InDisguise is a mixture of sounds ranging from Volbeat, Godsmack, Stone Temple Pilots, and Black Label Society. They are currently taking New Jersey by storm and were recently on the Johnny P show performing and being interviewed. Check it out around the 44 minute mark.
InDisguise is currently in full rotation on the Metal Mayhem Radio Show by Matt O'Shaughnessy on WVOX 1460am. Metal Mayhem will also be world premiering their album Ashes Divide when the album is finished.
August 25th InDisguise will be performing with Pool of Thorns at Dingbatz.
Face The King is a rapidly growing rock band from Long Island that is making waves with a slew of big shows and the release of their latest EP, The Burning & The Falling Down.
The band is entering the studio again this month to bring forth their new musical venture to the masses and are very excited to do so.
The band recently became involved in the "I95: Rumble At The Room" contest, where they are competed for supremacy over some of their peers at the Room in Brookfield, CT and won. A&R judges from EMI Records will be judged the bands and they received free recording time at the Factory Underground.
So be sure to check out the alternative/indie sounds of Face The King and get to know them right before they blow up.
INTERVIEW Where'd you guys get the name from?
It was a dark and stormy night when a single bolt of lightning struck the
ground and left the words Face The King burned in the ground. How
dramatic is that!!! We got the band name from a song that I wrote for a previous
band. The idea comes from that time when you feel you need to answer to
a higher power for the life you have led. More specifically it is the
time before that - when you have to face yourself before you answer to anyone
else. I still like the lightning story.
Describe your style of music and what makes
the band stand out among others?
I think we are a alternative rock band at the core of it. The music we
write is very theatrical and dramatic. It takes you somewhere from start
to finish. We understand that the music is as important as the
lyrics. But what makes us stand out the most is where we all are rooted
as musicians. Each one of us individually is comfortable with a different
style of music. The end result of combining all those styles is Face The
King. We have heard from bands that we play the music they want to play but
they don't because they play what they think will make them famous. We
stand out because we play the music we want to play - getting famous would be a
bonus.
I hear many different influences in your
music, how do you feel the "modern" up and coming rock band within
your genre is evolving?
I think that the modern up and coming rock band is being pushed into the unique
blend of a produced and raw sound. Studio magic is great for some bands -
but there are bands that are coming around that are better live than in the
studio. I think we are on the verge on seeing the opposite of what has
happened to music. So many bands sounded great in the studio these past
years. Then you see them live and they let you down. It is an
illusion. Now - there are bands that sound great on record and understand
that they need to be better live. The modern rock band is learning what
it takes to put on a show.
What was it like working with Steve Haigler
and why do you feel the album is the band's big break?
Working with Steve can be summed up in a great saying that he repeated time and
time again in the studio. Steve pushed us to the point of tears. I
honestly think I saw Joey curled up in the fetal position in the corner -
rocking back and forth - wishing he had never stepped into the studio.
Steve would say to us "Let's piss on some trees." This
translates to - leave your mark. Once your music is released - it can not
be taken back. I think that Steve helped us all learn that concept.
As for the big break part - I don't think we go in thinking that this album is
going to make us huge. We go in to make the best record. You hope
at the end that you feel as though the music has a shot of being the band's big
break. If you don't get that feeling - you should be working harder in
the studio and go and higher Steve.
How does the song writing process work, and
what goes into perfecting and mastering the song?
We have a formula for song writing:
Eric + Dan x Anthony + Joey - Ego = Song
How great would that be if that worked? Honestly, the song writing
experience starts like a good conversation. Someone starts and you hope
everyone is interested enough to contribute. Dan says that the songs come
together faster and easier in this band than in any other he has played.
I agree with that. When the song begins to take shape - that is when we
break it down. We make it as great as we possibly can. Sometimes we over
think it and go back to the start. Sometimes we just let come out and
never question it. The rule of thumb is that the song is never done until
it goes to tape. And even after that - things can change for the live
show.
What's a Face the King live performance like?
It is pretty mediocre at best.
Actually the thing I am most proud of is our live show. We sound good on
record because we sound great live. We put our all into every show.
