Welcome to another amazing month of music from the incredible musicians that make up the Sonicbids.com community. We have chose a select group of 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.
The Product
www.sonicbids.com/TheProduct1
Skope: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope A2W May 2010?
The Product: When I found out I was selected for Skope A2W, I was facilitating workshops for at-risk teens in the Cartwright School District #83 in Phoenix, AZ. I knew I had a bunch of Sonic bids deadlines approaching, so I was excited to check my account and when I did I saw, “Hello, We are excited to feature you in May A2W on Skopemag.com.” I was Excited! That excitement transferred throughout the remainder of my workshops and he kids really walked away with something special, as did I.
Skope: Now that the weather is nice will you be out playing live this summer & spring & where? The Prodcuct: This spring and summer will be hectic but I love every minute of it! I will be all across Arizona for Shape Up US, St. Louis, MO for Shape Up US, Denver Colorado for the Underground Showcase, Austin Texas for The Pride Festival, 6 venues throughout California, and then out to Pittsburgh for now. I have a few deals currently in the works, but I intend to have a very busy summer.
Skope: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
The Product: Sometimes it is so easy to look at the accomplishments of other artist and get motivated, but that type of motivation is only temporary. My motivation comes from many factors and the most important one of all is the support and love of my family. There always they’re by my side through the good times and the bad. Another motivator for me is simple my love for music. It calms me when I’m anxious, and it creates and outlet for when I just want to get away. Blood isn’t the only thing flowing through my veins.
Skope: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
The Product: The bands that I would say heavily influenced my sound was Warren G, Jay Z, T.I. Xzibit, Kanye West, Jeezy, 2Pac, and the Outlawz.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
The Product: I have so many things in negotiations right now, but the biggest things that are in the works for me is partnering up with non profit organizations across the country helping
to fight against Cancer, Domestic Abuse, Child Obesity, Gangs, and many more things
that threaten our way of life. You can check me out on www.myspace.com/productofchoice1 and get all the details.
L-GREECO
www.sonicbids.com/LGREECO
Skope: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope A2W May 2010?
L-GREECO: I came to my office. As usual, checked email and saw a message stating that I was selected! And I smiled Thank you Skopemag for good news!
Skope: Now that the weather is nice will you be out playing live this summer & spring & where?
L-GREECO: I have no scheduled live performances yet. But I hope that something will change for the better in the near future.
Skope: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
L-GREECO: Why do I write music? Good question … Probably, because I can not to do not do it. It’s like a lack of air, water, food, … I have depressions, if I do not write new music. It’s like toxicosis! It often happens that there is no opportunity or time to write music. And in such moments, I turn on the recorder on my cell phone and just sing, I make different sounds with my voice. At the moment I have over 500 different musical sketches, and 65 finished and quality recorded tracks, and if all these sketches-melodies remained in my head, I would have just gone mad. Probably you will think that all it is strange and silly… But I cannot in another way. I think that for me there is no motivation to write music, but there is a need.
Skope: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
L-GREECO: You know, I can’t say that I have influenced some musicians or groups. I like the different styles of music from techno, electro, house, ambient to punk, metal, rock, new age and classic. I like a lot of different musicians, such as The Prodigy, The Crystal Method, Korn, Rammstein, Fluke, Stone Lions, Thomas Newman, Edward Shearmur, Carter Burwell, Boards Of Canada, Jesper Kyd, UNKLE, Kraftwerk. Maybe my music is similar to other musicians in something. But it’s not because I wanted to be like them or better than them. I think it’s because I felt the same sense that they are. Because I saw the same that they had seen. Because I was thinking the same thing about what they thought. And because I expressed my feelings in my music the same way as other musicians expressed their feelings. I do only what I feel. If I feel joy, I play joyful music. If I feel anger, I play anger. If I feel calm, I play calm. If I feel love, I love play love. All honest. No lie. I don’t try to be someone. I’m trying to be myself.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
L-GREECO: Now I am working on my new album “IT’S OPEN”. I have already recorded 7 tracks for this album. My official site www.l-greeco.com
Tanner Gordon
www.sonicbids.com/TannerGordon
Skope: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope A2W May 2010?
