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.
Universal You
www.sonicbids.com/UniversalYou
Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Universal You: Any time Universal You is written or talked about is fantastic. It gives us a real buzz that people are looking and listening to what we do and hopefully liking it too. Featuring in A2W is especially cool as it places us in a group of artists that you feel are worth recommending to your readers as we maybe have that “something extra”.
Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Universal You: Our families all like a broad selection of music and that willingness to listen to various genres has been passed into the three of us. We think this diversity comes across in our songwriting and helps to make Universal You what it is. We have songs for everyone. We don’t feel restricted to stick to one or two song formulae, and I want to personally thank my father for having a cool record collection!
Our friends come to gigs and tell us to keep going, don’t give up. As anyone in this business knows it can be tough and no matter how strong your self belief is, sometimes it can get knocked down. Support and feedback from those around you can’t be under underestimated.
Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Universal You: I guess it’s the internet and the ability to access bands and artists, young and old, far and wide. Word of mouth, radio and record shops were the traditional ways to find music, but now thats all combined into the internet. There is a downside in as much as the sheer scale of whats out there can be overwhelming, and unfortunately a large part of our population still believe if its not in the Top 40 it cant be very good, which of course is a very blinkered way of thinking. But, with the internet you can promote your bands music and image around the world in ways that were not possible 10 years ago.
Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell no matter?
Universal You: I wouldn’t say its recession proof, no business is, but music is a large part of most of our lives in many more ways than just record sales. Everyone buys music in some way or another through CD’s, downloads, movies, games, advertising etc etc. Owners of music just need to adapt to make it a viable business. If it’s good then yes it should sell, but maybe not always in the traditional ways.
Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Universal You: I think the rock n roll answer should be at late at night! Its probably true as well! GI (our singer) and I usually work on songs in the evenings, somehow its easier…and I can’t believe daytime rehearsals have ever been better than late evening ones!
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Universal You: Well we have a new single “Iskala” released on 11 Oct. The video for that was filmed in the beautiful streets of Edinburgh…backwards.Its on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt1oIUlSUd8
Everything about is on our website www.universalyou.co.uk and at www.facebook.com/universalyou and of course on our sonicbids EPK too.
Our second album will be out in the early part of next year. Some of the songs were produced by Michael Brennan who has previously produced Snow Patrol and The Super Furry Animals albums, we really appreciated his inputand those tracks are really sounding hot. If you like a big chorus and some cool guitar then you should try out Universal You.
Our first album Universal You “Live@CRE8” is also on iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/universal-you-live-cre-8/id373975637 where you can here what we sound like live, which is an important part of Universal You and something we really take love doing.
Patty Cronheim
www.sonicbids.com/PattyCronheim
Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
It’s an honor to be selected in such wonderful company. I”m so pleased that you all like my music and am grateful for the opportunity to gain more exposure for my new album, “Days LIke These”. As a jazz artist, it’s especially nice that Skope is inclusive in it’s choice of music to cover. I, like many people, love all kinds of music. it’s great to see various genres covered together in one magazine!
Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Patty Cronheim: My family has been very supportive… carrying equipment, not complaining about my absences at family events when I”m gigging, talking all their friends into coming out to hear me. They don’t seem to mind if they show up in my lyrics either! My parents, husband, and children are my biggest fans. They always encourage me to keep going, keep writing, and to believe in my music. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Patty Cronheim: Well… if you’d asked me 500 years, I would say the graphite pencil. I can’t function without one. In the past 10 years I would say it’s the internet and the ability it provides to share music and charts with the public and other musicians. Close 2nd and 3rd for me would be music notation software and portable PA systems I can carry myself to gigs… I’m pretty small.
Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell no matter?
Patty Cronheim: I do believe that all good music will sell, regardless. However, I think that Illegal downloading hurts musicians more than a recession in terms of record sales. In terms of live performances, which for many struggling musicians is their main income source, I think it’s harder for venues to have the revenue to pay artists to perform in a recession. That leads to less opportunities to gig.
Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Patty Cronheim: For composing, the morning is the most creative time for me. I wrote a lot of “Days LIke THese” then, During that dreamy time between waking up and actually getting out of bed, melodies and lyrics often come to me. I keep a pencil and paper on my night stand so I can write down the ideas. Morning walks can also be a creative time. For performing… night time is the best. I love singing in dark clubs with lots of atmosphere.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Patty Cronheim: I’ve just finished CD release parties for “Days LIke These” and I’m currently writing my next album and hope to have it ready to record in 2011. I’ve just started playing some of the brand new material out… It’s looking a little more crossover than straight jazz/blues. We’ll see!
All information about me can be found on my web site: http://pattycronheim.com/ and of course on my Sonicbids EPK: http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=143934
Dolo The Bandit
www.sonicbids.com/DoloTheBandit
Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Dolo The Bandit: It’s a great deal of appreciation I have for you guys recognizing my music, thank you.
Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Dolo The Bandit: I’ve always had support from friends they’ve believed since the beginning, family I’ve had to show & prove my value and talents.
Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Dolo The Bandit: The Internet and applications like iTunes,etc have really opened up the market for fans to purchase various amounts of music even if they don’t like an artist’s album or entire project. It has enabled the single market to excel and work in the favor of the artist.
Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell nomatter?
Dolo The Bandit: No matter what I believe that great records will sale. People enjoy great music no matter how hard or bad the times are, good music is recession proof.
Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Dolo The Bandit: I have creative spurts throughout the day, non specific, it just really depends on the moods I’m in. But if I had to say I think early mornings my creative side flows.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Dolo The Bandit: I have an EP titled “Project Monarch” that I’m finishing up and then I’m going back into my Heist series mix-tapes next installment Code: Red. You can visit www.dolothebandit.net and follow me on twitter@dolothebandit for the latest.