Each show is the most important show we are going to play. We bring the
audience on stage to sing. We talk to the crowd as if we were sitting
around the dinner table. Somewhere in between we play music for our
fans. Face The King believes in the show - from the moment we get on
stage - until the last note. At the end of the show we want you to want
to see and hear more. The comment that we hear a lot is that your sound
is too big for this venue. You should be playing arenas. Someday I
think that will happen - but we are definitely enjoying the ride.
Tell me about the z100 contest and what does it mean for the band if successful? The Z100 Hometown Hero contest is where bands and solo artists compete against one another to play a slot at this year’s Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden. The performance takes place in the garden’s Coca Cola Access Lounge. There is an A list panel of judges including the program director of Z100, and the presidents of both Universal Republic and RCA Records. The top acts are determined by the listeners/fans. Our main goal with entering the contest was to enter the top 25, since it allows us gain great exposure. It also ensures that high-end people in the business will be reviewing our music. Due to the immense and much appreciated support from our fans, we successfully made the top 25, placing 11th out of 400 competitors. Now we play the waiting game, where they will choose 5 finalists from the top 25 to enter a final round of voting. If a rock band such as us were chosen to play for a pop contest, I would be shocked for words. It would only mean greater things for the band if successful. Wish us luck!
What's the band's biggest rockstar
moment/biggest failure?
The biggest rock star moment hands down was when Anthony dove into the crowd
naked. That never happened. I would have to say that the moment
that made us feel like we were on the right path was the first time we saw the
crowd filled with fans - not friends - singing the words to all of our
songs. You never think about that - and when it happens - you can't stop
thinking about it.
As for the biggest failure - I would have to say not quitting our old
bands sooner - so we could have started Face The King earlier.
What
are the future goals for the band and what can we expect next?
Right now we are working on the next EP. It has to be bigger and better
than everything before it. To be blunt though - we would all like to play
music full time. That is our goal - to support ourselves with our music.
Also - to use the WaWa coupons that were sent to us by WaWa's corporate office
for the poem I wrote on our website. This might also be up there for the
biggest rockstar moment. If you think that is strange - it means you have
never been to a WaWa.
Anything you would like to add?
One last thing - this next EP is being written by Face The King and by
fans. What I mean is that the lyrics are being inspired or are being
written from the words of our fans. If you have a story or a poem that
you think would be a great song - send it to us. We have told our story
and now we want to tell yours. You can send it to our email: facethekingmusic@gmail.com.
Every once in awhile I do an interview that makes me say, "Wow thanks for being so cool, honest, and open." This is definitely one of those. Readers, this is Tiger Darrow. She has an amazing voice and is also a talented violinist, cellist, guitarist, and pianist. Oh yeah, did I mention she's an actress too? She has done work in the Spy Kids Series, and recently did the musical score for Machete. So read through the interview and learn a little more about Tiger. Scroll to the bottom to check out her musical links and IMDB page.
I see according to IMDB your actual name is Jacqueline. Where'd the Tiger come from?
When I was little, I really wanted to be a veterinarian. When I was looking through a National Geographic magazine (I totally had a subscription, no big deal), I decided that I really loved tigers and thought that it would be really cool if "Tiger" was my name instead of "Jacqueline." I was three years old when I made that decision and it stuck! I’ve used it professionally, and personally, ever since.
How did you get into acting? How did you get into music?
My parents met while working on a play together, and my mom was an acting teacher for several years at the State Theatre in Austin. I was exposed to the acting world REALLY early on. When I was about seven years old, my mom asked me if I would like to try acting. Up to that point, I had been doing a lot of dance (Irish Dance, tap, ballet) and had played violin for a few years. I've always been open to trying out the different areas of the arts (and I still am), so I said yes and signed with her agency, Acclaim Talent. I've gotten to work on tons of great projects and I’ve met some really amazing people through all of the film work I've done.
As far as music goes, I started playing violin when I was about two years old, but I always told my parents that I REALLY wanted to play cello. We decided to hold off on the whole cello thing for a while, which worked out just fine because I didn't really get to work on music as much when I started dancing and acting. My uncle, Allan Hayslip, got me my first guitar when I was about seven. I took a few lessons, but didn't really start songwriting until I was twelve. I moved to Dallas when I was 14, and I had written enough songs for an album, so I sat in my grandparent's living room with my laptop and a condenser mic and tried my best to get good recordings of all of my songs. After I had everything recorded, I released my self-titled, debut album. Since then, I've learned so much about writing, recording, and engineering that I'm a little embarrassed about that first album...
