Simply Six: Amanda Marie

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’ve been very fortunate in my music career over the past 22 years! I started professionally singing when I was 8 years old, as I was trained classically & performed in my first musical; “The Wizard of Oz”!  Then, at the young age of 10, I toured the Caribbean waters with Norwegian Cruise Line, where I performed the lead role of Tootie in “Meet Me in St. Louis” & was featured in the Broadway review show, “Sea Legs Goes Hollywood”.  I currently study voice with Ron Anderson, of Anderson Vocal Productions.  Ron’s the entertainment industry’s “go-to-guy” for Selena Gomez, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Joss Stone, just to name a few.  Ron has stimulated & refined my passion for performing music enveloping my classical vocal training!  From all of these great events in my life, my musical spark exploded last year when I had a private vocal session with American Idols’ Randy Jackson & Kara DioGuardi. They both encouraged me to pursue my unique music style as a balladeer: light & airy adult contemporary with a classical flavor.  From this experience, I knew without a doubt that my life & future was to be centered around music, as it feeds my soul in a way that nothing else can!

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

My musical tastings are very eclectic! Some of my favorites are:  Susan Boyle, Eva Cassidy, Josh Groban, Indigo Girls, Harry Connick, Jr., Sara Bareilles, Coldplay, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Journey, U2, Norah Jones, Weezer, Mariah Carey, Ella Fitzgerald, Stephanie J. Block!

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

A great moment in my musical career so far, was when I was chosen by Minder Music, Ltd., an independent music publishing company based in London, to be a demo singer for Susan Boyle!  When I found out that it was my voice that Susan would be hearing on a song that the company was pitching to her & her team, I was super excited; I couldn’t believe it was my voice she would hear!!!  Also, I love that Susan Boyle has gained notoriety as she is a true talent & deserves all of her success!

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

Yes, I definitely believe that music can change the world!  Music is so universal, as it speaks to people in a way, that I believe nothing else really can!  Many times in my life, music has been a place of escape for me, as well as a foundation & I believe it can do the same for others! This is why I believe my voice can “calm & feed the soul”, as well as a place of serenity!

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

Technology is a funny thing, as it is both a blessing & a curse!  It’s a blessing in the fact that technology has come so far & has made the music business what it is today & over the past 10+ years.  We need it to record music, promote music, sell music & to survive in this business.  I feel it’s a curse in some ways, because it’s changed the music scene of today & over the past few years, as the music industry has become so electronically driven.  We are starting to see a rise again in live musicians & I think that’s a great thing! I used all live musicians on my debut EP, “Amancipation”, as the players on my album are some of the best in the music scene today!

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

Wow, this is such a great question, especially since I’m a shoe addict; no joke, I’d rather buy shoes than eat a meal!! You can even see me lying in some of my shoes, in the picture on the back of my album cover (see below).  Well I must admit that I LOVE my gray Rainbow sandals & chocolate brown UGG boots, but one of my favorite pairs of shoes are my champagne color Via Spiga heels, as they are comfy, classic & even have rhinestones on the straps!  These shoes are simple elegance with beautiful craftsmanship from Italy & a must-have for any shoe lover!! J

Simply Six: J-Punch and Dave Moonshine

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?

We knew we wanted to make music when we saw Nirvana on the Ed Sullivan Show.

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

Nirvana, Weezer, Beck, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Hum, Placebo, The Cardigans, Liz Phair, Arcade Fire, The Pixies, Massive Attack, Lonely Island, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Silversun Pickups, Doves, Bjork, Pinback, House Music.

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

(DAVE) Recording an album in the same music studio Michael Jackson had used, with the same engineer the Foo Fighters were working with. It lasted about 2 weeks, off and on. The studio smelled like egg rolls, and I had a 102 degree fever. Either that, or when a tube amp gives nice feedback on stage, and people think I'm doing it on purpose.
(JUSTIN) - When "Temple," became the #2 song on the MUSIC CHOICE electronica station on my television. That felt awesome.

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

I don't think music "changes" the world. It's a part of the world already. It is one of the more pleasant aspects of the natural course of human events. It does appear to alter mindsets and emotions, though that effect, as well as the existence of the music, is likely fated to have existed, both from a spiritual and scientific perspective. If the "current event" is a volcano errupting, music has little to no effect. If the "current event" is a little kid crying or not crying, then music is likely to at least appear to influence that situation

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

All musical instruments and methods of recording or amplifying sound are forms of technology. Modern technology, specifically digitization of sound and computerization of the recording process has greatly increased the amount of music available to audiences. As such, the audiences have learned to make their own music. Now, basically everyone can make high quality sound experiences to share with others. Due to this, when we try to participate in this infinite miasma of sound, our contributions, however decent, are lost in the screech of the hive. "Technology" has both enabled and doomed our careers as musicians, in that it has allowed us to more effectively create music, but also created a system wherein we cannot profit reliably.

