a solo artist)

A: I met Ben roughly a year ago through the internet – he came across my Myspace page and asked to jam. We eventually did so a few months later during which time I was jamming with Paul Williams, who later played on three of my tracks on my debut EP. Ben has remained my bass player since then.
I also met Dewi the same way as Ben only it was a few months later. In June 2009 I was busking in Llandudno town for Cancer Research UK and he came to watch and finally introduced himself. After Paul left for University, I was in need of a drummer and also was looking for an additional guitarist. Dewi and his brother Gareth were the perfect option.

Q: How long has your band been performing/producing music? What inspired to produce your style of music?

A: I have been learning how to play the guitar for roughly eight years but I only started to sing three years ago. I started off with some Bright Eyes and Death Cab for Cutie songs to practice with. A few months after that, I guess I just started to try and write some original material. What inspired me? Particularly my major influences and my yearning to take the next step in my musical abilities.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?

A: I have recently signed onto Indie label H2iK, who function as a management and publishing company as well as a record label.

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?

A: I have been on the pub gig circuit of North Wales for around two years in various venues, especially in Llandudno and Colwyn Bay. I have also played solo in Chester and Leigh in the North West of England.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?

A: I do. In the studio, everyone seems to put their ideas forward into the sound of the music though.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?

A: I write the lyrics and music at the same time usually within a ten to thirty minute period. However there are many occasions where I may have to return to a song to add a melody or lyrics.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

A: Initially, finding a cheap and functional practice room. Now that is solved, often the problem is time to practice as regularly as possible. But we’re working on that of course.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?

A: I’m seeking the Garden of Eden. And where is that? Is it high in the sky, buried in the ground or on the other side of the world? Who knows. There is no limit to my direction. I do what I do and I have passion for whatever that is.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

A: Find a group of people that have similar musical direction and tastes. It’s imperative. However, for my situation it’s different. The members joined because they liked my songs beforehand. Lucky – less rows, scratches and tears.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?

A: I sure do. You can listen to half of my debut EP: ‘Upsetting the Applecart’ on my Myspace page: www.myspace.com/sunrisesunsetacoustic

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?

A: A big thank you to the gruesome twosome Gruff Vaughan and Chris Andrewartha at H2iK, the lovely Lowri Ellen-Owen for her photographing skills, the band, Russ Hayes in Orange Studios (Penmaenmawr, North Wales) who gave me a wonderful experience in the studio and to everyone who has subconsciously offered me inspiration and support.

Thanks Nia

Check out Sunrise Sunset on Twitter, MySpace and their Official Website.

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Who’s the Band – Sunrise Sunset is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – The Unravelling

Karen — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:41:03 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you the third in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with The Unravelling, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: Gus: I think Steve had this vision of an unravelling abyss in mind that really inspired him so we mulled it over on my balcony one winter evening until the name became ours.

Steve: Layered and multiple meanings have always interested me. I like when people gain a face value understanding of something when it has a completely different meaning for me. It becomes an individual interpretation. The Unravelling can be the collective or the personal, destructive like an implosion or simply shedding a layer of skin or revealing a secret. It also takes on a different context after hearing the music and words.

Gus and myself had a few discussions about this and other potential names and we thought this would suit us best now and in the future. We had a list of potentials, but to say them now would kind of be like an alternate ending or deleted scenes, wouldn’t it?

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?
A: Gus: As it stands I specialize in guitars, but for this album I was at the helm of composing duties so I got to play the bass and synths and also dabble in drum programming. I felt a bit like the Wizard of Oz behind the scenes tinkering away and making a racket trying to scare away the little children.

Steve: I write the lyrics and do all the vocal parts for The Unravelling. I try to write parts that will take the music in another direction by either complimenting it or making it more intense.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: Gus: I would call our breed of music “Dark Progressive Rock” because it’s heavy at times but also very melodic and diverse. I like hills and valleys in my listening experience – since too much of one style nullifies its effects on the listener.
In terms of major influences I must cite the following: Tool, NIN, Dead Can Dance, Arcana, Nox Arcana, Opeth, Behemoth, Mirrorthrone, Acid Bath, Filter and Soundgarden. You can tell from some of the latter ones that I was a child of the 90s and the grunge movement that emerged from this scene but since then I’ve definitely built on that foundation and tried very hard to reach out and experience many more styles of music from varying regions of the world.

Steve: I think that’s a good assessment. It’s all in the meat. I feel it’s original music but I’m not one to coin strange terms as far as style to emphasize that (“psycho gothic prog core?”). My vocal influences range from Lisa Gerrard, Mike Patton, Nivek Ogre, Maynard James Keenan, Max Calvera, Layne Staley, PJ Harvey and Thom Yorke to Tom Waits, Jeff Buckley, and Trent Reznor, among many others of course. It’s listening to female vocalists that has probably contributed to my style the most. I never wanted to sound like anyone in particular, so a melting pot of influences has definitely helped shape my style. I also get vocal influence from film (The Dark Knight for example).

Q: How long has your band been performing/producing music? What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: Gus: I’ve known Steve for about a year and a half now – we met by chance one evening at an underground vigil held to commemorate the the 159th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s passing. it’s interesting the characters that one encounters at these clandestine Calgary events.

Steve: Quoth the raven “nevermore”.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: Gus: No label just yet – everything has been by our own doing.

