Interview with Struan Shields!!!

Struan Shields is a man of music with an emphasis on pop/rock and acoustic. His new EP "If I'm Being Honest" is now available for preorder on iTunes! http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/if-im-being-honest-ep/id516261653 He loves to chat with his fans, so take the time to message him and see what his music is all about.

I had the honor to interview him and below are his responses:

1. What inspired you to play music?

As a little kid I would daydream about being a singer and writing songs. My mom played guitar and piano and would show me a thing or two. Growing up, I would just strum on her spanish classical guitar and pretend to "write songs." My brother bought "Abbey Road" by the Beatles when I was in first grade and I fell in love with rock & roll. Eventually I talked my parents into buying me my own guitar and that brought me to where I am today.

2. Does your family support your music and why or why not?

Without a doubt!!! I would not be playing music if it was not for my family. Both my parents are very musical and in addition to funding lessons when I was growing up, were always at every performance. Whenever I have a hometown show they come out if they are in town.

3. If you were the president, what would be the first thing you would do?

Resign...it would be the most patriotic thing I could do (haha).

4. How has music changed your life?

It has changed in countless ways. It is a big part of who I am and the songs I write are a good representation of where I am at in my life and have helped shape me as a person. It has given me a passion and a dream that has played a role in nearly all the big decisions I have made in my life.

5. If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?

Honest.

6. What would you ask your fans if you could ask them anything?

Would you still love me if I had a mullet? (haha)

7. What outrageous experiences do you have with fans?

For the most part everyone is super polite and normal, although on one occasion a drunk woman pulled a switch blade on me. Another time on tour a fan wandered into the green room and walked in on me stepping out of the shower. I was pretty naked (haha).

Interview with Shelby Lynne

Shelby is amazing because she has volunteered in so many places and was part of Little Kids Rock for a few years.

I had the opportunity to interview Shelby Lynne.

Below are Shelby's responses:

1. What other talents beside music do you enjoy doing and why?

I love to draw, garden, and cook. These things always fill me up...I love
anything that opens the mind to being creative, positive.

2. How has music changed your life?

Music Is the greatest force in my life. Whether I am making music or
listening to music, I can't really imagine my world without expression
through song.
3. Where do you get your inspiration to play music?

I am inspired by life and the situations that arise while living it. I
observe the world through musical eyes and try to see the poetry in all
parts of it.

4. What challenges have you been through in music and how have you overcome
them?

The only real challenges have been what has gotten me here today. Like any
career you live and learn. I'm continually living and learning.

5. How long have you worked with Little Kids Rock and why is it important to
you?

I was asked to join the LKR benefit and love the opportunity to bring people
together for a cause that gives kids music lessons and instruments. Music
brings people together of all ages. Music is important in all communities.

6. Why have you donated guitars to Little Kids Rock and how do you feel this
has impacted individuals?

I was asked to draw a piece of art on a guitar that was auctioned off a
couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed doing it. I was more than glad
to do it.

7. What messages are you trying to depict in your songs?

I don't have a specific message in my songs. I write what I feel in hopes of
reaching a common bond with everyone who listens.

8. Over the years, how has music changed and what aspects of the music
"business" do you wish were better?

The music business is one thing. Making music is another. If you make music
because it's your passion that shines through. I make music for my life
because I am moved to do just that. I feel like I was born to share music
with people.

Interview with Prairie Prince of Little Kids Rock!!!

Prairie Prince is involved with the band Little Kids Rock and helped with many organizations in order to better the world.  Prairie donated a Fender Stratocaster guitar he personally hand painted with Jimi Hendrix's face enveloped by flames. Link: http://prairieprince.com/press.html

I had the opportunity to interview Prairie Prince of Little Kids Rock and I am thankful for that.
Below are Prairie Prince responses:

1. How do you feel you give back to the community as a musician?

I play music and create art for all sorts of people and events in the community
2. How has music changed the way you see the world?

The realization that the world turns on music for support and a way to escape from reality.

3. What inspired you to play music?

My parents love for music and art helped me to play music when I got older.

4. I understand this is your first time working with Little Kids Rock. How did you get involved and why is it important to you?

LKR came to me and I thought it was an important and necessary cause for children of all ages

5. You are donating a guitar you hand-painted to be auctioned off at the benefit on May 6th. What inspired you to paint the image of Jimi Hendrix that is on the guitar. Why the flames around his face?

