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.
Seeping Into Cinemas
www.sonicbids.com/seepinginto
How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W?
Seeping Into Cinemas: Well, my birthday is near the end of November, so maybe I’ll have some sort of double celebration. It won’t be too crazy though, I’m quite well behaved!
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music for 2011?
Seeping Into Cinemas: Getting my first album out. It’s called “100,000 Times”
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Seeping Into Cinemas: The album, and a single that I released last month. It’s called “Still Frame From A Sunny Monday” and I released it on the somewhat unusual format of hand painted fridge magnet. There’s a download code on the side of the fridge magnets that gives you access to the single, a previously unreleased song and the artwork. I wanted to do a physical release on something other than CD, vinyl, or memory key. Something that wasn’t going to end up being a piece of unused plastic, so I came up with that. The fridge magnet is something functional that can be used again.
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
Seeping Into Cinemas: It’s happening in Europe too! There’s Occupy Dame Street right here in Dublin. Musicians, especially well known ones, can play a huge part in getting the movements message across via mainstream media. I saw on TV that David Crosby and Graham Nash played some songs at Occupy Wall Street. When household names like that are supporting, it’s really going to bring the whole thing to the forefront, which is interesting considering mainstream media pretty much ignored what was happening for the first couple of weeks.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities & social media duties?
Seeping Into Cinemas: I try to be aware of not getting too sucked into the whole social media aspect, though it can become time consuming especially when you’re doing your own PR. I’m not the most social media friendly person in the world. I think they’re interesting, useful and fun tools, but I don’t tweet my every move or anything like that, so it doesn’t become too all consuming!
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Seeping Into Cinemas: I’d like to make another video, so that should surface early in the new year. I’m not sure for which song yet. Other than that just gigs and writing new songs. I’d love to make it over to the U.S. for some gigs in the not too distant future. Online I’m at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/seepingintocinemas
Bandcamp http://seepingintocinemas.bandcamp.com/ and www.seepingintocinemas.com where there’s links to my Twitter account and other online presences.
Junior Toots
www.sonicbids.com/juniortoots
Allison’s Invention
www.sonicbids.com/allisonsinvention
Skope: How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W?
Allisons Invention: By festooning myself with bells and wandering through the NYC subways signing the praises of Skope Magazine, of course!
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music in 2011?
Allisons Invention: After a great deal of hard work, it was a wonderful feeling to finally release my EP, Sweet and Vicious, into the world this year. It’s a project that’s very personal to me and releasing it was a real victory. I also had a great time this summer touring in the Midwest, New England and California, and met a lot of amazing people in all the cities where I performed.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single, etc.?
Allisons Invention: At the moment, my main focus is promoting the Sweet and Vicious EP, and trying to get those songs to as many listeners as possible. Although I’m still doing some shows, I slow the touring down during the winter and am looking forward to the time at home to develop new material.
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
Allisons Invention: There are many ways to make our voices heard: writing our representatives, voting, etc. It all makes a difference. As a songwriter, it’s a very delicate art to shine a light on an issue in a way that doesn’t just preach to the converted, but can raise doubt in the mind of someone who has previously disagreed or spark interest in someone who’s been disengaged or on the fence. I have yet to pen a political song that I think achieves that, but hope that one day I might.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities and social media duties?
Allisons Invention: It’s really tough! I find I do them in waves. When I’m in a creating cycle, I’m not terribly good about keeping up with twitter and facebook. I’m much better about that when I’m touring because there are fewer things pulling at my attention and there are so many interesting things that happen when you’re on the road that are fun to share.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where are you at online?
Allisons Invention: At the moment I’m demoing a lot of new material for some projects to be released in the new year. I don’t want to reveal too much, but it will be a departure from what I’ve done in the past and will be a lot more stripped down than the current record. I love big, lush, orchestral arrrangements, so I want to challenge myself to keep things simple. Online I can be found at http://www.allisonsinvention.com, http://www.allisontartalia.bandcamp.com, http://www.facebook.com/allisontartalia and http://www.twitter.com/inventionallie
The Upset Victory
www.sonicbids.com/TheUpsetVictory
Skope: How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W?
The Upset Victory: Crank Maiden or Lizzy records at our favorite local bar in typical band fashion.
