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.
Sidney B.
www.sonicbids.com/SidneyB
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
Sidney B: Honestly, I was secretly hoping to be featured but was not really expecting it. It was a good surprise when it actually happened. I know skopemag.com has great taste in music. It’s an honor to be the artist to watch for this month of august.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Sidney B. : I released the first two singles of my upcoming EP “Join My Revolution”: “Boy Toy” and “Revolution!”. I have had great success on the net. I directed the video for “Revolution!” and the buzz went crazy , i had more than 25 thousand views on youtube the first month online,witch i take great pride in accomplishing with having no marketing or radio airplays. I have had dj’s from all over the world, sending me emails ,telling me they play my music in their club. Those tracks are available now on itunes worldwide and i plan on having my EP released by the end of september.
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis effect your plans musically?
Sidney B: I’m very aware of the economical crisis and its impact on the music industry. I have prepared something for my fans who purchase my music on Itunes ,aswell as anybody who joins my revolution through my website Sidneyb.com. They will receive exclusive music, tickets to my shows ,t shirts and updates. I want to create a movement with my fans , I’m open to any suggestions to get you “the people” involved. Email me at Sidneyb.com. And together lets create “Future pop”.
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
Sidney B: I travel alot . I always have my laptop ,a small keyboard and a studio’s microphone with me everywhere I go . I composed and wrote most of the songs of my next album last spring, in one of my favorite countries… Mexico i am always very inspired when I am there. I recorded my new album in Canada, with my team from Toronto Cyrus Hira and CRG , and from Montreal, the french musician Eric Vouillamoz.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
Sidney B: I feel that top 40 radio doesnt represent the current music culture,cause it’s controlled by the major recording companies. I personnaly feel that online and satelite radio has more freedom to play current and upcoming artists and aren’t as controlled by popular media. I’d love to hear more independant artists on commercial radio before they get signed.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Sidney B: Early september I’m going to release my new single “Downtown”. It will be the 3rd single of my upcoming EP “Join My Revolution” that should be released on Itunes worldwide by the end of september . Each song of this album will have his own video, available on my youtube channel SidneybOfficial. You can find me online and join my revolution on my official website: www.sidneyb.com
Nigel Mustafa
www.sonicbids.com/NigelMustafaRocks
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
Nigel Mustafa: With countless great bands out there that aspire to be in Skope, it does come as a splendid, flattering surprise. At the same time, we are very sure of ourselves musically and with our live show. We are always hopeful that others sense our unique energy and it is gratifying to know that Skope does.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Nigel Mustafa: It so happens that we have a new album out this year called “Happy Friendship,” but what we really promote are things like sweating all night on the dance floor and/or singing out a chorus on a gravel road in Idaho. If these things happen, we’re in good shape.
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis effect your plans musically?
Nigel Mustafa: Our strategy is to pay it forward a bit right now. We’ve mixed in more free events and charity gigs while making connections with government and philanthropic organizations. In return, we get access to new fans and lovely, shiny venues. Money is scarce which makes the barter system more viable than ever. These folks have promotion avenues that are nearly impossible for us to access otherwise so we are cool with doing business this way as we end up selling more cd’s as well.
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
Nigel Mustafa: I have a small studio in my home where I explore new ideas. I often go running after messing with chords and melodies. It is after the first 2 or 3 miles that the good stuff bubbles up. I then head to the coffee house to iron out the details. The band adds their take and we gradually arrive at a finished song. We record the drums at a “real” studio then the rest is done in my home. We don’t like watching the clock. It is great to have all the time needed for recording. We’re willing to trade some audio quality for this freedom.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
Nigel Mustafa: If it were up to me, Top 40 radio would eagerly seek out lyrics praising goats, distortion accordion solos, references to the Yukon Gold Rush and other random acts of authenticity. But as it stands now, I seek out small flashes of sincerity.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Nigel Mustafa: We have several shows in the Seattle area and hopefully a sojourn to Cali and/or Hawaii is in the offing. We’re also editing a music video as we speak. And as long as the ideas keep sneaking up on us, new albums will be produced and shows will be booked.
Naturally, we’re on Facebook, myspace and iTunes, but our official band site is: www.nigelrocks.com. We love to hear from fans so please send us a note.
