Simply Six: Alex Chudnovsky

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?

Not really, there never has been a defining moment, it has been a gradual progression as a musician, from starting to play the electric guitar when I was 16 until now.
My drive has always been to share my music with people, and influence them through my music in a positive way.

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

To be honest, I don't really listen to much music, but when I do, I find myself listening to heavy metal, Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, Dream evil to name a few, I also enjoy listening to Russian music.  I very rarely listen to classical music myself.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?
Being nominated by APRA as the finalist making it into the last group of 20 - best up coming composers in Australia, out of about 3,500 entries from Australian composers.

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?   How much can music influence current events?
It can definitely have a big influence, in terms of influencing current effects, it's something that is hard to measure, but as a generality, music is a time stamp of emotion, just as a photograph is a time stamp of an image, music can capture the composers embedded emotion in the piece for ever . So music can definitely make people feel better, cheer them up and effect their daily lives in positive or negative ways.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician?
It has completely changed it, with the advent of the internet, it has given us musicians an opportunity to share our music with the world where in the past it went as far as demo tape in an envelope. Personally YouTube has been amazing for me, having 10 thousand plus subscribers and over 2.5 million views across my videos.. this simply would have not been possible in the previous decade.

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?
Freedom wins the day for me - Thongs (flip flops I think they call them in the states) or Barefoot

SIMPLY SIX: Verismo

Verismo is a trash metal outfit from New York.

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?


Yes, absolutely....My father decided to set up his small drumset in our new house's basement as soon as the building was completed (he had played in R&R bands in his youth)...I got really excited about that and just days later Freddy Mercury (Queens) passed away and there was The Memorial concert in Wembley stadium, London. I was listening to Metallica for a while at that point when they performed at this show....they blew me away....decision was made "I wanna be a drummer"... HUGE inspiration



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


I have been listening to the classic metal/hard rock records of course for a while, which hasn't stopped much, although I am always looking to discover some newer releases. Besides that I am very open to other styles as long as it's good music...Jazz, Funk, Classical...you name it



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


I guess that would be recording our first album, City Of Kings. Basically the drums and rhythm guitars for the entire record was recorded in ONE take, no repeats, overdubs or anything. That was a 10-song package, well rehearsed...the engineer couldn't believe it....LOL



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


Oh, music has great influence on ppl. I am not sure if it can change the world (that's politics) but certainly can state a point of view and that's mostly controversial to what's going on in the world. I'd rather say music, musicians are influenced by current events and we are expressing them broader and braver. Although music can get a person thru rough times!



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


Enormous effect on the industry. I believe it has great potential in the near future but it hasn't been really figure out yet. Established acts have advantage of the system since they have a huge fan base that they can reach online without record labels and such but for newer acts it's very hard to get recognition. We're going thru some serious transition which is pretty difficult at the moment. Only the strongest and the best acts will survive.



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


Comfortable, long lasting and suitable for the job.

SIMPLY SIX: Nicholas Howard

Nicholas Howard is a singer/songwriter from New York.

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?

It was a moment about 5 years ago that I realized that I had to let this little voice out, that I had been pushing away, in trying to pursue other things. I took a step back and looked at the music I loved to be a part of and knew that I was the one that had to sing the words I was writing because it was my therapy, and because it was my therapy, it needed my own voice to make it feel right, to me. Also, at that point, there was a lot of crappy music coming out, and I think part of what drove me, was the need for the substance that we have been lacking. I'm trying to bring some of that substance to the table, and am thrilled that there is now, an emergence of the want for substance in other artists from the consumer market.

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

Lately I've been listening to a lot of 70's funk and soul, because my production partner plays a lot of it, but I can listen to it all. I love all kinds of music. I listen to Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Fela Kuti, Buena Vista Social Club, Metallica, System of a Down, Yo Yo Ma, Alice Smith, Janelle Monae, OutKast, Wu-Tang, Nas... I could go on, but I'll spare you.. :)

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

You mean, besides getting asked six questions by you? I think, one of the best times I had on record was singing with the choir on a song off my album called "Blood from a Stone" and singing and clapping and singing and clapping, inside the studio that Sly and the Family Stone recorded in, in LA.. That was pretty magical...

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

Music can most definitely change the world, and it saddens me that more artists don't stand behind causes in their music, or try to effect change with their words. We some times forget the power of our words and what they can mean to us AND other people. I think we could change our present set of circumstances if we just cared just a little bit more, and that is bigger than Music, yes, but Music is the key that unlocks all doors in this world. It's cliche to say, but it is truly a universal language, and if artists and musicians used their voices and instruments to move people socially, and not just on a dance floor, our world could be so much better.

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

Well, it's affected the record business in the obvious way but that was bound to happen, with all the bloated salaries and the overhead. Technology has been super impactful in my career as a musician, because truthfully, it's given an incredible avenue for musicians with small budgets to do some really great things, like talk to you! The downside is that there is a lot of stuff out there, for the good reviewers and critics like yourself to sift through to find the good stuff, if that's what we're calling my stuff today...

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

I'd be a sustainable pair of environmentally friendly sneakers that are totally grounded (no pun intended) and concerned with the well being and prosperity of the world and it's inhabitants, physically and otherwise.