How are acting and music similar, how are they different?
Acting and music are both performance-driven. Just as an actor on stage or film must embody their character, a musician must "sell" his or her songs when he or she performs. In order to connect with your audience, or have an impact, your audience has to believe the story you're telling them. It doesn't matter if you're acting, singing, or playing an instrument. You have to LIVE it for those three and a half minutes. You're in a vulnerable position in both situations because you're putting yourself "out there" in such a way that people can openly criticize you. You really have to be strong for that. Really, their only difference is that you don't particularly need to be able to sing for acting. I think it’s helpful to know a little about acting when performing music.
What is your style of music, and who is/are your musical inspirations?
To be completely honest, I don't think I know what my style is yet. It keeps evolving. I like to think that the songs I write are produced in a way that enhances the story I'm trying to tell. For example, the song "Machines" from my album You Know Who You Are is very slick and borderline "electronica" because I wanted the song to have a mechanical feel. However, my song "Takes Time" is very stripped down and less produced because I wanted it to have the exposed, vulnerable feel of a broken heart. I get musical inspiration from everyone and everything around me, but specific musicians I draw my inspiration from include Danny Elfman, Imogen Heap, U2, Regina Spektor, and MuteMath.
Say you have the chance to share a song with anyone in the world. Who is it and why?
I think I’m already sharing my music with the people who I want to share it with: anyone who listens. Every song I write is about something or someone that/who is important to me, so every story is relatable. What I love more than anything is hearing that my music has, in some way, helped someone or moved someone, so I try to share it with everyone I can.
Tell me a little bit about your new albums, and why people should listen to you?
My new albums are pretty different from each other. Hello was co-written with and produced by Cary Pierce. I did everything on You Know Who You Are completely on my own (writing, recording, engineering, etc). While Hello is more easily classified as "pop," I'm not sure about the genre of You Know Who You Are because it's a crazy meshing of different styles. Some people have referred to it as my "experimental" album because I played around with all sorts of different genres. What I'm really proud of in my music is that what I write is genuinely from my heart. The idea behind You Know Who You Are is that every song was written about someone in my life, and if they were to listen to the album with that in mind, they could figure out which song is about them. Because of this, I like to think that my music is easy for people to relate to. I would love for people to be able to use my music as a source of inspiration to help them get through difficult times or celebrate happy times.
How do you know Mason Taylor of A'tris and what was the experience like of working on a song with him?
I met Mason in 2008 at a songwriting workshop at Berklee College of Music and got to see A'tris perform as a part of the program. After that, we became friends on Facebook and emailed back and forth. I made a silly little video of a cover I did of "Automatic Doors" and Mason sent back a cover of the song I wrote for Born Free Foundation, "Beautiful Release." After exchanging a few more covers, we decided we should collaborate, so he sent me an A'tris's "song a week" song, "Letter From Home" for me to play cello and sing harmony on. After that, we collaborated on the cover A'tris released called "A Million Hungry Eyes" by Jonathan Seet. I love collaborating with other artists because you never know how your ideas will mesh with the other musician's. While you can hear each musician's influence in a collaborative effort, the sound as a whole is new. On top of that, A’tris has been very supportive of my music and gave me a lot of artistic freedom when recording my parts of the songs we worked on. I love having that freedom within collaborations.
Where do you hope to be in five years time?
Hopefully, in five years I will have finished my undergrad work, and maybe I’ll be playing shows all around the country or scoring films. I’m going to NYU's Steinhardt School for music composition and theory in hopes of having a focus on film scoring. The scoring that I got to do for Machete was such an awesome experience, I would love to work on more projects like that.
If you had to live without being involved in movies or being involved in music, which would it be?
That's a really tough question. I'm going to New York University for music composition and theory with a focus on film scoring, so I can't really imagine not being involved with both music and film in some sort of way.