Tanner Gordon & The Unfortunates: I was doing stock at work in the land where time stands still.
Skope: Now that the weather is nice will you be out playing live this summer & spring & where?
Tanner Gordon & The Unfortunates: Yes , we are actually playing Canada Day in Edmonton. A gig we are actually all very excited about. We will be playing mostly original songs with some covers by all canadian bands. We will be featured on the U22 Stage with other great local acts that are part of this program.
Skope: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
Tanner Gordon & The Unfortunates: The raw desire to be better, to be the best. To change things as far as music goes. I am more excited now than I have ever been in my career to get up and see what I can create today. Out of pure love for music and for being an artist comes the drive that is necessary to want to get up and do this every day. Plus, the energy we get from our fans and the support we get from them is unreal and second to none. Without them none of this is possible.
Skope: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
Tanner Gordon & The Unfortunates: The sound we play is labeled as “Tattoo Folk”. WHat that stands for is that music is more than just a sound, it’s also a feeling. It is a grittier folk sound in theory. The way this sound came about was definitely because of the bands that were influences early in our creative journeys. Bands like Nirvana and Pearl jam helped me understand true emotion and grit that can be put into a song and a performance. The way Cobain or Vedder worded their songs really inspired me to write outside of the box. Then later, artists like Bob Dylan and Neil Young showed me that it was also ok to be a songwriter and showed me how to be honest with your fans more than anyone to be a true entertainer. It became a no brainer for me to put these two together and create “Calm Down This Is Only The End”.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Tanner Gordon & The Unfortunates: Album release May 7th @ The Shaw Theatre (edmonton, AB, Canada). All other news about us can be found at www.tannergordon.com, myspace.com/tannergordonmusic or on Itunes and Amazon.
David Sinclair Trio
www.sonicbids.com/DavidSinclairTrio
SKOPE: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope A2W May 2010?
DAVID SINCLAIR: Going to see Kiss at Wembley Arena.
SKOPE: Now that the weather is nice will you be playing live this summer & spring & where?
DAVID SINCLAIR: This band plays live, rain or shine. We’re in Liverpool at the IPO Festival on May 30th playing two sets (2pm & 8.15pm); Half Moon, Herne Hill, London SE24, June 5.
SKOPE: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
DAVID SINCLAIR: The search for perfection. Or maybe the search for a plectrum.
SKOPE: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
DAVID SINCLAIR: Playing: The Rolling Stones, Chuck Prophet. Songwriting: Ray Davies, Paul Weller. Heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Seasick Steve. Wardrobe: Paul Smith
SKOPE: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
DAVID SINCLAIR: We’re recording our 3rd album with various producers. Robin Trower has done a brilliant job on a song called Living like a Yo-Yo. We’ve also been putting tracks together with Richard J. Parfitt of 60 Foot Dolls and Irish singer-songwriter Andy White. www.myspace.com/davidsinclair
Waiting For One
www.sonicbids.com/WaitingForOne
ANNAMERCURY
www.sonicbids.com/ANNAMERCURY
Skope: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope “Artist To Watch” May 2010?
AnnAMercury: One of us was gardening while viewing the text message from Ervin our manager – Match 1 Entertainment, others were driving when the text came in and some were surprised while having a relaxing day experience.
Skope: Now that the weather is nice will you be out playing live this summer & spring & where?
AnnAMercury: Yes, absolutely for sure we have a summer of great shows lined up on the west coast and other destinations are being considered as well. Here for example in the northwest, you have a small window of nice weather. You need to take full advantage of that opportunity as we plan too and outdoor shows in particular are real cool to perform. We’re definitely looking forward to it and expect to have lots of fun playing together for the fans. Well, right now two of the venue locations we’ll do shows in the Pacific Northwest are the Sunset and Cedarwood Dome.
