DJ Interviews: JC Miller

 Here's my interview with singer JC Miller. Enjoy!

1.  How'd you get started in music?

I grew up in the Bay Area and I got to hang out in a cool music scene and got exposed to lots of different kinds of music from a young age. I played in bands and became a session guitar player and started writing songs from there and became a composer-for-hire. I played keyboards and bass too, but guitar has always been my main focus. I eventually began working in New York and Los Angeles and ended up settling in Southern California.

 

2.  Who are your inspirations or influences?

The older I get the more I realize I am totally under the spell of Leon Russell and Levon Helm of The Band and Stevie Ray Vaughan­– I feel like I ended up in Southern-style songwriting. I love Little Feat, The Allman Brothers,
Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top. Having said that, there’s also a lot of influence by songwriters like Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Petty. As far as soundtracks and guitar playing goes, I love Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Glen Campbell and Daniel Lanois.

 

3.  What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

Find your authentic voice. And I mean your musical voice, not just your singing voice. Once you do, never give up and always believe in yourself. Music is free to make and like anything, people are competitive and will try to bring you down, but you can’t let other people get to you. Stay true to yourself and don’t listen too much to what other people have to say. Music taste is so personal that you really don’t need to listen to other people as much as you think you would have to. Music is not competitive. Remember that you are only competing with yourself and that popularity doesn’t necessarily coincide with excellence and vice versa.

 

4.  How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers?

I always ask myself, “What am I trying to say?”

I try to keep my observations as unique and personal as possible. In other words, what is singular about my slant, my take on things?

With me it’s funny because my rock is too country for the rockers and my country can be too electrified for country music purists. I feel like I’m somewhere in between Americana, Southern Rock and Country Rock. I try to add to the narrative within this musical terrain.

I try to find a place where I can be an indie musician without too much attention to genre.

Since my search is always for authenticity– I sing the way I sing, I play the way I play, and I write the way I write—I can’t alter those too much.

Specific ways I try to set myself apart from other musicians is I make up unusual tunings on the guitar and I try to use only real instruments– I try to use MIDI as infrequently as possible. The secret is really in the combination of the tools.

 

5.  Any new gigs or albums in the future?

Yes! I am just now finishing recording a 50-song, 5-album odyssey we refer to as the Sunbelt Sessions. This breaks down to the Notebooks from the West Trilogy (which includes Notebooks from the WestBaja Bohemian and Strawberry Canyon) and the journey ends with a two-volume set (which includes Delta Waves and ends with Southern Buckthorn). The agenda was to track my invisible family tree roots through music. I guess in the end it’s a travel log told through guitar, Americana from the end of the road, Route 66.


Special thanks to him for doing this interview & I wish him lots of luck in his music so until then I'll catch you on The Flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

Monday, November 29, 2021

DJ Interviews: The Negatrons

 Here's my interview with the band The Negatrons


How'd yo get started in music?

I first got interested in music when I saw the video for Nirvana's "Smell Like Teen Spirit" premiere on MTV. I was 11 at the time. I assume the raw, aggressive nature of the song spoke to a lot of pre-teen and teenage boys in a similar way.

For months, my older brother begged my parents to get him an electric guitar for his 13th birthday. He got a blue Yamaha RGZ11p, basically an HSS Strat-copy. I got a black version of the same guitar two months later when I turned 12.

Initially, we both took lessons from an old lady who played piano at our church. But after a few lessons (i.e., after we learned the basic chords), she couldn't teach us anything more. Then my brother convinced our parents to let us take lessons from an older kid at his high school, who wasn't mentally stable and was really into Rush. The guy was really good at guitar, but he was terrible at life, so my parents figured we'd be better off if we'd just stop taking lessons.

Anyway, my brother and I entertained ourselves by writing joke songs and recording them on a boombox. Evenetually he and his best friend decided to start a band when they were about 15. As the lead singer's younger brother, I was naturally recruited to play bass - so we begged my parents to get me one for my 14th birthday. Birthdays are great time to ask for musical instruments...

Anyway, we found a kid who was willing to learn to play drums so he could be in the band and started learning covers. Then we entered a school talent show, where we ignored the rule about performing for five-minutes and played a cover of "1979" before busting out a 9-minute version of "Rockin' In The Free World." As a result, we lost to a little kid who did a lousy Elvis impersonation.

After that, we figured we might as well write our songs. And we played a lot of shows wherever we could. We rented out various spaces like the local middle school gym, VFW club and even the senior citizens center in our small North Dakota town and played for three hour gigs for our friends.

