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DJ Interviews: Dave Eastman of Just say yes or no

 Heres my interview with a familiar guest David Est man as he talks about his new band Yes or No

How'd you get started in music?

The Open Flames’ drummer Evan Sult and songwriter/singer Dave Eastman were high school friends who played Dungeons & Dragons with friends. Dave was Evan’s dungeon master. Evan couldn’t play drums and Dave couldn’t tune a guitar, but that didn’t stop them. Their first song had three notes and was about Republicans. It was called “Blood Red”. Years later,

And now, Dave thinks Evan is a very good drummer. Evan was in the famous band Harvey Danger (of the hit ‘Flagpole Sitta’ heard at the beginning of ‘Peep Show’). Dave still can’t tune a guitar, but he loves writing songs for this band of pros who can: Paige Brubeck is an amazing guitarist and singer and Len Bendel is a groovy bass player inspired by Motown and the Beatles.

 

Who are your inspirations or influences?

Pavement, the Velvet Underground, the Pixies, Joy Division, REM, Henry Miller, Robert Frost, John Lennon, and of course, Dungeons & Dragons.

 

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

If you perform, entertain!: Your audience braved the rain to come see you, paid for their beer and ticket, and has to stand through your set, so give them a memory to cherish.

 

How do you set yourself apart from other bands or singers?

In French, we’re “pop noir”. No song is the same, so our album takes you a journey with many crazy stops along the way.

Another reviewer kindly wrote: “By listening to The Open Flames, you’re creating memories in your head…I know it sounds pretty far-fetched, but yeah, it does that.” (Rock Era Magazine)

That sums it up pretty well!

 

How would you say that music has inspired/made an impression on you?

Music is everywhere, in how we talk, honk our horns, hear the birds and trains and rain, and in how we connect with emotions and stories. And there is no higher art form than “Louie Louie.”

 

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

You can pre-order our first album, ‘Same Time Next Year’ with Subjangle Records on Bandcamp!

Biography:

Pop Noir: The Open Flames bring equal parts psychedelia and lyricism. Lead singer Dave writes songs between aid missions in war zones and drummer Evan was in the band Harvey Danger of the hit 90s song, “Flagpole Sitta” (heard at the opening of “Peep Show”). 

 

Here are some recent reviews of our music: 

“As sonically alluring as poetically fascinating” – VENTS Magazine

“A dark pop groove through haunting crescendos for a catchy and distorted sonic experience… a cinematic and addictive anthem… A hypnotic showcase of pop power.” - Earmilk

“The storytelling a transcendent element sure to set them on a course for success.” – Music Crown

“It’s the kind of song that sticks in your head for hours, but in the best way.” – Mc Gig Music

“Sonically it’s an easy-going guitar-pop gem with an instantly sticky impact. Lyrically, it’s a sort of hallucinatory brain twister. All together, it’s a splendid debut. No wonder Satan plays it on repeat on his stereo in hell.” – Turn Up the Volume

“Stylishly restrained, casting a dark spell that pulls you into its shadowy world.” – Backseat Mafia

"An exciting force on the London alt-rock scene.“ – Tits Upon Tyne

“A special breed of honesty to paint pictures in your head.” – BuzzSlayer

"By listening, you’re creating memories in your head…I know if sounds pretty far-fetched, but yeah, it does that.” – Rock Era Magazine

Social media links:

·       Website: https://www.theopenflames.com/

·       Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/41yzkrXiDqJGS0qpW7OP7b

·       Music video: https://youtu.be/TaUYqFRxSH0

·       YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5bFcFitUd8

·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_open_flames_band/

·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theopenflamesband/

·       TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theopenflamesband?_t=8mzqCZAdEn2&_r=1

·       X (Twitter): https://x.com/the_open_flames

·       Bandcamp: https://theopenflames.bandcamp.com/

·       Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/vjRgFgkJtSrVa3rs9

·       Twitch: Twitch

I Will Set Me Free

"Hot In The D" Official Music Video

Rusted

DJ Interviews: Dominic

 Heres my interview with singer Dominic who shared his succes

I got started in music the same way as most, growing up and listening to songs. My taste in music has definitely changed over the years as I’ve grown. I sung karaoke with my parents (LeAnn Rimes for example haha) had piano lessons at an early age and since then it’s developed into a healthy hobby of mine. Now I’m trying to create music that I enjoy listening to.

