ISSUE: 02
Exclusive Interview with Living Legend of The Bass
Leland Sklar
VOLUME :01
August 2021
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Issue 02 : Vol 01 : August 2021
Contents: FEATURE STORIES : On The Cover : Big V Returns, and “It’s OK” Now -Page 9
IPM is an XMG Media Company IndiePulse Music Magazine is a monthly publication available at various locations and by subscription. Any materials published here are by permission of subjects or supplied by subjects, and/or public aware topics or by express permission. Photographs, supplied by subjects or subject of topics, have credits mentioned where possible and use is granted by expressed permission or implied by subject. Subscriptions my be obtained by contacting us at indiepulsemusic@gmail.com and going to our website at www.indiepulsemusic.com.
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Editor: Joseph Timmons
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Musical Mayhem with Mr. MooQ -Page 12 Everybody Loves Leland Sklar -Page 20
Features / Stories A Brother’s Revival -Page 6 Blues Chart-Toppers Release Tribute To Woodie Guthrie’s Birthday.—Page 16 Resource Guide
-Page 34
Artists in The News Paul Edelman and Jangling Sparrows New Album Telecoaster
-Page 11
Elektrohorse New Tracks -Page 15 The Musical World of Jeremy Parsons
-Page 36
Country Corner -Page 41 Notes On The Scene -Page 42 Centerfold Picture of the Month Robin Zander, Billy.Gibbons, Slash. Gibson All Star Event, NAMM 2020. Photographed byt Robert Steshetz
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News from the Tour Scene
A Brother’s Revival Announces Fall Fillmore Tour. A Brother’s Revival, the Allman Brothers legacy band featuring former Allman Brothers' bassist David "Rook" Goldflies, will be performing the entire classic album “At Fillmore East” celebrating its 50th anniversary. Dirty Deuce Embark On 2021 "Bruised" Tour
“At Fillmore East”, is often called the best live rock and roll album of all time and catapulted the Allman Brothers Band onto the world stage. A Brother’s Revival's Fall Filmore Tour kicks off in the South and heads up the Eastern seaboard.
Wisconsin's rock 'n roll road warriors, Dirty Deuce have embarked on their long-delayed 2021 "Bruised" Tour (named after their latest full-length album release), with a slew of performances throughout the Midwest now through the end of the year (see itinerary below for dates).
David “Rook” Goldflies has deep roots in Southern Rock, having played multiple tours and recorded three albums with the Allman Brothers Band as well as playing bass on Ram Jam's release of Black Betty. Rook says, “At Fillmore East is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Playing these songs true to the original recordings is the best way I can think of to celebrate those nights at the Filmore East.”
Last fall the quartet released "Bruised," the follow-up to their 2016 album, 333. The ten-track album rocks throughout with the tasty cacophony of noise that is Dirty Deuce. As the saying goes, if it's Bruised, it's gonna leave a mark! The Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin-based group are: Reverend Rob Atwood, guitars, vocals; Jamey Clark, drums; Greg Rotiek, bass; David Passow, harmonica; and Matt Ostlund, saxophone.
Vocalist and keyboardist for A Brother's Revival, Mike Kach, has toured with Dickey Betts and Great Southern for 12 years and was Dickey’s choice to sing the songs initially sung by Gregg Allman. Mike successfully takes you back to the sound of Allman's bluesy performances.
'Reverend' Rob Atwood and Jamey 'J-Dirt' Clark each boasted solid musical resumes before creating Dirty Deuce. In 1996 front-man Atwood formed The Probers, whom he toured with through 2004. Among that band's claims to fame: a performance at the House of Blues in Chicago that was one of the first-ever live Internet broadcasts (by the MTV2 network); and their song "Who's Your Daddy" being featured in a 2003 MLB Playoffs series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox (Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez became known for using the phrase after striking out opposing players). Drummer Jamey Clark has played with Clyde Stubblefield (the original funky drummer with James Brown), "Godfather of Austin Blues" W.C. Clark, Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) and Jane Wiedlen (Go-Go's) among others. Aforementioned Dirty Deuce members Passow, Rotiek, and Ostlund were added more recently.
A Brother's Revival - "Fall Filmore Tour" 2021 tour dates:
September 10th at the Dothan Civic Center & Opera House, Dothan, AL.