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

Converse All Stars.

Concert Review: Weezer

I’ve never been this close to a stage at a concert in my whole life, ever.  We had general admission tickets and, when the gates opened, just sort of sauntered up to the front row:

It was sweltering.

Though I have a few Weezer albums on my iPod, the Blue Album is the only one I’ve listened to substantially in the past decade and a half…I mean, it’s the one everyone has listened to substantially, right?

I don’t even think I officially owned the Blue Album—on cassette, no less—until college, now that I think about it.  The songs had been around long before that, though, and the lyrical self-loathing, the quirk, the rock, the all of it always resonated with me.  I don’t miss high school.  I do, though, miss being the exact age at the exact time songs like “Undone” were released that I could appreciate them the most.

And I wasn’t even one of the alterna-kids.  Yet, I’d made it through the 1990s and my life without seeing them in concert.

This show?  Took me back there.  Way back, to the school bus, to my car, to my dorm room, to friends I’ve not talked to in over a decade.  A concert really has never done that to this degree for me before.

Thus, by the time Rivers Cuomo ran out on stage wailing “Hash Pipe,” I was in full-on teenage-Holly mode—complete with the hair-slinging I used to do in my car on the way to school—thanks to my rapidly-growing-longer-but-probably-never-that-long-again hair.

And look at how close we were to the band!

And Rivers ran by and gave me five, and then later!  He splashed water on me!  I mean, he splashed water on all the people up front because he had several bottles of water up there he was slinging around.  But, at one point, he came around to our side of the stage and individually pelted the two cute girls to my right because, well, they were cute and obviously hot and sticky like the rest of us.  I looked up hopefully and he took pity on not-quite-as-cute-but-at-least-wearing-cute-glasses me, and that’s when an alternative legend looked into my eyes and threw water on me.

That’s also when I remembered that I had, indeed, once had a pretty good crush on Rivers Cuomo years ago, and also when I decided that I still did.  I mean…he’s manic and adorable:

I can’t give you a very good music-critic analysis of Weezer’s music through the years.  I just know they’ve been a steady backdrop for a long time, and Friday night brought it all together for me.  They did several songs from the Blue Album, a song or two from Maladroit andPinkerton and the Green Album, and some of their more recent hits, such as “Pork and Beans” and “I Want You To,” which featured some guy from Louisville who’d won a radio contest and got to sing (really well, I must say) onstage with the band.  They also did a Lady Gaga/MGMT cover mashup.

Energy out the wazoo, stellar musicianship, and years of memories.  One of the best and most fun shows I’ve seen in a long time, possibly ever.

HW

SIMPLY SIX: Strait Laces

Strait Laces are a group from Northern Ireland.


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?

A: As individuals, we have all been involved and exposed to music from a young age. Being influenced by music our parents listened to and from the endless stream of music videos on the TV. I think its every young guitarists dream to be a huge rockstar and experience all that goes along with that. We've all been in and out of bands since we were in our early teens, but I think the biggest inspiration to start Strait Laces was getting a taste of the Belfast music scene. Watching our friends perform to an adoring crowd. It seemed alot more achievable than playing a sold out stadium tour, so we thought we'd have a go.

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

A: All three of us have a fairly varied taste in music. Some of the bands that I think have influenced our sound our: Biffy Clyro, Weezer, Reuben,Manchester Orchestra, Brand New. The list is really far too long.

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

A: We've have had some great times as a band so far. We've been lucky enough to travel across to the mainland and play gigs in Liverpool, Manchester and London, all of which have given us a library full of great memories. I think I can safely say that the biggest and most exciting thing to happen us so far is getting the chance to play at SXSW. Getting to travel to Texas and play at an event such as SXSW is a huge opertunity for any young band. We are determined to work hard and make the most of the entire experience, but most of all we want to enjoy ourselves and have fun.

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

A: When we started out as a band we didn't give much thought to the content of our lyrics. Our early songs were mostly written about getting drunk and looking for girls. As we've matured as a band we have realised that we have a great platform to sing about things that really matter to us. We have recently written and recored a song called "kids like john need a hero". This song was inspired by a trip to WW1 memorials in Belgium andFrance, and tells of the struggle of young soldiers durung the war. I hope that people will be inspired or moved by the track, but I don't think it will change the world lol.

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

A: Having only been involved in the music industry recently its hard for me to tell how technology has had an affect. I think the biggest way technology helps us as a band is with the communication side of things. The internet and email have made it much easier for bands to communicate, with each other, with industry types and with venues and promoters.

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

A: If I were a pair of shoes, I think I'd be a pair of clogs, cause I'm hard as fuck!