Jimi Hendrix is my all time favorite guitarists and his song fire was a great inspiration for me in my teens

6. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Playing music with kids on the moon (haha).

7. If you could describe your music in one word what would it be and why?

"Life" because thats what music brings to the universe.

Interview with Renee Yohe of BEARCAT

I had the opportunity to interview Renee Yohe of BEARCAT while she was on tour and I want to thank her for that. Renee started her musicial project called BEARCAT and she creates creative music that changes the way we look at musicians. Renee is a woman that gives back to her community because she helped a non-profit organization called To Write Love On Her Arms, that helps people with addictions and self-injuries.

Below are her responses to my questions: 

1. What bands do you like and how have they inspired your music?

I love a pretty big variety of bands and artists: Patrick Watson, Ours, The Dodo's, Miss Emily Brown, David Bazan, Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Pinback, Simon & Garfunkel to name a few. I think they have all inspired honesty in my music, creativity that doesn't follow the rules and allows itself to create moves/experience. I think the big thing is how much each artist has impacted me with their words. I have always valued being intentional and I think that shows in my music.

2. Did you always wanted to tour with Never Shout Never and because of this how do you feel it will affect your career?

I don't think I ever really imagined touring with anyone, this whole thing is so new for me and I have mostly just been in the moment absorbing it all as it comes. We certainly make different styles of music from what I have heard, but I know Never Shout Never has had an incredible amount of success, which is extremely admirable especially being so damn young. To have the opportunity to share my music with such a large audience is pretty exciting. I am not honestly concerned about my career being affected by who I tour with or any of that jazz for better or worse. I just want to make music and hopefully it will be a positive thing. I will be able to keep doing this and not have some shit job that I hate, you know? (haha)

3. Where did you get the idea for the name of your band?

I love flapper lingo, it is actually a term used to describe a fiery/feisty hot blooded woman, thought it suited me pretty well (haha).

4. What are your messages for the song "Silence Is Silver" that you want your listeners to know?

I came from a very non-confrontational home and I am very open, plus sometimes rather abrasive. I experience things very intensely and the majority of the feelings I carried around when I was younger were very heavy, negative things. I grew up with the slogan, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." That was a death sentence to me and I internalized a lot of my emotions for fear of negatively affecting the people I cared about. There's the phrase, "Silence is Golden," but it came to mind one day that this basic truth that secrets keep you sick, begged to differ. That silence makes us slaves. I think I would want people to walk away with the idea that it is okay to share their secrets that they can be free if they choose to be.

5. If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be and why?

Freedom, this is the first time I have truly just had an outlet or something that I have done for myself and one that I see as a gift. It is a place in which I am allowed to be whatever I am, everyone just wants permission to be... to be free... and music is that for me.

6. Where do you see your musical career 10 years from now?

I have absolutely no idea, I tend to just be where my feet are. If I were to dream, it would be this fluid, ever evolving masterpiece. I would have an obscene discography that people could just sit with for months or years and discover new stuff all the time. I would be comfortable and completely uninhibited and still madly in love, plus fully satisfied with every moment spent in it.

7. What struggles did you face as a musician and how did they affect your music career?

I have faced a phobia of singing in front of other people for one and that has been a crazy transformation. I think another "struggle" per say, would be that I don't have the slightest clue about how to write a song or play an instrument, but it has allowed me to just create without worrying about rules, since I pick up the important ones along the way. It has kept me teachable and pretty unrestricted. I think the biggest thing I faced was feeling like people didn't seem to get my music or really believe in me at first, but I just kept going and I have never felt more affirmed or validated in my life. I has been a gift because I didn't sing for anyone's approval and I did it because I needed to/loved it.

8. If you were a millionare for one day, what would you do with your money?

I don't think I can imagine that kind of money: me and my guitarist always joke about that We would probably forget we had it and keep living like poor people, which really is not that bad (haha). I think if I were intentional I would get some smart people to help me budget and manage my money so I didn't blow it, give back to as many people as I can, and invest in other people. Be nice and comfy, but not so much that I would get complacent and bored. I would definitely get something ridiculous just because like a strange exotic animal or have some stupid absurd childlike thing in my house like a slip'n slide or maybe a horse. I would really want to make sure I had a place to call home and I would eat steak. That is for damn sure (haha). I am not good with money shit amd I don't really care about it. I just want to be okay and to be able to help the people I care about. On second thought, after having our van brake down while we're on tour, I would invest in a trusty tour bus. We are stranded in New Mexico right now (haha).