October 8 th at Newberry Opera House, Newberry, SC
October 9th High Point Theatre, High Point, NC
November 6 (Sat.) Edmond Town Hall, Newtown, CT
November 7 (Sun.) Havana New Hope, New Hope, PA
Tour Info on their website and Social Media sites:
Additional dates are being added. Visit www.abrothersrevival.com for information
www.thydirtydeuce.com
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"Thank you so much for the nominations," said an excited Hensley upon learning of her two nominations. "This album is my baby and I'm so happy people are enjoying it!" The San Diego Music Awards were created in 1991 as a way to recognize the achievements of the city's diverse local music community. Now in its twenty-ninth year, the San Diego Music Awards presents awards in over twenty categories, recognizing many different genres of music including Rock, Jazz, Hip Hop, Blues, Americana, and World Music. Past SDMA performers include Jewel, Jason Mraz, Switchfoot, P.O.D., and Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek). The San Diego Music Awards serves as the primary fund-raising vehicle for the San Diego Music Foundation's Guitars for Schools Program. Currently, Hensley and her terrific band (renowned guitarist Laura Chavez, who herself once performed and recorded with the late, great Candye Kane; and drummer Evan Caleb Yearsley Gutierrez, who's also Kane's son) are rehearsing and preparing to hit the road again this Summer. Hensley is also set to go in-studio with Isaiah Mitchell (The Black Crowes, Earthless) to record some new music and a new video. Her talent and power are taking the music world by storm. Surrounding herself with only the best musicians, and heavily influenced by all of the greats. The Oceanside, California-based singer/ songwriter and her band are well known for their ability to cross blues sub-genres, including jump, swing, and Chicago blues. March of 2020 Hensley released her long-awaited debut album, Good As Gone (Vizztone), where the world got to hear the amazing depth and range of her artistry.
Blues Vocalist Casey Hensley Nominated For 2021 "Album Of The Year," "Best Blues Album" By The San Diego Music Awards
Good As Gone is Casey’s first all-original studio
album, highlighting Hensley’s jaw-dropping dynamic vocals along with the perfectly simpatico backup of master guitarist, Laura Chavez.
Rising star blues vocalist Casey Hensley has been nominated in two categories - "Album of the Year" and "Best Blues Album", each for her breakout debut release, Good As Gone (Vizztone) - for the 2021 30th Annual San Diego Music Awards, taking place live on Tuesday, August 24, at Humphreys by the Bay in San Diego.
Hailed as “Best Blues Act” (2019 San Diego Music Awards) and called a “rising star” by the Los Angeles Times, Casey Hensley is a young woman who does not play by the rules and creates music with 100% heart, paving her own way and laying it all out for the world to hear.
Tickets to the 2021 San Diego Music Awards go on sale Monday, May 10 at Noon.
caseyhensleymusic.com
Info: https://www.sandiegomusicawards.com.
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Jeff Fetterman Band
Embark On Southern Son Tour '21 Blues guitarist-vocalist Jeff Fetterman and band have finally embarked on their longawaited "Southern Son/Tour '21 ," postponed last year due to Covid 19, in support of his most recent album of the same name.
Jeff Fetterman Band/ Southern Son Tour '21/Live Shows Itinerary Aug. 1 JERGEL'S RHYTHM ROOM* Warrendale PA Aug. 7th STRUTHERS LIBRARY THEATER Warren PA Aug. 12th KETTLE CREEK MUSIC FEST Crossforks PA Aug. 13th MUSIC IN THE PARK Warren PA Aug. 14 PORT ALLEGHENY CLAMBAKE Allegheny PA Aug. 21st JAMEYS HOUSE OF MUSIC Lansdowne PA
www.chooselovemusic.com
Aug. 25th WATKINS GLENN SUMMER Watkins Glenn NY Aug. 26th BISON BEER CONCERT SERIES Waterford PA Aug. 27th ROOM 33 SPEAKEASY Erie PA Sept. 5th PITTSBURGH BLUES CHALLENGE Pittsburgh PA Sept. 11th RIVERSIDE BREWING CO. Cambridge Sprgs PA Sept. 18th ALTERED STATE DISTILLERY Erie PA More Information at efffetterman.com
https://www.pulseradiotampabay.com/ 8
Artists In The News Bowling Green, Kentucky native, Big V is the former front man of Nappy Roots who were the best-selling hip -hop group of 2002 and they have been dominating
the music industry since then… With chart topping hits–such as “Awnaw” (and the “Awnaw Remix” featuring Marcos of P.O.D), “Po’ Folks”, “Headz Up”, “Roun’ The Globe” “Good Day” and more–Nappy Roots have been a constant presence in the music industry for over a decade with five studio albums commercially released to the masses. With over 5 million records sold, Grammy and American Music Award Nominations, Soul Train and MTV Award Nominations, Vito has done it all. Nappy Roots has been featured on best-selling video games such as “Madden NFL” and “NBA Ballers” and in their home state, Paul E. Patton the former governor of Kentucky, designated September 16th as “Nappy Roots Day”. Nappy Roots helped launch the superstar careers of Anthony Hamilton, Jazze Pha, Trey Songz – and have worked with Kanye West, Dave Matthews, David Banner, Lil Jon, Raphael Saadiq, Mark Ronson, Organized Noise, etc / and also a major motion picture soundtrack with Tom Hanks. Vito who penned the hit songs Aww Naw and Po Folks, was named by XXL Magazine as having one of the best voices in hip-hop. All big activities from a guy from Bowling Green KY who started rapping for fun at age 13. He and Nappy Roots helped put the south on the map in the rap industry and he is considered to have been very influential in the southern movement.