One of my biggest inspirations was JUICE WRLD, his music got me through some really hard times and I think he’s been really impactful on me by having such introspective lyricism. Other notable mentions are J Cole and Drake. There’s a ton of other influences though there are just too many amazing musicians to name them all.

Don’t be afraid to share your pre released music with your friends sometimes when you’re creating a track, you get so into it you have an overly biased opinion of it. There’s times when I’ve asked for feedback from close friends and their advice has made me scrap the whole track or rework it. Friends are vital. A different ear to listen is really important.

Just by being myself, my lyrics, and my music are all produced by myself, and I feel like regardless of whether people like to listen to it, as long as I do and I’m proud to listen to it I can continue creating it. Don’t try to copy someone else’s style. You can of course take pointers from them, but ultimately, you are your own person and you should create music based off your own experiences to make it feel genuine.

It’s corny and cliche to say but without music I don’t think I’d be here today. There’s a certain release you get from listening and singing along with music. It helps you explore your emotions, feelings and thoughts. It gets you through tough times. For me I can’t stop listening to music, it makes impressions on me daily and allows me to think from a different perspective.

I have some prereleases that I’m holding, 2025 is going to be a huge year for me, so far I’ve released 4 songs officially on Spotify, I’m sat holding several others and I plan to continue producing throughout the year.

Gigs, I’ll consider if I ever get enough popularity. It’s hard to break out, there’s a ton of talent and billions of songs out there. That’s why I think enjoying your own music is a core aspect of being able to be a successful artist.

Pimp Daddy

Carmilla Fallen Official Video

DJ Interviews: Detroit Red

Here's my interview with up & coming rapper Detroit Red on how he got started in his musical journey, included are social media links to his music so feel free to check those out as well. Enjoy

How'd you get started in music?

There have been different stages in my life where I would say I started music.  Growing up in a Lutheran school, my first musical interaction was joining the handbell choir.  I joined to get to know a girl I was going to school with (obviously), but that was my first real encounter with sheet music, time signatures and so on.  All of the different handbells playing collectively gave me an appreciation of what things can sound like when combined.

The next stage of my life was the emergence of rap.  While taking a summer trip to visit family in Mississippi, we listened to alot rap on the trip, Eric B. and Rakim to be specific.  It was amazing to hear how they used original songs by James Brown and turned them into a totally different genre of music.  It felt very poetic and infectious.  During that same time, I had heard Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, MC Lyte, Run D.M.C. and LL Cool J.  The greatest impact on me was Rakim, his style was just different.  I began writing raps when we got to Mississippi, and practically wrote the whole summer.

The last stage had me fully immersed in music, a culmination of all of the stages in the past.

- When I was about 12 or 13, I was in a talent show with my friends and I had this break in the show where I was scratching... The crowd's response was hypnotizing.  My part in the talent show was a break from traditionally what I would have done in playing the saxophone.  This was more about being a little more creative than my saxophone background provided and this was music of my peers.  What we did had not been done before and to see teachers and students alike engaged in our show was amazing. A few days later, my dad bought me a Tascam Porta-One 4 track.  The rest is history.

Who are your inspirations or influences?

My oldest brother left for college and became a prominent DJ.  To see him grow in music the way he did inspired me to get better with my rapping skills. He would come home with new vinyl records and would tell me how people were reacting to certain songs. Whenever he was around music or his turntables he would light up.  He was one of my greatest inspirations.  When he died in a car accident in 93, one of his college friends told me how much he talked about me and that he was proud of me.  That pushed me further into doing music.

I have always been inspired by different artists and producers that carved out a unique style in the art of music - Rick James, Prince, Quincy Jones, Sade, Toni Braxton, Rakim, LL Cool J, 2Pac, Redman, Nas, DJ Premier... this list of inspiration goes on and on.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

My advice to anyone aspiring to be in music is to understand why you're doing it.  Although it can be a career, music is an artform and should come from a place of inspiration.  That will keep you grounded and will provide you the opportunity to be around the right people, discover the best fans and be able to enjoy what you love to do.  The landscape of music has changed, so how and where you engage your fans is not going to be easy, but not impossible.

How do you set yourself apart from other bands or singers?

I think the only way anyone can set themselves apart from anyone else in music is to be your unique self.  I may have influences that come out in certain things I do but I do what comes naturally to me and I don't try to sound like anyone but myself.  I also focus on my own path on this musical journey and my path doesn't restrict me where doing things differently is always a possibility.  I also found that by tapping into my past experiences and helping others gives me a sense of satisfaction about my own journey and I also learn new things and even new ways to continue to grow in the art of music.