We started playing gigs out of town (where we played our original songs) and made some 4-track recordings, before our basement demos eventually went multi-platinum and we embarked on several very successful world tours.

Joking, of course. We broke up once my brother went to college. I went back to primarily playing guitar and began writing songs on my own. I wrote all of the songs on our debut album, "Stumblebum," when I was 18.

In college, I played in a couple of different groups, but walked away from music for awhile, before getting back into it several years ago.

Who are your inspirations or influences?

I think everything one is exposed to can inspire creativity. Our debut album, "Stumblebum," is most often compared to bands like Weezer, Green Day and the Ramones. And yes, I listened to a lot of pop-punk at the time I wrote those songs. But I also listened to a lot of Nirvana, Pixies, The Replacements and other "alternative" rock bands back then.

In college, I discovered other guitar-driven rock bands, like Alkaline Trio, Against Me!, the White Stripes, Sunny Day Real Estate, and the Get Up Kids, while also getting acquainted with bands from the 60s and 70s, like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin and thr Clash.

But, like most people, I've "mellowed out," as I've gotten older and am now just as likely to listen to Elliott Smith, Wilco and Jason Isbell.

I think all those bands - and many more - have probably "inspired" me, to some degree, even if it's subconciously.

As a result, I think the songs I've written within the last few years don't really fall neatly into one genre. The one commonality is that they are all guitar-driven, whether they be electric or acoustic.

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

Mohawks, face tattoos and pyrotechnics.

Also, we just write songs we want to hear and try to be funny on social media.

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

We just released a new song, "Summer Isn't Endless," on November 22nd. Like Stumblebum, it probably falls into the pop-punk genre, but unlike our debut album, the lyrics are written from a much mature perspective - since we're not teenagers any more.

"Summer Isn't Endless" is one of about three-dozen other songs we're sifting through that will ultimately be our second album.

A lot of songs don't sound like Stumblebum, so it might throw some people who think they know the Negatrons for a loop.

The plan is to release a single every four to six weeks before we drop a second album sometime in 2022.

Spexial thanks to them for this interview & to Tommy Negatron for answering the questions. I wish them lots of luck in their music. So until then I'll catch you on The Flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!


Saturday, November 27, 2021

DJ Interviews: Coperhead County

 Here's my interview with Copperhead County.

Friday, November 26, 2021

DJ Interviews: Black Star Jackals

 Here's my interview with The Black Star Jackals

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

DJ Interviews: Shena

 Hey there all here's my interview with singer Shena

My Journey in music starts with family.  My Grandfather was a singer who formed a traveling quartet that sang throughout the south.  He introduced my Mom and her Sister to music and formed the Mondy Trio for his last name and they performed on Radio shows in Chicago.

Thanks to my mom who as a child played so much music and put me in Piano as a teen. I studied Voice under Elsa Harris who was the Pianist for the Legendary Jessy Dixon.  I wrote my first set of Songs in the 90s and sent them to London and received a letter of interest.  I only had 3 songs.  Those times were very different A&R was looking for radio Ready production  and I didn't have the funding for that. 

I am like an unstoppable train when I want something so I have been trying every since that time.  My thought was if they like my song surely someone will sign me.  

My songs come to me in my sleep many times.  I have awoken to my phone buzzing and I see a text and I'm thinking what disrespectful person text in the middle of the night and I see that it came from me.(smile)  Its a song that I sang to myself so I wouldn't forget it.  I have written several songs that way. I believe this is a true gift from God because I often don't recall doing it.  The Pandemic slowed me down and I took many songs I'd written and began my journey in the studio once again.  I'm doing this with my own funds because I will not give up on my dream.  

Inspirations:
I love soulful Singers:  Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston, Jill Scott, Adele, Pink,  so many more. I am an extreme admirer of Bruno Mars' musical style. He dances to the beat of his own drum literally and its refreshing he sets a standard for himself and is true to it.  A true pattern to follow.

Advice to other Artist:

Don't give up! Be ready. Have a professional Presence:  Website, Professional pictures, Social Media.  I'm a firm believer in music lessons to tighten up where needed; be willing to make the investment in your dream.  Listen to good feedback if you keep getting the same feedback, consider making a change. Submit your songs to as many radio stations/playlists as you can in all countries, cities and states.  Someone somewhere will like and play it:You just need to get started.  I pray a lot for wisdom and strength and to never get discouraged. Have faith and stay focused!