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: Gus: http://www.theunravellingmusic.com/

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: Gus: No live performances to date. We’re in the process of rehearsing the material with our new drummer and then polishing it off once the bassist steps forth.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: Gus: I take care of the music – Steve is in charge of the lyrics and vocals.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: Gus: It’s pretty interesting actually. First I chose the drums that sounded appealing to play guitar on. Then came either the bass lines or the main guitar riffs, transitions and changes came next for sure. I certainly don’t sing but I still try to create canvasses that would be appealing for a vocalist to step in and finalize the visions.

Steve: As things develop the process will be more of a melting pot. Writing with a live drummer will be very different from writing with drum programming to get the initial takes. Gus and I don’t really care so much who writes what, as long as we’re both happy with the product.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: Gus: In terms of challenges I know that our genre of music in itself will be a like it or hate it scenario. Most people these days don’t want to experience something dark or intelligent. They seem to prefer rubbing their genitals on each other to the pulsing bass rhythms and auto-tuned vocals of pretty people. But then again, who am I to think that Britney Spears or The Pussycat Dolls aren’t talented, musical geniuses?

Steve: I can’t afford to see any challenges. I believe we will prevail.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: Gus: I’m seeking an outlet for our art where hopefully we can inspire people to feel empowered and able to take on challenges they would have previously avoided. All of us have so much potential within ourselves, but life seems to get in the way and make us passive, rat-racing sheep. I envision an experience where we could collectively step out of the box once and for all and really live, feel exhilarated and acknowledge the rush of adrenalin though our veins telling us that we’re alive.

Steve: Gus gave a beautiful answer. That’s exactly what I want as well. People don’t have to be frightened sheep. They can do whatever the hell it is they are supposed to do on this earth, and only they know what that is.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Gus: If you’re in it for the sex, drugs and rock and roll – good luck. In this day and age bands are a dime a dozen and everyone wants to be a rock star. I’d recommend getting some skills in an area besides your instrument to increase your chances of making it. Learn to record, learn about live sound, learn about designing a set or a stage, incorporating theatrics into your show to make it interesting for the audience. In other words – go out there and and create the show that you wish you could attend. That way you will start carving out your own path on the musical landscape and actually being an individual instead of all the clones we see everyday lining up for their 15 minutes of fame before their pre-ordained obscurity engulfs them for the next hot piece of ass on the scene.

Steve: Don’t put the word ‘August’ in your name. Try to avoid getting the same haircut and wearing jeans not meant/fitted for your gender. Please don’t choreograph jumps or other timed faux energetic moves. Please be honest. Try to be original and don’t copy your favorite singer.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: Gus: I’d like to thank my wife for her unfaltering support and encouragement throughout the years. She wrangled me back from the edges of insanity when drugs threatened to take my mind away. But thats the benefit of a good partner in life. they’re the ones willing to look you in the eye and tell you to stop acting like a motherfucker…. and you actually listen.

Steve: Yes, Emma Hatcher was helping us in many ways through a lot of the recording process, and it really got us through the year – ending up with a successful album. My other thank you’s will be listed on the album. For a lot of them, I listed them as inspirations (in the previous question) and the others are personal. A lot of people have helped me this past year and it hasn’t gone unnoticed!

Q: Any last words?
A: Gus; thanks so much for taking some time out to check “The Unravelling”. We never forget those who’ve helped us out along the way.
Steve: Thanks Karen. Keep up the excellent work with both Remergence and Blazing Minds!

Cheers!

Related Posts
Who’s the Band – K-TRAXX, Who’s the Band – Middleton Band, Who’s the Band – Gylepomp

Who’s the Band – The Unravelling is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – Lethality Scale

Karen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:14:56 +0000

A call to arms and the “Who’s the Band” series is back and this week I bring you an interview with Lethality Scale, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: We stumbled across the name of the band. We’d gathered over 50 names & phrases. Ironically, none were picked. Frustrated, I picked up a booked titled, “Abnormal Psychology” and opened it. The first page I’d come to was, “Lethality Scale”. It turned out to be system or scale used by professionals to determine the suicidal tendency of a patient.

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?
A: Matt Alexander (1ManSineWave a.k.a. Psiontist)–theremin/kaossilator/software
Andrew Smith (Ron Lung/ TheHoodedThing)–keyboards, software
Carlos Mongrut (CMongrooves)–keyboards, bass, software

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: We prefer to classify ourselves as “experimental electronic”. No sappy electro-pop here. Our influences are vast, too many to name. However, to break it down to the core, I’d say Skinny Puppy, Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, Pink Floyd, Ministry, and Cevin Key.

Q: How long have you known each other? Where did you first meet up?
A: Andrew & myself have known each other for over 10 years. We used to live in the city of Ft. Pierce, Fl., and partied together, listening to and studying the sounds of Skinny Puppy & Pigface. We’d always wanted to create electronic music together, because we both understood what we wanted to hear. We decided to take hold of the dream. Carlos has joined just recently, whom we’ve met through Reverbnation and from doing live shows together.

Q: How long has you band been performing/producing music? What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: I’ve been studying & listening to music all my life. I don’t like to toot my own horn, however, at the young age of 4, I had already discovered Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album, and I had become obsessed. I took to playing the cello in elementary school, and later the bass as a teen. However, music was put aside as a young gent, as I’d joined the working force full time. I picked up electronic music because of it’s ease of creation using modern software. So, I’ve only been producing & recording for less than 5 years.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: We’re signed to a couple of Indie music labels, “Free World Radio Telecasting” and “Mongrooves Productions”.