What is your coolest film experience, and what does your acting future hold?
I've gotten to work on a lot of really cool films, so I'm not sure I can choose one particular experience that especially stands out. I’ve been involved with Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids series since I was eight years old. He’s a huge inspiration for me and I’ve learned a lot about the film industry and the hard work and drive it takes to accomplish your dreams from him. He, his crew, and the studios created a great environment to grow up in. It allowed me to learn from an early age how to be professional, but it also encouraged my creativity. I give Robert Rodriguez and Troublemaker Studios a lot of credit for who I am today as a professional.
Now I do whatever acting comes my way, but I'm not necessarily "pursuing" acting work as much as I am my music.
What's been your biggest rock star moment as a musician so far, and what's a goal/dream of yours?
Recently, I got to open for Erykah Badu at a fundraiser for my high school, Booker T. Washington HSPVA. The concert was set up in our brand new theater and her engineer ran sound for me, so it sounded so full and rich. The audience was amazingly responsive. That night, it was just me with my guitar, so I was a little bit nervous, but once I started playing, I was so comfortable with everyone in the auditorium, even though I couldn’t see them. I’ve had some awesome shows, but this was especially memorable.
As far as dreams and goals go, at some point, I would LOVE to collaborate with U2. I really appreciate the thought they put into their music and I love their sound, not to mention how powerful Bono’s voice is. They’re a band I really look up to. I wore my “stand up to rock stars” tank top until the letters faded. I need a new one!
If you could give one piece of advice to young people interested in the arts, what would it be?
Being successful in the arts takes a lot of patience and a lot of hard work. I've learned that one really has to be open to taking criticism and experimenting. I've also learned that it's good to try to go out of your comfort zone in your art to see where it takes you.But most of all, it really all takes time. Success doesn’t come over night. Just like everything else, you get out of it what you put in to it, so if you’re willing to work hard and give it your all and understand that success is not an instant thing, you’ll probably be happy with your results.
Anything else you want to ad or talk about?
Yes! I'm really excited to announce that I have a gig in New York at The Bitter End on June 16th at 8 PM. It'll be my New York debut, so I'm really looking forward to it! You can find information about tickets here:http://www.bitterend.com/or call(212) 673-7030.
A once icon of snowboarding and extreme sports, Trevor Andrew, is now trying to become a legend in another realm, music.
After a tragic injury in 2004, Andrew was faced with the reality that pro snowboarding was no longer an option. His then girlfriend and now wife, Santigold, encouraged him to try his hand at music. Using the resources available to him through his wife, he was able to create a unique hybrid of electro, hip-hop, and punk infused indie music.
Andrew's new album Dreams of a Troubled Man, is a good mix of every genre he is trying to touch upon. It has the raw gritty sound and quality of an indie record while at the same time touching on an underground rap album feel. There are elements of catchy almost dub step like beats, over pop hooks and catchy guitar riffs.
The single worthy songs of the album are definitely "Newkid" with it's droning beat and sing-a-long to chorus, and "Oh No" which is an uptempo poppy force to close off the album.
Other danceable tracks include "Global Trouble" and "Flaunt It" which will remind you of a sexy "lust after that girl" kind of song.
Overall the nine tracks of the album are solid, and it is an easy listen through. Trevor Andrew is sure to pocket a ton of new underground unique eared listeners with his supporting shows of Dreams of a Troubled Man at SXSW. So from rocking the slopes to now rocking the mic, Trouble Andrew seems to be only "troubling" the listener who is trying to pin point his original style.
It seems indie music is making its way from the underground hipster crowds and finding its way into the mainstream. The word indie, used to stand for independent, now it's just another style trend. Everywhere you look, these "indie" groups are popping up ranging from dark electronica to trippy inspired Beatles like tunes. The first indie groups that really took flight were, Weezer and Radiohead. Now you have groups like MGMT, and the upcoming Graffiti6 gaining momentum- not to mention all the indie inspired rap in the mid west.
Perhaps the coolest thing about these bands is their ability to be like "you." What is greatly missing from their music is the rock star glitz and glam. These bands are aiming for people just like them. The music is passionate, raw, and most importantly, different. It's bands like these that are now starting to shine and gain their proper due.
