Simply Six: Pheroze

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later.  Is there such a defining moment for you?

When I was 12 and in my last year of living in Saudi Arabia, my friend Mus called me up to tell me he just bought a guitar. Playing music was a completely foreign notion to me at the time, I don't come from a musical family, so I wasn't really impressed with his new gain. That (pre-hipster era) douchey nonchalance changed like a wet diaper as soon as I went over to his place and picked up his guitar. It just felt so... right; like I had found a missing limb that fell off at birth. That was the defining moment of knowing that I wanted to eschew all semblance of a standard balanced life and pursue music with extreme diligence. I spent the next 8 months 'playing' a tennis racket along to albums until I managed to save enough dough to get my own guitar.

As far as knowing when I wanted to be a singer? Frankly, I never wanted to be a singer. Sure I did it on my own, but never really wanted to be a front man. It usually ended up defaulting to me to sing in bands, though. I became aware that I was actually decent at it when I was at a Berklee summer session in Boston for guitar and a bunch of people I was hanging out with wanted to form a band. If you ever stepped foot in Berklee you'll quickly find out that EVERYONE plays guitar- and bands with 6 guitar players just don't work (even if you're the Allman Brothers). So I sang. And screamed. But mostly sang.

I never really had an 'a-ha' take on me moment with singing. I had to develop it slowly and painfully - not just the skill but the confidence level in being a front man. These days I'm pretty comfortable just stepping up and doing it, but it was a journey to reach this point.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to?  Who are some of your favorites?

I like silence. I like to hear myself think. I like to hear the music that's rumbling in my head- whether it's mine or others. I have my own version of Spotify in my brain. I tend to go in phases with listening to music. I'll go months without listening to anything and then months where music is on constantly.
My go to band is always Soundgarden - they're my security blanket for musical relevancy.

Right now I'm listening to The Joy Formidable. Today I listened to Kvelertak, Chris Cornell, Stevie Wonder and Mastodon. 

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

I don't have one. I'm pretty much always in the moment when it comes to creating music so, while certain moments do stick more than others, I consider myself to constantly have my 'greatest' moments. The feelings within the processes of creating, recording and playing music are what I live for and whenever I'm doing those things I'm indulging in my share of absolutely fantastic moments. These moments are internal, though I do dig seeing the feeling reflected back at me through a listener.

That said, there was a moment not too long ago when I realized I had crossed a certain goal line that I never knew I had - the transition from making what I would consider to be good music to making what I consider to be GREAT music. Again, this is internal and, as egocentric as that transition may comes across, it's what keeps me fueled to keep going. If you're not self driven as an artist then you will constantly face a significant amount of crippling defeat - so I take my internal victories very much to heart to better deal with, and grow from, my failures. Next step: Make GREATER music.

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?   How much can music influence current events?

Art changes people and people change worlds. The world doesn't have to be the physical Earth or politics in as much as it can just be someone's personal world. I know music has gotten me through terrible times and elated me at joyous ones. 

Music is always a world and event influencer; it depends on how you relate to it and its place in your life. There's stupid fun music that plays on emotions in the same way that Reality Shows do- factory produced scripts written to hand the listener an emotion - musical McDonald's. This crap doesn't change anything - it's all media hype and marketing vessels to artificially sway people to a certain side. I think of this as music for lazy people - the people who just want to be told what to listen to and how to feel when they listen to it. If you're reading this, don't be that person.

Then there's the stuff that actually evokes the creation of feelings within the listener. Music like this brings out the emotion in people and the best part is that the listener gets to own it. It's THEIR emotion, the music acts as an attenuator. That's the stuff life runs on.

As much as certain movements and scenes have played a part in social history, I don't like infusing music with community, it's too personal to me to get mixed up in the will and ebb of others like some inane religion. I do think that exceptional music will permeate certain people's sense of self and that, in the right hands, the resultant charge can move social and political mountains.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician?

I love technology. Here's the deal: These days I can record, market, make videos, broadcast shows, and interact with fans completely on my own and, more importantly, on my own terms. This is directly due to technology. Ten years ago, any of these steps were part of a process that required a team of people (aka a label) to get done with any level of proficiency.

To be a musician in this day and age you have to not only embrace technology, you have to embrace the spirit of the DIY ethos that has been a mainstay of punk rock for decades. There's a notion that the music industry is dying. It's not. The power has just shifted from the labels and their cliques to the ARTIST and the FANS.

So what is people can download my music for free? They're downloading my music and that's what matters. I'll make money other ways and true fans will help me out along the way by coming to shows and nourishing the creation of my music. Hell, I used to give away tapes and CD's for free all the time. As a creator I just want my music to reach whoever wants to hear it - and technology allows me to remove the middle man.

Now, sometimes that middle man can shout louder than I can - so it's not like there's no benefit at all to being with a label or a good management company, but technology has allowed the artist to hold on to their power. Artists who don't embrace technology and the freedom it provides should pack it up and go do something else. You can't afford to pine for the past or be a dinosaur these days.

