Category: Interviews

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Interviews

Interview: Violent Soho

Australian Musicians, Violent Soho, are utilizing their artistry to portray their perception of what many sacrifice for comfort and what comfort commonly means to mass society. I caught up with Drummer, Michael Richards, to chat about the recent release of ‘Everything Is A-OK’, the band’s relationship with Pure Noise Records, staying occupied in quarantine and more.

Congrats on the release of your new album, ‘Everything Is A-OK’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the release. 

In a very broad sense the messaging of the album is intended to point toward the poverty inherent in middle class suburban comfort in and by the way that it encourages a hollowing out of human impulse for the sake of economic convenience. The irony of our current moment also offers a tendency to further point toward questions of just how secure that consideration for life really is. It seems middle class ambition is perhaps now more a skeuomorphic provision for what is in reality a plugged in and forever clocked on and inescapable banality. Mundane and unfairly rewarding.

I know that the Coronavirus has been really impactful on all, yet tell us the lowdown on how you have been utilizing all of your time in quarantine.

Up to this point, having a new album to promote has been a nice project to work on and has served a decent role in distracting me just a little bit from how completely fucked up things actually are right now. I feel very lucky that having this time to share a new creation of ours with the world has offered me up an olive branch of positivity. I hope people are feeling that vibe coming from us as well. Our messaging may point to our own experiences of the cynical ironies of the world, but taking life in your stride and staying positive is definitely something that we also want to convey to our audience. I hope people have been able to take some positivity from the album in that sense. God knows it’s important to have some positive convictions in your life at a moment where much of the world is going to shit.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

The current social climate requires you to project a desirable version of yourself onto a major corporate media platform so as to impose on others your unique and remarkable existence in such a way that will best utilise (something that is a total phenomenal abstraction) that we refer to as ‘the algorithm’ in gaining the maximum number of likes and followers, thereby commodifying your own leisure time into a self-illusory hub of pixels and fake friends. Pretty disgusting actually.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I am proud of my family, my son, my ability to work hard on something and to finish what I set out to do. I’m proud that I’m not a sell-out. I also love my wife quite a lot.

Tell us about your experience working with Pure Noise Records so far. How has working with the label enhanced your artistry? 

Pure Noise are a label who focus on building up strong working relationships. They are a no bullshit organisation who only expect you to do what you do best and to be the best version of what you do. They don’t back talentless pretty-faced garbage, so it’s very comforting to know that you can bring your output to them with the full confidence that your own honest work is going to be based one hundred per cent. It gives you a sense of confidence in projecting your work honestly, knowing that it will be backed. It’s down to us to deliver strong, they encourage us to believe in ourselves.

Photo: Ian Laidlaw

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

We fucken miss you all heaps. Let’s party hard together once all this bullshit is over. Wash your hands and stay home if you can.

Violent Soho Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram

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Interview: MishCatt

Los Angeles Musician, MishCatt, allures audiences with sonic explorations that pull at the heartstrings of listeners. In celebration of the upcoming release of ‘The Real Pavo’, I caught up with MishCatt for an in-depth interview about the importance of self-discipline and getting out of your head, the honor of being a part of Avicii’s tribute album, finding peace and happiness in cooking, showing support for the people that helped you get where you are today and more.

Congrats on the release of your new EP due out in April. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the EP. 

This EP, ‘The Real Pavo’, is about exploring the complex relationship between me and my inner self. A sort of love story about how to connect back to my soulful roots. The songs already released look at various stages of that journey, from dreamy and melancholic to frenzied and chaotic. And with the last song on this EP, “Your Eyes,” it represents the last stage of this journey, the final act that completes the journey of the purple girl. 

Being featured on Avicii’s tribute album must have been a huge honor. Tell us about how Avicii’s music has affected you and your trajectory as a musician. 

It was an incredible honor to be a part of “Fades Away,” and to help raise awareness for mental health while supporting the Tim Bergling Foundation at the tribute concert. The concert had a massive impact on me. It was hard to comprehend in the moment, but everyday I’m grateful to have been a part of it, and to be able to see nearly sixty thousand people cheering and singing along to one person’s music… it definitely showcased the impact Tim had on all of our lives. 

