Interview with Dave Newton of Fast Times!!!

Dave Newton was a solo artist, but now is in a band that needs to be heard because great talent is hard to find these days. Fast Times is a band that carries their voice far and recognize the importance of true musical talent. I got the opportunity to interview Dave about his musical life and see what he has to say about it.

Below are his responses:

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

Pure!!! The music I have been writing is exactly what I want to do. I am not compromising my personal taste for once and it feels amazing.

2. What makes your music stand out from the rest?

It seems to have it’s own vibe. I can't exactly compare it to another pop-rock band, which is a great thing to be able to say J

3. What is the dream band you would like to tour with and why?

Blink 182 (of course)!! They are the sole band that inspired me to play music.

4. What do you want your fans to know about you that they might not know already?

Don't force it J Let your music flow and make sure you surround yourself with people that want the same things and that you literally trust with your life!!!

5. What do you want your fans to know about you that they might not know already?

There is NOTHING I enjoy more than interacting with you guys and you should never be hesitant about talking to me about anything. I want to know as many of you as I can J All my fans have a place in my heart <3!!!

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

My first thought, is how lucky I am for this opportunity to be on stage and have all those great kids out there supporting me.

7. What does your family think of your music?

My family is ridiculously supportive of me playing music. They blast every band I have been in, whenever we have company. I am very blessed to have them because the more support the better.  

8. What song is your favorite that you guys created together as a band?  

Well my new band "Fast Times" will be releasing mid March and I'd have to say my favorite song we've done so far is entitled "Nervous"

www.facebook.com/fasttimesofficial

Interview with Stateside's Guitarist: Chip Su!!!

http://localmusicvibe.com/news/interview-statesides-guitarist-chip-su

 

enjoy :)

Interview with Tumbleweed Wanderers!!!

Band: Tumbleweed Wanderers

Genre: Rock and Roll!!!

Hometown: Oakland


Here are the members of the band:

	Jeremy Lyon: guitar, vocals, harmonica Zak Mandel-Romann: bass, vocals, trumpet Patrick Glynn: keys, mandolin, melodica, glockenspiel Rob Fidel: banjo, vocals, guitar Daniel Blum: drums

Below are their group responses:

1. What inspired you guys to play music?

Music that we listen to: Our Moms, Ganga Man, William Hung.

2. How has much changed your life?

We have less money than we used to, we either quit school or our jobs. We drink more, but in return we have met some of the most amazing people and have experienced a lot of traveling over the past 8 months.

3. What bands do you guys listen to and how have they shaped your music?

Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin, Bill Monroe, My Morning Jacket, and anything by Jon Brion. "Wait...Daniel who the hell is Jon Brion?" (haha).

4. What advice do you guys have for others that want to pursue in music as their career?

Move in with your parents or find a sugar momma. Make it full time, don't let anyone tell you it is impossible, hustle and always have fun.

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

A tumbleweed wandered through our neighborhood and told us that we must dedicate our lives to it by forming a band. It also told Zak to take less acid (haha).

6. What do you want your fans to know about you that they might not know already?

Well we are obsessed with burritos; we typically eat one a day or every other day. Daniel is the best at giving hugs, you should probably ask for one after a show. We make each other breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.

7. What are you guys thinking when you are on stage?

It really matters on the show J

Rob: Before I got my guitar fixed I would just worry about it going out of tune. Typically I am feeding off the others playing and the crowd. Trying not to fall when I dance, which I have done before (haha).

Jer: My mind wanders (haha)..

Zak: I wish I had some more beer.

Pat: How is my beard looking?

Daniel: What key the song is in?

8. What song did you guys make together is your favorite one and why?

"Kyle Crocodile" because there are no boundaries for this song. We get to all sing, jam, and dance. It is the first part of our concept album, where a crocodile falls in love with a tight rope walking hippo J

Interview with The Dead Famous!!!

Band: The Dead Famous
Genre: Rock/Pop/Indie
Hometown: London


Here are the members of the band and their twitter page:

	James - @jamesdeadfamous Dan - @danhetherton Luke - @luke_bayliss Freddie - @thefredfamous

Below are their group responses:

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

“Powerful”- We like to think our live sound is pretty big and full! Music can be such a powerful thing and can really affect people's lives, hopefully our music will do that one day.

