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.
BROOKE ANNIBALE
www.sonicbids.com/BrookeAnnibale
Skope: How did you react after you were selected for A2W?
Brooke: I was certainly excited for the opportunity to be featured on the website for Skope’s online readers!
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Brooke: I just released a new album in March entitled “Silence Worth Breaking.” It features 10 original songs produced by Paul Moak. I recorded it in Nashville at his studio last December. It was the best recording experience of my life and I’m very proud of and excited about the final product. It’s available on my website (BrookeAnnibale.com and on iTunes.com/brookeannibale)
Skope: At what age did you start to play music and want to make it a career?
Brooke: I started playing guitar the month of my 15th birthday, which will be 9 years ago in July. I think I always knew I wanted to be a musician. I used to write lyrics all the time as a kid. Then once I got to be 14, I wanted to learn to play the guitar so I could write songs. I was drawn to the acoustic guitar and instantly fell in love with playing it. When it came time for college, music was the only thing I pictured myself doing, so I went to school and studied the music business.
Skope: Where do you turn these days to hear new music?
Brooke: Lots of places. Sometimes I dig through iTunes new music releases or I’ll listen to NPR (mostly All Songs Considered). I’ll see what’s getting played on TV shows and movies. I’ll read a blog or two. I’ll learn about it from a friend or fellow musician who posts something about it on Facebok or Twitter.
Skope: What is your ideal mood & setting to write & play music?
Brooke: Well, my ideal mood of course, would have to be when I’m really inspired. Whether I’ve just seen a live show, heard a great new record, or had a life altering experience, that’s the best personal mood to be in. As far as the setting for writing, I like to be alone, possibly dimly lit room. As for performing, I love it when the audience is really listening and connecting with my music. In that setting, I feel like I can have a conversation with the audience rather just play to them.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Brooke: I’ve got a few shows in various parts of the Northeast coming up this spring/summer, including a few in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. All of my upcoming shows can be found on my website: BrookeAnnibale.com – there is also a stream of the entire new album available on the site.
For the Most Part
www.sonicbids.com/FortheMostPart
Skope: How did you react after you were selected for A2W?
For the Most Part (FtMP): It feels great to be considered as an artist to watch! Finally having a solid member roster and some amazing material to share is allowing us to do things that we’ve always wanted to do as a group. Being selected for Skopemag’s A2W is definitely fueling our drive; we really are excited and grateful for this opportunity!
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
FtMP: We are promoting our album,”As Long As It Takes Forever To End”, whenever possible. Major makes weekly YouTube videos that keep a constant stream of media flowing, and our shows take the icing on the cake to a different level. It’s pretty amazing how much our friends picked up our music and ran with it, and we’re glad that our awkward grassroots campaign is helping us gather resources for a potential tour next fall.
Skope: At what age did you start to play music and want to make it a career?
FtMP: All of us come from different backgrounds with wide ranges of musical experiences. We decided to steer the band towards being a career when the band was founded about 5 years ago. We’re not fortunate at this time to rely solely on the band, but it’s getting there. Until then, we’re sending Griff and Allen to sell our album under the freeway in hot pants. Shirtless. No sunscreen.
Skope: Where do you turn these days to hear new music?
FtMP: Pandora, Last.FM, Reverbnation, friend suggestions, Facebook, etc. We’re part of the the generation where most of our resources are online but nothing beats actually going to the show and taking in the live performance.
Skope: What is your ideal mood & setting to write & play music?
FtMP: Anywhere and everywhere, actually. If it was possible for us to sit down and schedule a productive, creative time block once a day, we would have 4 more albums. The reality is that we each walk around with pencil and paper to jot down the ideas we can remember and convey in a tangible sense. A lot of inspiration happens when we sleep; who doesn’t want to get paid to sleep?
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
FtMP: As a band, we’re working on getting more shows to further solidify our fanbase – we love playing for our friends. We’re planning on going on tour next fall, but until then, more shows will be played and songs will be written!
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/forthemostpartband
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forthemostpart
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/forthemostpart
Coockoo
www.sonicbids.com/Coockoo
FERESHTA
www.sonicbids.com/Fereshta
Skope: How did you react after you were selected for A2W?
Fereshta: Thrilled! It’s always so nice to be chosen!
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Fereshta: My debut release, “Global Citizen” for poets and rockaholics alike!
Skope: At what age did you start to play music and want to make it a career?
Fereshta: I was a late bloomer, I think at 28. I’ve always loved music, but I never thought I was going to make a career out of it. I was a shy poet girl and I didn’t know how to sing a lick! But the dream began calling at 28 and I trusted that if I took steps to become a singer/songwriter, the rest would take care of itself.
Skope: Where do you turn these days to hear new music?