Interview with Rob (Bass) for Take The Day!!!

Band: Take The Day

Genre: Pop/Dance/Rock

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Band Members:

Adam Devlin (Vocals)

@iamdarthadam


Timothy Wolf (Guitar/Vocals)
@hEyHeYtImMaY

Clint Hancock (Guitar)
@clintastic88
Rob Carey (Bass)
@aboynamedrob

Jon Sodemann (Drums)
@TakeTheDayJon

Rob decided to answer the questions for the band and below is his responses to the questions:

1. What inspired you to play music?

Honestly, we have all been playing music for so long that it gets to a point where you are not sure what else you would be doing. I think just wanting to do something that was fun and that we loved got us all started playing music, but when we came together we all had a similar passion to take this as far as we physically could. We have been lucky enough to have kids really get into what we are trying to do with our music and we are humbled each and every day by that. So it really pushes us to keep losing sleep and working as hard as we have to. We have started climbing this mountain, but we have still got a long ways to go till we reach the top. We don't intend on slowing down anytime soon : ).

2. How did you meet your other band members?

Adam and I had been writing music for a few years together and we decided to write/record an EP in Chicago with our good friend: Nick Scalise. Tim and Jon at that time had been playing together in another band that had a lot of steam behind it, but the other members in the band weren't really on the same page anymore. Honestly, Adam and I tried recruiting Tim to play with us (haha) because we had this sick EP written and recorded, but he told us that his band was needing a bassist and a vocalist. So Adam and I went and hung out one night and it all kind of fell in place. Our current guitarist Clint joined the band after we had been playing together for a while. and we needed someone to play with us for a show. We all got along with him really well, so we asked him to join the band full-time. He was jacked because he was previously just a fan of the band.

3. What would you like to ask your fans if you could ask them anything?

We don't really have anything to ask our fans. It is so difficult right now to be in an independent band doing everything on your own and not begging fans to do stuff for us. That was just never something we wanted to do. We hated when other bands that we were fans of always wanted their fans to do things for them. I mean, occasionally we don't have a choice because without our fans we wouldn't have gotten as far as we have. We always try to keep in mind that if our fans are doing stuff for us we had better be doing something for them in return. So we really try to give back to them as much as possible. We have given away free music, autographed posters, shirts and all sorts of stuff to try to make sure our fans know how much we love them and look up to them.

4. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

(Haha) it is difficult to answer that question. Music is such an unknown thing. We all want to be doing something musical in 10 years. It would be awesome if Take The Day was still going strong, but if that doesn't happen I imagine we will all be doing something in music. Writing, recording, producing or managing. Tim and I already do some co-writing stuff and Jon has a clothing line he started up a while back that we sell at shows.

5. What are you thinking when you are on stage?

I am usually thinking "don't run into anyone!!" or "is this thing in tune? I can barely hear my bass!" (Haha) we all try to have fun on stage, but we also want the crowd to have as much if not more fun than we're having. So, we are always working to make our show bigger and better. I think that is more or less what we are all thinking on stage. We just want the crowd to be having a blast.

6. How has music changed your life?

I was always kind of awkward growing up and listening to the bands/artists that I loved helped me feel more comfortable in my skin. I had my core group of friends, but it was not really until I started playing music seriously that I started to feel comfortable around people. In some form or another, we have all kind of had that and that is why we have always felt kind of like the underdogs. It pushes us to work harder each day : )

7. If you could describe your band in one word, what would it be and why?

Party. (haha) I mean, we are evolved so much in the time-span of a year and our style of music is dancer, but we write songs in hopes that people will want to play them at parties and dance to them. We like to have a good time ourselves. On tour, even if we're exhausted or have been cooped up in a car all day, we get out and just lose our minds. People probably think we have issues (haha).

8. Where did you get the idea for the name of your band?

Take The Day was a mantra when we started this band. We sat down and were trying to think of good band names, which if you have ever done this you will realize that around 99% of band names are awful. We just wanted to dive in and get things done and write the best songs that we could. It seemed fitting to name ourselves Take The Day because it was how we approached our writing and our work. It was something that kept us going when things seemed too difficult or too farfetched.