Big V Returns, and “It’s OK” Now The Legend of Rap Brings it, and it’s the real deal Big V, former front man of the Kentucky-based collective Nappy Roots, is back on the scene with a feel good new single titled “It’s OK.” On the Inspirational song, co-produced by V and Nitro, the Grammy-nominated rapper chronicles his personal challenges and setbacks, while comforting and encouraging listeners along the way. “Went from being all good, back to borrowing money,” he raps.
Vito left the group in 2012 to concentrate on being a father and during his hiatus became a spokesman for the Light of Chance program, a non-profit program dedicated to using the arts to help troubled youth. Recently, Vito has decided that the time is right to return to music, and he is re-introducing himself as a talented solo artist with singles like “When We Were Young” a tribute to both his time in Nappy Roots and the trials of being a young parent, “Street Boy” which chronicles the problems in relationships marked by drug abuse and infidelity and “Top of Da South” dedicated to his home state of Kentucky. He has also added actor to his lists of accomplishments landing a role in the movie “The Breakup Masters” and a lead role in the film “45 Seconds”, both films are scheduled for release in 2021. Big V is also releasing a solo project as a joint venture with fellow Kentuckians, Kyng of Da Beatz Productionz. The project tentatively called “Still Eating” will feature some of his Nappy Roots group members, along with Country rap veterans like Jelly Roll, Struggle Jennings and Slum American artist Big Henri.
In the video, Big V shows his wisdom, his inner strength and his desire to be a mentor to the next generation. Big V comments on how not everything may be “Fair” and some may always struggle, but if we work together, keep an open mind and an open heart, it will be “OK” and we will all prosper together. Shawn Whitsell says “Never one to shy away from the harsh realities of life, V is refreshingly transparent and unapologetic, delivering well-earned wisdom with the conviction of a Baptist preacher – an appropriate offering considering his music often serves as a nexus between the church and the streets. With a catchy sing-songy hook and a fun accompanying video, shot with neighborhood kids at Bowling Green, KY’s Parker-Bennett Community Center, “It’s OK” is sure to catch the ear of fans, both old and new.”
We had a great opportunity to interview this Master of Rhyme, to get insight into the world of Big V and how his ideologies still hold true. 9
New Albums
"Ready Or Not"
The concepts of tranquility, calm and peace, relaxation can be all too elusive. I think people make the mistake of seeing these things as rewards after some large endeavor or as things that happen to you at a certain stage in life but, in fact, they are a practice. You can feel like you’ve earned them all you want to but unless they are practiced they won’t arrive. Conversely, if you do practice them these states can be achieved under any adversity and help navigate that adversity. So sometimes you just have to make yourself relax. That sounds counterintuitive but it isn’t. So in this song I muse on some of life’s larger puzzles that don’t really have answers and then ask you to forget them. "Hey There Brother"
Talking with and listening to someone that is going through a tough time is a large theme in my life and it manifests in songs often. This is another one of those. Just like Estuaries from Bootstraps and Other American Fables I am trying to show empathy and understanding. The verses are filled with scenarios that, hopefully, demonstrate that I am not just providing empty rhetoric but that I have these experiences. I’ve been there and I know how pain and hopelessness feel. In this way, I hope that my message lands, that you are not alone and there is an end. I am hinting to the person I’m singing to that they have what they need to overcome. It’s there to tap into.
On 'Telecoaster’, Paul Edelman and Jangling Sparrows Confront Our Culture-At-Large. The follow-up and sister album to 2020’s critically-acclaimed Bootstraps And Other American Fables, Telecoaster takes an even-deeper dive into themes of the human condition, culture at large and our place in it.
"Contagious"
This song is about communicating in the age of social media. I believe social media is making us more and more disconnected even as we reach more people. I absolutely feel that it’s tugging uncomfortably hard at the threads of our social fabric. The point of view of this song is to say that you still have an impact and you are still someone. Though a lot of us wrestle with what to say and how to say it on social media, I think it’s vital to remember there is still a person behind the screen. And it’s not so much for some to remember that about others but about themselves.
“Telecoaster generates an exciting “Vintage” sonic experience with songs that, while fresh and unique, still find a retro quality with songs actually recorded on an old reel to reel analog machine. "This record is so alive to me. It was largely a collaborative process with the producer at Marshal Sound, Amos McGregor," says Edelman, long renown as the talented, cerebral front-person for Asheville rootsrock ensemble, Jangling Sparrows. "His input was integral. “We kept experimenting and things kept changing and growing. I ended up trashing half the songs to write music that I felt was more about where this was going. I was actually writing half the album while we were recording the other half."
"I Still Love Rock and Roll"
In keeping with the retro theme, this is an album experience, meant to be listened to front to back. A journey, a roller coaster ride with guitars. Hence the title. Ironically perhaps, dealing with modern times and looking forward is a big theme throughout this body of work.