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music for 2011?
The Upset Victory: I think we’re most proud with our work ethic on the whole. We’ve shot our second music video this year and are prepping for a third soon. In addition we finished two EP’s and we’re about to do some x-mas themed tunes for some holiday compilations, so that will be different for us. We’re all about constantly updating people on our whereabouts, activities, releases, and projects.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
The Upset Victory: We’re currently promoting a duel release EP that works in conjunction with one another; “The Awakening” & “The Rise” EP’s. We released a music video for track 2 off “The Awakening”, “Actions”. We shot it all across our hometown of downtown Cincinnati. Lots of underground tunnel sequences that were used to house booze during prohabition. It was pretty epic. We self-produced the video with the help of a great local company Digital Cinema Associates. These two EP’s act as a bridge between now and the next release due out early next year.
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
The Upset Victory: The occupy movement is definitely a delicate issue. It’s certainly been going on in our hometown of Cincinnati. The beauty of it is we live in a country that caters to personal speech and freedom. If you want your voice to be heard you can use a lot of resources including music. The important thing is no matter where you stand on issues you simply should make a stand for some thing and exercise your freedom.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities & social media duties?
The Upset Victory: It’s definitely difficult. We handle it all by ourselves, so if you ever receive an e-mail or whatever from us it’s from a specific member of the band. We like to add a personal touch to our fan base. With this digital age people often lose connection with one another so we view it as a family and try and keep that unity. Often time it’s hard to get back to everyone but you do your best. Social networking is great and if it wasn’t for services like Facebook, etc. a lot of bands wouldn’t have gotten notoriety otherwise.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
The Upset Victory: We’ll be doing some national one-off shows around the Midwest region but mainly we’re prepping for our next longer release due out early next year. We’ll most likely be heading to Orlando to do it. Keep a look out for us pretty much everywhere on the Internet (http://www.facebook.com/theupsetvictory) as we’ll have plenty of updates and things going on between now and the first of the year.
The Mallett Brothers Band
www.sonicbids.com/TheMallettBrothersBand
Skope: How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W?
The Mallett Brothers Band: We’ll probably do some back flips with our Ski-doo’s before settling in with a bottle of bourbon. You know, the regular celebration stuff.
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music for 2011?
The Mallett Brothers Band: Finishing our second album ‘Low Down’. We started it about a year ago in January ‘11 and it really came together well. So far a great response and we’re selling a bunch of them. Now we’re concentrating on summer tours and writing the next one.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
The Mallett Brothers Band: Our album in general, but also the video for the title track. http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMallettBrosBand.
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
The Mallett Brothers Band: The movement itself has it’s own momentum and we can help by mentioning it at shows but, in general, we try to stay away from politics. Our fans are very diverse and from many different backgrounds. Picking sides in social struggles isn’t really our bag. We try to say what we feel we need to in our songs.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities & social media duties?
The Mallett Brothers Band: It’s hard. Mainly we get together every week and figure out what our plan is and go for it. No big secret, just lots of hard work… and typing. Hard typing.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
The Mallett Brothers Band: We have a New Years show in our home town of Portland, ME. We’ll have a whiskey toast instead of that froo froo champagne sh*#. You can check out all of our upcoming shows on our website: http://mallettbrothersband.com. Be on the lookout for more summer dates coming up soon.
Ryan Sy
www.sonicbids.com/ryansymusic
Skope: How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W?
Ryan Sy: I’ll probably stay in with my family and help them cook a Thanksgiving/Skope magazine turkey. It’s November, so it’ll be like killing two birds with one stone. ;)
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music for 2011?
Ryan Sy: 2011 has been a very good year for me. I just released a 3 song EP this October, and my song “Danny” has received airplay on various US and international radio stations. It’s still early on in my musical career, but I feel like I’ve already accomplished something I used to dream about as a kid! I’m also playing more live gigs around LA. And being from the Philippines, this is something I’ve always wanted to do.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Ryan Sy: A lot of my music is about getting past the hurdles I faced growing up. I was a stupid kid, and got into a lot of trouble. Through the music on my EP, as well as my live shows, I’m hoping to share what I’ve learned through making, and overcoming these mistakes.