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: Yes, we’ve performed live. The summer of ’09 we’d taken a small statewide tour. We played in St. Augustine at a hookah lounge, Gainesville at an espresso/Internet cafe, Sanford at an art gallery/pub, Jensen Beach at liquor bar, Deland at a music festival, and Sanford again at a cafe/bistro. We endeavor to do more shows in the future.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: We equally share responsibility. I really don’t know how else to describe that.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: Andrew & I usually sit up all night long Friday night into Saturday morning. We sleep for a few hours, eat lunch, then back at it again until the wee hours of the a.m. We drink high intensity espresso with little sleep. This is the realm where our best songs are made.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: The biggest challenge of the band was losing one of our core members. Chris had been with the band since it’s inception, and was our original vocalist. We’d amassed several hard edged songs with strong lyrical content, as he was a metal singer by trade. We more metal/industrial. Somewhere along the story line, Chris acquired an electronic drum set, and began playing along with the drum kit software we had available. Once he’d stopped singing and started playing, (we’d also written a couple of instrumentals by this time as well) the band’s popularity began to rise and we started getting show offers. A rift occurred here, as it was apparent that Chris was a bit peeved. He was a vocalist, and a novice drummer at best. The nature and the course of the band had changed, and Chris decided not to go along. It was a painful decision.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: Seeking fame & fortune? Everyone is in one way or another. My idea of fortune is being able to work as a musician as my full time job. Music being able to pay the bills and afford some nicer things. No toiling in a factory, no imprisonment behind a desk. My idea of fame is similar. If we got on a tour with the likes of Crystal Method, or Skinny Puppy, that would be a real dream come true.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Learning to work with others is important. Listen, compromise. The band is a family too.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: You can hear all our stuff at: http://www.reverbnation.com/lethalityscale
We sell our CDs at our shows, however dedicated fans may inquire to : lethalityscale [at] gmail.com

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: There are way too many people to acknowledge here, but certaily our families & loved ones, friends & fans who’ve graciously attended our shows & showed their support!

Q: Any last words?
A: Every message from Lethality Scale & Free World Radio Telecasting empowers you to make a difference, no matter how small.

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Who’s the Band – Lethality Scale is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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More Blogger and Who’s The Band Interviews Wanted

Karen — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:30:46 +0000

Those of you that read my blog will have read at sometime a collection of Blogger Interviews and Artist/Band Interviews, sadly these have now come to an end with the last Blogger Interview been posted this Thursday.

So now the call goes out to those of you who have blogs and read Blazing Minds, if you are a blogger then give me a shout by either contacting me or leave a comment the same goes for artists/bands.

Then I can get the questions to you so you can be included in either the Blogger Interviews or the Who’s The Band feature, so hope to hear from anyone wanting a bit of promo

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More Blogger and Who’s The Band Interviews Wanted is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – HealeyIsland

Karen — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:04:59 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you another interview in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with HealeyIsland, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: I originally made music under the name Milo Moesche and His Light Music Orchestra, but the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton kept trying to book me for their winter tea dances. So I decided to change it. The name HealeyIsland came about because where I live is surrounded by water on three sides and quite remote. It also resonated with creative concerns I have around the nature of 21st Century culture and its tendency to produce feelings of isolation in the individual. I still make music under the Milo Moesche name and am available for tea dances.

Q: Tell me a little more about HealeyIsland?
A: HealeyIsland is a one man project. My name is Greg and I sing, play keyboards and guitars and do any programming needed for the drums etc. As well as being an artist/producer I am a net radio DJ with Penwith Radio, where I have a show called Analogue Island, and with Dandelion Radio, where the show is simply called the Greg Healey show. I also write from the net audio magazine Phlow and the American arts and culture magazine Redefine Magazine.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: That’s always a difficult question for me to answer. I tend to dislike genre labels, but I would class myself as being an electronic music artist. My influences are diverse, from Burt Bacharach to Brian Eno, from Magazine to Aphex Twin, from Jarvis Cocker to Johnny Cash. I draw inspiration from all kinds of electronic music, jazz and classical, including film scores. I like to combine different elements from different types of music to see what happens.

Q: How long have you band been performing/producing music? What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: I have been performing and producing for over 15 years. I began in bands with friends, as a teenager, and it went from there. My style of music is fundamentally inspired by music I heard growing up, a love of books, the cinema and things I see around me.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: Yes, I am signed to Marc Hunter and Ann Shenton’s independent electronic music label, White Label Music.

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: As HealeyIsland I have, to date, not performed live. Though this is about to change in the very near future. In the past I have played live in various bands I was in. The largest audience I played to was about 1500 people in an old factory building.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: I do all the writing, performing and production.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: I write a basic structure and take it from there. I mix as I go and let the sound develop organically.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: The biggest challenge so far was finishing the second HealeyIsland album. Life kept getting in the way and I found it difficult to capture the mood and atmosphere I wanted in the music. Did I over come that challenge? Yes. The album, which is called Not Afternoon, But Evening, is coming out at the end of October. It took two years, but I’m very happy with it.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: I’d like to reach a larger audience, for more people to hear what I do, and to be able to carry on making music.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Keep your sense of humour and pespective. Use the internet to meet all those wonderful, helpful, encouraging musicians that are out there around the world.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: You can hear HealeyIsland on LastFM http://www.last.fm/music/HealeyIsland . There are few free to download track on there as well as streaming tracks. The White Label Music website has a shop where my new album will be available from http://whitelabel-music.co.uk/musicshop/

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering support and inspiration?
A: My family, Marc and Ann at WLM, Pixieguts, Tony A Ward, Gus, Chris.

