SEPTEMBER 2010 SONICBIDS “ARTISTS 2 WATCH”

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.

Doc Rhythm
www.sonicbids.com/DocRhythm

Joelii
www.sonicbids.com/Joelii

Skope:What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Joelii: Its an honor to be included in A2W, really appreciate the support, help and faith in my music.

Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Joelii: The support I get from my friends and family is tremendous. They are my best and most honest critics. All poems / rhymes I write I have them listen to, and they always have pushed me to getting into a studio and doing them over a track, eventually I did and today I still take all new songs fresh out of the studio to them, for   their feedback. They tell what they liked and what they thought could be better and I go back in there and solidify the project.

Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Joelii: The most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the past 10 years I would say and many would agree is the iPod, simply over thousands of songs in one device, in your pockets, on the go.

Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell nomatter?
Joelii: I do believe that good music will sell no matter what, however I don’t believe the music business is recession proof. I believe that big companies invest less often and risk themselves less on taking a chance with new upcoming artists. Also because not many focus on making a full albums anymore, just singles. On the other hand, CD sales… although the main cause of CD sales decreasing tremendously is the internet, I do believe recession plays it’s part. People would rather get songs for free off the internet, not only because its free, but because they most likely don’t have the luxury of spending that money on music, rather than other necesities… at least i think so…

Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Joelii: I’m honestly the most creative at the most random points of my day, walking to the train, driving somewhere, eating, watching tv, etc.. during regular everyday things my mind will just snap to an idea and i’ll go from there.

Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Joelii: Always keeping myself on the move, but readers can always visit my pages, myspace.com/joeliimusic, Joelii on facebook / twitter and many other pages,just google Joelii LOL. But most importantly check out Joeliimusic.com where you can view my video blog which shows behind the scenes footage of me at radio stations, tv shows, live performances, and where ever this business takes me.

Julia Kay
www.sonicbids.com/JuliaKay

Fifth Way
www.sonicbids.com/FifthWay

Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Fifth Way: We are honored to be included on A2W.   2010 marks our 3rd year together as a band with our debut album ‘No Boundaries’ released in January to a sold out show in our hometown of Detroit.   We also had the opportunity to be featured in a video ad for the ‘Cheverolet Cruze’ which can be viewed by searching “Fifth Way Dept. 180” on YouTube.   A feature in Skope Magazine is a way to reach out to people who may have never heard of ‘Fifth Way’    

Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Fifth Way: Friends and Family of the band are great —always willing to help in any way they can.   Our street team ran a radio campaign to request the DJs to play our music on Detroit’s Largest Rock station 101.1WRIF.   The next day we got a message from the DJ the Fifth Way fans tied up the phone lines but he couldn’t honor any of the requests without approval from the Program Director.   About a month later the Program Director approved Fifth Way airplay on the late-night show!    

Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Fifth Way: For us I would definitely say affordable compact multi-track recorders with internal mics.   We record every show we play and listen back for ways to improve our live performance.   They are also a great way to capture musical ideas.          

Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell nomatter?
Fifth Way:   I would say nothing is recession proof.   But, good music will always be around.      

Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Fifth Way: For some reason it always seems to be at the worst time like when I’m supposed to be at work or school —and I’ll end up skipping or being late to complete the idea.

Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Fifth Way: You can learn more about the band at www.fifth-way.com or facebook.com/fifthway and of course our sonicbids profile.   We are planning a Midwest tour to bring our music to a wider audience and also just got done recording a music video for ‘Stomping Ground’ which will be released Nov. 5th at a concert at the Magic bag in Ferndale, MI.

ANNIE AUTOMATIC
www.sonicbids.com/ANNIEAUTOMATIC

Skope:What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
ANNIE AUTOMATIC: Well, we really appreciate all the Love and Support we get, it’s what drives us as artists to keep making music and moving forward. To be featured in Artists To Watch is a total honor!

Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
ANNIE AUTOMATIC: My family has always supported me through everything. I left home real young, but they’ve always been a very motivating, positive force to me. Without them, I’d be nothing. My friends, well I’m real careful to only surround myself with inspiring and loving friends, so I do get so much support from them.

Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
ANNIE AUTOMATIC: In my opinion, Spotify is probably the most exciting and beneficial advancement in the way listeners can access music. For us, we just love to make music, that’s why we do it, so if people are listening to it we’re happy. Spotify gives people the ability to access, basically all music on the planet, for such a low cost, without limitation, and without being subjected to the advertising of other similar services. So cool.

Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell nomatter?
ANNIE AUTOMATIC: Actually, no. I do agree that good music will be HEARD no matter what, but i don’t agree that it will continue to SELL during difficult economic times. Much fewer people are going to shows, much fewer people are buying music right now. But that’s ok: until the 80’s, when the music industry got money-hungry, musicians, like other artists, we’re always struggling. It’s part of what we sign up for. Not money, cars and girls. It’s time for people to remember that. If you want money, go back to school and be a doctor or lawyer or something. Leave the music and art to those willing to struggle for it.

Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
ANNIE AUTOMATIC: For me, it’s usually very early in the morning, or real late at night. But it changes. The trick is to try and make it last through the day!

Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
ANNIE AUTOMATIC: You can link to everything we do throughhttp://AnnieAutomatic.com – itunes, youtube, twitter, facebook, and the rest, it all links from that central webpage. Right now, having just released a huge, loud, fun full-length album, we’re working on a smaller collection of softer, more unplugged songs – “Songs from The Center” – which a couple tracks should be out in the next couple weeks on our sites for free, for the holidays. The rest will be out in February.

Julie Kinscheck
www.sonicbids.com/JulieKinscheck

Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Julie Kinscheck: I’m not really sure yet- but I am excited to find out!

Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Julie Kinscheck: My family were all very creative when I was growing up in Ithaca, New York.   My Dad sang in local operas and directed Gilbert and Sullivan operettas for Cornell university. My mother used to sing the character roles in musicals in college- that’s how my parents met.   When we would go on long car rides to Maine or Ohio shows they would sing duets from Oklahoma or other shows on the way.   Later my mother published a couple books of her poetry and now she is a professional photographer. My two older brothers played in a local rock band: Crossroads. Chris played bass and Gary the drums. Sometimes they would let little sister sit in and sing a song at a club or school dance. I always felt I got the voice from Dad and the words from Mom and the example to get out and play at a young age from my brothers. It seemed the natural thing to become a singer- songwriter. My brother Gary even taught me my first couple guitar chords.   Noone pushed me though. I found the opportunities myself and they allowed me to take part. My folks were not typical stage parents. They didn’t try to get me to auditions in NY or anything. They apparently didn’t want that life for me (I later learned) – but they came to the shows and encouraged me. Chris and Gary are the Bass and drums on my latest CD: Grace With Jazz On Top. Us all recording together was a dream come true for me!

As for my friends, they always believed in me as a singer. I was even given an imaginary mother of pearl guitar “for the Julie hour at 8” as an award at my 6th grade graduation. Many people told me I had something special… BUt I never had a bunch of groupies who roadied for me and such- except once and he became a stalker- another story for another time! Success never came to me- seems I was always chasing after it. I guess God wanted me learn some lessons first:)

Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Julie Kinscheck: For me it is simply that you can make your own quality CD’s now and wait to be discovered. Now it didn’t hurt that I married an audio engineer (Ralph)- and he could speak in more detail about technology, But programs like Logic, even garage band have made it so much easier to produce quality demos and finished products.   And of course the growth of the internet is HUGE. Marketing was so much more difficult before the internet.

Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell nomatter?
Julie Kinscheck: I can’t say that the music industry is recession proof. It has become increasingly easy for people to download music they like and even bootleg a pretty good recording on an iphone application without paying anything to the artist. People have less money and they hire smaller bands or DJ’s for parties, they go out to less clubs, pay less tickets… less money, less work and less sales. I am feeling it and I’m sure most other artists are, too. BUT- I like to be optimistic that the cream will rise eventually no matter the economy.

Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Julie Kinscheck: I get most creative usually in two different situations: 1. When I’m exercising – like taking a jog or bike ride- ideas hit me all the time- and that is usually in the morning. The other time 2. is late at night when I should be getting ready for bed- or even while lying in bed- it can keep me up sometimes.

Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Julie Kinscheck: Though I am always looking for good shows to play-   and you can check out my shows calendar at: www.julieksings.com (click the shows button), I have been very inspired lately; writing a number of new songs… so I am starting to focus on polishing those up and recording the basics for some new tracks. I have also been getting a lot of airplay in Europe; My “Coffee Song” charted #34 in Austria last month! So I may be considering a European tour in the near future as well. Please visit my website : www.julieksings.com Fan me on Facebook (search for Julie Kinscheck) check me out on Myspace.com/julieksings, Youtube, CD Baby, Our Stage, Reverb Nation, Linked in, Sonicbids and more!

Hana Kim
www.sonicbids.com/hanak

Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Hana: It’s always an honor when people are willing to read and promote your art.   I’m stoked to be apart of Artists 2 Watch and thankful that there are outlets like Skope that promote the growth and development of independent artists.

Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Hana: I am very to blessed to have family and friends who have always supported my music career, with my parents being at the forefront of my fan club.   Whether it is selling my CD’s, giving me words of encouragement, promoting my music to every relation they have, or even buying a ticket to one of my LA gigs (when they live 6 hours away)… my parents have been the majority of what keeps me going strong as an artist and as a person.   My brother and close friends as well have always encouraged me as an artist.   It’s nice when people around you are actually interested in what you do and help you to do it.   My friends are always asking me when my next show is, if I have more CD’s to sell, what inspires my songs;   not to mention the girls and boys who have offered their services of photography, design, and “all of the above” to this starving musician.   I truly believe a musician cannot survive without the kind human beings who support him/her.

Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Hana: Without a doubt, the internet is the greatest BENEFIT to date.   Websites, EPK’s, and video sharing are all inclusive to the internet and have opened up so many opportunities for the undiscovered to become, well, discovered.   The internet allows artists to connect with people with just the charisma and talents they have to offer. On the reverse side, it allows people hungry from some creative expression to find their niche of not just music, but any type of art.   Plus with the ease of having access to millions of new ears, more artists are emerging for a more diverse, more creative music industry.

Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell nomatter?
Hana: Music is like food for the ears.   Just like what you eat, you are always willing to try new foods when able; maybe not as often as when you have the monetary benefits, but I believe we as people are always hungry for good music.   When we recognize it, it becomes not just a necessity to our day but a source of encouragement when other things are not going as well as we hope, especially our finances.    

Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Hana: Strangely, at night, just before I go to bed.   It always bugs me when I am just about to go to bed but then I got some creative juices fueling out a new lyric or new melody.   I assume it’s because I’m the most relaxed and can have a time of debriefing of how I see the world in front of me before I close my eyes to it.

Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Hana: As of now, I am in Paraguay using my music to encourage people in ways when sometimes words cannot.   It’s an amazing experience to be able to share with those halfway around the globe through a song.   It’s also been a great time to reflect and rest while writing some new pieces for the upcoming months.   I will be returning to Los Angeles in mid November and hopefully get a tour going for the Winter season.   I am trying to use my internet networks more effectively so people can always read more on my website www.hanakimofficial.com, where other links for my myspace and twitter are also available if you want to find show dates or just see what my current mood of the moment is.  

Humboldt Lagoon
www.sonicbids.com/humboldtlagoon

Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Humboldt Lagoon: As an independent artist, it is an honor to be included in A2W. It’s a great feeling to have your work recognized right alongside established artists.

Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Humboldt Lagoon: My father was a musician and artist and that’s where it originated. He propped me up on a drum kit long before I could reach the kick and hi-hat pedals. Mom got me my first electric guitar when I was 15 and we were pretty broke. That’s what really opened up Pandora’s box. My brother and I assembled our studio last year and I could not have done it without him.   Last and certainly not least, I have to give props to my wife for sharing me with the music and all that comes along with it.

Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Humboldt Lagoon: For me, it is most definitely affordable, quality, recording mediums.
Had this kind of stuff been accessible some years back, my catalogue of music would be much larger. (!) The ability to make it available to listeners worldwide in a quick is amazing as well. Voice memos on the cell phone are pretty handy too.

Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell nomatter?
Humboldt Lagoon: Not sure about that one. I know that economics certainly don’t play into the creation of “good” music. I also believe that people will always desire to experience good music. It’s an essential. The “business” end of things has been reinventing itself for awhile and it’s an ever changing game.

Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Humboldt Lagoon: It varies. I definitely like to get work on recording early when I’m fresh. Ideas come at any given time and when they come, you just run with them.

Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Humboldt Lagoon: I’m perpetually writing and recording. I’m releasing singles and working on my second album. I’ve also got a line-up for the live band pretty much secured. Slowly but surely we’re working to hit the stage in the near future.
You can find more info and a lot of music at:
www.humboldtlagoon.com
www.myspace.com/humboldtlagoon  
www.reverbnation.com/humboldtlagoon
www.cdbaby.com/artist/humboldtlagoon
www.facebook.com/pages/Humboldt-Lagoon/115770521816

V.I.T.A.L. Emcee
www.sonicbids.com/VITALEmcee

Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
V.I.T.A.L. Emcee: To be included in Skopeing.com is a blessing.   They have an ear for great music in which they bring to the forefront for their readers.   As an artist to watch for, it lets me know I’m doing something right and to not settle for anything less than what I know is the best for me.
 
Skope: How did your family and friends support you to pursue music?
V.I.T.A.L. Emcee: My family and friends are an integral part of my support system.   They afford me the opportunities to do what it is that I do.   All I keep around me are those individuals who help me strive to attain that next level of growth as an artist.   I only want to be around like minded driven individuals because it keeps me humble and hungry.   I know I have the kind of foundation to keep me hoisted in whatever I’m reaching for.   There are no yes men and I know that I get great advice when it comes to song concepts and performances as well as business avenues.   We’re a nurturing bunch who know what we are after.
 
Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
V.I.T.A.L. Emcee: I’m not trying to plug any company or brand but I’d have to say Pro Tools.   We as indie musicians now have the industry standard in recording right at our fingertips in our own homes.   No more paying for studio time if you can make the investment of time and money for yourself.   I am lucky to be able to do music in a garage and have it sound like it came right out of a professional mastering studio.
 
Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell no matter?
V.I.T.A.L. Emcee: I would agree that the music business is recession proof.   The fans make it so.   And that’s why these days the relationship between a fan and an artist is what we should care about and strive for.   As artists, the fans keep us going and vice-versa.   They will always be willing to support someone who they can identify with, even if other people are pirating that same music elsewhere.   The business model and industry have changed no doubt, but music will always be in demand.   And nowadays any indie artist themself should be a part of that package.
 
Skope: At what point in the day do you find that you are the most creative?
V.I.T.A.L. Emcee: I tend to find myself the most creative during the evening.   When the day is winding down, ideas and pictures start running around in my head and I have no choice but to entertain them.   Who knows where you’re next gem is going to drop, but I typically do my writing in the evening and let the chips fall where they may.
 
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
V.I.T.A.L. Emcee: I’m working on my third album which hopefully rivals the success I’ve had with my prior two.   It’s going to be entitled “Fear and Loathing in Los Angeles” and is going to be a chaotic conglameration of words and sounds–with a helluva live show to back it up.   With each album I’ve made myself a bit more vulnerable to my audience while still maintaining the intensity and signature that makes me V.I.T.A.L. Emcee.   One thing for sure, this album is pretty damn ambitious, as I am becoming that persona which could only come from a gene splice between 2Pac and Hunter S. Thompson!   Aside from that madness, I’m honing my business skills and I intend to make more moves in that arena.   The best thing I can recommend to the readers who care to catch me in the act is to plain and simply google “VITAL Emcee.” They’ll find everything they need.

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