Zoe Myers
www.sonicbids.com/ZoeMyers
Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Zoe Myers: It’s always nice to be featured in any magazine, but it’s particularly nice to be noticed by Skope! Having an online magazine that is free gives an artist the opportunity to be showcased to a whole new potential fanbase. Thank you so much for the opportunity!
Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Zoe Myers: I’ve been blessed with a very supportive family! They do everything from helping me find gigs to stuffing CDs in envelopes and everything in between. Most outsiders don’t realize that music is a very time consuming business and there are a thousand details that go in to putting out a CD or putting on a good show. I also have a few friend/fans who have been with me from the start who help me in a dozen ways, from using social media to boost my projects or even taking part in my stage show at times!
Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Zoe Myers: There have been so many technological advances in the past few years, but I would have to say that the internet and “online” phenomenon has probably has had the most impact. With a good percentage of sales coming from the online music stores, it takes a little of the burden off the artist to have to stock and mail actual CDs. I think that it’s also helped to expose listeners to a wider range of music. As an artist, I use social media daily and can’t imagine not being able to Twitter with my fans!
Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell no matter?
Zoe Myers: I don’t know that it’s recession proof– I do think that it has forced us all to be more creative in our efforts to attract new listeners. And, I think that the recession has helped to weed out those who really don’t have the burning passion that you must have in order to stay in the game.
Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Zoe Myers: I’m not a morning person… my most creative time is probably a few hours after dinner when I can curl up with my dog and my glass of merlot and just pour out my thoughts on to paper.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Zoe Myers: As I said before, I’m a social media junkie– the most immediate way for people to keep up with me is through Twitter or Facebook (@ZoeMyers and Zoe A Myers). I just released a new song called “Fashion Intervention” and we’ve done a couple of cute “girly” type release parties, might do a few more in the coming month. I’ve also got several holiday shows coming up on the east coast, so watch for news about these!
Funkotron
www.sonicbids.com/Funkotron
Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Funkotron: It is always a pleasure spreading our music and antics to those beautiful denizens of cyberspace.
Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Funkotron: Good food, cattle prods, and a swift backhand here and there.
Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Funkotron: The internets have allowed Funkotron to reach out and tickle many unsuspecting humans who may not have otherwise checked out our live show.
Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell no matter?
Funkotron: No. Good marketing and promotion sells music. Good music sells itself. It just depends on the genre and knowing how to push that genre of music. Art sponsorship in general will have ups and down corresponding to the amount of disposable income the population has. Times of turmoil tend to inspire higher quality art. Turmoil frightens people which causes them to look around in order to understand the problems. Turmoil spawns a heightened awareness in a population which in tern creates better artists and a raised level of appreciation for the arts.
Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Funkotron: Sunrise and sunset. When we raise and honor the Brown Eye flag
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Funkotron: http://www.funkotron.net We are finishing up our first full length album and writing new music with a new slap-nasty bass player. Come to http://www.funkotron.net for lots of videos and antics. Thanksmas to the Brown eye clan for the ceaseless novelties, shenanigans and true ultimate power!
Whiskey Six
www.sonicbids.com/whiskeysixmusic
Jon Sandler & The Fancy Band
www.sonicbids.com/JonSandler
Skope: What does it mean to be included in A2W on Skopeing.com?
Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band: I am honored and thrilled to be included in “Artists to Watch”! Skopeing.com is an amazing site and it is always a great feeling when people likes my music and want to know more about what I am thinking.
Skope: How did your family & friends support you to pursue music?
Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band: I am lucky to have the most supportive family and friends ever. My Parents have always made me feel free to pursue music to its fullest, and still encourage me and support me in any way that they can. I’ve been performing consistently in the city now for about 4 years, and there are friends who have come to almost every show. That is truly amazing and humbling.
Skope: What is the most exciting technology that has benefited the music industry in the last 10 years?
Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band: Definitely the internet, with its infinite social networking and media capabilities is super exciting and has changed the way the industry functions forever. When this interview is published online, I will post it on my facebook page, on twitter, and on my website and within minutes, thousands of people from around the world will be able to read it. Music and information is shared so quickly and efficiently that the scope of who can be exposed to my music and pass it on is mind blowing. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years brings!
Skope: Would you agree that the music business is recession proof in that good music will sell no matter?
Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band: I disagree, I do not think music is recession proof. It is a fact that people are not buying as much music or attending as many concerts as they used to. Last summer was one of the worst grossing concert seasons ever. I do, however, think that people will alway love and support music, and I optimistically think that worthy acts will continue to make a living. Definitely film and TV licensing and other on-line endeavors are the wave of the future as far as profitability… and if you can sell a T-shirt here and there, it don’t hurt!
Skope: At what point in the day do you find you are most creative?
Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band: I find that I am most creative late at night, between the hours of 1am and 5am. For some reason, the thought of everyone else sleeping, and time sort of standing still, gets my creative juices flowing. I also find that walking down a city street at any hour inspires me.
Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Jon Sandler and The Fancy Band: There are tons of exciting things coming up for us! We have some amazing shows booked in NYC and a college tour in upstate NY over the next few months. We are also in the process of making a music video for the song “Nowhere Bound”. We just finished a new website at www.jonsandler.com which is a sweet one stop shop for everything Jon Sandler! Readers can also check us out on facebook, twitter, myspace and all those other wonderful sites! Our new album ‘The Fancy Band EP’ is available on iTunes! Hope to see you all soon!
Jana Pochop
www.sonicbids.com/JanaPochop
Taken By Name
http://www.sonicbids.com/takenbyname