Related Posts
Who’s The Band? Bands Interviewed in 2009, Who’s the Band – K-TRAXX, Who’s the Band – Middleton Band

Who’s the Band – HealeyIsland is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – Ivory Tower Project

Karen — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:39:16 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you the third in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with Ivory Tower Project, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: We started out as North Wind and then our original bass player Kevin Joyce came up with the name: Ivory Tower. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines ivory tower as: “a figurative place of withdrawal from reality”. We thought it was a perfect name for a bunch of guys who had to work day jobs. When our original drummer: Sal DiAngelo passed away – and Kevin shortly afterward gave notice that he was going to leave: we recruited the NY Metro areas finest studio musicians. That event transcended us from Ivory Tower (the band) to Ivory Tower Project.

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?
A: I think we should mention my song writing partner: Johnny Jace first, as without his contribution in the way of lyrics, we would be just another band. Probably the busiest and best unknown guitarist for hire in NY City, my right hand: Tony Novarro – he can make a guitar sing. Mike Carbone is our replacement drummer for Sal (mentioned above). Mike toured with us when we first started playing the local clubs. Henry Kessler was our “jack of many trades”: he writes, sings, and plays keyboards, sax and flute. I (Mark Regula) write, sing, play rhythm guitar, piano and other keyboards as well as synthesizers. But our guest studio musicians should be of interest to some: we had the distinction of having Ivan Elias (formerly with Patty Smyth and Scandal) play bass on 4 of the tracks from “RED HOT”, and Richie Cannata (formerly with Billy Joel) play sax on one of our tracks from our CD.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: I would say that our music is Classic Pop/Rock inspired by the great artists of the 70s and 80s. We are influenced by a diverse group of artists from that time period: Foreigner, Queen, Asia, Genesis, Billy Joel, Supertramp, Elton John, Survivor, Robert Palmer, Hall & Oates, Styx, Eddie Money to mention a few…

Q: How long has you band been performing/producing music? What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: I have known Johnny Jace for as far back as I can remember (since I was 4 or 5 years old) – we lived around the block from each other as children and have become life long friends. I have known Tony Novarro since 5th grade; we played Little League Baseball on the same team. We parted ways during middle school (as we both went to different schools then) and got reacquainted in our senior year in High School. I met Henry Kessler through my first wife: Lois at her place of employment. Tony was already in a band with Sal DiAngelo and Kevin Joyce, and when I brought him a tape of a studio recording I did with Henry and some other guys – Tony, Sal and Kevin joined forces with us. Our introductions to Richie Cannata and Ivan Elias were done at the studio through the owner: Fred Guarino who knew these guys personally and spoke well of our music in our behalf.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: We created our own Independent Label: Guerrilla Records and Atom Sounds is our UK affiliate. We also created our own Publishing Company: Rockamagula Music as we felt that the major labels and publishers would not have any vested interest in our genre…

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: Our music is available at Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, and iTunes. Our official web site is: www.IvoryTowerProject.com where you can find links to the aforementioned retailers on the STORE page…

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: Many times! When Ivory Tower was a band we played at original clubs on Long Island (NY) known (back then) as: Februarys, The Right Track Inn, and My Father’s Place. In NYC; we have played at: CBGBs, The Orange Bear, Woodhaven House, and The A&M Roadhouse. Those places could hold up to 100 or more people back then…but when we became Ivory Tower Project – we stopped playing live as a band and now concentrate on the recording aspect of the music.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: Johnny Jace and I (Mark Regula) have co-written 3 songs together on “RED HOT”: “My Name”, “Burning” and “Gotcha’”. I wrote 2 additional songs on my own for the CD: “Way Too Late” and “You Can See It In My Eyes”. Henry Kessler and I co-wrote 1 song together: “I Can’t Tell Him (Her)” – and he also penned 2 tracks of his own: “Guilty“ and “Dreamer.” The last track on the CD was written and performed by our original drummer: Sal DiAngelo; “I Think I Fell In Love With You”. We wanted to show what kind of great all around musician Sal was, so we dedicated the CD to his memory and made that song a bonus track that is only available on the physical CD. As far as production goes; I usually was band’s musical director, with strong support and help from Tony Novarro. Henry usually produced his own songs with suggestions from the band.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: There is no set formula, really. Every song had a life and story of its own. What was great is that when you are young and hanging out with a bunch of people with a common interest and goals – you support each other and bounce stuff off of each other. There is a lot of encouragement to finish the song when you have even a small community of artistic supporters. That is what I have seen with the mainstream professionals – for example: Carole King would hang with James Taylor. James Taylor was originally singed with Apple Records and worked with The Beatles. The Rolling Stones in their first year did mostly Blues covers until they met Lennon & McCartney…it’s like the Biblical illustration of iron sharpening iron…

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: Fame and fortune are so overrated. I mean – look at the lives of most people who are rich and famous – they’re a mess. Fame is fickle and temporary – a fortune can be lost over night. Respect is what I seek – respect as a musical artist and a having a modest income doing what I love to do. I would love to get out of the day job and make music my life – instead of it being a small part of my life. I would also love to get it to the point where we could do a small European tour, because that is where our biggest fan base is located. I have always wanted to go to Europe. However my most satisfying reward to date is getting an email from a fan or a notification from CDBaby.com that someone either here (in the US) or on the other side of the world thought so much of our music – that they bought our CD. That is a great feeling…to know what I was inspired to create touched someone else and moved them. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: It’s about the song. Without a good song, you are a bunch of musicians jamming in the garage. And that’s okay if that is all you want to do. But I think that songwriting is the foundation of any artist. Not how pretty you look on an album cover – it is the connection that is made by the marriage of lyric and melody.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: As mentioned above you can go to our official web site: www.IvoryTowerProject.com where we have sound clips on the Music page. You can hear some of the singles at our MySpace page: www.myspace.com/IvoryTowerProject the entire album (with the exception of the Radio Interview) can be streamed at SoundClick.com

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: Our spouses: Patti and Audrey who without their support, we could not have made our music.

