Interview With Will Champlin

Behind The Scenes With Will Champlin

Will comes from a musical background since his father was in the band Chicago a few years back. Will has toured with Los Lonely Boys and Carlos Santana. His music will make you want to dance. His beautiful voice and erotic melodies will be playing in your head over and over. He has tremendous talent in producing, songwriting and singing. Introducing the lovely Will Champlin!

ZanaD:  What is the name of your band?

Will: I just go by Will Champlin for right now. But I’m trying to start a band, harder Rock/soul though.

ZanaD: Where are you from?

Will: Los Angeles, but partly raised in Texas.

ZanaD: What type of music do you play?

Will: I play all types of music, from Jazz, R&B, soul, gospel music, some country. But focus on my own sound basically a mixture of those styles, coming under the heading of Pop/Rock I suppose!

ZanaD: What is the best advice you have for people who want to break into the music industry?

Will: Fight the power!!!

ZanaD: How old were you when you started performing?

Will: I was about 8 or 9.

ZanaD: How many years have you been writing music for?

Will: I’ve been writing songs for at least 10 years give or take. More seriously in the last 4-5 years though. Went of to Berklee and studied music b4 I got into songwriting.

ZanaD: Where would your dream place be to perform at?

Will: Overseas in England somewhere hopefully.

ZanaD: What inspires you to write music?

Will: Other music mostly. It’s very hard to get inspired these days with all the music business chaos. Usually when I forget it exists.

ZanaD: What’s the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?

Will: Yeah…. I actually haven’t listened to music while feeling down. Esp. not the radio!!!

ZanaD: What’s your favorite band?

Will: Toto, also love Kings of Leon and Queens of the stone age.

ZanaD: What’s your favorite song?

Will: Bridge over troubled water by Simon and Garfunkel!!!

ZanaD: Who is your hero?

Will: I have a few, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, MJ, and Herbie Hancock.

ZanaD: If you could have three wishes come true what would they be and why?

Will: 1. Be constantly touring around the country, world, on the bus with the band etc. and have many cool fans.   2. To have many cuts/ meaning placements on various projects.  3. To be able to focus and never be distracted with life!!

ZanaD: Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?

Will: I see us playing in big venues all over the world.

ZanaD: What is your dream?

Will: The Rock n Roll Dream!!

ZanaD: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?

Will: Well, Right now, I’d be back in Houston, going to the shooting range and jamming with my cousins who are also a couple of musical bad-asses!!

ZanaD: If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?

Will: A power generator, studio setup (laptop, beat machine etc.), and Keyboard rack!!!

ZanaD: If you were trapped in a room what three people would you want to be with?

Will: Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles!!!

ZanaD: What musician would you want to go on a date with and why?

Will: Katy Perry. Why not??

ZanaD: Favorite quote?

Will: Music is nothing separate from me. It is me… You’d have to remove the music surgically. ”

— Ray Charles

Links:

Myspace

Facebook

Twitter

Reverb Nation

Itunes

Youtube

Interview With Liz Longley

Behind The Scenes With Liz Longley

I had the incredible chance to speak with Liz Longley. Liz Longley is an incredibly talented musician. She has the voice of an angel. Her music will touch your heart.She truly has one of the best voices I have ever heard. Liz also was the grand prize winner for 2010 International Acoustic Music Awards. You need to listen to this girls music. She will absolutely blow you away. Become a fan of hers on facebook, check out her youtube videos, go to her concerts and most importantly become a fan!Introducing the extremely talented and beautiful Liz Longley!

 

Behind The Scenes With Liz Longley:

ZanaD: What is the name of your band?

 

Liz Longley

 

ZanaD: Where are you from?

 

Liz:  Downingtown, PA

 

ZanaD: What type of music do you play?

 

Liz: Acoustic Pop/Folk  – with hints of blues, jazz and country

 

ZanaD: What is the best advice you have for people who want to break

into the music industry?

 

Liz: Just be yourself and write music that is true to who you are. … And then of course play shows as much as possible.