His music affected me a lot. I really gained an extra appreciation when I started playing his songs on guitar. In the simplest way, you realize how great they are, every song he did. They felt very authentic, and had a strong message behind them that spoke to people. I feel he hugged us with his music, he made us feel like we’re not alone. And I think that’s something every artist hopes to accomplish.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

Honestly, every day I have to overcome many challenging thoughts. Some days you wake up and it feels like bright blast of sunshine and creativity, other days you wake up and it’s a nightmare. Either case, it’s good to pull yourself out of your bed and get out of your home, and start moving your body. I think it’s harder for people who have to manage their own schedule, self-discipline is its own roller coaster. But the thing that has helped me the most is to just move your body. Walk, run, stretch, dance… it will help in every way, just like magic. 

Also, sometimes we get caught up in our heads too much, and we think everything is about us. But when you start directing your attention on helping others, all the problems you had lose power. You realize how much time and energy you spend feeling worried, nervous, anxious, for stories in your mind you create, that are not even real. And how much helping other people energizes you and them. You are actually able to choose how you want to feel, and that’s a power I think we should try to capture more.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

Well… now that’s a complex issue. On the one hand, social media can bring us together unlike anything that’s ever existed in human history. I can talk face to face with my best friends in Costa Rica and my brother in Paris, that’s incredible. Hard to imagine writing letters and waiting for one in return. But the patience involved in that process is now completely gone. 

I think the immediacy of social media, social trends, and just life has gotten so crazy. Social media is also making people very depressed because they think it’s real life. It’s more like a highlight reel that’s edited to look perfect, but no one lives that way. And the ones that do often times aren’t happy. So I think we need to be careful to remember that social media is a very powerful tool, and you can do great things with it, but it can also create a lot of negativity if you’re not careful. So overall, I think it’s a blessing and a curse. 

And if we look at the digital world we live in today, we have access to so much information, yet it’s still difficult to easily know what’s 100% true or false. Everything can be manipulated in the digital world, so it’s important to stay skeptical. It’s interesting to wonder what the internet will look like in 20-30 years, and how society’s relationship with it will be. 

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.

Well I studied photography, so that is something that I want to continue alongside my music career, it has always been one of my passions. I also find peace and happiness in cooking, and consider it another way of meditation. I see the kitchen as another art space. I love experimenting and playing around with different foods and spices, never knowing quite exactly what’s going to come out at the end of an always changing methodology. I feel that way about music sometimes. 

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus and explore throughout the new content, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

When I’m on the road, I love to listen to podcasts that keep me curious and in a happy state of mind. The Tim Ferris show is one of my favorite ones. Try to keep myself busy, to keep my mind moving, like writing, drawing, making music. I like to drink lots of water and have good people around. Try to stay away from coffee and sugars, which gives me really bad ups and downs in my hormones. But then you go to Sweden and you’re drinking two pots of coffee a day and eating every sandwich in sight, so it’s always a working process. But it’s good to have goals, you know? 

If you could jump on any festival roster that’s been released already for 2020 and play a set there, which festival would you choose and why? 

The lineups are pretty good both in Coachella and Lollapalooza Brasil this year… but I’d say, Lolla Brasil. It would be my first time going to Brasil, which has been on my list for a long time now. I really want to live in South America for like a month and travel around. But to be there for the first time, and to have the opportunity to share the stage with the amazing quality of artists playing, wow…yes. 

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Many of the most successful people in the world didn’t get where they are just on their own, they had people that believed in them, and pushed for their success. But they wouldn’t have inspired those people to follow them, if they didn’t believe in their vision and had a strong self confidence. It’s important to quiet your mind, and feel what really excites you, what makes your heart jump, what creates a spark in you, and erases time, and everything around you when you do it. If you confined that piece which drives you, work on it and you will gain the confidence to pursue it no matter what. And with that confidence and drive, you will start attracting people who align with those goals, and help elevate your vision for what you want to do in this life. 