2. What makes your music stand out from the rest?

Our music combines with many different styles, we have dance tunes in some tracks and guitar solos in others. It is a mixture of many things we all liked! Not many people are doing that out there, we think it makes the music appealing to a much wider range of people.

3. What is your dream band that you guys would like to tour with and why?

It is Thirty Seconds to Mars because we all have varying taste in music, but this was the one band that we all had the same respect for. They have such a huge sound; we would definitely get the crowd going if we were supporting them!

4. What advice do you guys have for others that want to pursue in music as their career?

It has got to be one of the best careers out there, but also one of the hardest! There is so much competition and so the best bit of advice would be to focus, work as hard as you can and keep networking with other musicians. I met the guys through the singer of an old band (Freddie).

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

James has always been mad about style icons like Elvis and Audrey Hepburn, we used to joke about how much he loved dead famous people, it came from there.

6. What do you guys want your fans to know about you that they might not know already?

Not everyone knows but we are literally doing everything ourselves, there are no record labels or management companies putting money into us and so every bit of support we get means loads. Whether it is buying a band shirt or buying a ticket to see us live, it really helps us in the long run! Keep it up! J

7. What are you thinking when you guys are on stage?

James – It is weird how your mind can wonder, whether it is thousands of people or just a handful you' are performing to. You can find yourself in a completely different place mentally. I guess it adds to the show.

Luke - Most of the time I am singing along to the tunes in my head or interacting with the crowd.

Dan - Normally how awesome it is to be in a band and how it kicks ass compared to anything else!

Freddie - Most of the time I am thinking about stupid things, like funny times we have all had together and laugh to myself! It is awesome being on stage. J

What does your family think of your music?

We have supportive parents really; they have all been so good with it all. Some parents might try to persuade musicians away from the idea of pursuing it as career, since it is such a tough industry and even though that is the case they have been their since the start.

9. What is your favorite food that you guys eat when you are on tour?

We took a bizarre stroll into Aldi one day on tour and got the worst pizza, crisps and coke - they were so bad that they became good. Definitely a trademark now. (of James & Freddie- at least) (haha)

10. Which song is your favorite that you guys created together as a band?

We are all big fans of 'Hide Your Halo’; it is a new track but has some cool new sounds we have been experimenting with. We are always writing new material, so our favorite tends to change quite a bit!

Interview with Emii!!!

Emii is a solo artist that has done a hit single with Snoop Dog called "Mr. Romeo", has written an amazing single on her own called "Stilettos", and is an independent brillant singer. In this interview you will be able to get a glimpse into her life and she what being a singer is all about.



Below are her responses:

1.      Why did you start playing music?

Ever since I was very young, I have been creating and performing music.
It has always been in my soul.
2. What do you want your fans to know about you that they might not
know already?

I have a grappling hook on my balcony and I have only gotten to use it
twice.  Other than that, I adore my fans and I am so honored to have
their appreciation.

3. What motivates you to keep writing music?

Life, my fans, and my passion for performing and entertaining!
4. What messages are you trying to express to the public with your
style of music?

It is important to have fun and appreciate life.

5. In your single, "Stilettos" where did you get the ideas to make a
song like this?

I love celebrating the little things in life that make me happy and
stilettos definitely qualify!
6. You have worked with a variety of famous musicians, how have they
helped to make your music grow?

I have been constantly inspired and humbled by the amazing people I have
had the opportunity to work with. They motivate me to be a better
artist, and a better person.
7. What advice do you have for others that want to be a part of the music career?

Don't give up, love what you do, and be good to everyone along the way.

8. What life experiences have you went through that has either helped
or hurt your music career?

Starting from the bottom and struggling to make it has made me realize
that it does not matter where I am in life. I will be making music
until I die.  Sometimes it is difficult to get through the hard times,
but they will pass if you work through them.

9. What do you like to eat when you are writing your music?

Healthy food!  I grew up on junk food, but I love being good to my
body. Of course the occasional pizza and cheeseburger is always
welcome.

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

FUN!

Interview with James Morris!!!

James Morris is a solo artist that likes all types of music because he loves the ability to add his own creative touch. He helps others in more ways than one and see how he does that in this interview!!!


Below are his responses to my questions:


 1. What inspired you to play music?

I can't really say there was an event that inspired me to play music. It went more like one day I picked up a guitar and that was it. I knew it was something I had to do for the rest of my life.