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
Ryan Sy: As musicians, I know how much music can affect people’s emotions, attitudes, and perceptions. If we want to spread a message, then what better way to do it than through music? I also believe we should set an example by not joining any of the protests, because many of these have gotten out of hand. I feel like the protests promote anger, and angry people usually don’t get what they want.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities & social media duties?
Ryan Sy: It’s definitely a challenge, but I think I’m managing my musical and social media activities pretty decently so far. I’m also a student here at the Musicians Institute, and that definitely adds to my workload. But that being said, I’ve always been better at organizing myself when I have many things on my plate! Keeping a calendar has saved my life; too many times to count!
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Ryan Sy: I am very excited for 2012. I’ll be working with an awesome producer on my second EP, and will be performing more frequently here in LA. I’m also working on some co-writing sessions with some very talented musicians.
James Michael
www.sonicbids.com/JamesMichael2
Peter Douskalis
www.sonicbids.com/peterdouskalis
Skope: How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W?
Peter Douskalis: I am definitely going to celebrate with a huge party! I’m going to take my fiancée, designer Stefanie Sintakis out for a nice dinner and I am going to have a massive jam session to celebrate! I will for sure also be letting all my friends, family and fans know so the can visit Skope to check it out!
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music for 2011?
Peter Douskalis: I was very pleased this 2011 with the continued press my CD “The Dance of the Sea” has been receiving. There have been some great reviews in great Jazz periodicals that I was very happy to receive. I have also started working on a new project that I think is going to be really awesome.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Peter Douskalis: Right now I am working on finishing my next CD. It will be third album to date. It is a “profile” CD that will range is musical style from rock, jazz, metal, classical, electronic and more! I’ve always loved playing the guitar… not just one style… but everything! It is an instrument to me that has no limitations and I want to explore all of them. This CD will feature many of my different abilities with the guitar and will be primarily original compositions.
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
Peter Douskalis: Grab a drum, a guitar, something, and head down to Zuccotti Park. If anyone is in the 99% it is definitely indie musicians at the least. A movement like Occupy Wall Street is only effective with a direction and with determination.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities & social media duties?
Peter Douskalis: Time is such a strange thing. It appears to be an infinite entity, but there never seems to be enough of it. I’m not sure how I find the time… in fact; I’m still looking for it right now. Needless to say, things seem to get done. I have the motivation and work ethic to get my activities and social media duties done is a timely and meaningful manner so I never stress about when things will get because I know they will get done. Social media is such a common thing now it is almost second nature.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Peter Douskalis: Well, the next CD is coming up in the near future so that is definitely something to listen for. You can find me online at:
www.peterdouskalis.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-Douskalis/76047901898
http://www.myspace.com/peterdouskalis
Fontaine James
www.sonicbids.com/FontaineJames
Skope: How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W?
Fontaine: A simple affair. I will have a few friends over and I will ply them with liquor. Then we will log on to Skope and read the interview out loud. I will play myself and my producer, Adrian Holtz, will read the part of Skope. Then we will blast my music and have an impromptu drum circle.
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music for 2011?
Fontaine: I completed my first album. It’s been one of the most rewarding years of my life. I fed my soul.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Fontaine: My album, The Odd Fellows Hall, is currently being mastered. I’m putting a band together and I will start doing shows in the new year. Until then I’ve been shopping around the music and trying to get some play which is going really well. I’m also knocking on doors and giving interviews to get the word out about my music.
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
Fontaine: Well, we are the 99 percent so obviously there is a lot of room in the movement for musicians. I think musicians should respond to the energy and let the angst and the hope come through in their music. Songwriters wrap themselves in the sense of community and keep their ears to the ground so they can articulate the nuanced concepts that are being advanced by this strong and growing group.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities & social media duties?
Fontaine: It’s 24/7. You need to integrate everything into your daily life. Tweets and Status updates are a quick and easy way to help round out a persona. You can give people a sense of what your humor is like, your tastes in music, literature, architecture etc. Also I find the challenge of telling a story, writing a joke or making a point in 140 characters is a great exercise in being concise and economical with words which is great for lyric writing.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Fontaine: Music, music, music. You can check me out at fontainejames.com and reverbnation.com. I will be posting a show schedule for early 2012.