Set myself apart:

I have had so many radio stations and fans to tell me to continue to make good music. My songs are designed to encourage the listener in some way.  I will never forget how on a request line a listener requested my song and stated " This song encourages me so much".  I literally cried. This is what I want for all my songs listeners to be empowered.  

New Songs:

I am in the studio as we speak working on new music and looking forward to bringing positive songs to encourage and empower!
 
Special thanks to her for this interview & I wish her lots of luck n her music. So until then I'll catch you on The Flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

DJ Interviews: The Welcoming

 Hey guys here's my interview with The band The Welcoming


How'd you get started in music?

A childhood friend had a drum kit and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Although my dad is a musician, he was understandably not excited about the prospect of me playing drums in the house. But I badgered him until he caved in and bought one. 

Then, I started trying to play along to songs I liked at the time. Over the years I've done the same with guitar and bass. I've never had formal lessons, but I always try and learn something from musicians I respect.



Who are your inspirations or influences?

I have a bunch of influences, but I think the ones that came out most for The Welcoming are Thrice, A Perfect Circle, and Cave In. It's also been compared to Tool and Porcupine Tree.

After going down a progressive metal rabbit hole for about a decade, I wanted to revisit my early 2000s roots.



What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

Play music because you love it, not to get rich.



How do you set yourselves apart from other bands?

I think a lot of current heavy bands are either trying make the most technical and/or brutal music possible, or mindless radio friendly active rock. My mindset was to not worry about any of that, and just focus on writing good songs that are fun to play and listen to.

Also, my lyrics are thoughtful and I'm not afraid to write about controversial issues. There are songs about the capitalist rat race (Orchestrators of War), forcing religion on kids (Righteous), the Trump cult (The Messiah), Black Lives Matter (Obsidian), and getting into bad faith arguments with conspiracy theorists (The Master of Debate). Heavy music is supposed to piss some people off, so if I had something to write about, I just went for it. 

Then again, there are also songs where the lyrics simply tell a fun story (Mountain Heir, Final Operation). And even with my pissed off songs, I try to be respectfully pissed off. 😂

I honestly think that if you're a fan of rock or metal, you'll find something you like.



Any new gigs or albums in the future?

No gigs yet! Decayed | Remade was written as a solo album, but I'm in the early stages of putting a band together so I can play songs from it live. And my hope is for the next batch of recordings to feature ideas and input from the people that wind up in the band.

Special thanks to them for this interview & I wish them lot of luck in their music. So until then I;ll catch you on The Flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

Monday, November 22, 2021

DJ Interviews: Blyss V

 Heres my interview with Blyss V


How'd you get started in music?

Well that's a funny thing. Will and I met in 1989 through a mutual drummer friend. We played together one day and that was that. It wasn't till months later that we found out that we worked in the same complex all the way across town from where we played. Him at a record store and myself at a movie rental store. It was an amazing coincidence. But at that first, or should I say second meeting we went to my place and wrote a song together. Many incarnations of the band happened over the next few years. But when we had our first show set up, our drummer quit a week before it. We had played with Rachel before only as her in a singing / guitar playing capacity. Well were in need and it got mentioned to us that she also played drums. We invited her down and she learned our set in a week and we played the show. She played wonderfully. From that point on we were truly Blyss. 

Who are your inspirations or influences?

So many between us. I know early on we were turned on by bands like Pixies, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Uncle Tupelo, Buffalo Tom, Rush and so many more. We kind of became a amalgam of influences.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

Do it for yourself. That way you'll never be disappointed. If you're interested in a band, find other musicians with a similar mindset and make a go at it. Play often and wherever you can. There's nothing like becoming a tight unit and it will show in your music. Remember also that you're never too old. If it's inside you, let it out. 

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

We have such diverse tastes in music. I think early on we were a product of our time. Bands coming out around the same time in the 90's all kind of grew from the same roots. We had our own sound but it still was influenced by that time, if that makes sense. Coming back to it all these years later I think our tastes grew to encompass a much larger swath of music. Each of us grew as musicians even while we were away from it I feel. Now it's not uncommon for us to pull in different genres and feed it into our little grinder that we call songwriting. 

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

We have plans to play a one shot gig in April. It's been a long time since we've played live and it's not as important to us as it used to be. But who knows, we may play that show and fall right back in love with it.

As far as future plans on releases we will have a little somethin, somethin coming out at the beginning of the year. Right now we're enjoying the release of our newest song Simple Things. 

Special thanks to them fpr dpong this interview & I wish them lots of luck in their music. So until then I'll catch you on The Flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

Saturday, November 20, 2021

DJ Interviews: Ruhum

 Hey there guys, here's my interview with  singer Ruhum


--- How'd you get started in music?