 

ZanaD: How old were you when you started performing?

 

Liz: 15

 

ZanaD: How many years have you been writing music for?

 

Liz: 8 years!  Ah!  That’s hard to believe!

 

ZanaD: Where would your dream place be to perform at?

 

Liz: I would love to one day go back to my college, Berklee College of Music in Boston, and play to a full house at the beautiful Berklee Performance Center.  The students and teachers at Berklee have become my great big family.  I am so grateful for all they’ve taught me and to play there again would be so special.

 

ZanaD: What inspires you to write music?

 

Liz: I often write to heal from my life experiences.  It’s very important to me that I connect with people and I’ve found the best way to do that is to share my life stories… as hard as that was at first.  The best part is in return, listeners often feel comfortable sharing their incredibly touching personal stories.  I’m honored to have that kind of relationship with a lot of my fans.

 

ZanaD: Whats the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?

 

Liz: I don’t have a particular song that I listen to when I’m down but listening to Bon Iver’s album “For Emma, Forever Ago” makes everything better all the time. 🙂

 

ZanaD: What’s your favorite band?

 

Liz: Right now I love Phoenix!!  Their new record is amazing.

 

ZanaD: Whats your favorite song?  My favorite song… well that is impossible because I have a bazillion favorite songs.  BUT at this very moment my favorite song is “Brighter than Sunshine” by Aqualung.

 

Liz: Who is your hero?  I have a few musical heros… Paula Cole, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and The Weepies.

 

ZanaD: When is your next album coming out?

 

Liz: I just released my 3rd album “Hot Loose Wire”…  Haven’t started thinking beyond that yet! 🙂

 

ZanaD: When is your next concert?

 

Liz: Nov 7th – I’m opening for the lovely Mindy Smith at Tupelo Music Hall in White River Junction, VT!

 

ZanaD: Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?

 

Liz: Hopefully just playing a bunch of shows on the road… With more states, more countries, more stories and more songs under my belt.

 

ZanaD: What is your dream?

 

Liz: To touch people with heartfelt music.

 

ZanaD: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?

 

Liz: In my NYC apartment with my guitar in my hands.

 

ZanaD: If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?

 

Liz: Guitar, iPad and mouthwash.

 

ZanaD: If you were trapped in a room what three people would you want to be with?

 

Liz: My mom, my best friend and … Taylor Swift.  ha!  That’d be interesting.

 

ZanaD: What musician would you want to go on a date with and why?

 

Liz: Ryan Adams … in hopes to get a private concert.

 

Thanks Liz!

Links:

Myspace

Facebook

Youtube

Liz Longleys Official Website

 

 

Interview With Seraph and Travail

Behind The Scenes With Seraph Travail

I had the awesome chance to talk with Tim Otto from the band Seraph and Travail! Check them out. They are an awesome sephonic metal band 🙂

Behind The Scenes With Seraph and Travail

ZanaD: What is your name and the name of your band?

Tim and Seraph in Travail

ZanaD: Where are you from?

Tim: Hatboro/ Horsham

ZanaD: What type of music do you play?

Tim: Symphonic Metal

ZanaD:What is the best advice you have for people who want to break into the music industry?

Tim: Study theory, lots of practice and get comfortable being in front of crowds of people.

ZanaD: How old were you when you started performing?

Tim: 17

ZanaD: How many years have you been writing music for?

Tim: 4 years

ZanaD: Where would your dream place be to perform at?

Tim: Either the Trocadero or the Electric Factory

ZanaD: What inspires you to write music?

Tim: A very wide range of music and just the drive and addiction of writing music.

ZanaD: Whats the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?

Tim: There’s way too many to pick just one, usually I can put on anything and it’ll lift my spirits.

ZanaD: Whats your favorite band?

Tim: Gojira

ZanaD: Whats your favorite song?

Tim: Reindeer Age – Closure in Moscow

ZanaD:Who is your hero?
Tim: Darrell Abbot from Pantera

ZanaD: If you could have three wishes come true what would they be and why?

