Simply Six: Peter Link

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 define myself more as a composer/producer/musician as opposed to a singer. Though I do occasionally sing some of my own songs and record them, (as on my new CD, Goin’ Home) the main body of my work has always been the former, not the latter, so I’ll answer this question from the P.O.V. of the composer/producer/musician. At age six my dad got me started on the drums. He bought me a pair of sticks and told me if I were to play on the wooden window ledge of our music room for a year without being told to practice, he would buy me a top of the line snare drum for Christmas. I did and he did. Gretsch blue pearl. This promise and task completed went on for 5 years and each Christmas I would get the bass drum, then the side tom, then the floor tom, etc. until I had the full pro set. In the meantime, I learned my rudiments and by the time I was in the 7th grade I was playing with college bands.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites? Bobby McFerrin, Peter Gabriel, Imogene Heap, Michael Jackson, Duke Ellington, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky and still, the Beatles.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live? I’d have to say that there have been a series of those “greatest moments” going on for the past three decades as I have been mastering my craft when I have been working, usually alone, late at night in the studio and I am deeply into the process of making music. I become aware that I have no idea where I am, what the time is, what day it is, and I simply sit back and give the amazing process of creating music acknowledgement. It’s usually a moment when I have finished a section that works. I give it a listen and feel fulfilled by this wondrous process. So I listen again, and then again and again. It’s always the greatest moment and it happens over and over. In short, I do this, not for the result, but for the process of creation. It’s what I live for.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events? Music has changed the world. Rock n’ roll was probably the main reason why Communism went down in the Soviet Union. The youth of that nation became westernized and the pull of the west, largely because of rock n’ roll, pulled generations of youth away from the dogmas of the Soviet state. The Beatles changed the world by changing fashion, religious outlook, psychedelic acceptance, and even politics. "We Shall Overcome" is a protest song that became a key anthem of the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968). The title and structure of the song are derived from an early gospel song, "I'll Overcome Someday", by African-American composer Charles Albert Tindley . Pete Seeger and other famous folksingers in the early 1960s, such as Joan Baez, sang the song at rallies, folk festivals, and concerts and certainly changed my world. We sang along with them and watched the world change. I was at Woodstock on that famous weekend when all the world watched and became aware that the Hippie Peace and Love movement was something that was real and attainable. We changed the world that weekend by gathering peacefully and devoting our minds and lives to the music and the messages of the times. A world without music today would be a far far different place. Imagine it. Not a fun thought. So yes, music has moment to moment influence upon all of our lives. I could go on and on on this …

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician? When people ask me what is my instrument, my answer is now, ‘the computer.’ I have been deep into synthesis for close to 30 years now and my sample library is enormous and very complete. I started working with Voyetra decades ago, graduated to Logic when digital audio was invented and now consider myself a sample composer/ producer. As the musician’s union became more and more powerful and the prices of recording live orchestras became out of reach for so many, the backlash was naturally the development of sample technology which was, at first, pretty elementary, but has now developed into an art form in itself. I’m glad to have been alive during this transformation and have certainly made great use of it. I still love recording a great live musician and will always love working with a great band, but given the choice of working with a pretty good band or my sample technology, I’ll take the technology any day. Also it’s been amazing to the see the costs of great recording equipment plummet downwards. Never before could you do master quality work in a home studio. Today it is not only possible, but totally realistic for about a tenth the price tag.

 6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be? Marilyn Monroe’s house shoes
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Simply Six: Davy Mooney

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 wouldn’t say that there was a specific moment.  My two uncles played guitar and sang Beatles songs all the time, and my brother and I wanted to be like them.  I started playing guitar and singing when I was about 9 years old.  One eureka moment that I remember, however, occurred while I was watching the MTV show ‘Headbanger’s Ball’ one Saturday night when I was 11 (I watched the show every Saturday in those days, being an antisocial adolescent).  I was accustomed to the typical early 90s music: some thrash metal, some glam-ish metal, lots of hair; everything was fairly polished and slick sounding.  Then, out of nowhere I saw the video for ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.  It freaked me out.  There was nothing like that on MTV at the time.  It was so raw, so real.  That really changed my life and shaped my music.  I know I don’t sound much like Nirvana, but the honesty of that music, and the raw quality of the singing; both were huge influences on my approach to my singer-songwriter material.

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

I go through phases with different artists.  I always enjoy Sting’s music, it’s consistently sophisticated, intelligent, and unpredictable.  I love everything he’s ever done except 2004’s ‘Sacred Love’.  I don’t know what happened with that one!