Fereshta: I have my favorites of course, Heather Nova, Overkill, The Doors, Tori Amos…but I also listen to Pandora and still get mix cds from friends. We’re all music lovers and pushers over here!
Skope: What is your ideal mood & setting to write & play music?
Fereshta: Mmm…it could be any time really. I find that the muse descends when I’m savoring life. It could be a nice hot shower, or a warm breeze at the beach, a sweet cup of cider, a really good book, a great conversation or being moved deeply by something, this beautiful ride we call life. ;)
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Fereshta: The record is getting a lot of rotation on college radio so local and national shows are the next big step. I’m joining forces with a charity I really believe in so that I can promote peace through education in Afghanistan and hopefully build some schools! www.fereshta.com
Pete Jenkins
www.sonicbids.com/PeteJenkins
Skope: How did you react after you were selected for A2W?
Peter Jenkins: With excitement, its a great opportunity to reach out to new people and have them listen to my music.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Peter Jenkins: The CD EP “The Swagger” is the focus at the moment. Its my first release and its like a calling card, each of the 5 songs demonstrate a different aspect to my musical style and influence and hints at what you can expect from the band “live”.
Skope: At what age did you start to play music and want to make it a career?
Peter Jenkins: Well I think I was quite young, maybe 12, I was doing gigs by 14 and had pretty much decided, by that time, the guitar was going to be a major part of my life. I was very fortunate at a very young age to see some great guitar players in concert, players like Jan Akkerman, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, Robin Trower and Australian guitarist’s Ian Moss , Kevin Borich and John Dallimore. With that kind of influence its easy to get hooked.
Skope: Where do you turn these days to hear new music?
Peter Jenkins: To be honest, I’m focused mainly on my own music and other peoples projects that I get involved in, outside of that, its word of mouth and the internet. I have never been into disposable pop music so I guess mainstream radio falls way down on the priority list.
Skope: What is your ideal mood & setting to write & play music?
Peter Jenkins: I think song writing can be inspired by a place and mood but its also very much a discipline. I have to set aside writing time and focus otherwise I’ll just spend all my time playing the guitar and chasing sounds. Once I’ve started work on a new song and have a basic arrangement, inspiration often comes when driving or in the early hours of the morning. Some songs can come together in minutes others can take months. Standing in the shower with the water falling on your head can really give you so great ideas when you’re stuck for a lyric……really.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Peter Jenkins: We’ve just had a break from gigging and are now back into a rehearsal regime for an upcoming video. Also I have some new music to finish recording for a release later in the year and we’ll be out gigging again very soon I hope. Go to www.reverbnation.com/petejenkinstheswagger to hear music, buy stuff and keep up to date with PJB.
sMALLTIME
www.sonicbids.com/sMALLTIME
Skope: How did you react after you were selected for A2W?
sMALLTIME: We thought it was Very Very cool. Always nice to have someone talking about us and this is especially nice because it’s not behind our backs.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
sMALLTIME: Well we’re looking to record the first of many (we hope) sMALLTIME- EP very soon and then hit the road to promote that. Right now we’re just giging as much as we can, trying new material out, throwing it against the wall and seeing if it sticks, if ya know what I mean.
Skope: At what age did you start to play music and want to make it a career?
sMALLTIME: Speaking for all four members of the band, all which have been around the block more than once, that moment in time when ya get to plug into a decent amp, hit a power cord that reverberates and shakes the pictures off the walls getting your parents to scream “Turn that crap down!” Yeah….. that’s when I wanted to make it a career.
Skope: Where do you turn these days to hear new music?
sMALLTIME: Local clubs, still the best choice is radio I’m afraid, internet radio is a good source, college radio works. Just anywhere where the music their playing isn’t so vanilla, ya know? Especially in our genre of “Contemporary Christian”. It seems that a lot of it, although well intended, seems a bit safe. Not all but some. If we’re to play it as Jesus would, and we are, well Jesus was anything but safe. If you have a point of view than sing it loud, sing it proud. I’ll listen to any music that has conviction and passion.
Skope: What is your ideal mood & setting to write & play music?
sMALLTIME: Everybody has a different formula for writing. For us, right now?…it always changes, the formula seems to be someone bringing in a skeleton of a song to rehearsal, a hook, chorus and verse or something, the rest of us give it a tumble to see if it’s worth spending time on. Those are exciting moments because whatever you bring to the table may materialize into a wonderful song you never imagined it could be or flatline and die right before your very eye’s. Very exciting indeed!
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
sMALLTIME: Were giging in the Los Angeles area and as I said earlier looking to record and EP very soon. You can find all sMALLTIME info, shows, music, videos and pic’s at these links.
http://www.sonicbids.com/sMALLTIME
http://www.reverbnation.com/smalltime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFpDsBVAtps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlaYFfQEBsI
http://www.jango.com/music/sMALLTIME?l=0
Mad June
www.sonicbids.com/MadJune
Skope: How did you react after you were selected for A2W?