Interview with Mason Taylor of A'tris
(L to R) Nate Lueck (guitars and Bass), Ben Azar (Guitars), Mason Taylor (vocals and keys), Travis Abel (Drums) Photo by: Elizabeth Budd
One of these such bands, is A'tris, who are generating a buzz on the indie circuit through college radio and the Internet. Don't look for any meaning behind the name, singer and front man Mason Taylor says, "We wanted it to be a word like Google. It could be a noun, a verb, or an adjective; but, regardless of its function, we aim for it to be synonymous with great experiences." He describes their sound as similar to Radiohead and REM, but distinctly their own thing.
Mason, a former student and music major at Berklee College, started the band in 2003 upon meeting Mike Kreher in his music writing class. Kreher became Mason's writing partner and musical mentor, as well as band manager and ideas guy. The only thing Mike doesn't do, is travel with the band and perform. "He's in the band and just as important as anyone else, except he's behind the scenes," said Mason. Taylor handles all the vocal duties, co-writes the songs, leads the social media charge, and plays piano. The other members of the band have rotated frequently, but one of the mainstays has been the guitarist, Nate Lueck who has been with the band for about three years and just finished a national tour opening for Meatloaf.
A'tris has been touring about once a year, and averages about a CD a year. There debut CD, Appeal, was released in 2005. Their second release was in 2007, an EP entitled, Commons. The most recent full length, Lensing, came out in 08 and featured their biggest single to date "Automatic Doors." The video was featured on MTV a few times, and gained a lot of plays on the college radio circuit. Purchase Lensing and Appeal here.
They have done all they can to get noticed, but Mason says, "The future is in placement. The newer A'tris music is more commercially viable." If a band can crack the walls of radio, TV, or movies, it opens a big door of opportunity. In addition to this, Mason is constantly using social networking to reach out to people. "Social media is tough because everyone can use it, but I use these sites to make friends. My ultimate goal is to one day pay the bills with music, so I have to do whatever it takes." Taylor says A'tris has never been on a label, but instead uses "structured partnerships." In this way, they aren't tied down to anything by contract, but still have some security in what they are doing.
Recently, Mason moved from the Boston area the band was originally located in, to New York. He feels the opportunities in the city are bigger. As of right now the band isn't playing shows. They are working on a college campaign tour, and are only playing shows of significance. They are biding their time for when a tour is a feasible. They are trying to build a local support in NYC, to have a strong backing before they hit the road.
And speaking of the road, Mason has plenty of great stories, just ask him. The tours are set up by Mike, and their first time out they hit 25 states. Taylor aims for about five or six shows a week, and sometimes doubles up on days. To save money they usually sleep in the van, but on occasion a stranger lets them in for the night. "Touring has a way of humbling you. I always feel like, when I come back from the road, I am a better person. At the very least, I'm a more worn-out version of myself," he says.
(L to R) Ben Azar, Mason Taylor, Nate Lueck, Travis Abel Photo by: Elizabeth Budd
Sometimes things on tour don't always work out, and other times they are a success. Regardless Mason takes it in stride and believes in some way there is a bigger purpose for everything. He looks at all the positives the band has accomplished like: "Automatic Doors" being on MTV, or being in the top half of popular Reverbnation artists. They have even been the top band on Ourstage.com, and were in the top 100 for radio bands.
Some of the more memorable things about being in A'tris have been, "When I see someone in the crowd connect with the music from the stage. It makes it all worth while." One particular moment that was almost a failure but wound up being really cool was, "At a show, all the sound went off and would not turn back on. We made the set acoustic and I loved it. The only real failures I've experienced have been in my personal life," Mason said jokingly.
Mason's hope is that in five years A'tris will be able to tour abroad and go to other countries. "I'm looking forward to sharing our music with new audiences and look forward to seeing where it takes me," he said. As for the immediate future, he plans on having A'tris do something really big but Internet based. "So tune in, we have some really cool stuff in the pipeline."