Kari Marguerite and The 76
www.sonicbids.com/KariMargueriteandThe76
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
Kari Marguerite: Since my album is so relatively new, I still get that “on cloud nine” type of feeling anytime good news comes my way about my music. So, as to expecting to be chosen, I’d say I don’t expect anything when it comes to my music. I’ve found, in pursuing music, the hugest highs in acceptance and also the most rejection I’ve ever encountered in my life. I’m just trying to learn to accept the rejections with exactly the level of seriousness they deserve. Music is a personal thing. If you don’t personally like my music, I accept that for what it is. If you have a specific and justified critique, then I listen to what is valid and take it under advisement. They say you learn more from your failures than your successes, and I think that is true. It also makes you appreciate those successes, those open doors, when you encounter them. I just thank you for the opportunity, for your “yes.”
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Kari Marguerite: Right now, I’m promoting the album as a whole. Since I’m an independent artist, I’m picking it up as I go along. Personally, to me, my album is a little piece of my soul. Recording and producing it was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. On nights and weekends, for over a year and a half, and as I could afford it, I recorded it with my producer and good friend, Eddie Ramirez. I’d done the little rinky-dink $500 packages before, at other studios, where some tech hits the “record” button. I think you get what you pay for, and also what you put the effort into. I wanted a legit, studio album, and I wanted to flesh out my songs and present them like I heard them in my head. So, I spent the time and money and did it right. Right now, It’s all about the album, performing it live, anywhere, everywhere….touring as much as I can. I’m using the internet and my distributor, CD Baby to get my music heard by as many people as possible. I also do a lot of social networking. I want to make a connection with my fans. When I feel a connection with an artist, It makes me appreciate and possibly go a little “rabid” for their music. I want the same, rabid fans, or possibly to say, “Really intensely passionate fans” for my music.
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis effect your plans musically?
Kari Marguerite: Musically, yes. Given unlimited resources, I’d be doing more. My ultimate dream would be to pursue music full time. As it stands now, my music is getting more well known, and is bringing in a little money. However, you need to pay the bills. The day job is the reality for a lot of musicians. When you tour, you must bring in enough to feed the band, pay the band, lodge the band and pay for gas…..it’s sometimes a tall order. It definitely affects our touring. We plan numerous tours in little circles, ever widening, from our home town. We play a town, and go back a few months later and play it again. Building up a following that can get us increasingly better shows and hopefully enough money from these shows to launch us to the next town where we are not as well known.
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
Kari Marguerite: I do a lot of driving on my day job, I find that I write a lot of the preliminary ideas for songs, hooks, choruses, etc, while on the road staring at the beautiful scenery I find in the Pacific Northwest. I use a little voice recorder to tie down the ideas. I then flesh them out, usually late at night on my piano. I have a aging yamaha clavinova in my dining room. It overlooks the street via two big roll out windows. If it’s during the day, I play and watch the cars go down the street. If it’s late, I watch the shadows that the street lights make the maple leaves blow across them. I kind of find inspiration in the solitude.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
Kari Marguerite: Im kind of a sucker for a catchy melody, and while I do listen to Top 40 music, I don’t find much inspiration in it. My tastes and influences have always been sort of throw-back, way back. I’m a big fan of women artists. I really love that vintage soul of Amy Winehouse and Corrine Bailey Rae. I love Sara Barielles’ pop sensibility and lyrics….she really gets it. I adore Adele and her commanding presence and voice. I also in in total love with April Smith and The Great Picture Show, that Jazzy flirtatious vibe is right up my alley. Mostly, you’ll find me on my I-pod. I’m addicted to i-tunes genius recommendations, and have found more great music that way than anywhere else. I also love sites like Jango.com, noisetrade.com and thesixtyone.com that allow you to experience new music based on your preferences.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Kari Marguerite: Well, I’m touring and performing to promote my album’s recent release. It seems like every living moment that I’m not doing my day job, I’m either writing, performing or doing the biz side for music. Occasionally, I sleep. My next project is a couple of LP’s….one with that old Motown vibe. The second LP will be more jazz based. Of course, all combined in a pop setting, but that allows me to focus on my two favorite genres and really dig in. I’m hoping to do a kickstarter campaign to finance part of these adventures, but that’s not going to happen till for at least 8 months or so.