This is the third of three recorded reel to reel. Part social commentary, part fun, this song is pretty self explanatory. With a world increasingly falling into division and conspiracy, and our technology moving faster than our morality, there’s one thing I can always rely on to be exactly what it is. Rock and Roll is visceral, honest and raw and in that way it’s more important than ever. We need rock and Roll. Rock and Roll saves lives and I’ll always stand by that.
A little nod to the best parts of the past maybe just the ticket to navigate the future confidently. Lets see what the artist has to say about his recent works.
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"Photograph"
"Americana B-Roll"
As I get older I find myself having a lot of conversations with friends who, more and more, reminisce about earlier days. I’m not against that but it starts to get into a mode where they just seem to have given up. They don’t have any more pursuits or goals for themselves so they look to a time when they were hungry romantically. They’re stuck mentally and it seems to me that the mindset is, if I don’t think about the future, It won’t come. I won’t die. But it keeps coming and they keep looking further and further back as if the person they are now has less and less to offer the world. But I’m a forward thinking person, I am always working to achieve new things and my life is very much not over in that way. The song is an understanding of that frame of mind and an acknowledgement that sometimes one has to summon courage to progress or change as we age.
This is a song about a good friend leaving town. Sometimes these things hit a lot harder than we ever suspected. Our friendships become things we define ourselves by. When someone leaves it can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under your life. That’s what this is. It’s a struggle to redefine myself after being with the same people, the same group for so long. This one is very personal but I’m hoping it rings with others. "Flags You Don’t Fly"
Dignity is a very important theme for me. In some ways that’s what this is about. It’s about how we all carry around pain or trauma in some way and we must bear it as best we can. It’s not about blocking things out or “manning up”, but there comes a point where, no matter what, we just have to live our lives. And the way our painful experiences manifest in ourselves as we move forward is a very crucial part of us. I believe that the purpose of pain is to see it in others. This song is a recognition of the things people carry inside them. After it is no longer practical to cry, or blame or wallow, how does our experience manifest? It is in our expressions, our demeanor, our tone of voice. The pathos in our style. This is another one recorded analog on reel to reel.
"Dance Around the Fire"
While a phony will put layers over themselves to come off as someone they’re not, there is another, more insidious social phenomenon where people have layers underneath and inside them that they themselves are not necessarily aware of. These layers manifest in world views that protect them in deeply internalized ways. Trying to find common ground with someone like that can be next to Impossible. They will often go to great lengths to protect those views because they feel those views protect them, even as things are falling apart. This song is a plea to those people and a commentary about how damaging that mindset can be collectively.
"The Feather and the Well" About a couple that can't work it out. But more broadly, it's about how when relationships get difficult we seclude ourselves behind old, outmoded thinking with thoughts that don't work anymore but they always kept us safe before so we go to them because they are familiar. It's all we know until we can shed that old skin. But people too often default to self-protection over self advancement without even realizing it. In this way it’s thematically similar to Dance Around the Fire ,but on an intimate scale rather than cultural. At the song's crescendo one of them realizes it. Whether or not it's too late is up to the listener and their personal experience.
"Ghost of 8th and Tasker"
8th and Tasker is where I used to live in South Philadelphia. I never quite fit in there and at the time it spurred a lot of self-conscious musing whenever I walked to or from my apartment. But I’ve always had a penchant for seeing the beauty in starkness. That’s how I made myself fit in, by turning myself into a ghost of sorts. As in the theme of Rain On the Rooftop, the more I am mentally checked out, the better I can see my surroundings.
"Rain on the Rooftop" This one is really more of a personal muse. It may
"I Got Your Number"
be something only living in the city can produce. Walking around aimlessly for hours isn't exclusively a city thing but the visuals are sure different. There's a lot more to block out and in that way, it can enable a more cloistered headspace. This song is a snapshot of me on one of my many spacey walks through Philly, thinking about things as I'm one to do. Mulling around the undoubtedly poisonous relationship I would have been in, trying to untie knots. And, as such, it's something of a snapshot of the city itself.
Recorded analog on reel to reel, this one goes out to all the phonies. I’ve always had a strong radar for BS and it’s managed, for the most part, to keep the right people away from me. The thing about phonies is that most of them know what they’re doing and can sense when someone else can spot it, so they don’t like that person around. That’s me. I’ve been told on several occasions that people think I have an intimidating presence but I believe that the only people who are uncomfortable around me are the ones who feel in danger of being exposed.