MishCatt Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram

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Interviews

Interview: Bósa

LA-based Musicians, Bósa, emit a clarity throughout their hypnotic music that draws listeners deep within themselves. In celebration of the release of ‘Off The Grid’, I caught up with Bósa for a great chat about the importance of eating mindfully and fueling your body/mind with healthy food, their gratitude for Gravitas Recordings, taking moments to reflect on their journey and experiences, dream festivals that they’d love to play and more.

Congrats on the upcoming release of your new album, ‘Off The Grid’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout this release. 

Thank you so very much for inviting us to introduce our music to your peeps! We’re quite excited about the album’s arrival, and very grateful to Gravitas Recordings for their stellar support on this journey.  Our message, in some part, is to inspire through our sound as an invitation for listeners to enter a channel for connection, a much needed release through dance as a way to bond in celebration and shed light on some global issues both conscious & climate. This album is an example of our natural expression, one that we wove heartfelt intentions into which we hope everyone enjoys themselves through listening.

Stephan, as a seasoned veteren in the festival circuit, tell us a bit of advice that you have for up and coming DJs that are entering their first year in the festival world?

The festival world is a tribe so I suggest being humble while persistently honing and sharing your music as you strive to retain originality and utilize your skills to achieve something higher than you think you can. Enjoy learning new performance techniques and get familiar with the business side as well.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

There are times when we desire things that have not yet come to fruition, which is a program we are learning to change. In the grand scheme of things, life throws us up many perceived obstacles, so our remedy is taking moments to reflect on the positive aspects of our current situation, and simply taking a deep breath to feel grateful for the luxury of what we have experienced and accomplished so far. 

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

There are pros and cons to the digital world and social media has drastically changed our communication and method of creation. Sometimes we long for the analog days, but there’s always something to learn here, and many aspects of existing in this world which are very positive as long as humans keep compassion in mind as we make better decisions on how we use this technology to hopefully ascend ourselves in many ways. 

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

You see beauty in many things when you’re open to it. Living in a vegetarian manner with animals and the planet in mind, while helping out with simple donations to those in need keeps us grounded. 

Stephan: I love my daughter and being a father more than anything, my circle of friends and community. Together provide a balanced life for me. 

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

As artists, being healthier rather than just raging every night is the new standard. Hitting the gym and hiking as often as possible. We still have fun but becoming a wake up in the morning team has taught us some valuable lessons; for positive mental health, working on music instead of staying up late and sleeping-in all day is much more productive for longevity. The more you have a formula that promotes your chill zone the better. Decompress with yoga and a conscious diet. Greens baby! Appreciate the entire journey. 

If you could jump on any festival roster that’s been released already for 2020 and play a set which festival would you choose and why? 

Shambala = we’ve heard such amazing things about it for decades, and many friends have performed there who would always paint this as a very mystical festival. We look forward to one day bringing our unique soundscape to delight the woodsy creatures.

Boom Festival = phenomenal festival with amazing art and music. It was really impressive how they executed the production with seasoned grace. This is a conscious event with an excellent model, that really embraces a family vibe, so this would be a sweet stop to connect with a new tribe of folks whom with we could connect. 

Fuji Rock = legendary and always has a stellar line up, plus you get to be in the mountains of Japan, which is a glorious landscape and people there are so chill and sincere. you really feel something ancient under the buzz of the fast pace city and technology. 

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans? 

Try to stay positive and level headed during times of adversity, keep an open mind. Vote and eat consciously! We are super excited to have you hear and share this album with your famz! We will start seeing you in person very soon with our multidimensional live show!! Thanks for listening.

Bósa Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram

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Interviews

Interview: Trout Steak Revival

Denver Indie-Folk Band, Trout Steak Revival, have developed a kinship that translates naturally throughout their artistry. Ahead of their March 13th stop at The Ark, I caught up with Will Koster for a great chat about the recent release of ‘The Light We Bring’, building his own house over years in between touring, being proactive about mental and emotional health through taking walks along tour stops and more.

Congrats on the recent release of ‘The Light We Bring’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the release. 