Tim: I can’t talk about wishes before they come true or else they won’t come true, I’m very supersticious haha.

ZanaD: When is your next album coming out?

Tim: Hopefully our demo will be out shortly, then soon after, we’ll be planning a full length.

ZanaD: When is your next concert?

Tim: We don’t have any dates scheduled as of now. Follow us and keep up with our show schedules.

Seraph in Travail is on Facebook and on Myspace

ZanaD: Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?

Tim: Touring at least the United States and playing shows in major US cities.

ZanaD: What is your dream?

Tim: That soon, one day young guitarists will look up to me and musicians will look up to us.

ZanaD: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?

Tim: On stage

ZanaD: If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?

Tim: A fully charged sattelite phone, a fully charged GPS and a crate of food and beverages haha.

ZanaD: If you were trapped in a room what three people would you want to be with?

Tim: My girlfriend, my best friend Courtney, and a locksmith to get out of the room

ZanaD: What musician would you want to go on a date with and why?

Tim: I’m already taken, but for the sake of the question, Hayley Williams from Paramore, because she’s adorable.

Favorite quote?
-“You laugh at me because I’m different. I laugh at you because you’re all the same.” …. enough said

Stay Metal,
Tim Otto

Links

Myspace

Facebook

Interview With Billy Simons –Dated Lady Gaga!

Behind The Scenes With Billy Simons

I had the great chance to speak with the very clever and talented Billy Simons. His songs are extremely entertaining. I definetly recommend you check him out 🙂 He also just came out with a new album coming out soon inspired by a road trip across the country. Become a fan of Billy Simons 🙂

Behind The Scenes With Billy Simons:

ZanaD:What is the name of your band?
Billy Simons

ZanaD: Where are you from?
Billy: Ludlow, MA

ZanaD: What type of music do you play?
Billy: Acoustic folk pop rock

ZanaD: What is the best advice you have for people wanting to get their music out there?
Billy: Be patient – work hard – and always remember why you do what you do. The second you lose track of that, it just becomes a frustrating job with a steady uphill terrain.

ZanaD: What got you into doing music?
Billy: My brother played classical piano growing up and going to his recitals and watching him come home with trophies always made me jealous.

ZanaD: How old were you when you started playing/singing?
Billy: 12-13

ZanaD: How long have you been writing music for?
Billy: About 8 years

ZanaD: Where would your dream place be to perform at?
Billy: It sounds trite, but Carnegie Hall would be amazing.

ZanaD: Are you close with the people in your band?
Billy: Some yes, some no. Songwriting is a very private thing for me, and many of my performances are solo acoustic. But the guys in the full band are good guys.

ZanaD: What inspires you to do music? It just feels right.
Billy: Regardless of what’s going on in or around my life, picking up a guitar makes everything better.

ZanaD: Whats the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?
Billy: Short People Got No Reason To Live by Randy Newman

ZanaD: Whats your favorite band?
Billy: Hard question, because comparing so many bands is a matter of apples and oranges… but if I had to pick one, it’d probably be Paul Simon.

ZanaD: What’s your favorite song?
Billy: I can honestly and confidently say that I don’t have one.

ZanaD: When is your next album coming out?
Billy: In a few weeks!

ZanaD: When is your next concert?
Billy: TBA
Billy: Ideally, I see it as a full time career that allows me to travel, share my songs with people around the country who want to hear them. I think it’s important to stay positive, but also not plan for overnight success – it’ll just bring you down.

ZanaD: What is your dream?
Billy:  To be a troubadour. Travel and share my music.

ZanaD: What is your favorite food?
Billy: I love grilled chicken. I could probably eat a grilled chicken salad every day, so long as a few times a year I could have a couple greek dishes my mom makes.

ZanaD: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?
Billy: I haven’t been home to see my family in about 3 months. I’ve been traveling and writing and recording… I would love to be at home with my parents and brother and sister.

