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.
Stripper
www.sonicbids.com/Stripper
Skope: How did you react when you knew you are now A2W selected on Skope?
Stripper: We’re happy to get a little pat on the head. Our music often gets stuck between the cracks of zines and websites too cool for school, so Skope holds a lil’ place in Stripper’s hearts for liking us. Plus, anyone who reviews the new Swans record (let alone gives it an A+) has our love.
Skope: What are two goals that you want to accomplish musically in 2011?
Stripper: In 2011, Stripper would like to help re-invent the anemic genre of the drummer-vocalist. Don Henley never did much, and DFA79 had the right idea, but they’re gone. It’s up to us. And a few others, but for the purpose of self-promotion, let’s just say us. Oh, and we’d like to open for some heroes, like The Contortions and Devo and Suicide and Liz Phair.
Skope: If you had to choose one thing that your band must improve on what would that be and how will you do it?
Stripper: I suppose our self-promotion has always taken a deep back seat to creation, which is ironic to mention while being spotlighted. Talking about ourselves has always made our skin crawl a little, so we just haven’t done it…but you learn over time that if you don’t tell people, those people won’t tell people, and you’ll eventually have thirty records that seventeen people know about. We’d also like to lose five to ten pounds collectively and do a small tour of Japan.
Skope: What are two other non-mainstream musicians or bands that you are listening to these days & respect?
Stripper: That tUnE-yArDs record is really fun, and Black Moth Super Rainbow forces a sexy twitch. Anyone who says there’s no good new music just isn’t looking.
Skope: How has playing music offered more fulfillment in your life?
Stripper: Music is our video game, our happy hour, our tailgate party. It’s just the most fun way to spend our free time, and we have something to show for it when we’re through. We’d love to reach a larger audience, but we’re more concerned with reaching ourselves when we throw that freshly-burned disc into the car stereo. Our endorphins are leaking just thinking about our new record, so yeah, we’re pretty grateful for music. It’s never paid the bills, but it’s somehow more valuable than our cars.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Stripper: Stripper can be found most constructively at our website (http://www.strippertheband.com) and our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/strippertheband). We’re looking to record another record by mid-year, though we will put that on hold if we’re offered shows in far-off mystical lands (Turkey, Austin, etc.). More no-nonsense videos are in the works, too, but basically we’re going to try and get the Stripper word out there before we forget to again. It’s so easy to forget the things you can’t remember. Thanks for the opportunity, and come see us play. We’ll try to die for you. Strip!
They All Have Legs
www.sonicbids.com/TheyAllHaveLegs
Skope: How did you react when you knew you are now A2W selected on Skope?
TAHL: We are tremendously thrilled to be featured in Skope. This is by far the largest media exposure we’ve had along our musical journey.
Skope: What are two goals that you want to accomplish musically in 2011?
TAHL: We’d like to expand the sphere of our touring radius in the upcoming year. We’re very fortunate with the alluring response to our live shows in Chicago and hope to propel this regional energy throughout the entire Midwest. We also plan to record another EP or, optimistically, a full-length album before the year expires.
Skope: If you had to choose one thing that your band must improve on what would that be and how will you do it?
TAHL: Communication; along the road, in our 8 passenger vehicle, we sometimes find ourselves facing the impassable barricade of miscommunication. Each member possesses unique talents and views of how they would like this journey navigated, and so our communication plays a key role in a band with 8 creative voices. (But, do yourself a favor and don’t argue with the trombonist, she is in fact, at all times, correct.)
Skope: What are two other non-mainstream musicians or bands that you are listening to these days & respect?
TAHL: Nick Drake, Sigur ros
Skope: How has playing music offered more fulfillment in your life?
TAHL: Music is a universal language. We’re able to openly connect with a part of the human spirit that isn’t possible through other forms of contact. That’s a huge deal for us. I think it’s part of what makes our live show so compelling.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
TAHL: We are pretty much everywhere. Reverbnation, Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, LastFM…the list goes on and on. If you type a google search of “They All Have Legs”, you will see a few pages of the band followed with questions from people who don’t how many legs a spider has.
Paper Anchors
www.sonicbids.com/PaperAnchors
Ruth Purves Smith & the 581
www.sonicbids.com/ruthpurvessmith
Skope: How did you react when you knew you are now A2W selected on Skope?
Sets: Wow, it’s great to get some attention from the other side of the pond. We had no idea any one had heard us outside the UK. It’s brilliant!
Skope: What are two goals that you want to accomplish musically in 2011?
Sets: We’d love to play SXSW, and many other festivals. It’s so rewarding when you play to a crowd of music lovers who probably know nothing about you. We’re looking at releasing our first single and want to write enough new material so we can record our debut album.
Skope: If you had to choose one thing that your band must improve on what would that be and how will you do it?
Sets: Stage banter! It’s great when a band comes on stage and gets chatting with the audience, so we’re hoping that the more gigs we will be play the more we can bring on the banter!
Skope: What are two other non-mainstream musicians or bands that you are listening to these days?
Sets: Tangled Hair, they’re this math-pop three piece who formed when their old band Colour broke up. We saw them playing in Leeds last month (they have great stage banter). Also Tom Williams and the Boat who are from our hometown, if you want to hear some sinister folk-rock they’re definitely worth checking out.
Skope: How has playing music offered more fulfilment in life?
Sets: It’s a habit that just completely takes over your life. Last night Jess and Dom were playing Noah and the Whale songs in the kitchen while we were supposed to be cooking, which lead to some seriously burnt rice.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where are you at online?
Sets: We’re starting to plan out our first single release and you can listen to our music at www.mymajorcompany.co.uk/artists/sets <http://www.mymajorcompany.co.uk/artists/sets> and get friendly with us at www.facebook.com/setstheband <http://www.facebook.com/setstheband>.
Sam Fazio Music
www.sonicbids.com/SamFazioMusic
Skope: How did you react when you knew you are now A2W selected on Skope?
Sam Fazio: I was very excited. I was glad to see my genre of music, jazz or standards, represented.
Skope: What are two goals that you want to accomplish musically in 2011?
Sam Fazio: I am always working to grow musically. This year, I’d like to broaden my repertoire of tunes–new songs, different arrangements, and to vary the types of bands I perform with–from a basic duo to a full big band.
Skope: If you had to choose one thing that your band must improve on what would that be and how will you do it?
Sam Fazio: I would say to continue to expand our versatility and build an extensive song base so that we can always meet listener requests.
Skope: What are two other non-mainstream musicians or bands that you are listening to these days?
Sam Fazio: I mostly listen to alot of the great singers–Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole.
Skope: How has playing music offered more fulfillment in life?
Sam Fazio: Performing really fulfills a big part of who I am. Even more, when folks come up to you afterwards, or send a note, and let you know how much they enjoyed you.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Sam Fazio: I perform weekly at the Drake Hotel in Chicago as well as other venues around the Chicagoland area. Alot of good things happening in the months to come, including other cities. Visit www.samfaziomusic.com for more information about me and my performances, and to listen to song samples/buy CD.
