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.
Shirley Gnome
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/shirleygnome/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
I started to teach myself guitar when I was a teenager. As soon as I had three chords down, the dirty melodies starting flowing. I still am not sure why. I wrote tonnes of dirty songs, but it was only in 2008 that one of my friends was gross enough to ask me to play them in public for people who paid money. It went over so well that I kept writing and making my brand of farty female musical motifs. Having music in my life has been a constant, and no matter what happens with my career I know that the sweetness of music will never be far from me. But what I love about making my own music is that I get to make my friends laugh, and then the ripples continue from there.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
1. I would like to write more songs that border the darker territory of the sexual landscape, in a way that still allows people to laugh at themselves and the folly of being human. Easy right?
2. I recently discovered I can play the kazoo with my vajay, so more of that.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
My new album is coming out on February 8th. It’s my third release and my first live album. I’m really proud of it and the work I’ve done writing for it in the last two years. The CD release party is going to feature some of the best and brightest burlesquers in Vancouver performing to my music. Boobs and tunes – it’s going to be magnificent and arousing.
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
No, but being on a streaming website is more about exposure than capital. I think if Spotify and Pandora would make it easier for people to connect with those artists (so they can buy their albums, see their live shows etc) it would have more value for the artist and customer alike.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
I just released my newest music video today. It’s for a song about dating someone who makes more money than you. It’s called “Hooker” – just released today! http://youtu.be/v_987PA-nEE
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
After my CD Release, I’m hopping on a plane and heading to New York City to make my American debut. I’ll be performing my new theatre show “Shirley Gnome: Real Mature” for six nights at Under St. Marks Theatre in the heart of the lower east side. I am so excited.
You can find me:
http://www.shirleygnome.com
http://shirleygnome.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/shirleygnome
http://www.youtube.com/shirleygnome
Twitter: @shirleygnome
Instagram: @shirleygnome
Fire in the Field
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/fireinthefield/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
I’ve been making music since the days of piano lessons as a nine year old. My mom was of the “Mozart Makes Kids Smarter” mindset, hahah. I took a major turn at fourteen when I realized all the music I was listening to (Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Santana, Rage Against the Machine) was guitar based. Once the switch happened I joined a band within a couple months and been on overdrive ever since.
I love all aspects of music in my day-to-day. I wouldn’t do it otherwise. The big shows and packed houses are great; the moments when you know the band is locked in and transporting the audience to a height no one, sometimes even myself, expected. The best part though is the in-between (which takes up the most time!), the consistent writing, editing, rehearsing with the band, giving shape to the story and really working the details. The constant grind is the life, to make the best songs and performance possible.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
1. New 3-4 song EP is in the works, we’ll be tracking it at the end of Feb./early March with Jay Frigoletto producing and engineering! Shaping up to be our best stuff yet for sure.
2. Really would love to be a part of a major festival or a few festivals this summer and get into that culture. It’s so fun; I’ve done it as a sideman with other bands, but with Fire in the Field would be the best.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Right now we’re promoting the live show first and foremost. The high energy and seat of your pants rockn’roll soul gets people crazed and dazed. We have our album “Gypsy Tea Room” that came out May 2014 available at our shows, but the live performance is the ultimate test of a band. Dig the show? Check out the recording.
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
No, but streaming sites don’t bear all the guilt. Music is undervalued in society for different reasons. In my opinion, one major reason is the fact you take the product in through the ears, a secondary sense in such a physical, visual world. You can’t see, taste, or touch music (unless you’re talking abstracts); it’s the curse of the medium. Music is the only thing that you can create 100% of and still have a company own the master tapes. The investor that funds a painter to do a piece, who owns that work? The painter, not the investor. So I think that the Spotify/Pandora thing is really a symptom of a much larger problem in the way people perceive value in music. How many folks do you know that download music illegally a terabyte at a time? I always think, “Hey buddy, when are you going to have time to listen to 16 hours of Tom Waits in the next seven days?” Why not just get one album at a time and really dive into the work, while simultaneously supporting the creator of it? And they don’t end up listening to all they’ve downloaded. They end up missing out on something that will really move them because they got a ton of it for free. It’s like one of those buffet restaurants where the quality of the food isn’t the attraction; it’s how much you can cram in your face in the shortest amount of time.