My Pet Dragon, consisting of Todd Michaelsen and Reena Shah are just a small part of a new wave of music that is taking over the undergrounds of music. Blending the sounds of indie pop, electronica, and various folk and rock incarnations, MPD is sure to conceive raw emotion and power to the listening ear. A band not only known for its unique name, but also its revolutionary music, is trying to break into a music world as diverse as their sound.
Here is the interview-
(For Todd) Why did you quit college for music? What was the plan?
Well I left school because I pretty much knew I was wasting my time. I was writing and recording music when I should have been in class. When everyone was studying, I was in the laundry room where the acoustics were good, strumming away, writing songs. I had major tunnel vision. Music totally consumed me and most of my friends at school were musicians. At that time the basic plan was to get to New York City and soak it all in without fear. I had no real clue what I was doing but New York was always calling from the time I was a kid visiting my uncle in the EastVillage in the 80's. Luckily my uncle still lived there and told me "to come on down" and gave me his couch for awhile. I just knew I had to be there.
After taking a life changing trip to India, how did the culture shape you as a musician? What was the experience like?
My trip with Reena to India opened me up as a person in ways I cannot fully explain. I guess it ultimately affects the music you create. I was astounded to see how happy certain people were with no material possessions or wealth. The incredible beauty and diversity of India's people, religions, and cultures is something you must see to believe. India is "Life Concentrated" I wrote "The Painter", the second day I was there, (song off of MPD's First Born record). It just flowed in about 10 minutes.
But what I truly learned in India is that people are people everywhere. We are all the same in the end, no matter where we are from. It’s just nice to see how people live in different parts of the world. I don't think we appreciate the little things enough sometimes. The simple beauty of an Indian-Garland vendor in the middle of chaotic city is something quite remarkable. A Jain temple on a mountain top with thousand-Year old artwork carved into every corner will always be etched into my memory. Getting engaged on the black sand beach of the Arabian Sea is a sacred moment. A child without a limb begging in Mumbai is also something you will not forget. The world is terrifying, confusing, yet gorgeous and inspiring at the same time. That is India.
What's funny about my musical style is that I was actually playing "Indian" sounding music before my trip to India and well before I met anyone in New York that was playing that kind of "OM" sound. I was into bands like The Beatles, Tool, The Deftones, and The Smashing Pumpkins. All those bands at some point blended east and west.
How does the music and dance duo work? How does this work live and what is a live show like? I would say that Reena's role in the band is to be herself. If she wants to dance while she sings along with me, great, if she wants to play percussion, then great. Whatever works best for the music is my only rule. My Pet Dragon is not about doing what everyone else does. I don't want to make anyone in my band express themselves in ways that are disingenuous. My Pet Dragon is about being yourself and being one with the music. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to sing along with us, sing. If you want to scream, scream!!! We are not posing. We are not going for that "brass ring". All the pain and joy we feel, you will see it come out at our show. We want to create a moment where the music moves us and maybe we lose ourselves in that moment... and we hope you feel that too.
Where'd the name come from? The name My Pet Dragon came from an imaginary friend I had as a child. I would fight this giant creature every night before I went to bed. I'd line up all my stuffed animals and GI Joe's on my bed and we'd battle this laser eyed monster to the death. The next night he was somehow resurrected and we'd go at it again. It helped me sleep. That was the original "my pet dragon". Although some of our fans suggest it is some phallic reference or something....it is in fact, not.
(For Reena) What's your background in the arts of dancing and acting, and where did this interest come from?
I have always been interested in the Arts as I was exposed to it at a very early age. My parents are true supporters of artists. They would host and attend music parties where they would listen to professional musicians from India. They would stay up into the late hours of the night with their friends and sing Indian devotional songs as well as songs from Bollywood movies.
At the age of 4, my mother took me to Classical Indian Dance Classes for Bharatha Natyam, taught by the Late Indian Film Actress & Dancer, Padmini Ramachandran, where she started the Padmini Institute of Fine Arts in New Jersey in the 1980's. I was one of her 1st students. I graduated from the Institute in 1991 with my Arengetram at the age of 13 and became a Professional Classical Indian Dancer. I was also involved with Indian Dance Troupes, traveling throughout the United States and Canada. I am also a Traditional Indian Folk Dancer in the dance styles of Garba plus Raas (Gujarat) and Bhangra (Punjab).