Thank you! For this album we really focused on the strengths that we have individually, as a group, and in our community of friends. We self produced this album which was an empowering and expanding endeavor. The band also did a bunch of composing for the parts that the guest musicians played on the album which includes a string section, trumpet, clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute. I drew the art for the album cover as well. It felt good for us to be creatively operating as a unit and experience it all coming together.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

I just recently started solo-ing on the guitar during a Trout Steak show, I usually just strum the thing and left the solo-ing to when I played the Dobro. The first show of taking some solo’s on the guitar I had a lot of nervous/self doubting thoughts that I hadn’t experienced in some time! It has been an interesting experience feeling that again and trying to focus past the feeling and just be in the moment and stay connected to what I’m playing musically.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

I just joined the streaming music revolution a few years ago, I was holding out! I think it is an amazing thing to be able to listen to anything you want… anywhere… anytime. I can still get my music shopping fix with vinyl records which seems to be a format growing in popularity again. I think social media is great for connecting people and sharing joy. On the other side of the coin, it can be a distraction from what is right in front of you and really take away from real interaction. Balance seems to be the key to most things in life. 

All Photo Credit: Tobin Voggesser

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I am very much a tinkerer and love learning how to make things. Before playing music full-time, I was a carpenter and learned the trade before building my own house over a handful of years in- between touring. I started drawing a few years ago and am now in the middle of making an illustrated children’s poetry book that adults can also enjoy. My wife is also an artist so dreaming up the next project is an ever-evolving conversation and experiment. 

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus,, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

It can be very taxing on our mental and emotional energy on the road. The most important thing is that we as a band are taking care of eachother, sometimes the gift of someone making you a peanut butter sandwich in the van is all you needed to overcome your worn-out feeling. Also, we love to take walks when we get into the next town a little early. It’s a great way to stretch out the legs and the mind as well as get a feel for the city where we are going to play a show. 

If you could jump on any festival roster that’s been released already for 2020 and play a set which festival would you choose and why? 

I would choose Telluride Bluegrass! That festival has its own culture which has been growing since before I was born and it is such a special gathering to be a part of. The band started going there a decade ago and the connections made with people during that festival has added so much joy to my life. 

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Thank you for your support! We wouldn’t be able to do this if it weren’t for our fans coming out to shows, sharing our music with their friends, and being a part of the friendly and connected community that is the Trout Steak family. 

Trout Steak Revival Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram • Website

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Interviews

Interview: Kyd the Band

Standing tall and spreading his wings through the lens of passion, Kyd the Band is on a humanized ride that takes listeners of his multi-genre music straight back into their hearts. I caught up with Devin for a great chat about the recent release of “Go There”, reaching a mental and emotional turning point over the past 12 months, his devotion toward his loving wife, giving back to his little brothers and sister and more.

Congrats on the recent release of your new single, “Go There”. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the track and video.

Thanks! With “Go There” I wanted to portray a short yet important message – that while it can be painful and uncomfortable, it’s 100% worth it to be real with yourself and those closest to you.

You are out on tour with Lennon Stella and NF. What are you looking forward to visiting most? 

Paris. I only got to spend about 12 hours there last year so I’m excited to go back. 

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

One challenging thought that I had over and over the past few years is that I will never accomplish anything “great” or really be that “great”. Over the last 12 months, as I’ve begun to do a lot more professionally, I’m having a shift in my thinking and my view on myself careerwise. I’m slowly realizing that I’ve been obsessing over the completely wrong thing, and that I’ve turned my life into a mission to be “important.” At the end of the day my accomplishments are not making me feel less alone, more fulfilled or happier. I guess this is a thought I’m in the process of overcoming.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

The digital world is wild right now! I feel like everybody’s attention spans are becoming shorter. I feel like we’re all just trying to one-up each other. I feel like “viral” means “successful.” I feel like there’s no rhyme or reason. From a music industry perspective I’m seeing what feels like gimmicky/meaningless music that gets elevated to the forefront of culture. And that’s not a knock on those artists, but I just feel like as an artist you have an opportunity to say something. Especially when you have a platform like this. With everything going on in the world, why not take advantage of the opportunity. 

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

Beyond being a musician, something I take pride in is being a husband. My wife is my biggest supporter and my family. She’s the only part of my life that I know will always be there unconditionally. I also take pride in being the oldest sibling. My little brothers and little sister mean the world to me, and while I don’t get to see them as often as I used to I feel an even stronger sense to take care of them and be there for them when they need me. 