All-in-all the streaming sites are a double edged sword. Some of my favorite bands started from a mix someone burned for me, something I didn’t pay for. But it translates into money and direct support later on because I’ll buy all the albums and see the shows. You want that to happen to your band so you have to navigate the grey area in a way that works for you. As far as what the fair balance is and how do you gauge it? I haven’t figured that one out. The guilt is spread out between the consumers, artists themselves, promoters, clubs, businesses (labels or otherwise) that provide backing for bands, and all the free streaming sites. People like to demonize the streaming sites and big companies but we’ve cheapened music collectively. Ok, I’ll shut up on this.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
Yes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfX6QK-JyHc (an acoustic version of “Blue Moonshine Thrills” from “Gypsy Tea Room”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q1nqdZejrU (our opening jam from our Halloween show – Oct. 31, 2014 at The Middle East Upstairs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv292vP8OzA (an acoustic cover of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out by Jimmy Cox – 1929. Made famous by Derek & The Dominoes and Eric Clapton, but also covered by Bessie Smith and a zillion others!)
We’re doing a YouTube series called, “Museum Sessions” and will have some more stuff this month, we’re working on editing the footage right now.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
• We have a big show opening up for Peter Prince & Moon Boot Lover on Jan. 24th at Church of Boston. I’ve been a Peter Prince & MBL fan for a decade so it’s a big honor to share the stage.
• Recording the new EP with Jay Frigoletto of Master Suite Studios at the end of February/early March.
• At the end of April we are hitting the road to Salisbury, NC to visit our great friend Scott Howard aka “Uncle Buck.” He owns a great club (and makes the best BBQ you could ever eat) and is booking us a couple other shows in the area. Scott has been a fan of Fire in the Field since the very first album and is a true supporter. We love him.
Other than that we’re going to try and get some more Museum Session videos out there, hit the festival circuit, and keep the train a-rollin’.
You can find us at:
www.fireinthefieldmusic.com (has links to every corner of the web w/ Fire in the Field content)
www.facebook.com/fireinthefield
www.twitter.com/fireinthefield
www.instagram.com/fireinthefield
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwB1FKy7hDnb7gN4P78qAFw
Nikki W
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/nikki-w/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
I started playing music when I was about 11, but I’ve been singing since I was a really little girl! I love having music in my life because it gives me an emotional outlet to express my feelings and emotions. Music is my favourite thing in the world and the fact that I get to play my own music is so much fun, I love everything music brings to my life.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
My two major goals are to write a new CD and to go on tour. We’re planning on a little Canadian tour soon, but I would love to tour in the States and in Europe in 2015. The thing i’m most looking forward to though is writing new material for a CD. It’ll be great to start writing and collaborating with other artists as well.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
We’ve mostly been busy promoting the single off the album, Transparent Hands. It’s really interesting to be able to go to all these different places for TV interviews, or to meet radio programmers.
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
For indie artists, streaming sites are basically just used as an avenue to reach your audience. Im not sure if the royalty payouts have caught up to the technology just yet, but Spotify and Pandora are still sites that I love to use.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
I just put out an acoustic version of a new song we’re gonna be releasing soon, Silver Tongue, on youtube! So you should check that one out!
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
We’re currently working on a new record and are planning a tour to support the current record! It’s gonna be a busy year for us, but i’m really excited to see where it will all go. You can find all information on nikkiw.com and all the social media handles are under the name “nikkiwmusique”.
www.facebook.com/nikkiwmusique
www.twitter.com/nikkiwmusique
www.instagram.com/nikkiwmusique_
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/sad-generation-ep/id897345539
Dear Criminals
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/dearcriminals/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
Dear Criminals: Vincent and Frannie played classical instruments/choir as kids, Charles started playing guitar later in college. We all started having our personal projects in our early twenties, and while we all have jobs on the side, music has always been the most important aspect of our lives. Don’t know how we’d live without it. It’s an abstract thing that always in the back of your mind, like a soundtrack. You always have a melody, or chords in your head. And the most special part is when you find people to collaborate with who are able to bring your ideas further than you could’ve managed to do alone.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
Dear Criminals: We plan on recording a new EP this spring. We are also working on a multidisciplinary show with a bunch of talented artists from other disciplines.