How would you say that music has inspired/made an impression on you?

Music has given me a voice when I didn't have the words.  Whether it be poetry, a beat, or a rap, I am never without an ability to express myself.  Because of music (and technology), I have been able to work with people from all over the world and that has been the greatest gift I have received from music.  How can you not be inspired by that?

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

Currently producing several albums/EP's for release this year:

Cuddle Season - Ntregue & Various Artists

In This Lifetime - Jazmin Sparta

Collaboration with fellow producer Ntrospec, follow up EP to Legacy:Daybreak

Untitled Album - Ntregue

Untitled EP - Jo Mika

Untitled EP - Marianah

Untitled EP in Mandarin - Moon Chew

Untitled EP - Mirodia

Remix album - Final Faze D.J.'s

"1989" - Detroit Red

7 Days Around The World - Rosedale Park

Instrumental EP Project - Stanley Dre 

3rd Rail Records Collaboration Project - Various Artists

SlowFi project

Soundcloud: 3rd Rail Records

Spotify: 

Detroit Red: https://open.spotify.com/artist/68eeyWxa0j2OAbkKkxijK2?si=y1nkLK51TlebHj8j_kS9ig

Jo Mika: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oE7Ub1j0oH6Bhnnug7WSM?si=P2D2kS_IQbi8EkwByWjC9A

Ntregue: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lQ2lwY3u8CeLcovKsJ5LC?si=F2iKzQa2QXKDBg6NPnuY1g

YouTube: Detroit Red Channel

Email: DetroitRedOfficial@gmail.com

Instagram: @3rd_rail_records

X: @Ntregue, @JoMikaMusic, @DetroitR3D, @3rdrailrecords, @RosedalePark

Ode to a gaming monk-an original poem

Hey there one & all, I wanted to share a poem that I scribbled down its inspried by a quote that really resonated with me & I'll post it after this but it was inspired by someone with a gentle spirit & kind soul so this is for them.

Ode to a gaming monk

Words of aspirations

Fill me with a sense of inspiration

He’s a gentle giant with a gentle soul

So focused on achieving his goals

A crusader out to do some chaotic good

Staying frosty as he should.

Showing authenticity through his personality

This is who he is with the volume turned high

Never afraid to spread his wings & fly.

Though some bridges were burnt along the way

We rebuild & make up at the end of the day.

There were times he wanted to fall

No matter how bleaj things are

he's always standing tall.

Gaming & storytelling is what he’s all about 

he’s not in it for Fame or for clout.

He’s a gaming monk who bears no shame

Mildra the Monk is his name.

Quote:

'My goal as a content creator, and now as a #vTuber, is to show what's out there. Many will talk about being a gamer, a weeb, and so on. But I want to show that my love for the hobby extends to the totality of it. From the solo dev making his first commercial game to the little teams that could, and everything in between. I'm nobody special, but I want to show that if some nobody from the middle of frozen nowhere can find these high-quality projects, then anyone can. I wanna discover new games and experiences, to challenge myself to never stay put in my shell. While others want to display cynicism, I want to be optimistic about the shifts in the future. While others want to stay in a comfort zone and build ivory towers around themselves, I wanna explore out of it and connect with things I never knew before, people I never thought I'd meet, and so much more. Does that make me foolish? Maybe, I know what I am up against. There's no end of cultural pressure to lower oneself, to allow one to be content. In refusing that, I might be on the losing side...but I don't think it's the wrong one, to reference a certain captain. Still, whenever I get to help people learn about something new, or learn something myself, I have nothing but joy in that moment. "Mildra the Monk" may be my name, but it is more than that. It's not just some mask I wear, it's me. I was "The Monk" LONG before any of you knew my name. The 'character' part is just me with parts of the volume turned up. Anyone who says otherwise is speaking falsehood. Again, I'm nobody special, but I have been blessed with something special in the trust placed in me, my work, and my vision... and I want to do everything I can to ensure that trust is not misplaced. I hope I can continue earning that trust.' 

This is the quote that inspired the poem & when I read it, it had resonated with me in so many ways & its aso a great motivative quote to anyone who wants to do better so here's hoping that it does the same for you. So until then I'll catch you on The Flipside.

Stay frosty & rock n roll!

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