Online, I’m everywhere I can possibly be. However, my main website is www.karimarguerite.com. I do also find twitter and facebook very useful: www.twitter.com/KMand76 and www.facebook.com/Kmandthe76 and since I just love to listen, I have to recommend my Jango radio station. http://www.jango.com/music/Kari+Marguerite+and+The+76?l=0
Chris Blake
www.sonicbids.com/ChrisBlakeEPK
Cara Matthew
www.sonicbids.com/CaraMatthew
Nukky Grissom
www.sonicbids.com/NukkyGrissom
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
Nukky Grissom: I have to say it was a pleasant surprise. It wasn’t a surprise in the sense that I lacked the confidence in my material or that it was completely unexpected, but I’ve had so much on my plate this summer that sometimes it’s easy to forget everyone you reached out to. That being said, I was pretty stoked when y’all got back to me and wanted to do a feature.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Nukky Grissom: After launching my website – iamgrissy.com – back in the spring, I quickly hit the studio to put together a free 6-song EP titled IAMGRISSY which we dropped in mid-June and have been pushing hard ever since. We cracked 1000+ downloads before August rolled around so things have been okay thus far but we still have a long way to go. I just kicked off a U.S college radio campaign alongside Tinderbox Music as well so the real push is just beginning…NOW GO DOWNLOAD THE EP!
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis affect your plans musically?
Nukky Grissom: Yes and No. It definitely affects the music industry as a whole which I guess subsequently affects my “plans”, but I’ve never found much sense in focusing on the things that you can’t control. For example, I may not be able to control the fact that labels might be hesitant to take a chance on breaking a new artist — due to the uncertain financial climate of the industry – but I can certainly control my own work ethic and aim to continue to improve so that it might make their decision easier. In the end it will always come down to the music so that’s what I’m focused on.
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
Nukky Grissom: Ha, I’m a total loner when it comes to the writing process! I’ve written in the studio before but I’ve always preferred to fly solo when it comes to actually sitting down with a beat and writing. I’m also my own worst critic and will re-arrange something a thousand times if it doesn’t sit right, so the length of time it takes me to write a song can vary. A song could take me an hour to write or it could take me 6 hours over the span of a week to write, so I’d rather just write it on my own watch so there’s no pressure.
Now when it comes time to record, this is where all the effort spent writing saves time. By the time I hit the studio I’ve literally gone over my verses almost a hundred times so it doesn’t take much to track the vocals. After that it’s usually just me and my boys, BC and N/A, going over ideas, discussing tweaks or adjustments or simply repeating funny phrases or words we might’ve come up with earlier in the night. We do that a lot.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
Nukky Grissom: I don’t really listen to Top 40 radio all that much which would suggest that my answer would be “No”. However, I don’t think it’s fair to paint everybody with the same stroke so there are certainly exceptions. For example, I’m a huge fan of Adele, but Ke$ha? Not so much. Same thing with Lupe Fiasco and T-Pain. I’ll bump Lupe in the whip but you won’t find me coppin’ a T-Pain album anytime soon. That’s not even a diss to T-Pain either because I can respect him as a businessman and entertainer, it’s just that his music isn’t my thing.
Now if you asked me if I liked the type of stuff that DOMINATES Top 40 radio, then my “No” would be a lot easier to stick with. You’ll occassionally find the Adele’s and Lupe’s on the charts but the majority of the stuff doesn’t seem to have a heartbeat anymore. There’s no emotion in it. Look at Jennifer Lopez for instance. Again, I have tremendous respect for what she’s been able to achieve throughout her career but here she is on the charts with a love song at THE EXACT SAME TIME that she’s going through a nasty divorce. That doesn’t make sense to me. Do you actually feel that way or were you just sitting with a circle of co-writers like “Yeah, this is gonna be hot”?