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
Dear Criminals: Of course not. Don’t get us wrong, we are all for streaming sites, as the opposite would be to be against the technological and social evolution and reality of how music exists today, how it is being shared and consumed. We are of course nostalgic of the time when albums (the object – cassette, vinyl, cd) had a major significance in peoples lives, but there isn’t much we can do about the fact that people want to listen to songs whenever they want, wherever they want. To us, the problem resides in the fact that, if music isn’t less of a reality than before, if it is as consumed as it was before (if not more), only differently, who are the people benefiting from these new means of musical consumption, and are they giving their share of the profit to the people creating the musical content that is being streamed? Internet providers who market their products on “how fast you will be able to download or stream music” are the new platform through which music is being consumed, and they are too powerful for artists and artisans of the music industry to stand up to and claim their share of the profits. Also, distributors who used to make a percentage of album sales based on the production costs of their service (shipping, storing, trucks, drivers, in shop merchandisers, fuel, etc.) now make the same percentage for clicking on a mouse and uploading music. In our humble opinion, this is f*cked…
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
Dear Criminals: We have a short-film/double music video coming out soon for our songs “Crave” and “Petite Mort”, produced by Pierre-Alexandre Girard. It shows a choreography by Catherine Gaudet with amazing dancers Clara Furey and Francis Ducharme… Romeo&Juliet reinvented kinda… It’s beautiful.
In the meantime, there’s still our first video for “Storm”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8yd0BFc8lg
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Dear Criminals: We are recording a new EP in France at the end of March… So stay tuned for that.
Website: http://www.dearcriminals.com
Bandcamp: https://dearcriminals.bandcamp.com
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dear-criminals
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearcriminals
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dearcriminals
Stevie
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/steviequeeniphone/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
Stevie: I’ve been making music for a long time, but it didn’t get very serious until my last year in the Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem (Israel), I wrote about 10 songs and performed with them for about a year, until I started making music with my Iphone and changed my style. I can’t imagine not having music in my life. It’s like I have a soundtrack for every moment, even when I’m walking down the street.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
Stevie: Well, my debute EP will be out in March, so this will be the year of spreading the word and getting my music to as many people as I can. I wanna perform everywhere and collaborate with artists I like.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Stevie: I usually try to bring women empowerment in my shows, and my first single, “Face”, which is pretty much about that. Yes, it’s about relationships but mostly – how a woman sees herself in a romantic situation that is usually reserved for men!
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
Stevie: I think we can always make more money or want more money, sure. But I think those sites are doing there best to get artists the most of their music.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
Stevie: Yes! I have two new videos:
http://vimeo.com/115925615
http://vimeo.com/115797190
You can also catch them on my FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/StevieSivanBarlev
And you can check out my Lorde cover on soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/stevie-b-l/team-lorde-cover
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Stevie: Like I said, my debut EP is coming out in two months and I’ve been rehearsing with my band. In the mean time I’m performing solo with me Iphone and getting ready to get very busy with my music:)
My debut single will be out at the end of this month in Israel.
This is me online:
https://www.facebook.com/StevieSivanBarlev
https://soundcloud.com/stevie-b-l
http://instagram.com/steviebl
Cellis
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/therealcellis/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
I started writing poetry when I was about 10 years old and that was the same time I began discovering music. Eventually my passion for music took over poetry and around the age of 16 I began to venture into writing music. So for almost 14 years music has played a significant role in my life.
The thing I love most about having music in my life is the passion that can be felt when the right song/album/artists provides the perfect background to whatever is happening in your life. To me that is one of the main reasons I make the music I do, I love to connect with people.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
My first goal for 2015 is to get booked for as many shows, performances and festivals as I possibly can. I have a strong management team behind me and am looking forward to building with them.