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Feature Cover Story Musical Mayhem with Mr.MooQ A Spark of Genius, or Just Plain Ol’ Madness Article and Interview by IndiePulse Journalist, Joseph Timmons Mr. MooQ, an artist that has been shrouded in a mysterious persona, sometimes an enigma, more times a witty and vibrant living commentary on music taking a direction of curious infamy, has released a new video. His latest creation Retro Girl has only been available to view on his YouTube channel and on streaming platforms for a short time, and it has already garnered the attention of the Independent music scene and is becoming the talk of the trade. Retro Girl is a romantic song that takes you into his heart to see his love as she was. It freezes that image in time, forever young and beautiful, to dance and love as one for all eternity. For as long as he can remember the young man felt the music coursing through his soul. No matter what the day’s activities and distractions where it seemed music was ever present with melodies and lyrics in his thought processes. So it was natural for him as he grew older to explore how he could incorporate music more fully into his life. After high school, he trekked to Los Angeles because at that time if you were serious about music that is where you went. He slept in his car to save money for pay for studio time. He met, and played with a lot of veteran professional musicians gleaning industry and composition knowledge from everyone he encountered. Returning back home he founded a group called The New Occupants that delved into a new music genre – EDM. This talented group produced a number of electronic dance tunes that quickly earned significant international acclaim. Despite this success, the man was unable to completely sate his musical muse because he was finding his primary love, musical composition could not be limited to just one genre. More and more he was drawn into studio production work so that his wide ranging muse could be released to develop music in a variety of formats, and for a wide variety of purposes.
As an award winning musical artist and performer, he has enjoyed the accolades of success, including a Cleo in the advertising industry and developing music for numerous industries and commercial productions. He became sought out for his production talents, but still strove for perfecting his personal genre and style. A few years back, the man awoke from a dream to recognize the missing component was his initial foundation of developing and playing full songs as he did in his youth. He drew upon those long-ago memories to introduce an imaginary childhood friend by the name of Mr. MooQ, who would serve to provide voice to his desire to once again return to some of the roots of his musical motivations. He became this persona, and now Mr. MooQ is no longer imaginary, but very, very real. Mr. MooQ has worked hard to refine and evolve his musical sound into a hybrid genre that he refers to as EDM-Lite/Synth/Pop. Calling upon his life experiences this new music reflects on life’s intricacies and nuances combining thoughtful and witty lyrics with catchy melodies that often are very ‘danceable’, but also thought provoking. Mr. MooQ thrives in the same musical realms of his contemporary artists, the late Warren Zevon and the prolific Randy Newman. Both mentioned artist are known for their works, including plays on words, creative analogues and taking music and prose to create audio paintings that morph into mental images that entertain and inspire. This latest track is the first since the release of his last song titled “No One”, which listed as the top track in the much respected Digital Radio Tracker chart for the Top 150 Independent Airplay Chart for Independent Music released this season. While presently listing favorably in the Global Top 200 chart, it is no surprise that given his musical talent and pedigree of experience, the amazing and mysterious Mr. MooQ shows his fans old and new a brighter side of melodic bliss and continues to traverse the edge of creativity. (Continued on page 19)
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IPM: as a founding member of the legendary group Nappy Roots, what did you seek to do with your music, your creativity and do you feel you achieved your ambitions at the time? At the time we were young and just having fun. I did want to make sure everyone understood our identity. We weren’t trying to be confused with anyone else. My creativity came from life. Looking back now I really see how powerful our influence was on the game. IPM: In relation to that question, looking back to then and what you do now, do you still have the same philosophies or has the direction of your music changed? Naw for me music still has to be real. I call myself the godfather of reality rap. The music has to come from the soul and feed the soul IPM: you have been absent in the past few years, and for many good reasons, did you take any of the time to expand your creativity and work on new material? I left the scene to be a fulltime father after their momma dumped my kids on my mother’s doorstep. I never stopped creating during that process, but I did get the opportunity to look at things from a different angle. You hear about the struggles of the single mother, but no one really talks about the struggles that comes with being a single father.
I{PM: What inspired you to return to the microphone, and and why now? It was time. The kids are all grown up the baby girl is a junior in High School with some of the top programs in the country looking at her for Basketball. My youngest son is playing Division football at the University of Kentucky. I have a son that just graduated from UK. My older daughters are all doing well, and My son Blue is following my footsteps into the music business. As far as inspiration life truly is my inspiration, the good the bad and the ugly of it all. I’ve had major successes and terrible setbacks, but I learned from all of it. Plus, my lane is still open no one jumped in and truly filled our shoes so to return to the mic was a no brainer to me. IPM: as an African American myself, I find today’s events not just upsetting but very scary, may I ask your sincere thoughts on these issues? Man, we are at war and didn’t know it. I think the thing that troubles me the most is how we treat each other. I expect the threats and harsh treatment from those who hate my skin color but not from those who look like me, talk like me, live where I live and deal with the same BS I deal with. Once upon a time we lived to do music but now we die because we do music. 14
IPM: as an older and much wiser man, what would you say is the role of the African American artist, and can your position be use to advocate peace and understanding, I ask this due to our now living in a world that has been dubbed AF – “After Floyd”.