Q: Any last words?
A: Drop by our websites, check out our music and drop us an email, we’d love to hear from you. Classic Rock is back!

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Who’s the Band – Ivory Tower Project is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – The Peach Tree

Karen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:32:37 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you another interview in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with The Peach Tree, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?

A: I was sitting with my friend Cooney under a peach tree in his yard and we decided to form a band together. Cooney had some imagery about a peach tree that he had gotten from some book, and I agreed “The Peach Tree” was a great name for what we wanted to achieve as a band, signifying the lusciousness of ripe fruit but also it’s potential for rottenness (a yin and yang sort of thing). Since I began releasing music under the name as a solo project (me and Cooney never recorded anything together as a band), I have revised my reasoning for the name. A peach is a beautiful thing both to look at and to eat, yet at its core the pit contains deadly doses of cyanide. This reflects the sort of music I make, beautiful and tasty at first listen yet at its heart very Dark. This, however, is also balanced in a yin/yang way.

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?

A: Me, Angus Maiden, every instrument and role.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?

A: Genres are cages. When I formed this project I had a bit of a mission statement: to blow away contemporary notions of “genre” and style; to transcend the barriers between different types of music and force people to listen to things they wouldn’t normally. I put acoustic pop tracks next to death metal tracks and then yank the listener into some psy-trance. If you listen to one of my albums in its entirety it is truly a journey through many different “genres”. What I’m trying to achieve is to make people realise that genres are flimsy cardboard boxes into which people lock things in. You only have to visit a metal forum to see all the bullshit people say about whether something is “melodic death metal” or “symphonic black metal”; same with electronic music. Honestly: who gives a shit? Well, clearly lots of people do, but I certainly don’t. I hate the concept of genres and I hope through my music to make people realise that these boxes are just locking down creative possibilities.

My major influences are life, people, partying and drugs, experiences, and foremost dreams. When I write music I tap a lot into my subconscious – a lot of songs are written in my sleep – and I can spin off lyrics that rhyme straight from the top of my head. I find this is the best way to create: spontaneously and subconsciously, drawing on things from the consciousness as a mere polishing and refining process. Musical influences are wide and varied, I honestly couldn’t name any few particular artists that have influenced me as I have explored a huge range of different types of music that have always evolved as I grow, and still are. My three favourite bands at the moment are Radiohead, Cradle of Filth and Infected Mushroom, but they don’t as much inform or influence the music I’m making as the more immediate influences I mention above do (the subconscious, experiences etc.)

In a funny way though I’d have to say the biggest influence on each new album I make is the music I have made before it. In a very narcissistic way I listen to my own music a lot, more than any other music. When I listen I reflect on what the lyrics and music that were delved up from my subconscious mean, and it follows that when I start writing new music it is informed by what I have learned from my own previous works.

Q: How long has your band been performing/producing music? What inspired you to produce your style of music?

A: I’ve pretty much covered this question in my rants above. But I’ll just add that a major inspiration for creating my music was merely to express myself.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?

A: No, but as of very recently I’ve decided to start my own label, called “Tribal Dancing Kid”, under which I will release all my future material, as well as some other acts I have signed.

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?

A: My music can be found all over the net for free. I don’t have an official website but typing in
“The Peach Tree” music in Google, or simply my name, “Angus Maiden” will pull up the numerous sites I’m on. If you’re interested in downloading my albums in their best quality, here they are, all free:

Latest Single:

For Marie (2009)

Free album downloads:

Magick (2009)

Lift The Black Veil (2009)

Psychosis (2007)

A Darker Shade Of Tao (2008)

The Ghost Of Muses Past (2008)

Revel (2008)

Fabric (2006)

The Gus Sessions (2005)

We Are God And Computers Are Our Children (2009)

Leave Emos Alone Right NOW! (My Online Diary) (2009)

Free EP downloads:

The Dichalcitryde EP (2006)

The Vases EP (2006)

Fur Bunni3 (2009)

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?

A: Yea I dabbled a pit playing sets at parties to like 30 people, but my most memorable live performance was an open mic night at the Bendigo Hotel where I played to about 6 people. Really intimate and it is one of my best vocal performances. It was recorded by a friend and is up on youtube. Check it out at my youtube channel

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?

A: Me.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?

A: Hrm. I just wait. You can’t force creativity, so I just go about my life and make sure, that when a really nice melody comes into my head, or some lyrics, or I come across a nice chord progression whilst noodling around on the guitar, that I instantly get it recorded. You have to be spontaneous like that otherwise you just lose it. However, if you do lose it, it stays in the back of your mind and will eventually resurface as something else. So yea, I just wait until inspiration hits me and then work on it til the wee hours of the morning.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

A: My voice. I can’t sing. It is quite debilitating creatively because I can hear in my head the melody I want to sing but it doesn’t come out that way through my vocal chords. Some people can sing, others can’t. And I just can’t. I think I would be a lot more popular if I could sing, and I envy people that can. I think I’m improving though, just through listening back to my recordings and recognising where it goes awry.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?