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus and explore throughout the new content, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

I try to limit how much I’m on my phone, which isn’t easy being in my industry. I notice that when my daily screen-time average is up that I’m also significantly more anxious, unhappy, and mentally-foggy.

If you could trade existences with your favorite cartoon character growing up, who would you choose and why? 

My favorite cartoon character was Peter Pan. I’d trade with him, he can fly and looks out for his homies. 

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Thank you for supporting me, none of this happens without you. BAND.

Kyd the Band Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram • Website 

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Interview: Sad Alex

Los Angeles Artist, Sad Alex, fuels her artistry with her emotions from a candid and human stance that leads listeners and viewers back into themselves. In celebration of the release of “All The Way Over”, I caught up with Alex for a great chat about taking time to dig deeper into herself as a human being, choosing to not sugarcoat her life experience or thoughts, being in tune with reality beyond the digital world, being signed to Red Bull Records and much more.

Congrats on the release of your new single, “All The Way Over”. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the track.

Thank you! I’ve been really happy with the response. I texted my manager a rant once about the meaning behind this song which I think depicts it pretty accurately:

“Sometimes the worst thing about being heartbroken is when you aren’t anymore. It’s better to cry-drink a bottle of wine and overshare about the breakup sex to a bartender than to admit it’s over, right? It definitely feels safer. But then time passes and you start dating a barista/model/aspiring screenwriter/uber driver and you start to forget about what came before. well SHIT. I’m moving on. Does that mean you’re moving on too? does that mean we are actually, finally, ALL THE WAY over?”

Though a broad question, what have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through working with Red Bull Records so far?

I feel like I am having to learn more things about myself every day as I focus on my artist project. What do I wear? What should this artwork be? What is my voice? What do I stand for? Who am I trying to reach? Are drops still cool? Luckily, I’ve had a few years now to focus on these questions and feel much more in command of them than I ever have before. That being said, I still struggle with what to wear. and drops. We’ve been focusing a lot on content this year: video promos, photoshoots, voiceovers for spotify and social media ads. So, I actually feel like I’ve really had to tap into my acting chops a lot. It has been unexpectedly fun and rewarding; I audited an acting class because I was having so much fun with it. I think it’s really important to strengthen performances, music videos, photoshoots, etc. Lots of all those coming soon!

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

I think the inadequacy demon has a funny way of showing up over your shoulder even at the times when you should feel like your on top of your game. It whispers all the fears to you: “How will you have longevity in your career? What if you aren’t good enough? What if you don’t write a good song today? What if you never write a good song EVER AGAIN” and you’re just like WOAH BRO, I’m eating tacos can you take it easy? The battle of social media convincing us we are both superheroes and simultaneously not enough is also a very difficult path to navigate. Recently, I’ve been trying to practice a bit more compassion, dedicate time to just be a normal human, read more….weed helps too.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

It’s both a nightmare and the most powerful tool we have. Some of my most notable achievements so far this year have been in the digital space: the “All The Way Over” game available in the app store, the campaigns we’ve been running on Instagram and Spotify, and the coverage so far for the latest single on the dsp’s to name a few. I have a lot of new fans reaching out via Instagram from the Spotify + YouTube coverage we have received (thank you Mr. Suicide Sheep and everyone else supporting!) and those are some of the most rewarding messages I receive- people truly connecting with the music and wanting to know more about the project. I am doing my best to keep up and connect with all of them because I truly love that aspect. However, it’s important to maintain a separation and remember that there is a real LIFE happening all around us, at all times. That’s way cooler than life on our phone. So, I try to disconnect as often as I can and focus on the human stuff.

No career path or number of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I take pride in being as real, blunt, and honest to a fault as I can. I don’t want to sugar coat anything. I’m over trying to make it look like I’m killing it when I just took the bus to my session cause of a lyft surge. I definitely am doing better now than I ever have, but LA is expensive AF and the music industry is tough. My goals now are more to enjoy life and what i do and who I’m with. Hopefully success and wild riches comes with that, but at least I have a good time. 