IPM: Any message for our readers and your fans that eagerly await your music? I’m back and you won’t be disappointed when you her the new music - Stay Tuned.
It seems as if the lines have been drawn between voices of anger and voices of understanding, can we as a nation find a way to start a process of peace? To me we can only expect people to treat us as well as we treat ourselves. I wrote a song for my upcoming project called extra man because see the young cats living their lives like they have an extra man. On the other side of the coin that what is done in the dark comes to the light and America’s unspoken sins are coming to the light. America needs to acknowledge its past and current mistakes and make amends or we will implode as a nation.
Follow Big V Online: http://bigvofnappyroots.com/home Facebook.com/Bigvofnappyroots Instagram – @BigVofnappyroots Tik Tok – @Bigvofnappyroots Twitter – @BigV_Nappyroots
Fun Stuff
IPM: in your recent Video “It’s OK”, which I love, you show a pay it forward message, that we are all in it together, but the moments filmed that were the most sincerely beautiful moments was your interaction with the children, the next generation, can you see yourself as a mentor for them through music?
Elektrohorse takes you riding once more into the wild with two New Exciting Tracks
If you don’t invest time in the youth, how can you expect them to grow and prosper the way they should. It’s our duty as OG’s to help the young people learn how to maneuver around the things that’s trying to hurt them.
Chicago’s notorious South Side Musical Artist, DJ and Producer Elektrohorse is back with a new single, “Ride Like a Horse”. This track has a tongue in cheek esthetic, but holds a country / rap infusion that Elektrohorse is famous for. We should put “Country” song in quotation marks because this is definitely NOT a traditional Country song by any stretch of the imagination.
IPM: what are your plans, what music can we look forward to from you and when may we expect a new album, also, will you be working with any of your earlier compatriots and partners in rhyme?
But riding off the recent successes of Lil Nas X “Old Town Road” and Blanco Brown “The Git Up,” Elektrohorse thought this was the perfect lane for one of his singles.
I am currently working on my solo project and an Ep with Urban Mystic. The first project should drop early October. I have few people I plan on the project, but I can’t say names at this time.
Check out the video for the song “Ride like a Horse” it has an upbeat cowgirl booty shaking anthem feel that leaves nothing to the Imagination narrating a long night at a bar. Elektrohorse drops a tone loc – long ranger style vocal that makes everyone want to ride it like a horse.
IPM: do you keep in touch with the old crew?
In addition to this track, the artist has released a track entitled PRAY, featuring the talents of Jay Ammo and Kenzi Lewis. This Caribbean / Reggae / Gospel / Country hybrid anthem is a clever reminder that for people
We cross paths from time to time. I did a show with Prophet for the first time in years a month ago it was cool to kick it with my brother. I will always be 1/6 of Nappy Roots but right now my focus is just on telling my story musically and working on my acting career. 15
Indie Artist News
(Continued from page 15)
that are struggling, the magic of faith is a shield to protect you from those challenging moments. Ammo and Lewis does a great job of highlighting that no matter no matter what the obstacle is, she will not let it stop her. Considering that, ” Only God Can Turn A Mess Into A Message, A Test Into A Testimony, A Trial Into A Triumph, A Victim Into a Victory. God Is Good, All The Time ” www.elektrohorse.com www.facebook.com/elektrohorse www.instagram.com/elektrohorse
Blues Chart-Toppers Release Tribute To Woodie Guthrie’s Birthday. Following their most accomplished and textured work to date with their debut full-length release Blow The Lid earlier this year, charttopping blues-rock band Izzie’s Caravan return with new single ‘I Ain’t Got No Home’. In this cover of Woody Guthrie’s famed folk song, Izzie releases his version as a tribute to one of American music’s most influential and adored fathers, on the day of Guthrie’s birthday. Renowned more so for his affinity for blues and rock virtuosos such as Eric Clapton or Stevie Ray (referring to himself as a “poor man’s Buddy Guy or Lightnin’ Hopkins”), frontman Izzie reveals a tender, more traditional side to his personal musical influence – an influence that was only hinted at in his outstanding recent debut.
(Continued from page 11)
About Paul Edelman: Song Interpreter/Songwriter, Performer
Guthrie being a vocal advocate for American socialism and anti-facism, his lyrics have resonated with the enigmatic Izzie: “Oh the gamblin’ man is rich and the working man is poor, and I ain’t got no home in this world anymore”.
Paul Edelman, song interpreter, songwriter, guitarist, poet and performer, fronts Asheville, North Carolina-based group, Jangling Sparrows.
The ramblin’, nomadic, and evocative feel of Guthrie’s songwriting reflect Izzie’s own storied career in music, giving the Izzie’s Caravan rendition an added authenticity whilst continuing the lineage of outspoken voices in American roots music.
Edelman can be found sitting comfortably in Roots Rock, Country, Folk, Soul or Storyteller. His lyrics have a way of making people feel understood and his emotional vocal delivery underscores that ability.