Skope: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
AnnAMercury: The band itself for one is a big motivating factor. We really have a great time playing and just having fun and talking shit amongst each other. Inspiration is all around us. Music is always in are heads. Making that music come to life is definitely motivational. Also, hearing melodies in the head and wanting to pick em out! It’s kind of like hearing something on the radio and you can’t get it out of your head. So, it kind of works that way till it’s picked out and we release it creating original music. Music provides a means to express ourselves in ways that words cannot. And from the guitar playing standpoint certainly feel that’s the most pure form of communication.
Skope: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
AnnAMercury: Wow, that’s a tough one because we all have so many influences between all the band members. (smile) Ok, here goes…one of the all time favorites would be ‘The Cult’ without question they have influenced stage performances. Lets see, Live, 3 Doors Down, Candlebox, Foo Fighters, STP, Rush, ACDC, Led Zepplin, SRV, Black Crowes, Soundgarden, John Denver, Jimi Hendrix, Sabbath, Def Leppard, Maiden, Dio, Crue, Ozzy, Ratt, Rudy Sarzo, Geddy, Geezer, Billy Sheehan, Jeff Pilson and Steve Harris. Man, know we’re forgetting a bunch, but that’s just what comes off the top of our heads.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
AnnAMercury: To be sure, coming up for us we continue to be working our way thru the radio waves as in the FM system, satellite and online Internet radio sources we can be presently listened to among several places right now on (www.jango.com or www.ourstage.com) to name a few. We’ve also recently increased our music distribution locations where our songs can be purchased by fans which currently includes: CD Baby.com, Amazon, iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, Emusic…Soon we can also be found on Zune, Spotify, Walmart.com (Liquid), Myspace Music, Pandora, etc…Of course, we’re always working on creating new original music too. Thanks Skope Magazine and everyone, peace!!!
Please, checkout our main sites at: (www.reverbnation.com/annamercury) and (www.myspace.com/annamercurylive).
Jo Hamilton
www.sonicbids.com/Johamilton
Evan Craft
www.sonicbids.com/EvanCraft
Ashley Joelle Jordan
www.sonicbids.com/AshleyJoelleJordan
Skope: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope A2W May 2010?
Ashley: I was just having an ordinary day – about to head out to a doctor’s appointment because I’ve been sick for the past week when I checked my email and had received notification from sonicbids that you had selected me for Skope’s “Artists to Watch”. It made my day!!!
Skope: Now that the weather is nice will you be out playing live this summer & spring & where?
Ashley: I actually have a couple of really great gigs coming up in August and September. In August I will be playing four different times at the Bolton Fair in Lancaster, MA on the first two opening days of the Fair. In September, I was asked to be the opening act for the big Harvard Fall Festival in Harvard, MA (opening for “Tramps Like Us”). I also have a few feature acts coming up at Savoury Lane in Acton, MA (June & Nov), Amazing Things in Framingham, MA (June) and HCAM TV in Hopkinton, MA (Oct), Perks in Boston (July – opening for John Gerard), and Bull Run Entertainment, Thursday Soundstage in Shirley, MA (Nov).
Skope: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
Ashley: well – – this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, so I just see every day working on my music as a pursuit of my dreams. My music is an expression of who I am, what I’m going through in my life, and dealing with many of the emotions/feelings that I have as a 17 year old growing up. So maybe some people have a journal or a friend that they share everything with – – my outlet is my music and it is who I am. Creating music and working every day is what I crave doing – – it’s all the other crap in life (like being in high school!!) that gets in my way! LOL
Skope: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
Ashley: Definitely James Taylor and Ingrid Michaelson (two very different artists!!) have influenced me. I really admire Taylor Swift as well! I am a HUGE fan of Ellis Paul and his music . . . and I love the music of my friend/mentor John Gerard (who is a well-known Boston singer-songwriter). John contributed some harmonies and extra guitar on my CD “Simple Love”.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Ashley: Well – – I am basically just out there performing my music anywhere and everywhere they will let me play. I am also writing alot of new music and I hope to start working on another new CD late this year. People can check out my music by visiting my music website: www.AshleyJordanMusic.com and they can purchase my CD or download individual songs. Also, my new CD is available on iTunes and at CD Freedom.