My next major goal is to continuing growing as an artist. I think that a lot of musicians get so caught up in the various aspects of this business that they forget how to balance their creativity and they eventually hit a wall. In 2015 I want to stay rounded as an artist but at the same time keep learning and growing from the music around me.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Currently we are working on my upcoming EP “Rich Boy, Poor Man”. We will be completed this month and I can’t wait to get this project out there because my team and I have put so much hard work into it. I’m so proud of this project as a whole and even prouder of everybody that had a hand in the making of it.
Other than that my management team has been hard at work setting up a constant venue roll throughout the spring and summer of this year.
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
Honestly, At this point in my music career I’m not very worried about that. When it comes time for me to be personally concerned about that then I will have an input but as of now I just want to make great music and connect with as many people as I possibly can.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
Yes, G.O.M.D is my latest video on youtube and Soundcloud is the easiest way to hear my past mixtapes as well as upcoming music. But for any updates about me the easiest source is TheRealCellis.com where you’ll find links to all of my media.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Currently the local scene of MD is where the majority of my shows are (Tin Roof, PowerPlant Rams Head, Seacrets). But like I mentioned earlier we are in the process of expanding to as many markets as possible and I was actually just booked for my first festival gig this summer in Brooklyn, NY (Cake & Kisses). Anywhere online I’m TheRealCellis
TheRealCellis.com
Youtube.com/therealcellis
Twitter.com/therealcellis
Instagram.com/therealcellis
Soundcloud.com/TheRealCellis
Facebook.com/therealcellis
Bent Knee
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/bentkneemusic/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
Ben Levin (guitar):
I’ve been making music for 19 years. It is the force that has lead me to my closest friendships, a clear sense of purpose, and the ability to comfort people in unique ways. I was home for a bit while a relative of mine was recovering from illness, and I was able to add joyful ambience to the house. It isn’t necessarily going to make a tumor disappear, but it can cut through a veil of melancholy and make each day, no matter how dull or uncomfortable, seem worthwhile.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
Courtney Swain (vocals & keyboards):
The biggest goal is to finish writing our next album, and to do a wonderful job at recording it. We’re deep in the midst of writing now, and soon we will be in pre-production. In some aspects it’s stressful, but I find it somewhat akin to shopping for a car. It’s a unique experience that you don’t get to have all the time, and it’s really exciting to think about taking car/album for a spin once it’s purchased/done.
I think the other goal for us is to continue improving our live performance, especially through crafting+implementing fresh sounds and musical ideas. This could be new instruments, arrangements, etc., and it’s something that we’re really interested in as creators.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Jessica Kion (bass):
We’ll be announcing summer North American tour dates very soon. It will be our longest yet, three solid months, in support of our second studio album, Shiny Eyed Babies .
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
Vince Welch (synth and sound design):
As a consumer, yes. As a musician, no.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
Gavin Wallace-Ailsworth (drums):
We just released a video of “Being Human”, filmed live in an iron forge in collaboration with Gipsy Pixel and Interrobang Records This is the first of four releases shot at Hand Forged Works, and we’re very excited to premiere the rest of the videos in the near future.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Chris Baum (violin):
We’ll be touring North America all summer, recording new material in the fall, and rolling out our third studio album in 2016. Hopefully we’ll make it over to Europe early next year as well.
bentkneemusic.com
facebook.com/bentkneemusic
twitter.com/bentkneemusic
bentknee.bandcamp.com
soundcloud.com/bentkneemusic
youtube.com/bentkneemusic
Lisa Heller
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/lisa-heller/
Melissaroseofficial
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/melissaroseofficial/
Midwest
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/midwest/
Luna Jade
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/lunajade/
The Middle Ground
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/themiddleground/
How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
Each of us was involved with music and making music prior to “The Middle Ground” being formed, but we have been making music now for about 2 years as a band. One of the best things about music in life is that it is such a universal language. In a way, songwriting is like keeping a diary. It’s cathartic for us as a band and it has the ability connect with people who have felt or experienced something similar. Music can add to making some really memorable moments, which is a big reason were drawn to it.