Stream/buy ‘I Ain’t Got No Home’ now on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music.
Edgy and misty, his vocals often go from a holler to a whisper seamlessly and with crisp intention. He has been compared to John Prine, Townes Van Zandt and Jay Farrar for his ability not just to create a picture with words but a whole movie with the music.
For more information, tour dates and performance news can be found online, please visit their Website: www.izziescaravan.com
www.janglingsparrows.com 16
in the world of jazz music. Louise Cappi, aka, “A genre of her own”. To find out more about Louise Cappi and her music: Website: https://louisecappimusic.com
Acclaimed Vocalist Louise Cappi Brings Optimism To Listeners With New Single “Hope” The ever-talented Louise Cappi, daughter of renowned jazz musician Al Cappi, returns to the forefront of music. After the release of her previous album “Melange”, the New Orleans based singer-songwriter has continued to evolve her jazzy, blues and AC-oriented sound further, ushering a new era in her career, spearheaded by her new single, “Hope”. Rooted in jazz-adult contemporary stylings, the single highlights Louise’s unique vocal delivery and engaging personality. The core of the new single “Hope” is all about finding the strength to persevere through hard times by staying hopeful and striving to be better during all the hustle and bustle of the world. Louise says, “I want to give people strong ideas to ignite their imaginations and to inspire them to think,” and that is the crux of “Hope”. Ms. Cappi is planning to release more music, including a new album in 2021, with title track, “Hope” being the first of a wave of new content from the singer, songwriter and entertainer. “Hope” (the single) goes on pre-sale this Monday, July 12th on all major digital outlets, with a release date of Friday, July 16th. ABOUT LOUISE CAPPI Louise Cappi is no stranger to the realm of jazz music. The New Orleans based singer songwriter is the daughter of the late great New York jazz guitarist Al Cappi, where and her band pack the house at her weekly residency at Mahogany Jazz Hall. Her music has received rave reviews globally from critics and audiences alike, as she forges her own path forward
MTS Management Group And Clients Nominated For Major Gospel Awards Event “Extremely blessed! That’s the best way I can describe how I feel. Not only to be nominated for these honors, but to have the opportunity to work with the humble and driven artists that I work with..”— Michael Stover, Owner, MTS Management Group The nominees have been announced for the 2021 Prayze Factor Awards, and to everyone’s delight. Artists See Your Shadow Songwriting and Chris Bender are representing MTS Management Group, along with MTS Owner, Michael Stover. The Prayze Factor Awards (Prayze Factor) are designed to expose faith-based arts on a national/international level with major market radio, television and industry exposure. Finalist nominees were selected through two tiers of fan and industry voting. Past seasons of Prayze Factor have yielded over 70 million votes. Finalist for Urban Solo Artist of the Year, Chris Bender is celebrating two widely successful singles in 2021, “The Blood Song”, and his most recent, a Top 3 (Continued on page 41)
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http://romanusrecords.com 18
from the vibe of the song.
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And Now, THE INTERVIEW
IPM: Your songs are intriguing, you have a way with both the composition and the lyrical content is amazing, what inspires your songs and the creative process you have developed?
IPM: Who is Mr. MooQ, how would you describe yourself and your music to those who are not familiar with what you do?
Thank you! It's really a mystery to me. The first step is that I have to really want to write a great song! And I mean I really have to want it! After some effort there's a feeling, almost like an itch, that comes into my mind and gives me the idea for a song. I may even see a vision of the completed song. The trick is then to hold on to it, to develop it, and with extreme persistence to master it, and bring it forth into reality. This is sometimes very hard to do. IPM: I find your work in the same genre as Warren Zevon and Randy Newman, there is an intellectual nature to your songs as well as a fun loving frivolity, do you find your fans come to expect this is all of your music? Thanks. Those guys have written great songs! I don't think I'm really that intellectual but it is simply natural to write the way I write. I do put a lot of effort and thought into the lyrics but sometimes the best lines just kind of pop out. IPM: Your recent releases, especially “No One” and “Retro Girl” have a very personal strength to them, are they based on personal emotions or events that you have experienced? "No One" is just a song I wrote from a personal collection of feelings that wasn't really directed to any real person. "Retro Girl," however, was very real and personal to me, not about one specific person but a combination of Retro Girls I have known. Another of my favorites "Good Luck With That" is a "song story" that I painfully really lived through a long time ago.
When I was a small child, my parents and I would visit
IPM: Mr. MooQ, you have achieved many accolades, an award winning musical artist and performer, you have a career that is well deserved, what is next, any specific plans or are working towards something special?
my grandparents in a very remote part of North Dakota where there were no other children to play with. While there, I invented an imaginary friend called Mr MooQ. I don't remember much about this but I was teased by relatives for years saying, "Where is Mr MooQ?" Years later when I began my music solo career, I was looking for a stage name that would be real to me and for some reason Mr MooQ came back.