Lachi
www.sonicbids.com/lachi
Skope: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope A2W May 2010?
Lachi: I was at work at my desk, because though I ROCK OUT at night, I’m a pant-suit day-jobber during the day. Hoping to change that soon and devote my nights and days thoroughly to music.
Skope: Now that the weather is nice will you be out playing live this summer & spring & where?
Lachi: I will be playing all over the place this summer! We will be playing at Pridefest in Milwaukee June 12 (opening up for Patti Labelle) and playing many shows in and around New York City to promote the CD release, a release party of which will be held July 22nd at NYC’s own Joe’s Pub.
Skope: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
Lachi: When I am in the presence of others, I feel I am unable to be myself. I feel we are all unable to truly be “real” unless we are alone in our room with only our thoughts. Growing up, though I was teased a lot for being legally blind, I found solace when alone in my room with my piano. I found I could truly be “real.” For this reason, I feel I owe it to music to make it my life, as it has saved mine. I also feel a deep-routed need to spread a message of embracing our inner “real” and accepting our insecurities and empowering ourselves through this realization.
Skope: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
Lachi: It’s funny, many people compare me to Alanis Morrisette, and though I think she’s absolutely amazing, I didn’t listen to her much growing up. My influences are the chord progression experimentations of Radiohead and the Beatles, the free form enunciation and inner-accent embrace of Bjork, Billy Corgan and Regina Spektor, the I am a woman and I have a voice-ness of Fiona Apple and Tori Amos, and the classical yet 20th Century marriages set forth by Yanni.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Lachi: We will be releasing a Self-Titled CD, “Lachi” distributed through EMI on July 27th with a CD release show July 22nd at Joe’s Pub in NYC. More info music and videos can be found on our website at www.lachimusic.com. We’re also on myspace, facebook, twitter, and youtube, and the album can be preordered at Amazon!
Thanks a lot Skope Mag for taking the timeout to speak with me. And a special thanks to Jimmy Fontanez, Jaime Diaz and Andre Donatien for being such an awesome band, and Liza Lee for being an awesome manager!
Buffalos
www.sonicbids.com/Buffalos
Skope: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope A2W May 2010?
Buffalos: I was drinking my coffee and checking my e mail, it was the morning after we got back from a 3 weeks tour in Europe, so I was very happy to drink a delicious Israeli coffee and the good news made this morning even better.
Skope: Now that the weather is nice will you be out playing live this summer & spring & where?
Buffalos: Sure, we will be playing some shows in Israel, there are some cool festivals every summer, and also some shows in clubs in Tel Aviv and other cities.
Skope: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
Buffalos: I think above all it’s the pure love for music. I can’t imagine myself doing something for so long with such dedication without being really passionate about it.
Skope: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
Buffalos: There are so many influences, some influenced me as a guitar player, some as a composer, some as a singer /songwriter… some important influences are- John Frusciante, Mark Lanegan, PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, Calexico, Wilco, Jimy Hendrix, Beck, Elliot Smith, Mark Ribot, the Flaming Lips, Deus and many more….
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Buffalos: We are working on our second album these days, some of it is already recorded and mixed, and we are working on some new songs, so it’s still not clear if it will be an EP or a full LP, but it will be released sometime in the near future through “THOR Records”, our Indie label in Israel, and hopefully in some other labels around the world.
We also have another European tour coming up in October, it will be the second tour for this year.
For more information about us, music (the full album is available for free download!!), pictures, news and tour dates, check out our website- www.buffalosband.com. Or our Myspace page- www.myspace.com/buffaloboots
The Neverclaim
www.sonicbids.com/TheNeverclaim