ZanaD: If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?
Billy: I realize it’s down to life and death at this point, and an acoustic guitar doesn’t seem to be a reasonable thing to pick. But I still would. Then probably a toothbrush and a large container of water.

ZanaD: If you were trapped in a room what three people would you want to be with?
Billy: My brother, his wife, and my best friend, Nicholas. They may be the only three humans on the planet I could tolerate for an extended period of time in close quarters .

ZanaD: What musician would you want to go on a date with and why? Billy: I dated Lady Gaga for a very short time in college. So that doesn’t count. Taylor Swift is too tall and she isn’t my type… Either Rihanna or Ingrid Michaelson. Lots of variety across the spectrum, I know.

ZanaD: Describe your ideal partner in three words
Billy: Thinks. I’m. Funny.

ZanaD: Whats your biggest turnoff?
Billy: Bad health habits

ZanaD: What do you look for in a friend?
Billy: Critical opinions and trust and they better have a good sense of humor as well

ZanaD: Where do you want to live when your older?
Billy: On a large plot of land with no neighbors around. A modest home in a quiet place. Probably New England.

ZanaD: Whats your favorite tv show?
Billy: Arrested Development stole my heart a few years back… but these days 30Rock has me going. Of course nobody will ever take Seinfeld’s place.

ZanaD: What’s your favorite color?
Billy: I’ve always been a blue guy

Links:

Bandcamp

Myspace

Facebook

Twitter

Interview With The Shakers!

Behind The Scenes With The Shakers

I had the awesome chance to speak with Chris Lee, from the fabulous band from LA The Shakers! Be sure to become a fan of thier facebook fan page, check out their songs, buy their album and watch their youtube channel. Without further hesitation I present to you Chris Lee!

Behind The Scenes With The Shakers:

ZanaD: What is the name of your band?

The Shakers!!  http://www.ilovetheshakers.com 😀

ZanaD: Where are you from?

TS: We presently all are located in Los Angeles but travel all over the country!  Originally our singer Jodie Schell hails from Detroit, Guitarist Chris Lee is from the Nj/Philadelphia area, Brad Lee Bassist was born in California but moved around quite a bit, as did Drummer Nick Woods.

ZanaD: What type of music do you play?

TS: The Shakers blend the excitement and drive of old school rock and roll with the intoxicating dancy nature of Motown rhythm and blues.

ZanaD: What is the best advice you have for people who want to break into the music industry?

TS: Be ready to WORK WORK WORK!  Never give up, and never get comfortable.

ZanaD: How old were you when you started performing?

TS: No one in the band can remember a time in their life when they weren’t putting on some kind of “show” or being infatuated with music.  You could say we were born to rock 🙂

ZanaD: How many years have you been writing music for?

TS: The Shakers have been writing music together for a little more than a year and are very lucky to have acheived such success in such a short amount of time.

ZanaD: Where would your dream place be to perform at?

TS: A headlining stadium tour would incredible, our shows keep getting bigger and bigger, so we just have to keep working harder and harder.

ZanaD: What inspires you to write music?

TS: Life never ceases to inspire, though sometimes you can go looking for inspiration in your friends, or in a compelling story in the news, or the feeling you get waiting for a train.  Sometimes its just a want or a need to write a new song, so you sit down and you write a song.  Other times a song just comes to you from the way you looked at something, or the way you heard a car door slam.

ZanaD: Whats the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?

TS: Depends on what kind of “down” i am i guess.  Usually Smashing Pumpkins are a cure all for me – Chris Lee

ZanaD: Whats your favorite band?

TS: Presently all things Dave Grohl – Chris Lee

ZanaD: Whats your favorite song?

TS: Again i think this depends on my mood, to name a few.  “all my life” – the foo fighters “set the ray to jerry” – the smashing pumpkins “vultures” – john mayer “Nobody Knows” – band of gypsy’s “Immigrant Song” – Led Zepplin

ZanaD: If you could have three wishes come true what would they be and why?

TS: They’d all be the same wish, and I won’t say what it is, but I bet you can guess.