Acting was always a part of my dancing as Bharatha Natyam is also about storytelling through facial expression, body movement, and rhythmic dance steps. I acted in every school play in Middle School and High School in my hometown in New Jersey and sang and danced in the musical productions as well. My senior year of high school, I was a part of an Advanced Acting Class with only 5 students at NewarkAcademy. My teacher Mr. Scott Jacoby really gave me an opportunity to explore all aspects of the art of acting. When I graduated from NewarkAcademy, I received the McGraw-Hill Arts Award for contributing to multiple arts disciplines and the National Choral Award from Mrs. Julie Jacoby, my amazing Choral Instructor.
I enjoy being able to play a wide variety of characters and telling stories that will resonate with the audience. I have been fortunate to be a part of many different film, dance, theater, art, and music projects that tell profound stories of the experiences of our lives from many different cultures. It’s through these projects that I have been able to create a dialogue about the world we live in and how we can make it a better place for all of us. We are One.
Being a part of My Pet Dragon is quite incredible as I have the opportunity to explore Todd's music through my own interpretive dance movement loosely based on the Classical Dance style of Bharata Natyam. I enjoy singing with this band as well. Todd's music lyrically explores many different themes that I love to visually translate. It’s a spiritual experience for me when I perform with My Pet Dragon... whether I am singing or dancing, I know that being in the moment with his music, both the live sound and his words, gives me hope for the future.
How would describe your music? What do you want it to be?
My Pet Dragon music to me is a combination of everything I've ever listened to. I hear classic rock, post rock, electronic, folk, pop, psychedelic, 80's dance, 90's rock etc, etc. It covers many emotions but ultimately that tension/release melodic kind of rock music perfected by bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, U2, and David Bowie... that is where my heart is. I can't deny it. I dig what I dig, soaring vocals and guitars.
What I want it to be is pure energy. I am learning everyday new ways to express myself and expand my music. Sometimes that means making it simpler too. Look at Neutral Milk Hotel. Most of those songs have 3 or 4 chords but it’s the way they sung and how much heart is put into the lyrics. Neil Young too is another hero. That guy can break your heart with one note on his guitar. That’s what I aim for... total expression in the moment.
How'd you get involved with, "Gimme that Sound Productions"?
I got involved with Stephen George of Gimme That Sounds through a mutual friend in Chicago. Hillel Frankel of Novo Arts brought us out to Chicago a few years ago for a series of shows. He loved my music but thought I needed a better mix on my recordings. He introduced me to Stephen George in New York, who had an extensive resume and experience with just about every genre of music there is. Stevo, as we call him, is an amazing engineer and studio wiz. We did a demo together of "Lover in Hiding" at his new studio in the Catskills and it sounded so good we decided to finish a record and put it out on his new label - Gimme That Sound Productions.
What's the response to your music like?
The response to our music so far, has been very exciting to us. Most of the blog reviews of our songs released so far have been very positive and compare us to a variety of bands... most of which I agree with. Our live shows are very intense and if we have an audience ready for that energy then it’s going to be a magical night. Most shows, people sing along with us during our choruses... especially in songs like "Moonshine". We have certain fans that are keeping track of our set lists and traveling to see us in different cities. So that is when you know you are connecting. It’s exciting to us after all the work we put in to see that response.
Sita Sings the Blues, tell me about this.
"Sita Sings the Blues" is an award-winning animated film by Nina Paley that blends an Indian folk tale with an American break up story. The film uses classic 1920's Jazz recordings by Annette Hanshaw to tell the heart-breaking tale. It’s trippy, funny, and heartfelt. I composed the film's score and composed original songs. Reena played the voice of Sita and sang one of the songs. Matt Groening from the Simpson’s actually named "Sita Sings the Blues" one of his favorite films. Nina Paley is a total genius and created something you can't quite categorize. She actually put out the film for free; Radiohead style. The result of that was it gave fans direct access to all things "Sita Sings the Blues". People have hosted their own screenings around the world in their living rooms. It was incredibly fun to be a part of that film and I hope to do more of them in the future in between MPD albums.
My Pet Dragon plans to release a full length in early 2011.