It all started in high school when I fell in love with a girl. I wrote lyrics, but I couldn't play an instrument (she could).
I asked her if she would like to compose a song with me. (Little did she know the song was for her 🙂).
I told her which chords and melodies to play on the synthesizer and so I composed my first song.

At that time I was kinda obsessed with Hip Hop. A few years later, in 1993, I started to write my own lyrics and produced my own tracks with a borrowed synthesizer, a cheap headphone as a microphone and a double deck cassette player for the recordings.

A friend who listened to several tracks, got motivated to perform with me and buy the necessary hardware like a computer, synthesizer, etc. to sound more professional.

I wrote the lyrics and produced 90-100% of the songs. We found a female singer for the hooks and started performing in local clubs.

--- Who are your inspirations or influences?

In the 90s when I started producing my rap tracks I was influenced by artists like Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang Clan, etc.

But for my first album, which I released in 2018, I didn't listen to music for 2 years so as not to let other artists influence me. I was on a journey to find the music in me, beyond genres.

--- What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

Find YOURSELF, be YOURSELF, express YOURSELF. Never do art just for money or the fame.

--- How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers?

I don't sing or perform live anymore.
I'm not tied to a genre.
I have different artist names for different genres.

I never learned music theory or to play an instrument because i wanted to discover and express the real music in myself, my heart and soul without being influenced by knowledge, the mind and ego.

Besides producing music, i also mix and master my own songs, create the album covers and video clips.

--- Any new gigs or albums in the future?

No gigs, but hopefully in Dezember 2021 I will release my second album as ChuckRuh Sonic, followed by a single (House Music) in January 2022.

Special thanks to him for this interview & I wish him lots of luck in his music so until then I'll catch you on The Flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Into the wild-lyrics


Into the wild-lyrics

(Hard rock instrumental)

(Verse 1)

Here we go into the night

From this point on no use

In trying to fight.

Once it comes calling

You’d better take heed.

But guts & luck are all you’ll ever need



(Chorus)

Lets take a ride into the wild

We’re riding free feeling the lighting

We’ve got the rush

No need to play mild

Unless you’re scared

Go on & take a chance if you dare.

We’re off & running into the wild!



(Verse 2)

We’ve got the rhythm within our souls

We’re going to sow you

Just how we rock & roll

We’ve got the music in us

And we’re feeling the fire

We feel the rush & its taking us higher.

(Chorus repeats.)

(Guitar solo, Drum solo.)

(Chorus repeats.)

We’re off & running into the wild!

Friday, November 12, 2021

DJ Intervoews: Unknown Reality

 

Here's my interview with Unknown Reality who shared their musical origins

1) Before I started making beats I was just writing rap lyrics for fun. I would take instrumentals I found on the internet and write songs to them. Then one day I ran across a demo of Fruity Loops 3 or 4 and instantly fell in love with it. Even though the beat I made sucked lol it was fun. I couldn’t afford to buy beats at the time so I figured I could just use this to make my own. I’ve been making music ever since.

2) My influences are DJ Premier, J Dilla and other golden era boom bap producers. What inspired me to start making chillhop, downtempo lofi music was a few years ago was listening to artists such as Gramatik, Emancipator, Vanilla and Bonobo on Digitally Imported internet radio. 

3) Some advice I would give to upcoming artists/producers is don’t take rejection personally. Everyone isn’t gonna like your music but that doesn’t mean they’re insulting you as a person. Focus more on those who luv and support you and continue to work on improving your craft. Everything else will eventually fall into place. Also try to have a positive mindset and ignore anything and or anyone that isn’t adding value to your life. 

4) I think what sets my apart from the rest is I try not follow trends or copy other artists style. A lot of ppl tell me that my music doesn’t sound like what’s popular in the lofi chillhop scene. I’m always inspired by what different artists are doing as far sound selection, arranging etc., but I try to do it in my own way so that whenever you hear a track from me, you get an experience. I’m not afraid to try new things and experiment because that’s where the beautiful accidents happen lol. Also I try to give my tracks inspirational motivational title names as well design my cover artwork to reflect the title to give the listener something to think about as they’re looking at the cover and listening to the track.

5) Yeah I just recently released another EP called “ Being Myself “ a few weeks ago. I’m currently working on 2 more projects. The first is “ UR Essential 2” and the other is “ Eleva South 2 “ which both are follow ups to EPs I dropped last year. I don’t know which one I’m releasing first but whichever one gets done first. Hopefully I’ll say by the end of this month or sometime in December. 