What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
Our two biggest goals for 2015 are to keep touring and making new fans, get on a larger tour if possible, and put out another album.
What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Right now we are promoting our latest self-titled EP. We should be putting out a single sometime this summer, and some more music this fall.
Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
Musicians spend a ton of time writing music, recording, touring, and doing everything they can to get their music heard. While the streaming sites are a great way to get your music out there, we don’t feel like they give back enough to the artists.
Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
Our whole EP is on Soundcloud. Right now the two singles from that are “Shots of Heaven” and “Not Afraid.” As far as YouTube goes, we try and put up behind the scenes content and some covers we put our own spin on.
soundcloud.com/wearethemiddleground
youtube.com/wearethemiddleground
What is coming up for you & where you at online?
We have a busy Spring with shows, but we are going to dial it back a little bit and get the new songs recorded this Summer. After that, we will be back out on the road and playing more shows. You can find all of our updates online at:
Instagram @wearethemiddleground
Twitter @middlegroundmke
Facebook: The Middle Ground
Website: wearethemiddleground.com
City Walls
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/citywallsband/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
As a band we have been making music for 4 years but we’ve all played individually since high school.
I can’t picture life without music and particularly writing. It exaggerates all the good and bad and keeps life interesting!
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
To release our 4th studio album and tour the states (both currently in the works right now). Keep playing shows to our awesome fans and keep growing as musicians, songwriters and farmers.
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
No… but on the other hand artists were also being gouged in the days of big record labels as well. Hopefully this trend of streaming and downloads, will eventually give more power to the artist and they will see more profits from their music.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Right now we have just come off a heavy touring cycle and the release of our album “Engines” last April. We are currently in writing mode and will be heading into the studio soon to promote our new album in the fall.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
Yes we have just released a series of acoustic versions of our songs off of “Engines”.
“These 4 Walls” featuring Sadie Campbell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0nZ-tcQYiY
“What I’m Looking For”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnxmaZjjH-g
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
We will be releasing our first single in September and embarking on our first U.S. tour. You can find us online at:
www.facebook.com/citywallsband
www.citywallsband.com
www.twitter.com/citywallsband
The Muddy Crows
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/themuddycrows/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
Ten years ago I started playing guitar and it wasn’t long after that I began writing my own songs and performing publicly. I grew up in a musical family and from the time I could talk there are cassette recordings of me “singing” around the house. Obviously, I hope that these never see the light of day. But, it serves as evidence of my “making music” for about a quarter century.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
My primary band-related goal of 2015 was achieved in late 2014. This gave me a nice head start and allowed me to start thinking toward 2016! Like everyone else in this business, I wanted to get my band, The Muddy Crows, on several of the larger festival stages in the region. By December 2014, we were accepting offers for October and November of 2015.
Separately, I am working on a solo project, tentatively called “Love & War,” and would love to have it available for sale by the time that Christmas rolls around. This project allows me to develop myself more as a musician and explore some different creative avenues than for those which our band is known.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Last summer, The Muddy Crows and I released a self-titled LP that we have been promoting on all of our stops in various cities. It features 10 tracks of original material with a modern folk vibe. If I am allowed to shamlessly plug: I encourage your readers to look for The Muddy Crows on iTunes, either by album title or artist. For someone who is tired of the overproduced radio tunes of the day and appreciate quality musicianship, this album will be a real treat!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-muddy-crows/id907162390
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
The rise of the digital age has certainly led to a decline in the purchase of physical items such as CDs, cassettes, and vinyl. Once these streaming sites came onto the scene digital sales were reduced even further. While this has hurt independent artists like myself, it also has created a platform by which users worldwide can be easily discover new music. I think that there is a case to be made for artists deserving more money for their work. But, it’s important to note the benefit that streaming sites provide both to the artist and to the consumer.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
The Muddy Crows performed a completely live show at Omega Recording Studios and the result was a couple of really cool live videos. Feel free to browse our YouTube channel, but here are two of our favorites:
Feels Right With You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht9qo0AbVJ0
Always Right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WaQaNvAHKo
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
I would like to highlight three of our more exciting events: Washington City Paper’s Best of DC Gala (April 9th), Columbia Festival of the Arts (June 12th), and the “23rd Annual Safeway Barbecue Battle” in downtown DC (June 27th). But, there is no reason to wait for these events to check us out, are booked out until late 2015 with gigs all over the DMV! Our full schedule is available at
our website: www.TheMuddyCrows.com
K’reema
https://www.sonicbids.com/band/kareema/
Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
Music has always been a part of my life, you can say I was born into it. With my father, Yellowman, crowned the King of Dancehall, my grandfather, a founding member of the legendary “The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari” band, and my uncle, Abijah, music is in my blood. I hear stories from my mom and dad about how I started singing as soon as I learned to speak. I can recall singing along to my Disney movies growing up, with Little Mermaid being my favorite. Soon that was replaced by some of my favorite music idols growing up, from Aaliyah to TLC, Whitney Houston to Destiny’s Child.