Interview with NameSake!!!

Band: NameSake

Genre: Pop/Rock

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Band members:

Will Crafton - Vocals

Brad Wagner - Guitar

Troy Harmon - Guitar
Seth Van Dusen - Bass

Kevin Nordeste - Drums

I had the opportunity to interview Troy (singer/songwriter/guitarist) and below are his responses for the band:

1. What messages are you trying to convey with the title of your album: Borders and Fences?

What we were trying to convey with our album title, “Borders & Fences” was no matter what obstacles/’“borders or fences,” you may struggle with, you have to face and overcome them. Throughout the album, we express a lot of our different “Borders & Fences” such as love and lose, distance from family and friends, beginning to grow up and starting to write your own path.

2. What inspired you to play music?

I spent pretty much the first ten or so years of my life as a goalie on a travel hockey team. I played all over the northeast and I think eventually I just got burnt off from it. As soon as I put down my skates, I picked up a guitar and just like with hockey I become much attached with it. I got really into 80’s music do to the flashy guitar playing and I would try to emulate that. I eventually started writing my own songs and joining local bands. Once I started performing my own songs, which is when it really came together. The feeling is unexplainable for me because the connection you have with your audience is so genuine.

3. How has music changed your life?

Music has allowed me to meet a lot of amazingly talented people. It is allowing me to travel the country and see places I have never seen. It has given me the chance to connect with a lot of kids through our music. Most importantly, music has allowed me to express thoughts and feelings in a way that is different from spoken words or text.

4. As a musician, how do you see the world with a musical lens?

Yea, I put pretty much everything under a musical lens. I tend to relate a lot of things to whatever music I may be listening to or relate them to my own. Whether it is like being away from my family and friends or relationship I am going through, maybe it is even just a random thought, but I think it helps draw conclusions about a lot of this stuff.

5. If you could change the world by one action, what would it be?

If anything, I just want to inspire others to just go for it and I don’t mean just with music. Whatever you are passionate about, believe in it/ yourself and everything will unfold.

6. What would you tell your fans if you could ask them any question?

 I think if I could ask our fans a question it would be: if they could pick any song on the radio right now for us to do a cover of, what would it be?

7. What outrageous fan stories do you have, that you wouldn’t mind sharing to the public?

Ah there’s nothing too outrageous, our fans are really awesome and we always make sure we take the time to meet and talk to everyone. If it were not for them, we would not be doing this.

Interview with Anchors Away!!!

Band: Anchors Away

Genre: Alt/Pop/Rock

Hometown: San Diego

1.      Where did you get the idea for the name of your band?

I wrote a huge bio on our Facebook page about why the band name is Anchors Away!, (www.facebook.com/anchorsawayofficial) but in short, I started the band to kind of reach out to people who are hurting or depressed because I was at that point in my life not too long ago. I want to help people with their problems and the Anchors are a metaphor for depression, pain, or hurting. I want to help people throw those problems or "anchors" away. Therefore, I named the band "Anchors Away!" (:

2.      How has music changed your life?

Music has done so much for me. Writing songs has helped me get my creativity out, as well as being able to vent. I spill out my emotions on paper. It is also served as a way to meet tons of people and just to hear their stories or become friends is really cool to me.

3.      Where do you guys see your band 10 years from now?

 Well hopefully, I want to be touring overseas by then. It is a dream and goal of mine.

4.      What do you guys think when you are on stage?

 I just love to express myself and all I can usually think about is how happy I am to be playing in front of any crowd from: 5 or 5,000. It is just what I love to do. 

5. If you guys could ask your fans any question, what would it be?

 If you wanted us to cover any song, what would it be? (p.s. I love you) <3

6.      What band do you guys want to tour with if you could pick any one? 

I think 30 seconds to mars would be such an awesome touring experience because they play globally and their concerts are huge. I am sure it would be the best time of my life.

7.      What outrageous stories did you guys experience with fans?

The band only started a month ago, so no outrageous stories yet. Feel free to do something outrageous and we'll mention it in our next interview. (:

8.      What song is your favorite that you created and why?

"Forever vs. Reality" because in my opinion it conveys a lot of emotion and I love writing   songs like that.

9.      If you could describe your band in one word, what would it be and why? 

       Love, because the band aims to love everyone, no matter who you are.