I like music that comes from the heart where you have to dig a little to get to it…and maybe I’m old-school but I’ve always preferred organic “hits” as opposed to manufactured ones.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Nukky Grissom: Well I said earlier that my work ethic is one thing that I can control so naturally I have a tonne of stuff coming down the pipeline in the next little while. As mentioned, I recently released the IAMGRISSY EP and just kicked off a U.S college radio campaign to help with the push so right now that is definitely a primary focus. I’m also going to be shooting a video for a song off of the EP called “Small Town Shit” which will likely be shot in early September while the weather up here is still relatively decent.
On top of that, I have a couple of other projects on the go which are in various states of completion including an album alongside my producer/rapper pal N/A called Ear Responsible. It’s probably about 95% done so it’ll be out sooner than later. It’s really more his album than mine but I’m playing Ghostface to his Raekwon and am featured on the majority of the album. It has a real blue-collar vibe in the sense that it’s an honest portrayal of how we deal with the common day-to-day shit that people have to deal with.
In terms of live shows it’s been a pretty steady summer so far and I recently advanced to the Finals of WhatsGoodToronto.com’s “The Prospects”. The Finals are set to take place in early September so I’ll definitely be prepping to take home the W.
Lastly, the best place to find me online is to just search for me on Facebook or hit up www.iamgrissy.com. I update the site quite frequently so that’s probably the best place to find me…plus you can download the IAMGRISSY EP for free!
I’ve also been feeling the pressure to join the Twitterverse or Tweetworld or whatever they call it but have yet to crack and join the herd. Stay tuned though…
The StereoFidelics
www.sonicbids.com/thestereofidelics
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
The StereoFidelics: We’ve been touring the US year-round for the past 3 years. In this last year, we’ve seen our fanbase expand, our live performance grow into something really special. Now there’s a real sense of excitement surrounding the band–you can feel that energy that something really cool is about to happen. As an independent band, we never expect anything and certainly don’t take anything for granted, but we do feel privileged to have been selected as an A2W!
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
The StereoFidelics: We’re promoting our most recent release, our first live album, Live From Binghamton. We’re promoting the album while on tour, but I guess we’re promoting our tour by getting albums into people’s hands as well. We’re currently on a 3-month US tour that takes us coast-to-coast and border-to-border. We’re wrapping up booking our Fall tour that will have us returning to many of the places we played this Summer.
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis effect your plans musically?
The StereoFidelics: We’ve decided a long time ago that this is our calling; we have something special to share and are going to ride this van till the wheels fall off! In fact, now more than ever people need an escape, a ray of beauty and happiness in their day. What better than music to provide that?
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
The StereoFidelics: At least for writing, inspiration and ideas can come anytime, anywhere. It can be driving the van, loading in to a show, doing laundry…just hope there’s a pencil and paper handy! We feel very fortunate to have our own studio that we record in at home in Asheville, NC, Nowhere Studios. As a duo who doesn’t use loops or sequencers, sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error (and practicing!) to create all of the sounds we want in a live setting. We’re able to work through songs and do preproduction there as well as record our albums.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
The StereoFidelics: Not everything we hear, we like, but sometimes there will be a few gems that stand out. Even if it’s not a whole song, you can usually find parts to appreciate; a horn line, an intricate beat, or smart verse lyrics.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
The StereoFidelics: We’re in the van (big surprise!) coming from a show in Chicago last night and headed to Minneapolis to play tonight. During our short break at home between our Summer tour we’re currently on and our Fall tour, we’ll be wrapping up some arranging and finishing touches on some new material for our third studio release that we’ll be putting to tape this winter. Free downloads, videos, tour info, and all sorts of stuff is on our website at www.stereof.com. Keep listening!
LaZae
www.sonicbids.com/lazae
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
LaZae: You never know about these things. I was definitely keeping my fingers crossed! I am very thankful to be featured!
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
LaZae: I’ve been working really hard to put out my debut EP. It’s all finished now and will be released on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby and all major online retailers by the end of this month so that is definitely what I am focused on promoting right now. I am so proud of it. It’s really been a great journey putting it together. I plan on putting together a tour to promote my album as well. I love performing live. Right now I am performing locally in Los Angeles, but I can’t wait to expand out. I think touring is key to expanding your fanbase and so vital for artists to really make a connection with fans, especially for independent artists.
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis effect your plans musically?