A: It’s just a means of self-expression, without which I would probably be a mass-murderer o_0 There’s a lot of fucked up stuff that goes on in my brain and music is just my way of getting it out. I would absolutely abhor being rich and famous, I would rather die. Happiness and peace of mind is all I want.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

A: Be true to yourself. Don’t make stuff that you think is “cool” or whatever, just write from the heart. Practice your instrument with passion, and for the love of Satan, forget about your fucking hair.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?

A: My parents, for their undying love and support (both financially and emotionally). I hope to be in a position one day where I can give back to them everything they’ve given me.

Q: Any last words?

A: Word!

Related Posts

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Who’s the Band – Electromagnetic Impulses

Karen — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:12:53 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you another band interview in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with Jay aka Electromagnetic Impulses, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: Hi Jay, so how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: I decided on the name ‘Electromagnetic Impulses’ (hereafter referred to as E.I), for several reasons. The word Electromagnetic, sounds catchy, it also hints at the style of music I write (Electronic), and Impulses came about from my impulsive nature. Put the two together and you have a unique if somewhat long winded artist name. The phrase ‘Electromagnetic’ can be linked to many Scientific subjects from Sound Waves, Time, Lightening, Energy, Space, Gravity, Weapons, and even UFO’s in fact the phrase ‘Electromagnetic Pulse’ is a phrase thrown around on many TV series such as ‘lost’ ‘Star Trek’ and many many documentaries on a range of subjects.

I had originally decided to call myself ‘Somotitee’ this harks back to my Pagan connections, the phrase ‘So Mote It Be’ , but decided to stick with E.I

Here’s a definition of the Phrase ‘Electromagnetic Pulse’

Main Entry: electromagnetic pulse
Function: noun
Date: 1963
: high-intensity electromagnetic radiation generated by a nuclear blast high above the earth’s surface and held to disrupt electronic and electrical systems

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?
A: E.I comprises of one person..ME..(Jason Mallett), at this time the only instrument I play is my midi keyboard, and I wouldn’t really say that I play it, more that I ‘tweak it’, there is another instrument I like to play with, but we’ll save that for the XXX rated interview

I do plan to learn to play the piano, and once I have mastered this, I plan to incorporated some riffs into my more Psy-Trance style tracks…watch this space !!

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: I’m unusual in that I don’t stick to one style of music, rather I cross genres, dependant upon the mood im in, when I first start a track.

This being said ALL of my tracks are EDM (Electronic Dance Music), so I write Ambient, Acid, Breaks, Club, Dance, Drum & Bass, Electro, Electronica, House, Hard House, Gabba, Techno, Trance, you get the idea !!

I was advised by one of my heroes early on in my career to stick to one genre, but I decided against that advice and im glad that I did, I think this is where many artists fail, as they become labeled and get bored, finding it hard to branch out, my fans never know what im going to come up with next, and so I keep them interested in what im doing, this is why I love Dance music, it covers a large spectrum, and the true Dance music lover will enjoy a good Drum N Bass track as much as a minimal Techno track.

My influences keep changing as I get older and discover new music, Main influences if I had to narrow them down are Michael Jackson (RIP), Pink Floyd, Adamski, Groovejet, Dire Straights, Kosheen, Enigma, Faithless, Infected Mushroom, Alien Syndrome, Dj Brisk, David Clarke, Carl Cox, Black Box, Joey Beltram, Aphroditee, BK, Grooverider, Nicky Blackmarket, Orbital.

Q: I know you’re a solo artist, but how long have you known yourself
A: Well I have known myself, all my life ha ha, and I met myself first, when I first looked in the mirror, boy what a shock that was !!!

I have , however met many many great and inspiring artists in my 3 years as E.I some of whom have disappointed me, but the vast vast majority of whom have kept me sane, helped me personally and musically, and offered help and guidance when needed, as well as being good solid friends..you know who you are !!

Q: How long have you been performing/producing music? What inspired to produce your style of music?
A: It been a little over 3 years now since I started out as E..I , my inspiration to write Dance music came from my mums 16 tracks sequencer Yamaha keyboard, I used to write 1-2 minute long riffs, layering over it as I went, and adding percussion, drum loops, I probably spend a good 3 years with that keyboard, practising different riffs, and learning or even making up chords.

I guess you could say that I was primed for the eventual conception of the PC, and specifically music writing software such as FL Studio.(which is my current weapon of choice).

The first time I got a home computer (only 4 years ago), I got to grips with writing my first track, I was instantly hooked and realized what I wanted to do with my life.

I wanted to write Dance music, as the 4/4 beat commonly associated with it is forever in my heart, im pretty sure that even my doctors feet start tapping when he ever has to listen to my heart beat, I deffo have a funky heart, and hence love writing anything that one can dance to.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: I have just launched my own label www.emlrecordings.net / www.emlrecordings.com

We are an indi label, so yes I am signed.

Before this though I was signed (and still am) to ‘Atom Sounds’, and before I had a falling out with them I was signed to ‘Dpulse’ Recordings (Major label) .

My Advice to anyone wanting to get signed is to do some MAJOR vetting, who are they ?, go listen to their other artists ?, read the contract, and negotiate if needs be.