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Kate Bush and a lot of Liz Phair.  They’re quite different, but I love Liz Phair’s honest delivery and her lyrics, as well as Kate Bush’s vision and the demented quality of ‘The Dreaming’.  That record is a trip!  On the jazz side I can never get enough Kurt Rosenwinkel.  And I always love Chet Baker, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong.  Finally, there’s a lot of great music here in NYC that no one’s ever heard of.  Especially my peeps from Denton, TX: Snarky Puppy, Sarah Renfro, Alastair Ottesen, Mike Maher.  Lots of us down in the trenches up here.

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

My greatest moment was, without a doubt, the concert I did on April 15^th, 2009 as a member of the Brian Blade Fellowship.  I remember seeing the band live (with Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar) in New Orleans in November of 2004, and thinking to myself that if I ever got to play with the band I could die happy.  It took almost five years, but I made it! 

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

Pop music is a great mobilizing force, it can help organize people into large groups that can then be affiliated with various causes, but the music itself…I can’t think of any song that changed the world.  Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, various others, they’ve used their celebrity and music to organize people, but the songs themselves didn’t effect change directly, although if the songs hadn’t been good people wouldn’t have listened and organized around them!  So music can help bring people together, and people can change the world, but the music itself does little to influence current events.  

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

Ah, technology.  I have mixed feelings.  It’s nice to be able to make my own records for cheap, but I want people to hear them, and it’s still expensive to promote things, even with the internet.  If you know from the outset that the record isn’t going to sell, and you’re not going to get picked up by a record label, or if you do that there isn’t going to be any reimbursement for production costs or any advance….The decline of the record industry cannot be seen as a good thing for the professional musician.  Most of us are short on cash, we can’t afford the publicity costs to be successful.  I’m a little bit skeptical of the idea that you can just make a great record in your bedroom, put it up on the internet, and then wait for it to spread through word of mouth, leading to hordes of people showing up at your gigs, licensing opportunities, etc.  Selling a record costs money, selling a band costs money, selling anything costs money!  And most of us don’t have that kind of bread.  So on the plus side, yes you can do a cheap record and put it out easier these days, but it’s harder to sell it unless you’ve got a large bank balance.  There’s no record label that’s going to take a chance on you….

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

A worn out pair of running shoes.

SIMPLY SIX: Paul Kloschinsky

Paul Kloschinsky is a singer/songwriter from  Canada.

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?

Although I played in Rock bands when I was young, the defining moment for me would be in 1990 in Toronto when I checked out Bob Dylan and heard his song "Its Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)". It inspired me to be ambitious about my songwriting and to pursue a career as a singer songwriter. 

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

    

     Bob Dylan, Robert Johnson, Led Zeppelin, U2, Howlin' Wolf, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Glenn Gould.

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

    Winning the 2007 MusicAid Award for Best Canadian Songwriter. 

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

   

I think music, like the other arts, can be instrumental in raising awareness of social injustice, and can hopefully sometimes influence decision makers to make changes. 

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

Technology has revolutionized the production and selling of music. My career would not be possible without quality home studio equipment and world wide distribution on the internet. Independent artists now have many opportunities to promote their work online, that were non existent 10-15 years ago.

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

I'd probably be a pair of cowboy boots. 

SIMPLY SIX: Theresa Andersson

I just posted her video yesterday and today I get her answers to the Simply Six. Put simply Theresa Andersson is one of my favorite performers. And if you ever get a chance to see her live make it a point to go. She puts on one of the best live shows I've seen.

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 think I've always known that I wanted music to play a major role in my life. At the age of 7 one of my friends entered a talent contest and I felt deeply jealous because I didn't know about it and had to wait another year to sign up.

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

Nina Simone, Duke Ellington, Air, Aphex Twins and Wildbirds and Peacedrums at the moment.

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

My most recent record "Hummingbird, Go!" really feels like an artistic arrival for me.

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

Well I think music can have a theraputic and inspiring quality. We all listen to music in a different way, so I can only speak for myself. I cannot imagine a world without music. I do like movies that are quiet though ( must be my Strindberg influence).
I once bought an iPod because of the song in the commercial.....

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

If by technology you mean the Internet I say it's been fantastic! Sites such as YouTube makes it possible for the independent artist to showcase her stuff without first bring judged by a small panel. It let's the people decide. And THAT is a beautiful thing.

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

A comfortable yet stylish shoe made out of high quality leather. I would be made for walking. I would be hugging the foot of my bearer and supporting her weight putting a spring in her step.
My color would be chocolate.