LaZae: Definitely, it is affecting everyone right now. Everything from finding money to put out my music to getting fans to come to performances when the cover to get in might be hard to swing are all issues I face as well as many musicians these days. Without a label, the independent artist has to sacrifice a lot and make due with very small budgets. But it’s also a very exciting time because there are so many amazing tools and opportunities for independent artists to be heard and gain exposure without huge budgets. I think the music industry is really changing and it is an open field for us as artists to make a name for ourselves.
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
LaZae: I think that you can make almost any setting a great place to be creative. While it is great to get in the studio and lock yourself up to write and record, I think it’s also those spontaneous moments when you’re taking a walk or sitting out on your porch that you can really be struck with an amazing lyric or melody. I like to seize the moment’s emotions and try to steal away and write about it. So whether if something great just happened to me or if something sad just happened to me, I try to capture those feelings by writing about it as soon as I can so I don’t lose those genuine emotions.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
LaZae: I don’t listen to the radio as much as I used to. I tune in to hear what’s going on, but generally I’m uninspired. I am happy for all the artists out there who are doing their thing and making it to the top of the charts. I just think that that there is a lot of uniformity to the current “Top 40” pop sound. It’s encouraging to see artists like Adele and now even veterans like Cake and Jill Scott reach the top of the charts because I really think they bring some raw, organic sound to the masses. I love that. They don’t sound over-produced, just genuine and full of emotion. That’s really what I aspire to do with my music.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
LaZae: I am really focused on promoting my EP, planning a tour which will start on the west coast and spread out from there and beginning work on my full length studio album. I’m constantly writing and I have so much material that is ready to record and produce for the LP. I can’t wait! I just want to keep moving forward, putting out more music and building my fan base.
I think at this point I’ve pretty much covered all major online outlets with my presence! More and more websites for artists just keep popping up. I’m trying to keep up! You can find me and join my mailing list for free downloads and updates at my website www.LaZaeMusic.com. And here are my major social networks:
www.facebook.com/LaZae
www.twitter.com/LaZaeMusic
www.myspace.com/LaZaeMusic
www.youtube.com/LaZaeMusic
www.vimeo.com/LaZae
www.last.fm/music/LaZae
the danberrys
www.sonicbids.com/TheDanberrys
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
The DanBerrys: We always hope we will be included in new opportunities but we just try to do what we do and let everything else run its course. Obviously it is an honor to be included on the Skope website and we are super stoked to be involved!
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
The DanBerrys: We are still working and booking gigs off of our first EP Company Store. We also just released our version of Shady Grove which features some of Nashville’s best acoustic players (who also happen to be our great friends and all around awesome peoples!!!!). Shady Grove has definitely opened some doors for us and has even gotten play on our local FM independent radio station Lightning 100. We are focused right now on advancing our live show and recording another album by the end of the year, but overall we are really keyed in on having a lot of fun!!!!
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis effect your plans musically?
The DanBerrys: We don’t think the economic “situation” really plays into what we are doing. While we are trying to make a living like everyone else it seems as if somewhere in the last 20-30 years musicians have come to expect that they should all become millionaires for strumming some chords and looking good. We are extremely fortunate to have the musical talents that we do and we hope that we can positively shape those that we come across regardless of their and our financial situations.
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
The DanBerrys: I don’t think there is any one setting that works the best for us but there are definitely situations that seem to be favorites. Dorothy typically writes the first parts of new tunes while in the shower while I tend to just blurt out a song in a short period of time. We think there is a song in every situation you just have to wait for it sometimes.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
The DanBerrys: We don’t typically listen to any top 40 but occasionally we will dig on a beat, riff, lyric from whats coming out today. We don’t discriminate against popular music. If it’s good it is good and if it is not well then we will probably go on to the next….
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
The DanBerrys: September is going to be a busy month for us with a few festivals and other higher profile gigs. We are currently booking through the end of the year and planning for great things in 2012. Online you can find us at http://www.thedanberrys.com and at http://www.reverbnation.com/thedanberrys and you know we are on facebook…right?????
