Welcome to another amazing month of music from the incredible musicians that make up the Sonicbids.com community. We have got ten amazing musicians that will be speaking directly to the Skope readers. As always we encourage readers to dig deeper and check out their EPK’s.
Terri J. Stott
www.sonicbids.com/TerriJStott
Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
Terri J. Stott: It’s fantastic! It’s really an honor and a privilege to be selected by Skopemag.com. This magazine knows music and to be selected out of the many artists and musicians that submit means a great deal. My thanks go out to the Skopemag.com team.
Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
Terri J. Stott: I am promoting my music on various social networking sites. I have finally decided to release my own music. I have been told to do that by various folks many times and I feel ready now. Because I was a songwriter/producer, I had always focused on sending my songs to other artists or getting placements but the Do It Yourself (DIY) approach really appeals to where I am right now. It’s exciting! I am writing a lot right now as well. I am also proud of allowing the use of some of my songs on some compilation charity CD’s where the proceeds from the sales go to support various charities. I am also excited about my international collaboration with an artist out of Norway which resulted in a remix of one of my songs.
Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
Terri J. Stott: I would say I write songs that can appeal to everyone. They are songs that grab you emotionally but yet have a commercial twist that grabs the listener. Between the lyrics and the music, and picking the right vocalist, my songs hopefully take you on a journey. I am inspired by my own life experiences and those of others so I get inspiration from anywhere. I put my heart and soul into those lyrics, melodies and music. You’ll hear songs that range from Pop, R&B and Soul. From the acoustic to heavy tracks…it truly depends on the song. I always say the members of my music team include a pen, deep thoughts and paper.
Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
Terri J. Stott: I am a songwriter/producer and not a performer. I had always loved music and have been a singer in the past. Life took over for a little while and then for some reason, one day, I felt compelled to write down a tune I had in my head. I then had to put it to music and looked for a studio. My career just went from there. I was back to creating music again but this time I was behind the scenes. I loved it because I was able to tell stories about different experiences. I was fortunate to win songwriting awards early in my career and then many times after that. I also was fortunate to get press which can be hard to do when you don’t perform. My long term plan is to be financially independent through my music whether it be DIY or song and licensing placements. I want to not only have sales nationally but internationally as well. I would also like to win a Grammy. :)
Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
Terri J. Stott: I am moved to write by emotional journeys through life. I like to tell stories about these journeys. I believe each part of the song; the lyrics, the vocals, the music, the melody, all help create that story. When I am writing I can almost visualize the song along with hearing it. Usually the lyrics and melody come at the same time. I love how you are able to put all those elements together to make this auditory art.
Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
Terri J. Stott: As I was saying before, I feel the DIY approach fits for where I am now. The digital age allows the musician to take their music directly to the consumer. You are able to build that relationship with the music lover without sacrificing your artistic point of view. I am always open to other opportunities outside of just the DIY such as song and licensing placements, but it’s a great day that an artist and musician does not have to wait for someone else to do it for them.
Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
Terri J. Stott: Please let your readers know about my upcoming CD. I am so excited to bring my artistic point of view to them. I will keep you posted but they can also get updates on my EPK and on www.myspace.com/terrijsmusic!
Graffix
www.sonicbids.com/Graffix
KG
www.sonicbids.com/musicbykg
Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
KG: I feel really lucky and honored; Skopemag.com has an openness to all kinds of music that I love.
Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
KG: I’ve been moving around a lot; I’m in South Africa at the moment. But I’ve been working on festival applications in Canada for 2010 and promoting my new website tzatzi.org
Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
KG: I would say my voice is probably the biggest feature on a lot of my tracks. I love the idea of fusion and the more I mature as a songwriter the more I try to envelop great influences from simple singer songwritery stuff to my south african heritage and roots. What sets me apart is that I’m essentially two cultures in one naturally I thrive off of great rhythm being from a South African background; I love music that gets people up and dancing; but with that I went to a posh english school and now that I’m living in Canada as well I’ve heavily influenced by modern music R&B pop etc. I love the combination. I find that I like to take a humourous approach to my songs…or they are dark and gloomy; I guess i’m an extremist of sorts; like the masks of comedy and tragey; that’s a bit dramatic. But I like to write about heartbreak and make it humourous; as well as going to deep dark and interesting places with it.
Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
KG: I always loved to sing and started writing very bad songs when I was about 10yrs old or so; they usually had to do with numbers or the alphabet or me! But once I hit 13 and the hormones and increased brain activity came along I began to write more seriously I had a book that I brought along with me constantly; I’d write my thoughts poetry whatever and then start setting them to music. My long term plans? I’m excited to tour the world. I just booked some great festivals in Ontario, Canada for the first time this year, so next year I’d like to expand to the rest of Canada and eventually my home country South Africa and then Europe and everywhere else. Right now I want to solidify my brand; do tons of blogging put out lots of great material and build a name for myself on the web. With lots of clout comes lots of opportunity.
Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
KG: When I’m writing music I like to run on pure instinct! Sure, the crafting and decoration of a song round out the process. But I love writing songs based on a gut feeling; usually I’m thinking something and some sort of catch phrase pops into my head when it’s something unique I’ll just write a few lines whatever comes to me. Sometimes I’ll leave it at that; if I’m at my keyboard or guitar I’ll start messing around with some chords I may have learned that day. For me the song is ALL about the mood. So if a movie is really inspiring I will be motivated off those emotions and that vibe to write something; I also like writing about things that my friends go through. There are no limits; as humans we thrive off of instincts, so anything that really touches me I act on.
Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
KG: The most exciting part of being a musician in the digital age is the chance for your music to reach fans all over the world. What I love most is how versatile and malleable music can become; fans can remix your music and send it off to the furthest corners of the world. I think it’s the most exciting time EVER to be a musician because the control and the power are totally in your hands. I love the thought of being able to engage your fanbase and to receive real time responses. Your music can become the vehicle for an online community.
Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
KG: My EP which is available on my websites www.musicbykg.coma and www.myspace.com/musicbykg and updates on my new website www.tzatzi.org
28 North
www.sonicbids.com/28North
Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
28 North: It feels awesome to know that so many other bands and promoters will hear about us through Skopemag. Since Skopemag is used not just by fans, but other bands, this is a great opportunity for us to hook up with some great up and comers around the country, and the globe!
Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
28 North: We have 2 albums we are selling all over the internet, including iTunes and CDbaby. We just played at the Dewey Beach Music Conference and CMJ which were amazing! We have a third album on the way, set to hit early 2010, we are so proud of this record. The self titled “28 North” was recorded in 4 days with live instrumentation and we really feel like we hit captivated our live energy is this record. We have already written our next two albums, which, by way of default are the tunes we play live now! We are playing in Nashville, we are playing all over Ohio, and New Years in New York City, just to name a few. As always, with 28 North, its tour, tour, tour, and write, write, write. We also have some BIG shows pending opening for some big acts, which I can’t say yet, but it will be on our website, www.28north.net.
Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
28 North: The vocals are one thing that set us apart. We are extremely tedious about our 3 and 4 part harmonies. We definitely combine a hard edge with a beautiful harmonious sound, giving intense dynamics throughout any given song. Also, the energy of a 28 North live show is something that is truly spectacular, anyone who finds themselves in the same city as us should do themselves, and us a favor, come check out a show! Also, with the eclectic musical backgrounds we all come from, Jazz, Metal, Jam rock, Classic Rock, Folk, Classical, and everything that is Pop, we try to infuse a great feel for pop sensibilities with top of the line musicianship. We write memorable songs with instrumental prowess to boot. Another thing that sets us apart is our tightness. Not just musically, but personally, we are best friends and the tightness of us personally coincides with the musical tightness. And lastly, and most importantly, we write songs, in the neo-classic sense. Hooks, chorus’s, verses, bridges, all the things that dreams are made of!
Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
28 North: We first started when Alex and I (Mike) met on the bus in 10th grade. We played guitars everyday till college, literally, and after 3 years of having bands, we went our separate ways, him to engineering school in Vermont, me to music school at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. This is where I met Tyler Bond, the premier drummer at Duquesne and native of Cleveland, Ohio. There was instant musical and personal chemistry and we were inseparable to this day. We started gigging around town, Alex heard our demo, dropped out of school, and then 28 North began. Jonathan Colman, our incredible bassist, who coincidentally was asked to join the band form day one (but declined), joined 28 North 2 years ago and its been heaven ever since. New songs, new arrangements of old songs, tours, road trips, interviews, all the good stuff we want. Long term plans, we want to play arenas, what else?
Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
28 North: Inspiration comes from so many places. Each song is different. Sometimes it comes from the inspiration to write, if that makes sense. We are inspired to create, so create we must. Lyrics can come from personal experience, books read, but more often than not, the inspiration comes from the thoughts within my own head.
Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
28 North: It is a game. The social networking is a game, and whoever is best at the game, gets the gold. If you can buckle down and figure out a way to get yourself thousands of MySpace plays and lots of Facebook chatter and twitter followers, that’s half the battle! The online existence of a band can really make or break them. It is a science that nobody has quite figured out, but everyone is on a similar playing field. Its like being at the foreground of a social experiment. It is awesome to know that people in different countries, that I know nobody in, are listening to 28 North!
Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
28 North: You can look forward to new songs, new riffs, awesome guitar solos, great shows, great albums, and in one word, EPIC things to come from Pittsburgh’s own, 28 North.
Tara Kalyn Norman
www.sonicbids.com/TaraKalynNorman
Article 66
www.sonicbids.com/Article66
Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
Article 66: It feels great! We work our tails off to promote our music, so it’s always nice when someone recognizes us and gives us a hand in spreading the word.
Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
Article 66: We’ve been writing a whole bunch of new material and we plan on releasing our next album in either late 2010 or early 2011. Our next album will be a concept album and we already have most of the material ready to go. We set the bar pretty high with our debut album, so we are shooting for the sky with this next one. It’s going to be a masterpiece and we’re really excited about it!
Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
Article 66: Our music is always evolving, but at the same time, we never forget our musical roots. It’s our connection to our musical roots that keeps our music consistent, even though it may be different. For Tony T. it’s blues, for Luca it’s funk rock and for Leo it’s prog rock. The sound we have incorporates all those genres and gives us a very unique and distinctive sound. This is true more so now then ever before because everyone in the band participates in the songwriting process.
Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
Article 66: We’ve all been playing our respective instruments for over 20 years. Tony T. and Leo have been working together musically for fifteen years and were in another band together for almost a decade before they formed Article 66. This band has no intention of ever stopping because as far as we are concerned, life without making music is not a life worth living.
Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
Article 66: Tony T. is the principal songwriter and he writes almost all of the lyrics for our music. When me made our first album, there was a distinctive punk element to it that you will not find in our newer material. Some of those songs were written over ten years ago and reflect the author’s place in life and state of mind at the particular moment. Although our newer songs still reflect this, they are much more abstract lyrically, and more musically sophisticated. Our first album was about making an artistic statement and publishing old songs of ours which we felt needed to be published. We felt this had to be done before our music could evolve to what it is now. Our music takes a serious, sometimes dark look at life in general and it pulls no punches. It’s sophisticated, but it’s raw and powerful at the same time.
Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
Article 66: The most exciting thing about it is how easy it is to get your music out to the masses. Anyone in the world can buy your track and download it immediately. It really is amazing how much the music business has changed in the last fifteen years. It is also much easier to put together a demo nowadays than it used to be. Allot more people are able to record and put together a high quality demo on their laptop now, whereas ten or fifteen years ago you had to rent a studio and pay a sound engineer to record and mix it for you.
Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
Article 66: You can look forward to a new album from us in the very near future. You can also look forward to Article 66 gigging and touring regularly. We are a staple in South Florida, but we are looking to expand across the region. This year we played gigs all over South Florida as well as Atlanta, Nashville, Jupiter and Panama City Beach and we hope to spread out even further in 2010. We can’t get very far without fan support though, so please visit our website at article66.com, send us an email, buy our CD, follow us and support us!
Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
ROB: It is a great feeling to be chosen as a Skopemag.com ‘Artist To Watch.’ Skpokemag.com is an online publication that is viewed by thousands of people. This opportunity opens up my music to many viewers and possible fans. This affords them the opportunity to learn more about me, my music, and my band.
Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
ROB: I have been working on promoting my album ‘ROB Rise On Belief’, my music video “The Chosen One,” and my official website www.robriseonbelief.com, merchandise and most of all performing. I am also promoting my perfomance at Fonatanas on January 21 2010 at 9pm in New York City and The Apollo Theatre on March 17, 2010 at 8 pm. This is a part of the Emergenza Festival for emerging artist. Other bands will be performing that night as well. I am also promoting several other shows and tours that are now in the works for 2010 and beyond.
“THE CHOSEN ONE”
[youtube tW2AfGQKDrU nolink]
Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
ROB: I feel my music sets me apart because it comes deep from the soul. It is rock music that incorporates all styles of music. You can understand everything about my music. Fom the vocals to the guitars, to the drums, to the bass, it is music that doesn’t go over your head. Every member of my band also helps bring a different personality to my music. This very important when you work with musician who have worked with many great artists. They help bring out the true essence that sets me apart. Ten years from now you can play my music and it will relate to what ever is going on at that time.
Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
ROB: I started creating music at a young age. I come from a musical family an I’ve learned how to sing and write songs from listening to my family members. I also write poetry. This helped me to develop my song writing and muscial skills. I studied vocals at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and The Nubian Consetvatory of Music as well. These skills helped me to strengthen my voice and work with other musician. I also started working with my musical partner Mark “Abishai” Brooks, my manager Jeff Crews and together we developed my sound of today. My long term plans for me and my band is to sells millions of records, write and produce for other artist, tour, manage other artist, open a record label,create music that is timeless and get as many Grammy Awards as possible. These are some of my long term goals with my band.
Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
ROB: When I create lyrics my inspirations comes from past and present experiences, love, nature, the state of the world, other peoples stories, the heavens, a car, the sound of a train, the sound of a plane in other words everything inspires me to write lyrics and instrumentals. Music is everywhere. If you listen to the sounds that are around you, creating lyrics just come natural. This is how I create lyrics and music.
Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
ROB: The most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age is you can reach millions of people without being signed to a record label and you can control the rights to your music. You can also make a great living in the digital age of music. You can also use Pro-Tools to help you write and recored or do pre-production before you go into a major studio. This makes it easier for getting your ideas across to your band. There is nothing like being in control of your music and the digital age allows you to be in full control of your career.
Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
ROB: Everyone can look forward to a new album now in the works. More touring, television appearances, merchandise, writing for other artists and acting. Also, making ROB a household name. Remember ROB stands for Rise On Belief and thats exactly what you can look forward to seeing me do in the future. Rising to the top. Rising On Belief.
Melissa Bel
www.sonicbids.com/MelissaBel
Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
Melissa Bel: Very exciting! It’s so encouraging to know that people like the team at Skopemag.com believe in my music and career. It’s awesome to be recognized, and any opportunity such as this to share my music with more people is huge. Thank you for the support!
Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
Melissa Bel: I recently released my full-length album “Brave” in Europe, as well is internationally on iTunes, so I’ve been working on promoting the heck out of that through lots of live shows, some radio interviews, a few magazines, and online (like right here!). I’m also working towards getting some tour dates in Europe over the summer. And as always, writing, writing, and more writing.
Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
Melissa Bel: I think that my music has the ability to appeal to a very broad demographic. I get anyone from 13 year old girls to 65 year old men coming up to me at shows and telling me that they can relate to my songs, which is such an incredible feeling.
Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
Melissa Bel: According to my Mom I’ve been singing since I could talk. When I was 7 I wrote my first song – which was more of a rap actually —after watching characters on a TV show write a song. I started writing with the guitar when I was 14 and had gotten my heart broken, and simply needed a way to express myself. My long-term plans are to conquer the world with sweet, sweet music.
Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
Melissa Bel: I usually use my own life experiences as inspiration for my lyrics. All I seem to be able to write about is love (or lack thereof), because when it comes down to it I can’t think of anything that’s much more inspiring. However, I’ve learned that if you want to make a career out of songwriting — which I fully intend on doing — you can’t let your creativity plummet when you hit a lull in your love life. So sometimes I try to take other people’s stories or things I’ve seen in movies or read in books, and turn them into a song. Melodically and instrumentally I’m always super inspired by other artists I’m listening to, whether it be musicians I know, or my superstar idols like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and my all-time favourite: The Beatles.
Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
Melissa Bel: It is incredibly exciting to think that anyone in any part of the world could be reading this feature that I wrote from my room in a small town in Ontario. My music is accessible to people all over the planet at the click of a button and that gives artists like myself the opportunity to reach a bigger market than ever before. We can do tons of marketing and networking through the internet all on our own; and it’s cheap too!
Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
Melissa Bel: I know I just released an album, but I’m going to be back in the studio in January to start working on the next one! I’m dying to have people hear my new songs. I also just teamed up with Platform One Entertainment to launch a digital and college marketing campaign in the U.S. So I’m crossing my fingers that I will soon be performing in a venue near YOU!
SHAWN MICHAEL PERRY & ONLY THE BRAVE
www.sonicbids.com/ONLYTHEBRAVE
Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
SMP: I AM VERY HONORED THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
SMP: I’ M WORKIN ON MY NEW ALBUM HUNGRY4HEROES AND PROMOTING MY COMPANY ALL THAT CULTURE MUSIC OF THE AMERICA’S REDISCOVERING MUSIC IN RURAL AND RESERVATION COMMUNITIES.
Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
SMP: IT HAS GREAT SONGWRITING AND STORYTELLING.
Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
SMP: I SAW KISS LIVE IN DENVER COLORADO….LONG TERM IS TO KEEP ROCKIN AND CHURN OUT GREAT MUSIC.
Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
SMP: THE ELEMENTS EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE, WATER, & LOVE.
Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
SMP: I CAN REACH OUT AND TOUCH YOU RIGHT NOW.
Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
SMP: NEW DUET WITH SURPRISE GUEST IN THE MIX TOURING IN A TOWN NEAR YOU I’M REACHING OUT TO OFFER MY SERVICES TO WORK IN YOUR SCHOOLS.
Hot Lava
www.sonicbids.com/HotLava