I say this as I have been used and abused by one label, and was even told one major label that they ‘intend NOT to pay their artists if they can get away with it’, in fact many labels will throw as many barriers as possible up to not pay their artists.

Join a Performing Rights Society before you sign up to ANY label, as they can take care of your royalties for you.

you should typically expect to get at least a 50/50 split or 60/40 in your favor from most labels, unless of course EMI come along and offer you a deal..lol

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: There are literally hundreds of places you can listen to my music

my official web site is www.electromag.ning.com

Myspace : www.myspace.com/electromagneticimpulses2

Reverb Nation : http://www.reverbnation.com/electromagneticimpulses

Last Fm: http://www.last.fm/music/Electromagnetic%2520Impulses?ac=Electromagnetic%20Impulses

When I fist started out as an artist, I put my music onto as many sites as I could find, currently there is a new site every day popping up offering this that and the other, the sites above along with my own social network www.electronicamusiclovers.ning.com

are the only sites that I frequently use now and update.

If your starting out, it’s probably a good idea to find as many sites as possible to create some sort of impact, but after about 12 months you’ll get fed up with having to update your bio’s on them, my advice is after your first 12 months stick to just 4 or 5 well used sites, and link everyone back to them.

My music is available to purchase from 100′s of on-line stores, however the best place to get my music is you want it cheap is Mad Bouncy Dogs.com

http://www.madbouncydogs.com/store/index.php?selected_artist=20

And my latest album ‘String Theory’ is available from Lulu.com for a VERY reasonable price.

http://www.lulu.com/content/compact-disc/string-theory/7712149

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: PLUG PLUG PLUG !!

Then in May 2010 im due to play in Hamburg Germany at an outdoor Psy-Trance festival, so im getting as much practice in now as I can before both gigs. !!

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: Needless to say (as I’ve already mentioned it), I produce all of my tracks, I do use a few samples here and there, run through a ‘slicer’ and changed beyond recognition.

I have remixed various tracks, but vocally I tend to rely on the infamous Pixieguts, as her vocal talent is beyond comparison, and I tend to like Crimson Deaths vocals , so I often get ‘vocal packs’ sent to me from both artists for use in my tracks.

I am, however an accomplished singer (or so I am told), and so it will only be a matter of time before I start using my own lyrics and my own voice on some of my tracks (you have been warned) !!

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: The general process of my music making is as follows

1:) Have a smoke
2:) I’ll start off with a simple kick drum, and I’ll programme say a 30 second loop
3:) I’ll add some high hats, snares
4:) I’ll get some sort of structure going with the percussion, and usually around the 1 minute mark, I’ll introduce a ‘Breakdown’
5:) I’ll then add some synth/arp patterns, and try to find some interesting note changes
6:) Ill add some bass
7:) I’ll then add some sampled drum loops over the top and I’ll edit them to fit the track
8:) I’ll either add some strings or vocals on the breakdown
9:) I’ll build the track back up again
10:) Once I have made the ‘intro’ I’ll set about creating some structure
11:) About 2 1/2- 3 mins in, I’ll try dropping something that you wouldn’t expect into the track, and change its direction
12:) I’ll create another breakdown at about 4 mins
13:) I’ll build it back up and try to incorporated all the elements used previously to create a crescendo ending

This is a basic blue-print, which I try to stick to, but usually I simply write on the fly, some of my best tracks were written in just a few hours !!

The trick is, I think to try and link your tracks so that they dont sound like 2 0r 3 separate tracks mixed into one, I strive to create some fluidity in my tracks, and I let the synths do most of the work, I feel the need to make some funky bass/synth riffs which I’ll use throughout a track.

I’ll add new elements into a track, as if a Dj were mixing a new tune into the track, and that’s how I manage to take it into a different direction, without it being too expected or obvious.

I need to work more on my Drum Patterns though !!

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: The biggest challenge, and one I still face is making the leap from being well known and respected on the internet, to being able to go to my local club and hear my own tracks being played by whoever is Dj’ing.

To achieve this, is pretty much all I want, and there’s many many obstacles in the way. the biggest being the fact that I’m a very poor man.

So money is my biggest obstacle, and big companies that offer the world, but never deliver.

I am over coming this by investing my money into my music, and that of my label, instead of going out every weekend and getting wasted, and I have decided that as best I can I will cut out the middle man, I don’t want to rely on anyone else other than me, for my success or failure as a musician, and this is why I am attempting to infiltrate every sector of the music industry.

My aim is to have a contact each step of the way, in every field of expertise, so that I can basically do achieve whatever I set out to.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: My initial aim was to have my music be my main source of income by 2012, I’m not sure if im going to achieve that, but I’m definitely heading in the right direction.

Many artists give up after 12 month of no or little sales, if you really want something, you’ll get it no matter what gets in your way, and I want to be able to be my own boss, I want to make a living out of writing and promoting music, and I will !!

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: My advice to anyone starting up as an artist or a band is to simply follow your heart, as I said above if you REALLY want something, you’ll go and do it, no matter what.

It’s always a good idea to network along the way, some of the contacts I have made on the past 3 years have allowed me to get this far, without many of them I wouldn’t have been able to do many of the things that I have, It’s best to keep in touch with all your fans regularly, it’s all too easy to be forgotten, practice your art as often as you can, and keep broadening your horizons, collaborate with other bands, artists, and get outside and push your music to as many people as you can.

Importantly you need to remember that you are only going to get out of it , what you put into it, so don’t expect to make your fortune by sitting at home doing nothing, you have to work hard, ut the benefits can be HUGE !!