E Double A.P.M.C.
www.sonicbids.com/EDoubleAPMC
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
E-Double A.P.M.C: I believed that my music and presence in the press kit that I sent to you guys would definitely catch your eye and intrigue you. I expected to be selected as an A2W eventually, but honestly not this soon.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
E-Double A.P.M.C: I am currently promoting my debut album Who I Am, which is currently available at all digital media outlets [i.e. ITunes, Amazon, EMusic] and physical copies are available mail to order by contacting myself through facebook.com/edoubleapmc
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis effect your plans musically?
E-Double A.P.M.C: Our global economic debt crisis will only effect the finances I make from my music. When I decided I that I wanted to make music for a living, the finances was not the main focal point of why I wanted to do this, it was to get my music and message across to the masses. It would be naive for me to say that this economic debt crisis does not effect me, because this situation is effecting everybody. However, as far as my creative and future plans go for my music, it won’t affect it at all.
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
E-Double A.P.M.C: I can write music anywhere. I love when I get that creative feeling that I just have to release on a record, it’s almost like sex to me. I have a hand picked selection of studios I go to to record, all with knowledgeable and creative people that I can feed off of to make the best representation of my music to my people, my people being anyone that lends an ear to my creative works.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
E-Double A.P.M.C: Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. Some of the Top 40 songs are truly great songs, and then you have the songs that are produced to just make a profit. If those songs make the Top 40 radio, then it has achieved it’s goal, because that revenue will be manifesting in terms of single/albums sales, royalties, shows, interviews, etc. I prefer listening to internet radio, or late night commercial radio where the DJ’s have a little more freedom to play different kinds of music that they feel the people will enjoy.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
E-Double A.P.M.C: I am currently working on my EP entitled What Matters, scheduled to be released independently in October 2011. Also, I am preparing for my show tour with my other music venture So Epic, throughout North Carolina and the Atlantic Coast. These are the links to the areas I populate the most on the net;
www.facebook.com/edoubleapmc
www.sonicbids.com/edoubleapmc
www.twitter.com/edoubleapmc
www.reverbnation.com/edoubleapmc
www.facebook.com/soepic
Yesterday’s Saints
www.sonicbids.com/YesterdaysSaints
Skope: Did you expect to be selected as an A2W artist for August?
YS: Well as a metal band we weren’t holding our breath but, I have to say since it did happen we’re pretty stoked about it.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
YS: We released an EP back in May and have been touring the US East Coast in support of it.
Skope: Does the current global economic debt crisis effect your plans musically?
YS: Absolutely! We see the effect of the economy at shows and through online sales. People are reluctant to spend any money right now especially on bands that are coming up. It seems they’re all saving to see the big shows roll through. I think sovereign debt helps in scaring people into thinking that if their country is deep in the hole that they need to grip their cash tighter. That’s why we have a free download through our ReverbNation page. Our mini-stimulus to help folks get by you know.
Skope: What is your best setting to write and record music?
YS: The best setting for writing and recording for us is in a 15,000 square foot mountain top estate with a huge pool, stocked bar, and a view of the ocean. Where we actually write and record is a tad bit different. Typically, Witt and Phil come up with riffs and then work together with Albert to develop an arrangement in our practice studio (aka a self-storage unit). I sometimes chime in but usually let them work it all out. Once they have it arranged I get a mp3 file that I sit at home with and write lyrics to the music. The stuff these guys come up with really talks to me. The song dictates the concept to me. Rarely I come come to a song with a preconceived idea on what the song is about. Recording, well we do that all in house right now at Albert’s place. He’s got an excellent set up and it works really well for us.
Skope: When you listen to Top 40 radio, do you like what you hear?
YS: Top 40? Yeah, um. No. Although, Lady Gaga’s meat dress did make me hungry.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
YS: Right now the remainder of the year is all lined up for us. We have shows between NY and Southern VA with the last being the end of October. Then we’re going back to the studio and laying down the last of the tracks for our full-length. We’ll hibernate through the winter months mixing and mastering and getting art picked out for the album. Then after the thaw we’ll be back on the road. Online we’re on Facebook, Myspace, Reverbnation, Jango, i-Tunes, Amazon Mp3, Spotify, and a bunch others. The quickest way to find us on all those is going through www.YesterdaysSaints.com