ZanaD: When is your next album coming out?

TS: We are getting very near to mixing the record we’ve been working on lately at the world class NRG Studios in North Hollywood, which we hope to release in spring.

ZanaD:When is your next concert?

TS: The Shakers can be seen in:
Huntington Beach, CA 11/5 Gallagher’s Pub San Diego, CA 11/10 Moondoggies
Hollywood, CA 11/13 The Cat Club Philadelphia, PA 11/24 The TLA for WMMR’S GOBBLAROO! and much more..

ZanaD: Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?

TS: Touring non-stop, headlining and selling out large venues all over the world.

ZanaD: What is your dream?

TS: To live and play music for fellow music enthusiasts

ZanaD: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?

TS: With my band, on stage, doing what we love to do.

ZanaD: If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?

TS: My guitar, a smoothie machine, and my dog 🙂

ZanaD: If you were trapped in a room what three people would you want to be with?

TS: My band!!

ZanaD: What musician would you want to go on a date with and why?

TS: Dave Grohl, cuz i man crush on him… hard!

ZanaD: Favorite quote?
TS: “I don’t wanna work, i just wanna bang on me drum all day”

Links:

CD Baby

Itunes

The Shakers Official Website

Youtube

The 74’s

Under The Spotlight With The 74’s

I had the chance to speak with the band The 74’s. Check them out today 🙂

Under The Spotlight With The 74’s

ZanaD:What is the name of your band?
74s:The 74s

ZanaD:Where are you from?
74s:Philadelphia PA

ZanaD:What type of music do you play?
74s:Rock/Alternative

ZanaD:What is the best advice you have for people wanting to get their music out there?
74s:Play tons of shows, get your music noticed and look for studios with great quality

ZanaD:What got you into doing music?
74s:The drummer had and has a recording studio in his basement

ZanaD:How old were you when you started playing/singing?
74s:Between 4 or 5

ZanaD:How long have you been writing music for?
74s:We wrote Sympathy at age 11

ZanaD:Where would your dream place be to perform at?
74s:The Electric Factory

ZanaD:Describe your music in three words
74s:Relaxing, Different, Original

ZanaD:Are you close with the people in your band?
74s:We are the best of friends and always have been

ZanaD:What inspires you to do music?
74s:Its almost like an addiction, once you start you can’t stop

ZanaD:Whats the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?
74s:For me personally, Crash Into Me by DMB

ZanaD:Whats your favorite band?
74s:Blink 182

ZanaD:Whats your favorite song?
74s:Crash into me haha

ZanaD:When is your next album coming out?
74s:Hopefully by the spring

ZanaD:When is your next concert?
74s:Within the next 2 months

ZanaD:Where can people go to listen to your music?
Itunes, MySpace

ZanaD:Where can people go to buy your music?
74s:ITunes

ZanaD:Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?
74s:Doing the same thing were doing now, only more advanced
ZanaD:What is your dream?
74s:Making it big with the band

ZanaD:What is your favorite food?
74s:Tacos!

ZanaD:If you could be in any place right now where would it be?
74s:Cancun

ZanaD:If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?
74s:Food, a jetski, and a large amount of gas 🙂

ZanaD:If you were trapped in a room what three people would you want to be with?
74s:My girlfriend, my mom and hmm…..

ZanaD:What musician would you want to go on a date with and why?
74s:Beyonce because she is one fine piece of ace 😉

ZanaD:Describe your ideal partner in three words
outgoing, funny, and sweet
74s:Whats your biggest turnoff?
74s:smokers

ZanaD:Where do you want to live when your older?
74s:Miami beach

ZanaD:Whats your favorite tv show
74s:Jersey Shore!

Links:

Myspace

Facebook

 

Interview With Jesse Ruben

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH JESSE RUBEN

I had the wonderful chance to speak with Jesse Ruben an extremely talented and cute singer/songwriter. Check out his music today!

Behind The Scenes With Jesse Ruben:

Q:What is the name of your band?