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus and explore throughout the new release and beyond, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

I think the key is to remember to take time for yourself. I am so excited to go on tour; I have been rehearsing with the new band and am stoked. I’m down to have fun but i also want to have a voice after show. I value my alone time hella and even if I need to cover myself with a blanket in the tour van for 20 minutes to get my head right I will do that so I am not overwhelmed with the social aspect of tour.

If you could trade existences with your favorite cartoon character growing up, who would you choose and why?

Danny Phantom was hot AF. And had a pretty cool secret life situation going on. And prob got laid a lot; sounds cool.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

People ask me how I chose my name, and I think a lot of people think I arbitrarily chose “sad” to jump on the emo train or something. My last name is actually “saad”, which is palestinian and pronounced with a long a, but has been mispronounced as sad since I was a kid. I was called saadface, saadski, and saad alex for as long as I can remember. On top of that, I obviously struggle with my own share of mental health issues, and for a long time my songs were mostly sad too, so the name change stuck. But a lot of my upcoming releases are also tapping into my sarcasm and humor, which is also part of the meaning of “sad” for me. The name allows me to be more honest about my personality and also connect with my heritage. Shout-out DJ Khaled– fellow Palestinian, hit me up let’s make another one.

Sad Alex Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram

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Interviews

Interview: Annette Lee

Singaporean Artist, Annette Lee, is living out her dreams and dipping her hands in a variety of creative endeavors that allow her to bring her compassionate and open heart forward. In celebration of the recent release of “Song For The Underdog”, I caught up with Annette for a great chat about overcoming thoughts of comparison, her day-to-day work as a Digital Creator with SGAG, persevering despite the odds, using her artistry to show empathy and more.

Congrats on the release of “Song For The Underdog”. Have you experienced being the underdog in any of your endeavors? If so, how do you perceive that feeling served you?

Thank you! I’ve often felt like the underdog growing up. It seemed like the odds were stacked against me – I was never the cool kid (which definitely led to getting bullied), definitely not a rich kid, my family was dysfunctional and I was constantly falling ill – the list goes on. But I also grew up hearing stories like the one of the Tortoise and the Hare, and believed that like the underdog can win. So that feeling, coupled with the hope I had, definitely spurred me to press on despite the odds, allowing me to see some victories in my life, so I really wanted this song to be an anthem for anyone out there who is in a place in life similar to where I was in my hardest times. That said, and there are also new odds that come with each passing day, leaving me to feel like an underdog once more.

Give us a rundown of a day in your life of being a Digital Creator/Comedian with SGAG.

Everyday looks different for me! Depending on what phase of video production I’m at, I could be coming in to work and brainstorm ideas for a video (sometimes they’d be videos for brands who work with us on sponsored content), or writing a script, or out on set directing/acting in a video.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

I used to struggle a lot with comparing myself with others who seem to have had it ahead in life and feeling like I’m not good enough, and feeling anxious about not achieving as much. But over time, I’ve discovered – in the spirit of the fable of the tortoise and the hare – that it’s not how you start but how you end. And how I overcame it was reminding myself constantly to compare myself to who I was yesterday instead of to the people around me.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

The digital world is very much a false reality. I think social media culture causes us to see extremes, the worst of news and the best of our peers – both of which can easily cause us to fall anxiety or depression. Seeing bad news being amplified definitely can cause fear in people and cause us to lose hope, and seeing the ‘perfect’ lives of everyone else can make us feel like we aren’t good enough. That said, there’s also so much about the digital age that allows for good news, great art, and useful tools and knowledge to be more accessible than ever before – and it’s also able to enrich us in so many ways.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician and digital creator that you take pride in.

I always believe that people come first no matter what. So as an artist, while I enjoy creating work and feel a need to do so, but I always think of how I can show love through my work, and how I can show love to others in my daily life. So I take pride in knowing that I understand the brokenness many people face, and that I can use my art (be it music or comedy) or my personal capacity to show love to just one person who’s hurting or struggling.

As you are exposed to a lot of stimulus working in the digital world, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health?