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: Potential fans can visit my main web site at www.electromag.ning.com

you can hear loads of my tracks there, and purchase links to buy/download Cd’s Mp3′s etc

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: I would like to thank

Karen from Atom Sounds, you continue to inspire me Karen, just make sure you come to Jan 23rd Event !!

Marie Crave (Pixieguts), for being my rock

Jane (My Fiancee) for putting up with me, and loving me.

Crimson Death (Your help, advice, experience has been a major driving force)

Dani (your help with the web site has been invaluable)

Mad Bouncy Dogs Team (i haven’t forgotten you guys either)

Martin (Dpulse)..mmm (I have learnt a lot from your ACTIONS, more than from your words)

Dandelion Radio (your continued support has been invaluable)

Dj UK Red (Thank you !!!)

Dalecast

Ben, Adam, Mark, Rigg-a-Mortis,Mason, Sarah.

The list is endless !!

Q: Any last words?
A: Go visit my label’s web site www.emlrecordings.net www.emlrecordings.com

and DEFFO visit my social network www.electronicamusiclovers.ning.com

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Who’s the Band – Electromagnetic Impulses is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s the Band – Gylepomp

Karen — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:28:32 +0000

Ever popular than ever I’m proud to bring you the third in my series of “Who’s the Band” and this week I bring you an interview with Gylepomp, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: I´m driving and repairing motos from Honda,special CX500, in Germany this moto has the nickname guellepumpe, based on a comic., I changed some letters only

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?
A: Gylepomp is a onemanjamband, I play guitars and keys,for the drums,brass and other I use some vst-instruments

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: I would say it´s a mix of rock,funk and jazz, my influences lay back down in the 60s and 70s, when I was a little younger

Q: How long has you band been performing/producing music? What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: My first recordings I made in the 60s with a tape-machine.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: No

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: You can find me at MySpace, ReverbNation and Last.FM.

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: It´s not possible to play all instruments in time

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: It’s all self made

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: I have an idea of a track and begin to play, mostly with the keys, when I have the theme I record it and begin jamming with some other instruments, some tracks are ready in one day, other need some months.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: Just have some fun

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Do what you like

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: You can download my tracks at lastfm, if you want better quality, contact me.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: I´m glad about comments, I don´t need financial support

Q: Any last words?
A: Thanks to all listeners!

Ladies and gentle that was my interview with Gylepomp, keep your eyes peeled for next weeks interview with ….

Related Posts
Who’s the Band – Middleton Band, Who’s The Band? Bands Interviewed in 2009, Who’s the Band – K-TRAXX

Who’s the Band – Gylepomp is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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Who’s The Band? – Digital Beat

Karen — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:15:08 +0000

Welcome to the second in my new series “Who’s the Band” a series where I bring you an interview with some great artists, some you may know and some you will discover through the series, this week I bring you an interview with the amazing Digtal Beat.

Q: How did you come up the name Digital Beat?
A: My music is all produced with computers and very rarely any analog sounds
are used.

Q: Tell me a bit more about your band?
A: I produce all my music myself so it´s not a band but a solo project.

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: Electronic – The Prodigy Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre. Also oldschool techno industrial bands of nineties like U96 – Das Boot is alltime favorite. The track is still so good it still gives me goosepumps. From game music the first excellent and memorable influence is Xenon 2 Megablast Intro which was a hiphop remix by Bomb The Bass. The track was not originally made by Bomb the Bass but was sampled from a movie soundtrack of Assault on precinct 13 by John carpenter.

At last I have to mention the KLF because it was the first group that used computer based tracker software and hit the mainstream success.
Especially songs:KLF-What time is LOVE? and The KLF – Last Train to Trancentral

Q: How long have you been performing/producing music? What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: I got some beeps out of from my sinclair spectrum in 80´s but for real real sampling and composing music started with trackers in early 90´s.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: No

Q: Where can people find your music? Do you have an official website?
A: Yes I have: www.digitalbeatmusic.net

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: Few times in amateur DJ session events and two times live before real audience. One in a club and one time on a street live PA on a small stage. Many of these were most of DJ mixes than my own tracks. But I also played my own tracks in between or in the end. One club live setup I had my own song sequences from my Korg Electribe too.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: Me, Myself and I.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: It´s creative and ongoing process. You can find some sound interesting or a melody which you build into a full piece of song. Or you find some old unfinished track or song sketch which has a potential for a full piece. I have many song sketches on my computer which I develop all time. Some of the songs never hit the album and others are polished but still laying on a harddrive for my own listening.

I like to post demo songs into music forums on Internet and try to get some constructive feedback. The feedback quality is varied between stupid non-intelligent comments to a intelligent and constructive comments. You have to find a decent site which is often quite hard.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: should quit. Never listen to negative people because they are not perhaps as talented as you. Getting recognition as an artist and a story in a big national newspaper. So the people who criticise what you do then would shut the f*** up.
By trusting what you do no matter what and getting your music on documentary, movies and all kind of real distribution.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: I like to produce music for multimedia in my own desk rather than seeking fame. All the fame is just an illusion but you can make some money with royalties.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Do not choose wrong people.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: DigitalBeat at CDBaby

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: My parents and friends.

Q: Any last words?
A: I don´t give a shit if my music is trendy or not.

Related Posts
Who’s the Band – Middleton Band, Who’s The Band? – Davidoth, Who’s the Band – K-TRAXX

Who’s The Band? – Digital Beat is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2012. Please link back when using this source material.

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