Let's just use tonight for an example on how I've used technology to directly affect my music career. On this same computer that I'm answering this question on I've done the following in the past few hours: Created drum patterns to demo songs for my next album; lowered the price of my new album, Crows Into Swine, on my website pheroze.com for a holiday promotion; responded directly to a fan question in near real time on Twitter; updated my followers and fans with links to buy my albums for cheap; gotten real time statistics on who's listening to my music on two internet stations; bought a new microphone for my home studio; coordinated drummer auditions for another band I'm in.

That's a 5 hour span. And I took a break to eat dinner. I couldn't have done any of that ten years ago. I love technology.

Simply Six: Kristen Faulconer

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew
they wanted  to   be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show,  to   another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later.  Is there  such  a defining moment for you? 

     I did not have a specific defining moment. I started training when I was around 6 years old because I wanted to. I was always singing, always into music and I knew I wanted to be a professional singer as soon as I could talk. I think its in my genetics... I was inspired by many amazing vocalists though. The two artists who had the biggest impact on me as a child were, Micheal Jackson and Whitney Houston. I am so sad to hear about the passing of Whitney Houston. As a child I was inspired by her vocals, I loved the movie The Bodyguard and her song I will Always Love You was one of my favorite songs... I always attempted to sing in her range as a young girl, she pushed me to be a better vocalist and in a way I idolized her... 

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening   to?  Who are some of your favorites?

     I am inspired by so many bands and music, I really love all music. The bands who have influenced my music the most and the ones I listen to frequently are: The Eagles, Olive, Blink 182, Social Distortion, Bouncing Souls, Michael Jackson, The Used, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Enigma, Infectious Organisms, Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, Reba McEntire, Swinging Utters, Linkin Park, Deep Forest, Dido, Eminem, The Doobie Brothers, Fear Factory, The Foo Fighters, Hollywood Undead, The Veronicas, Evanescence, Nickelback, Blind Melon, The Counting Crows, Ani Difranco, John Denver and The Bouncing Souls, Bullet for my Valentine, The Steve Miller Band, Fleetwood Mac, Metro Station and The Doors .

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

     I have been blessed to have several... I have been fortunate enough to work with these legendary musicians on my songs: Chet McCracken (from The Doobie Brothers), Raymond Herrera (from Fear Factory) and Jason Sutter (from Chris Cornell) and also I was very fortunate to have been Nominated at The Hollywood Music and Media Awards and The 2012 All Indie Music Awards in the past year.  

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something   to  listen   to?

How much can music influence current events?

     I am a believer that music can change the World. My music is about empowering and uplifting people. I am an abuse survivor, and I wrote many of my songs about the abuse I endured and also my struggles with being adopted. Now that I am rehabilitated my mission is to use my music to inspire and help people in the same situation and all people through their struggles in life. I have also started campaigning and spokes-modeling against abuse and just recently I began a Group on Facebook called, "Revolution Against Abuse" or RAA which is an open group anyone can join. Here is RAA's Mission Statement: 

     This Group is focused on educating and engaging the public in the fight against abuse and creating a space where people can share personal experiences and opinions and learn about abuse, find answers and help. Lets join together and speak out on behalf of any abuse survivors in hopes to bring to light what abuse looks like, who it affects and how you can be strong against your abusers. I am an abuse survivor and I am standing strong against my abusers and I ask that you stand with me!!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/134601396658000/

     Music heavily influences current events. Music can be political and many artists have the ability to voice their political views to the public in the music they produce. I think its a beautiful thing that the art community has an impact on current events and politics, it just adds to the diversity of our culture.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician?

     Technology has heavily affected the music community in many different ways. As artists we rely on technology to record our songs and the more advanced the technology the more options we have when it comes to the production quality of the song. The internet has allowed Independent artists the ability to get their music out to the world without relying on a Record Label but it has also allowed anyone the opportunity to distribute music. This has raised the bar in competition and made it more competitive and difficult to reach and connect with new fans. There is also an issue with bootlegging movies and downloading music without paying for it. I personally give Free MP3's to my fanbase as a Thank You for following and supporting my music but eventually I hope that they do buy a song or two from my Itunes or Amazon because as an artist that is how I make money and I am able to afford the continuation of my music career...  Social Media has really affected my career as an Independent Artist the most. It allows me to personally connect with my fanbase and keep them informed on everything that is going on in my music career and I really enjoy being able to do that!


 

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of

shoes would you be?

     If I were a pair of shoes I would be my Technica Womens Skandia Fur Cold Weather Fashion Boots! These boots are made for cold climates. They are fashionable but serve a purpose as well. I used to live in Jackson Hole Wyoming, one of my favorite places in the World and I was raised in Colorado, I am a Mountain girl. I love that pair of shoes because they look great but I can go for a three hour hike in the Mountains in the snow in the dead of Winter and they will hold up perfectly and keep my feet warm... They Rock!!

Simply Six: Brian Franke

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later.  Is there such a defining moment for you?