We’re so bombarded with noise in the digital world, and so many people are addicted to their phones and don’t even realise it. I find it so important to consciously take time off my screens and disconnect for a while as often as I can, to find my thoughts in quiet and solitude, instead of letting the noise overwhelms me.

If you could trade existences with your favorite cartoon character growing up, who would you choose and why?

Probably Perry the platypus from Phineas and Ferb, because he is a house pet who is secretly a spy detective. You can’t have a cooler double life than that haha.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Thank you for paying attention to my work – I can’t do what I do without you guys and I won’t take your support for granted. And I hope that you stay thankful and kind and never take life too seriously! 

Annette Lee Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Go For Gold

Arkansas Punk Rock Band, Go For Gold, continue to unfold with a dynamic punch of meaningful lyricism and infectious instrumentals. In celebration of the recent release of “Let Me Go”, I caught up with Guitarist, Jared Williams, to discuss being a part of the InVogue Records family, anxiety and criticism being a double-edged sword, trading existences with Spongebob Squarepants and more.

Congrats on the release of your new single, “Let Me Go”‘. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the track.

The new single is about a bad relationship but from an honest middle ground. It’s not colored by an individual perspective. It encompasses the mistakes on each side and takes into account that they are both at fault. 

Though a broad question, what have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through working with InVogue Records?

Our main take-away so far is that working with a label will not instantaneously put us where we want to be. Teaming with InVogue gives us a real shot at making it; a shot a majority of artists don’t have, but this is where the work truly begins. Nick Moore has walked in our shoes before. He provides expert advice from the business side as well as from being an artist. We just have to be smart enough to utilize the tools him and his team provide us with in a way that creates success.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

I struggle with anxiety and am overly critical of my own abilities. These traits are a double-edged sword. They force me to push myself but they can also leave me in a terrible place mentally. I end up feeling overwhelmed and often like I’m not good enough. I tend to push all of these feelings down into myself. For various reasons, it took me a long time to acknowledge that I had these issues.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

This is kind of a loaded question! I feel that it is a blessing and a curse. It’s a great way for new artists like ourselves to connect with people. We can find/create audiences we may have not been able to if we had started our career at a different time. It also creates a larger demand for content. As an artist, we can’t sit still if we want to survive. We have to continually be creating and advocating for our seat at the table.

As a person, social media can be mind-numbing, divisive and have negative effects on a person’s perception. It’s important for people to connect in more intimate ways when possible. Nothing will ever take the place of face to face human interaction. Meeting people in-person provides us with their true identity. It allows us to develop a greater understanding of who someone is as compared to a tiny blurb on a Twitter thread.

Photo Credit: Kurt Lunsford

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I’m currently finishing up my DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) degree. This has been a seven year journey that comes to an end in July/August. I’ve always been attracted to a challenge and love to push myself.

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus and explore throughout the new album, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

I think that music is the way I’m proactive about it. Up until recently, I completely ignored my mental and emotional health. I drained myself empty. Music is the main outlet that I utilize to vent my frustrations. I think that’s why people connect with it. We all get stressed out. We all can beat ourselves up from time to time. We also can learn to keep our heads up.

If you could trade existences with your favorite cartoon character growing up, who would you choose and why? 

I would be Spongebob Squarepants. I love that show to this day. Even in high school, I had full episodes completely memorized. It’s a classic. Spongebob is light-hearted and easy going. He works a job he loves and seems to have time to hang out with his friends on top of that. Spongebob is living the dream and he knows it.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Thank you to anyone and everyone who has taken the time to listen or talk to us. We do this because we love it and the fact that you all have connected to our music or ourselves in some way is completely overwhelming. Welcome to the cool kid’s table.



Go For Gold Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram

Categories
Interviews

Interview: A Hundred Drums

Denver-based Musician, A Hundred Drums, is an educator beyond the music and has used her ever-expanding skillset to aid in the development of fellow artists. In celebration of the upcoming February 14th, 2020 release of her self-titled album, I caught up with A Hundred Drums to discuss the importance of eating consciously, creating her original sound through going back to her roots, building a community and tribe through her music and more.

Congrats on the upcoming release of your new self-titled album. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the release.