2. How has music changed your life?

Music has changed my life by giving me a new outlet to express myself. I use my music to express things I can't normally say with words and I use it to help people. I am constantly volunteering my time and talent to charities. I recently did work with the GINA for Missing Persons FOUNDation and I am now working on a projects for National Child Abuse Prevention Month and The Alicia Project.






3. What bands do you listen to and how have they shaped your music?


I listen to all sorts of bands, but right now the bands that I can't stop listening to are: Blink 182, All American Rejects, Linkin Park, Good Charlotte, Switchfoot, Sun Kill Moon, and Rise Against. They have all shaped me and my music in one way or another. I take what I listen to and instead of regurgitating it back out, I digest it and draw influence from everything. I take influences from everywhere.






4. What advice do you have for others that want to pursue in music as their career?






Get your parents support, learn an instrument, get out there and do something. Be kind to everyone, stay in school, and have fun. If you are not enjoying it, don't do it.






5. What do you want your fans to know about you that they might not know already?





I am really committed to making a difference in the world and do a lot of charity work.






6. What hidden talents do you have?






I am actually an author. I wrote a book not long ago and it will hopefully be going to print soon. It's called Sky Bound.






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






This is amazing. Time to rock.






8. What does your family think of your music?






They are very supportive of it. My family is amazing because they back me up 100% and are always there.






9. What is your favorite food that you eat when you are on tour?






Whatever is best where I am. But I can say that for nearly every show that I have played at, I have always had a Chick-fil-A sandwich right before playing. It's kind of become like a ritual for me.






10. Which song is your favorite that you wrote and why?










Honestly, which ever is the newest one I made. I like all my songs, but the newest is always the most fun to play.






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






Now you're busting out a really hard question.... I really want to look in a dictionary for some super long complex word, but instead I think I will go with real. My songs are written by me, about real topics and I really feel it whenever I sing or write. Another possible word is raw, but I can't decide which is better :)






For more info, and a free download of my new song SPEED OF DARK, please visit www.jamesmorris.com

Interview with Mike Acerbo!!!

Name: Mike Acerbo

 

Hometown: New York City

 

Genre: Indie/Alternative 

Below are Mike's responses:

 

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

 

Ethereal

 

2. What is your favorite food to eat, when you are writing your music?

 

Funny question, I normally don't eat when I am writing because I don't want to get the the guitar or piano messy, but if I did I would have to say it would be pizza.

 

3. Where do you get your ideas for your style of music? 

 

I am a bit of a musical sponge, I absorb all styles of music- country, pop, rock, irish, r&b, folk, dance etc. I use many of those influences and ideas when recording my own material. 

 

4. Why did you start playing music?

 

I had always wanted to write music, who doesn't?  I got the opportunity when a friend asked me to sing my poetry to her piano arrangements.  Once we wrote one song I was completely hooked and knew that I wanted to be a songwriter.  Eventually I started writing my own music as well.

 

5. Where do you see your musicial career going, 10 years from now?

 

10 years from now, I envision having recorded 3 or 4 more records, touring the world and looking back at this time with gratitude that I made the decision to leap for my dreams :)

 

6. What is the wildest thing a fan did for you?

 

I can't say that I have met a fan that wild yet! (haha). 

 

7. What challenges did you have to go through when you were making music on your own?

 

I am an untrained musician.  Early on it was very difficult and intimidating for me to work with trained musicians as I didn't quite understand them and they didn't always quite get where I was coming from musically because I couldn't express it to them. It also makes it hard when producing as well, but I have grown a lot from the process of recording the first record.

 

8. In the album, "The Search" what is your favorite song in this album and where did you get the name from?

 

Right now my favorite song on the record is "Beast". I wrote the song about the character of the Beast in the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast" as a metaphor for how I was feeling at the time. That is how I came up with the name.

 

9. Being a solo artist, what gives you the drive to continue making music?

 

Music is the only thing I don't seem to get bored with, so it is pretty easy to stay motivated. There is always something different to write about or a different way to tell a story. Every time I write a new song I still revel in that feeling of having written one- it is indescribable.

 

10. What would you want your fans to know about you that they might not know already?

 

I guess that I am always thinking about my fans when I write a song.  It is very important to me that I am connecting with people the way that I felt connected to my favorite musicians growing up. It is a wonderful thing to give and receive music- it is a special gift that works both ways :)