A:Jesse Ruben

Q:Where are you from?

A:I grew up outside of Philly, now I live in Brooklyn.


Q:What type of music do you play?

A: Awesome, and delicious.

Q:What is the best advice you have for people wanting to get their music out
there?

A: Never stop. don't compromise. don't listen when other people tell you
what you should sound like or look like. don't get discouraged.


Q: What got you into doing music?

A: My whole dad's side of the family is musical, so it was in my blood.

Q: How old were you when you started playing/singing?

A: I started taking piano lessons when I was 5, started guitar at 16.

Q: How long have you been writing music for?

A: Since the day i started playing guitar.

Q: Where would your dream place be to perform at?

Madison Square Garden

Q: Describe your music in three words

A: safe, yummy, wonderful

Q: Are you close with the people in your band?

A: When i get to do band shows, i always have my closest friends play
with me. it makes the experience that much better.

Q: What inspires you to do music?

A: The fact that I can't imagine doing anything else.


Q: What's the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?

A: "Doubting Thomas" by Nickelcreek

Q: What's your favorite band?

A: Too many to name...Ben Folds, Matt Nathanson, Ray Lamontagne, Jacksone Browne...


Q: What's your favorite song?

totally IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION!

Q: When is your next album coming out?

A: Well my last record just came out in April, so probably an acoustic EP
next year.


Q: When is your next concert?

A: On Friday, at The Grey Horse Tavern in Bayport, NY

Q: Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?

A: Well since i'm a solo artist, hopefully i'll look like me, just 5
years older. and not fatter.

Q: What is your dream?

A: To do what i'm doing, only bigger.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Anything from a thai restaurant.

Q: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?

A: Williamsburg, Brooklyn! or Paris.

Q:If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?
A: guitar, notebook, pen.


Q:What musician would you want to go on a date with and why?

A: Joni Mitchell, Circa 1972. that voice!


Q: Where do you want to live when your older?

A:New York. Europe. California.

Q: whats your favorite tv show?

A: Mad Men. or House. or Entourage.

Q: What's your favorite color?

A: blue/green
Links
Myspace
Facebook
Itunes
Amazon
Buy Merchandise

Interview With Rabbits Running!

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH RABBITS RUNNING

I had the awesome chance to speak with this truly talented band Rabbits Running. Be sure to check out their music today 🙂

Behind The Scenes With Rabbits Running:

ZanaD: What is the name of your band?

Rabbits Running

ZanaD: Where are you from?

RR: Its a Duo Robbie Fitzsimmons is from Santa Cruz, CA, USA – Darren is From Hexham in England

ZanaD: What type of music do you play?

RR: A cross between Rock + Dance, + Something else

ZanaD: What is the best advice you have for people who want to break into the music industry?

RR: Love music + be enthusiastic about life

ZanaD: How old were you when you started performing?

RR: six

ZanaD: How many years have you been writing music for?

RR: 24 – 6 = 18years

ZanaD: Where would your dream place be to perform at?

RR: Leeds festival England and Roskilde Festival in Denmark and Moon Festival on the Moon

ZanaD: What inspires you to write music?

RR: Could be anything, Inspiration comes at any time so i try to record it before i forget it, which happens a lot. Oddly, I find the bulk of my material comes during mundane tasks such as showers, car rides and doing dishes…

ZanaD: Whats the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?

RR: A Happy song

ZanaD: Whats your favorite band?

RR: RadioBjorkBeatlesHead

ZanaD: Who is your hero?

RR: Captain Planet

If you could have three wishes come true what would they be and why?

RR: 1.) Moon Festivals on the moon, that’s it.

ZanaD: When is your next album coming out?

RR: Hopefully by the end of the year

ZanaD: When is your next concert?

RR:We just cancelled all of our shows to focus on recording

ZanaD: Where can people go to listen to your music?

RR: You can download our EP for free at www.RabbitsRunning.com

ZanaD: Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?