For me it was not so much a moment of becoming a singer but to be a guitarist at first.  The defining moment for me was listening to a local college radio station in New Jerseyplaying hard rock and grunge music one night in the early 1990s.  I was hooked to that music.  At that point I was curious how to make the sounds the bands played, learn how to play their songs, and then write my own.  The singing part came along later after I'd learned guitar.  I began singing in the high school chorus and in musicals, then was the backup singer in my first band.

 

 

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to?  Who are some of your favorites? These days with the Internet and lots of music services, I'm always finding new bands or getting recommendations from friends on what to listen to.  There's so much out there that it's hard to give everything a true and full listen to completely get what the bands are doing.  One thing I try not to do is listen to too much music all the time as it can influence my songwriting.  Some of my all-time favorite artists though are: Bruce Springsteen, Elliott Smith, Van Halen, Blind Pilot, Alice in Chains, The Beatles, Vertical Horizon, Rogue Wave, Miles Davis, Chris Cornell, Nirvana, and King's X.

 

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live? It happened very recently for me and that was putting my first solo album out.  The effort took over a year to complete during which time I lost my job and began pursuing music full-time.  But getting my art out there, seeing people enjoy it, and make a connection with it is gratifying.  I also had a release party for the album that I organized which was the most fun I had had playing on stage in a long, long time.

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?   How much can music influence current events? I do believe that music can change people or at least influence people in certain ways.  Music can make people angry or it can make people cry--it depends what the artist is trying to do with a song.  Some of the best songs in my opinion are the ones someone can connect with to a feeling they have or an event in their life or an issue--and always remember that connection throughout their life when they hear the song.  On the other hand, some songs are just meant for listening--it goes both ways I think.  What it comes down to in my mind is if the artist is challenging the listener to get past just listening and coming away with an emotion or purpose in the song.  In terms of influencing current events, time to time there's an album or a song or even a concert that defines our times in a way that does get people to notice, think, and even take action on a current event.  The most recent example I can think of is artists who raised money for Haiti with a TV concert.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician? Great questions and there are books and blogs that answer that first question better than I can.  I see technology affecting the music industry in four key ways.  One, I definitely see how we consume music has changed.  We can get more music, more quickly, more effortlessly and store more of it in than ever before thanks to technology.  Second, it's easier than ever for artists like myself to get their music out to the public.  You don't really need a label to have a career.  There are an overwhelming number of online tools I use everyday to organize and promote my music.  Third, music is starting to return to the hands of fans.  Social media, email, websites, etc have allowed fans to have more input into music, artist's careers, and they now have more power over what they want to hear and how they want to hear it.  And the final thing I'll say is that technology has made the music industry more uncertain in where it's heading.  Laws affecting music are years behind, labels are dying off, there are always new ways of marketing and promoting--so much is in a constant evolution right now.  For me, technology has been a time saver and great vehicle for most aspects of having a music career.  I especially love to connect with my fans.  Along with that, it's very simple to upload songs, pictures, and videos to just about any communication device, get instant feedback, and have conversations with anyone in the world you wouldn't otherwise have about your music.  So, yes, technology is a HUGE part of my career and I use it everyday.

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?  I'd say a pair of flip flops, I hope that counts as a type of shoe.  Flip flops are a laid back type of shoe, comfortable, and they don't hide what other shoes might--your feet.  Those are some qualities my personality hold--laid back person, honest, and putting who I am out there for who I am through my music.

 

Interview: To Have Heroes

To Have Heroes is singer/songwriter Andy Skib. Maybe I should let him explain it: "What do you do when you’re not a band, but you’re not a solo artist? You give it a name. I chose, "To Have Heroes", to be that name. This is my "project". Over the past eight years of my life I’ve become friends with some incredible musicians. Some live in Tulsa, some in Austin, Nashville, and New York. Oh yeah, and one lives in American Idol. To Have Heroes is my way of beginning to see what I sound like with the help of all of these different "musically inclined" friends."

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

For me, I'd have to say it all started when I was between 5 and 10 years old singing in the car. Sting, James Taylor and Nat King Cole are my fondest memories. I haven't stopped singing since.


2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

I go through cycles of favorites....right now i'd have to say Augustana, Jason Mraz and George Stanford. Yet, there is always Silverchair, Ryan Adams, Amos Lee, Big Wreck, and Soundgarden/Chris Cornell playing in my car.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

Probably finishing my newest EP. It's really my first venture without a band. It's sort of a bittersweet feeling though. I love the fact that I can do it yet, I don't have that companionship that comes with having a band. Overall, it gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

Oh I completely think that music can change the world. To me it's the most universal language out there. It doesn't matter where you're from, if you feel it, you feel it.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

Well, technology is a blessing and a curse. If you're not on the front edge of it you're going to be left behind. If you don't know how to take advantage of it all, it might end up hurting you. For me it is a great tool! Somehow through cyberspace I've been able to let people, thousands of miles away learn about my music and listen to it without waiting weeks and weeks. All they had to do was type in my url and there's my music. I can put up a video that took me 10 minutes to make and show it to all of them in a matter of minutes. If technology is used well, there is no reason we shouldn't embrace it.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

Definitely a 90's pair of Air Jordan's.