Music has always been a big part of our home. I didn’t however start making my own music until around 11 when I started to add more melody to the poems I had been writing. I also always performed in school shows, often times choreographing moves to accompany our routines. Over the last few years, music sort of took a backseat in my life, as the 9 to 5’s took over. I never gave it up, however I never gave it my all. But music would keep me up, and it always was on the top of my mind. It wasn’t until late December 2 years ago a quote struck me, “If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it”. So I quit my job, and started to do music full time. In the two months after quitting my job I had written over 50 songs, recorded my first single, “We Don’t Give a What”, and just accomplished so much more than I had in the last few years.
Music made me feel alive again and gave me purpose. I love how no matter your mood, or current situation, music can always provide a soundtrack for you. It can help you through, or help you stew. Music is an outlet. It allows you to express yourself, or tell a story. Music is painting pictures with sounds, melodies, and lyrics. I love how music can transcend borders, cultures, languages, stereotypes, and the likes. I love how music has changed me. It’s not only giving me a great appreciation for music, but also other artist. It’s great to hear how I am inspiring to other budding artist, not just my music, but my singing and even my fashion. Music has been my ultimate expression of myself and my identity, values, beliefs, and soul being.
Skope: What are 2 major music goals for 2015?
Although I’ve accomplished so much leading up to this year, I’m only getting warmed up. My single, “We Don’t Give a What” has been doing great and we just released the music video, which was another amazing experience. I’ve been touring and opening for my dad, in West Palm Beach, Florida last month, and this month Austin, Texas. It’s definitely shaping up to be a amazing year. My first goal, to introduce K’reema more to the world. So that means more performances and opportunities to showcase my craft. My second goal, to create and collaborate more with other artist, and birth even more great music. This includes making my first E.P.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
So “We Don’t Give a What” was my first single and we just wrapped up the video for it. It’s a dancehall and pop fusion hit which showcases more of my singjay’ing style. My second single, which I haven’t pushed as of yet, “Go if You Wanna”, is more of a ballad which showcases more of my vocal prowess.
Skope: Do you think that musicians get paid enough for streaming sites like Spotify & Pandora?
I’ve heard stories about the disproportion of what artist are paid from these music streaming sites, and it’s always on the side of unfair. In my case, this early in my career it’s not much of a concern. These sites for emerging artist serve as an excellent outlet for people to discover us, as it helps to somewhat level the playing field. So as of now it’s not an issue for me, but let’s check back in a few years.
Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
I do indeed. You can find my first music video, as well as prior covers and performances on my youtube page, http://youtube.com/KareemaMusic. You can hear my singles “We Don’t Give a What” and “Go If You Wanna” as well as other works on my Soundcloud page, http://soundcloud.com/KareemaMusic.
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
For this summer, I have a few more performances lined up in Texas, California, New York, and hopefully some overseas. Working on something special in the next few weeks, as well as finishing my first EP this summer. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter, http://facebook.com/KareemaMusic and http://twitter.com/KareemaMusic, and Instagram @_k_reema.