RR: On the moon headlining Moon Festival on the moon

ZanaD: What is your dream?

RR: To inspire the world

ZanaD: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?

RR: In a room full of puppies

ZanaD: If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring? RR: Depends on how big the island is.. so probably an iphone so i could still tweet, a toothbrush and a credit card

ZanaD: If you were trapped in a room what three people would you want to be with?

RR: Michael Jordan, Danny Devito and Big Bird

ZanaD: What musician would you want to go on a date with and why? RR:Justin Bieber, she’s pretty cute.

ZanaD:Favorite quote?

RR: “Favorite Quote?” -You

Thanks!

Links

Myspace

Facebook

Official Website

Interview With Jonathan Clay

Behind The Scenes With Jonathan Clay:

Hey! I had the awesome chance to speak with the extremely talented and beautiful male vocalist Jonathan Clay.Be sure to check out his new music video Gypsy Woman. His voice will make you melt like sweet chocolate on a summer day. Become a fan today!

Behind The Scenes With Jonathan Clay:

ZanaD: Where are you from?

JC: Austin, TX

 

ZanaD: What type of music do you play?

JC: A concoction of soul/pop/blues/and singer-songwriter

 

ZanaD; What is the best advice you have for people who want to break into the music industry?

JC: Examine your reasoning and understand you’re doing it because you love it.  Develop and unfaltering drive and determination because there is nothing easy about it.

 

ZanaD: How old were you when you started performing?

JC: 18

 

ZanaD: How many years have you been writing music for?

JC:7 years.  Wow, sounds a lot longer than it feeels

 

ZanaD: Where would your dream place be to perform at?

JC: Austin City Limits music festival post 9pm

 

ZanaD: What inspires you to write music?

JC: I’m not quite sure.   I really couldn’t tell you where it comes from.  All I know is that I can’t force it when it’s not there, and I can stop it when it is.

 

ZanaD: Whats the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?

JC: That depends.  Maybe some Eddie Vedder?  Hard Sun always makes me feel like a conquerer.

 

ZanaD: Whats your favorite band?

JC: The Raconteurs

 

ZanaD: Whats your favorite song?

JC: Piano Man by Billy Joel is one of my favorites.  Also Sweet Baby James by James Taylor because it reminds me of my Dad – The coolest guy I know 🙂

 

ZanaD: Who is your hero?

JC:Guess I jumped the gun with my answer to the last question.  My hero would probably be my Dad.  If I’m half the man he is, I’ll be just fine.

 

ZanaD: If you could have three wishes come true what would they be and why?

JC: A house on a hill, my family and friends, and the chance to go ice fishing on Europa.

 

ZanaD: When is your next album coming out?

JC: Probably some time last 2011.  Right traveling quite a bit and writing a ton.  Life is good.

 

ZanaD: When is your next concert?

JC: November 30th in Georgia

 

ZanaD:Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?

JC: Seasoned, tight, and still excited to do what we do.

 

ZanaD: What is your dream?

JC: To truly become free.

 

ZanaD: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?

JC: Past or present?  The 1969 Filmore performance by Jimi Hendrix.  Machine Gun was unreal.

 

ZanaD: If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?

JC: A survival knife, a sleeping bag, and a pen & pad.

 

ZanaD: If you were trapped in a room what three people would you want to be with?

JC: People who could help come up with a way to escape the room in which we were trapped.   An engineer, an architect, and a power lifter I suppose…

 

ZanaD: What musician would you want to go on a date with and why?

JC: I don’t date musicians.  They’re crazy. 😉

 

ZanaD: Favorite quote?

JC: “There is no greater threat to a mans sense of adventure than security”

Links:

Jonathans Official Website

Myspace

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Interview With Emma Davis

Behind The Scenes With Emma Davis:

I had the fabulous opportunity of chatting with the talented and beautiful  Emma Davis all the way from London!Emma is currently living in Australia and hopes to share her music with the world. Check out her music today 🙂

Behind The Scenes With Emma Davis

ZanaD: What is the name of your band?