Vanessa: What!!!!???? Cool!!! Really???!!! Excellent!!! Passed out…then woke up and started all over again…What??!!!… Pascale: I screamed a little and then thought well, how cool is that, Skope is great! I’m really grateful.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Mad June: Our very first single ‘’November’’ Produced by ‘’Award winning & best guy ever’’ Jeff ‘Diesel’ Dalziel will be released and available on Itunes and other (info via madjune.com) at the beginning of June and we have a bunch of shows to promote and play. A Fall tour coming up September 2011. A full length album to follow up our 2009 Demo release of We’re not Strangers….No name for the album yet..but lots of songs…
Skope: At what age did you start to play music and want to make it a career?
Mad June: All four of us have a mix of classical and self-taught backgrounds. That’s what makes our writing so much fun and exciting …our approaches are different so we can look at a song from the inside out. For myself (Vanessa), my dad, The DJ/Psychologist, bought me a small organ when I was 8, I took flute lessons at 11, at 13 switched to drums/percussions in my high school music program, got kicked out of the program, Picked up a guitar at 15 and learned how to play…I always wanted to write songs and play music…I didn’t see it as a choice, Music has just always made me truly happy. Pascale: I started playing bass for Mad June. I’ve always been a music lover but when I had the opportunity to be in a band with some of my best friends who needed a bassist, I just started practicing like crazy. The first time I held a bass and started playing notes and rhythms, I realized this instrument was tailor-made for my long arms and fingers! J
Skope: Where do you turn these days to hear new music?
Vanessa: Everywhere! Music is so accessible now that there are so many places to discover new bands. I still go to the record store and listen to what they have in the displays. I also check out the bands that are following bands I like on Twitter or Facebook. Sometime I just ask my Social network followers/friends to suggest bands that they like.
Skope: What is your ideal mood & setting to write & play music?
Vanessa: I try to not have an Ideal mood or setting anymore, I used to only be able to write when I was very sad or angry…that doesn’t happen as much anymore…I’m an annoyingly happy person now…hahahaha…while our lyrics still remain somewhat dark, our music can be danceable and melodic. There is plenty of stuff to write about in the world when you are a sensitive person, unfortunately justice and love do not always prevail. We have our own little dungeon in a basement (secret location) where we write and play music and we try to write a new song every time we’re in there.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Vanessa: Other than the release of ‘November’ we will be playing North by North East Festival in Toronto on June 17th and our Canadian tour dates should be announced this summer.
You can find all our links (Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/MySpace) on our website www.madjune.com.
Prince Greg
www.sonicbids.com/PrinceGreg
Skope: How did you react after you were selected for A2W?
Prince Greg: I rarely smile, and finding out I was selected for A2W was one of those rare moments i did.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Prince Greg: My album titled “M.B.M Vol.1” that will be released late-2011/early-2012 through JMD Records/INgrooves/Universal. Also my mixtape titled “Sex, Money & Drugs 2” that was released on 04/25/2011.
Skope: At what age did you start to play music and want to make it a career? Prince Greg: I began rapping around the age of five, and since eleven I knew music was what I wanted to do.
Skope: Where do you turn these days to hear new music?
Prince Greg: Honestly, I only listen to me unless something else catches my attention. And that’s not often.
Skope: What is your ideal mood & setting to write & play music?
Prince Greg: There isn’t one for me. No matter what my mood is, the place, weather, or time I’m always ready and wanting to create music.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Prince Greg: My album that’s coming out, I’m working on my next album & more mixtapes. Follow me on twitter @princegregmbm, subscribe at Youtube.com/gregapk3, & become a fan at Facebook.com/pgmbm.
SteelBirds
www.sonicbids.com/SteelBirds
Skope: How did you find out you were selected for A2W?
Ria: I was very excited and honored to be selecte for A2W!
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Ria: I am busy promoting myself, getting out there, performing as much as possible, promoting my singles, and working on my debut albums!
Skope: At what age did you start to play music and want to make it a career?
Ria: I have been singing since I could talk,but performed first when I was six years old. I knew then that the stage was my home, and have been loving it ever since!
Skope: Where do you turn these days to hear new music?
Ria: I Listen to all music, mostly on Itunes and Youtube!
Skope: What is your ideal mood & setting to write & play music?
Ria: To Write I like to be alone in my room with my Daisy Rock Guitar “Delilah” ( I am a Daisy Rock Girl) and to play, anywhere and everywhere suits me just fine!
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Ria: You can check me out @ www.riamusic.com, and this will link you to all of my online sites!