Special thanks to them for this interview & so until then I'll catch you on The Flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!


Thursday, November 11, 2021

DJ Interviews: Xayvier The Second

Here's my interview with a musician who calls himself Xayvier The Second who had the pleasure of sharing his musical beginns


 1: Music has always been a major part of my life but more importantly I have always considered myself a poet first. When i was 15 i decided to take my passion for poetry to the next level by releasing music on YouTube working with other producers. At that time i didn't know much on producing original beats but I knew that would be something i wanted to learn and so I got to work, teaching myself how to play the piano and guitar. Though it took some time and life threw many hurdles, I knew what my gift was and i knew i had to share it with others.


2. My biggest inspiration is my Mother. Unfortunately she is no longer with us as of this August, but that didn't stop me from continuing to work, if anything it gave me the courage to step out and chase my dreams even more. I am also influence by other independent artist that are growing like myself.

3. Be Yourself, So many people feel they need to follow the trend and sometimes the shoe doesn't fit. Yeah we all want the recognition and fame but being yourself is the key to getting that. Also never doubt yourself. You never know who is going to connect with your music until you put it out there. Be relentless with your expression and stand by your work of art.

4. With the era we are in, being authentic and true is how I strive to stand apart from others.

5.  On November 26th midnight est, the "XTS EP" will release on all streaming platforms, after that i have a few more projects lined up to close out 2021 leading into 2022.

Special thanks to him for doing this interview & I wish him luck in his music. So until then I'll catch you on The Flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

Friday, November 5, 2021

DJ Interviews: KTB Castong

 Here's my interview with KTB 


How'd you get started in music?
 

Wolf, songwriter (music and lyrics), front man and acoustic guitar started around on 2011.

He worked with some arrangers starting to learn how to arrange and how to work in a recording studio. 

At the same time he studied movie direction, shooting techniques, how to write subjects and film-scripts, editing and post production. 

After around 3 years Wolf met The Eye who joined the band taking care about website, graphics and merchandising: The Eye of what there is behind.

After around another 2 years Wolf met The Wizard who joined the band as arranger, sound technician and keyboards: The Wizard of the Sound. 

Wolf and The Wizard studied for around 1 year the sound of the band: not the arrangement of the first song but the sound that the Kill The Beast Band had to have. 

The Kill The Beast Band has been launched after around 8 years of tough work: they are on the market since 2018. 

Now they are a Rock Band & Record Label connecting Music and Cinema: for each song they have a cover and a video mini-movie style.

Every song is a single, they don’t make any song just to fulfill a CD.

They believe in both Music and Contents: Rock '70-'80 style (A Wall of Sound!) with lyrics speaking about true life. 

On the Air in many Radios and Magazines in Italy, California (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clarita and others), UK (London, Lankaster, Manchester, Daventry, Portsmouth and others), Wyoming (Sheridan and others), Oklahoma (Norman and others), Illinois (Chicago and others), Florida (Tampa and others), Michigan (Detroit, Owosso and others), Tennessee (Nashville and others), Texas (El Paso), New Mexico (Albuquerque), Canada (Montréal in Québec, Mississauga and Barrie in Ontario, Lethbridge in Alberta and others), Brazil (Natal), Germany (Stuttgart) and Spain (Córdoba).

Kill The Beast Band Motto: Stay With Us, Share Your Soul, You Are Not Alone Anymore 

Kill The Beast Band Socials:

YT: http://www.youtube.com/c/KillTheBeastBand

FB: https://www.facebook.com/killthebeastband

TW: https://twitter.com/KillTheBeastB

IG: https://www.instagram.com/killthebeastband/

 
 
--> Who are your inspirations or influences?
 
Not direct inspirations and influences.
 
Preferred Bands: AC DC, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Deep Purple, Foo Fighters, Rolling Stones
 
 
--> What advice would offer aspiring performers?
 
It's fundamental determination and hard work
 
 
--> How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers?
 
Unique sound: try our Rock and let us know 
😉
 
🎙️ Rock ’70-’80 Style about Tough Life, Pain, Dead, Alcohol, Mental Illness, Loneliness and Never Give Up!!
 
We make only Singles, no songs just to fulfil a CD.
 
Moreover we are linking the music to the cinema: for every song we have a cover and a video.
 
Every video is a mini-film (short movie).
 
 
Check Out The Band Story, short movies about the band, Wolf, The Eye and The Wizard: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM1ckT0ABH5vdWUphEjILcB9q1dTSQpTb 

Monday, November 1, 2021