Emma Davis

ZanaD: Where are you from?

Emma: London. I lived there until I finished school, moved to Boston for a year to study music, and now live in Sydney.

ZanaD: What type of music do you play?

Emma: Hmm well yesterday a magazine described is as NOT fey. I had to look ‘fey’ up but apparently it means in unusally high spirits as was believed to be the state preceding death. Or more simply, doomed to die – win.

ZanaD: What is the best advice you have for people who want to break into the music industry?

Emma: I don’t think I have by any means broken into the music industry. I don’t think I would be struggling to pay my rent if that was the case. I do get to play lots of shows and meet lots of musicians though so I suppose my advice would be to try to do whatever is most true to you and nothing else.

ZanaD: How old were you when you started performing?

My earliest memory is of playing a Beatles song at a classical concert at primary school – slightly strange in retrospect.

How many years have you been writing music for?

Emma: I’ve been making up my own music since I was very little but I don’t think you could have really called it music until a lot later, maybe my teens? It was appropriately angst- filled of course.

ZanaD: Where would your dream place be to perform at?

Emma: I like performing at places that feel like they weren’t made to perform in. Like tiny cellar bars, or people’s bedrooms. I think stages and lights and whatnot ruin the magic a little, but obviously they are there for a reason so perhaps that was a silly comment.

ZanaD: What inspires you to write music?

Emma: Everything around me really. I happen to live somewhere where everyone else seems inspired to create things- it’s very infectious.

ZanaD: Whats the song you need to listen to when your feeling down?

Emma: I tend to play my guitar when I’m down. That’s probably why my songs are so bloody sad.

ZanaD: Whats your favorite band?

Emma: At the moment, Freelance Whales or Laura Veirs (not technically a band I know). I get a little obsessed with certain albums rather then bands. An album that you can listen to from start to finish over and over again is a winner for me.

ZanaD: Whats your favorite song?

Emma; I love any song that feels like a slight punch in the heart. Any song that you listen to and you can’t ever imagine the moment where it was constructed. It sounds as if is was always there, it was always a song. That’s the way that it was supposed to sound.

ZanaD:Who is your hero?

Emma: I have two and I call them mum and dad.

If you could have three wishes come true what would they be and why?

Emma:Obviously there are big world-changing wishes that I would make first. On a much smaller and more self-focused scale, to be able to travel and play music…at the same time! To be able to buy my mum and dad a nice big house.

ZanaD: When is your next album coming out?

Emma: Soon! (it may be out by the time this is published) 16th October.

ZanaD: When is your next concert?

Emma: The 16th October at the Empress Hotel,

ZanaD: Where can people go to listen to your music?

Emma:, or you can download the new single at

ZanaD: Where do you see your band in 5 years from now?

Emma: Hopefully still playing music. At the rate I’m going probably with a few more instruments and a little less money.

ZanaD:What is your dream?

Emma: To be payed to travel and play music. What could possibly be better then that.

ZanaD: If you could be in any place right now where would it be?

Emma: I’m pretty happy right here. In a cafe in Newtown with a delicious coffee and a day off.

ZanaD: If you were stuck on an island what three items would you bring?

Emma:My rusty old volkswagen beetle, my favourite pair of sneakers and my first guitar. I realise that these three things are all completely useless on a desert island but I never said I was practical.

ZanaD:If you were trapped in a room what four people would you want to be with?

Emma: My mum, dad sister and brother. We would all drive each other completely crazy but atleast I’d have that unconditional love to reason with.

ZanaD: What musician would you want to go on a date with and why?

Emma: All of the Spice Girls. I find it hard to believe that they actually exist -they’re very fictional to me. I need to be proved wrong.

ZanaD: Favorite quote?

Emma: A line from ‘Kathy’s Song’ by Simon and Garfunkel – Why do i spend my time, writing songs I can’t believe with words that tear and strain to rhyme’. This line sits in the back of my head whenever I’m writing a song.

Links:

Myspace

Bandcamp