Tallulah Darling
www.sonicbids.com/tallulahdarling
Skope: How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W
Tallulah Darling: We’re thrilled to be in Skope it’s a huge honor for us! After we tell all our fans on twitter, facebook and youtube , they’ll all celebrate with us!
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music for 2011?
Tallulah Darling: We’ve had an amazing year and we’re excited that our song “can’t stop, won’t stop” has gotten radio play across Canada as well as tons of internet and collage radio play.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Tallulah Darling: We’ve just released our self titled EP on itunes
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
Tallulah Darling: The occupy movement is in Canada too and music has always been an valuable way to get messages across. As a songwriter I love getting inspiration from people that are passionate about a cause.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities & social media duties?
Tallulah Darling: we have no social life outside of the band which makes things a lot easier
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Tallulah Darling: we’re currently shooting a music video for our single “cant stop wont stop” and we’re hoping to get back to Nashville and spend more time in the states.
Rege Lark
www.sonicbids.com/RegeLark
Aria Tesolin
www.sonicbids.com/AriaTesolin
Skope: How will you celebrate being in Skope’s November A2W?
ARIA TESOLIN: I can’t wait to share the news with my fans and friends! I will be sharing your link on all my social media platforms and on my web-site.
Skope: What are you most proud of accomplishing with your music for 2011?
ARIA TESOLIN: I am most proud of releasing my first tracks of entirely original music and also a music video for my pop classical song Dolce. I’ve been writing songs for quite a while now, and it’s amazing to finally see my own creations brought into the world! I also recently began performing my original songs for the first time. Before this I had been singing mostly opera and classical music, which I still do. Anyway, the audience loved my new songs. You could feel the electricity and anticipation in the room, and my show got great reviews. It was so great be recognized for my singing and my own songwriting. I’ve also been nominated for the Toronto Independent Music Awards in two categories.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
ARIA TESOLIN: Well I just released an album, the Aria Tesolin EP, so I’m promoting that. The music on the EP is a mixture of pop classical and adult contemporary music as I bill myself as an opera pop crooner. It has a really original sound, and the songs have a timeless quality. They’re modern, but are also a bit retro, like crooner songs. This will give people a chance to hear what I’ve been up to. I’m working on more songs for a full album that I’ll release early this year. These songs, which are not on the EP, have a different feel. I would say that these songs are more lyrically powerful, which comes my experience as a spoken word artist.
I am accepting tour dates now for 2012. I’ll be actively touring once the full album is released.
Skope: How can musicians play a role in the Occupy movement going on all over the USA?
ARIA TESOLIN: Art, in this case, music, has always been one of the biggest influencers of people. A social activist that is also a musician has a great advantage, because they are able to showcase important issues via their own music, which the average person is much more likely to listen to than tired chants and shouts of the average protester, so musicians supporting the Occupy movement can always use their songwriting abilities to their advantage, to get their message across.
Skope: How do you find time to manage your music activities & social media duties?
ARIA TESOLIN: Well social media is something that I can update in a few seconds, so it’s easy to find time for it. I try to set aside some time during the day to check and update my social media. I like to update my Twitter whenever something strikes me, often about music or poetry – just little realisations I have in the middle of my day. For example, the last thing I tweeted was ” The absence of rhyme is the reason why popular music has replaced poetry. Poetry gave up on rhyme, pop music adopted it.” I’ve also just released an iphone app.
As for my activities in music, music is an integral part of my life. I always somehow find time to practice, and I find myself writing constantly: when I’m travelling somewhere, to when I’m waiting to fall asleep at night. I find time for music because it exists somehow in pretty much all aspects of my life.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online? Please elaborate.
ARIA TESOLIN: The most important thing coming up for me to finish my full length album. I’ve been working on a lot of great material and I’m so excited to record and see it in finished form. I’m discovering that there is a much wider audience for my music than I originally thought. What’s unusual about me is that I’m both a classical singer and a songwriter. Once the album is out, then I’m going to concentrate on live performance and touring. My fans and music markets are global, but I’m going to start with North America first, then Europe. For my classical music and opera I have an opportunity coming up to work with a full orchestra, so that’s exciting too.
I’ve been up online for a while now on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Youtube, where I have amost 7 million views, and I just recently joined Google plus. I also have my own website with links to all my social media sites: http://www.ariatesolin.com