Thank you! I am really excited about it. My intention with this album is to finally share my own, original sound. I grew up listening to Jazz music. That was my mother’s jam. From there, I started playing instruments as a young kid. Clarinet, Saxophone, flute and of course, the drums. Drum kit, hand drums, and all top percussion. I want to infuse my background into what I love today, really creating my very own sound. Aside from my classical training, I fell in love with Deep Dubstep, reggae, and Psytrance. Put that together, you get… my album. 

Though a broad question, what have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through working with Gravitas Recordings?

I’d love to start off by saying, thank you to Gravitas Recordings for their continued support and believing in me and my music. One of the most significant pieces through this experience is really seeing what it’s like to work with such a strong team in a professional way. 

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

With access to people’s lives at your fingertips, it’s easy to get lost in doubt and comparing ourselves to others. To curb this, I check in myself, have a drop in and take a moment to reflect.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I take pride in the community that I surround myself with. Being around a tribe of other driven and motivating people that drive and motivate each other, circles back to feed the community. 

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus and explore throughout the new album, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

I believe food to be top of my list of ways to maintain my mental and physical health. Healthy body, healthy mind. I’m always happy when I get to cook one of my recipes from my HelloFresh boxes! 

If you could take yourself back to a time in which your mind, body, and spirit experienced pure bliss, where would you go? 

I mentioned earlier that my mother listened to Jazz music. I remember a time when we were driving in the car, and one of her favorite songs by Peter White came on. I played one of the parts on my Clarinet and nailed it. I remember her being happy…and remember being proud of myself. That sure is a moment I wouldn’t mind revisiting.

Header Photo Credit: Banana Cam Photo

A Hundred Drums Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram

Presave A Hundred Drums New Self-Titled Album HERE and grab yourself a beanie while you’re at it—-Photo: Sean Snow

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Lil Eddie

Puerto Rican Musical Guru, Lil Eddie, is as dynamic as it comes as his creative prowess ranges from hit-making Producer, 11x Grammy-Nominated Musician/Songwriter and more. The wide variety of genre-bending bangers that have Lil Eddie’s touch on them will astound you, and it is our pleasure to catch up with the man to discuss his roots growing up in NYC, the entire world being in the palm of our hands, overcoming poverty, adversity and more.

Let’s talk about the new video teaser that you posted about on your Instagram with that yellow drip on. What do we have to look forward to?

Ahhhhh maybe a dope video in Greece with the Acropolis in the backdrop! #GITANA

Let’s talk about your current life in New York. How do you balance the constant hustle of the city with ensuring to take some downtime to focus on your creative work?

I live in London and LA now but grew up in NYC, that city life is real! London is very similar to the city and commuting around the city. I say the creativity is inspired by my daily commute. The music is in the streets on the trains, busses, Uber rides everywhere we turn.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

I will say the feeling of loneliness. I’m a single man so sometimes the work takes all of me and I rarely get to do anything so love can’t come being trapped away which leads me to then tell myself that the music will get me to where I need to be, so I focus on that.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

We are in a very interesting time! Social media can have its cons but I see so many pros! The entire world is in the palm of our hands. We can reach further than ever at any given time. That alone is unbelievable.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.

I take pride in being a Latino American! Overcoming poverty, adversity, a dysfunctional home and so many odds against me from being homeless and all! I believe my spiritual connection with the man; upstairs and respect for the powers of the universe that got me where I am.

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

I find it important to speak to people! Writing helps me, daily affirmations, searching for positivity is important for me! Keeping incredible people around not a lot of people but quality people! Lifers, lovers, preserving my energy and being conscious about who I share my energy with.

As a veteran in the game, what are some words of wisdom that you can share with fellow musicians attempting to follow in your footsteps?

I would say to the inspiring class of musicians that on the way up to never stop! Consistency is a big part of this race! Master your craft! Find the 25th hour of the day, 8th day in the week to devote to your art! Get in touch with your spirituality! Stay connected with the creator! For the universe hands out the rewards in life!

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

Thank you all for supporting me on this journey! I hope I’m inspiring people in my art! Stay blessed and keep it locked with ya boy so much more music to come!

Lil Eddie Social Links:

Facebook • Spotify • Website