Every day I just do my thing and try to keep getting better. I am very thankful for all the accolades given to me but I'd like to thank all the people behind the scenes who are the real heroes. They make everything I write and produce so much better. Thank you! . Also, the greatest things for me are not the industry awards but when I know someone really connects with a song I wrote.
Now I am a seasoned artist with a cargo load of life experiences. I like to write mostly love songs that tell a story and have a little depth. Even though artists probably only get a partial listen or one complete listen to their songs these days, I like to hope that I can connect to all those special people out there that like good lyrics and can even appreciate a story with their music. I love all music genres and try to combine musical styles and grooves without getting too weird or taking away
A few years back I co-wrote a song with Jim Saxon called "Are We Good." I had a fan contact me and ask me if he could use that song to make a personal video. Later he sent me a link and it wasn't an award winning video but just a couple in the rain, in love , (Continued on page 30)
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Exclusive Interview
Photo Credit: Provided From Leland Sklar Social Media
IndiePulse Music Magazine’s Exclusive history, is literally the inspiration of many of Interview with Leland Sklar, arguably the most today’s bassists. Prolific and Prominent Bassist in Music Today. Starting during his time as a student at CSU Article and Interview by Joseph Timmons Northridge, he met James Taylor, who invited him to play bass at some venues. They both Leland Bruce Sklar, known in the music industry thought that the work would be short-term, as one of, if not the most prolific studio but soon Taylor’s career took off with his first musicians has the distinct and most astounding hit records, and Sklar came into the limelight. honor of not only performing on over 2000 Soon he was asked to record with other artists. albums, as well as being part of Leland went on to be the most sought after groundbreaking musical creativity. Touring with studio artist. Besides appearing as the backing the most famous bands and musicians in band on numerous recordings by artists such 20
as Jackson Browne, Carole King, Phil Collins, and Linda Ronstadt, Sklar worked so frequently with drummer Russ Kunkel, g ui ta r ist D a nny Ko r tchma r, a nd keyboardist Craig Doerge that they eventually became known as “The Section” and recorded three albums under that name between 1972 and 1977.
hundreds of the forgotten faces that populate life on the road. People that share a moment, or an evening, and then disappear forever. But something about flipping the bird made the interactions less anonymous. In a sea of anonymity, they lent the moment a jolt of miraculous hilarity.”
Both in The Section and separately, Sklar has made contributions to over 2,000 albums as a session musician and recorded many soundtracks to films and television shows.
In addition to his musical career, one little known fact is about his visual artistic endeavors, he recently has ablso offered prints of his artwork which were from his earlier art school days, but are stunning and tell a rich story in each piece.
During the research on this artist, there are over 236,000 results. On Google and in the national congressional fact library, on Wikipedia.org, his page is the most visited and viewed of the musicians entered into the information database. On the website for TOTO, the page dedicated to Leland’s time in the group tells of his accomplishments with the love and pride usually reserved for founding members.
Leland Sklar is presently involved with the recording and release of a new album from his present music group, The Immediate Family, a group comprised of musical talent that was always backing the stars, and should be recognized as true stars in their own right. Every one of them are brilliant in their own way, but combined comprise the literal history of American Rock and Roll, R&B and more.
On IMDB, the site that reports the backgrounds and facts on Movies and Television, Leland’s credits are brilliant. At 74 years of age, Leland is rocking the stage with the energy and exuberance of men a quarter of his age, with no sign of slowing down.
I have been following Leland’s music and career for some time, from seeing his music performances on stage, his interviews at NAMM and online and knowing his part in the music I love. I took a chance to contact him online, not thinking I would actually get a chance to speak to him or even get a response so quickly, and thinking his page may be controlled by a PR agent or intern, it was with great surprise that he responded personally within 20 min, and at the end of the hour this interview was secured.
Recently, Leland released a book of Photographs titled “Everybody Loves Me”, and it sits well as a memoir of his career in images, about the book, as stated in the Amazon notations “His first shot was of his bass tech, Steve “Chinner” Winstead. Chinner flipped him the bird, which delighted Lee. Over the course of 16 years, he amassed 11,000 photos of middle fingers from all over the world. Fans, collaborators and colleagues; movie stars and rock legends alongside
Leland Sklar is a humble man and a legendary musician, and in this interview, I hope to show you so see the human being that has made music enjoyable. 21
The Interview
has changed, and relating to social consciousness, how has music sought to improve life, educate people or make a positive change in what goes on in the world.
IPM: Leland, Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. My pleasure.
Certainly, throughout the 60’s and 70’s music was very much a part of our social tapestry. It was a vital and profound period of our history and the music reflected that.
IPM: Leland, your career has been well noted and you have a truly impressive list of album credits, one could say you were, and are, one of the hardest working musicians alive. My question on this topic, would you say it was ambition to expand your creativity or simply a love to create music that drove you to be so prolific?
Today I do not hear that nearly as much as during that period but that is not to say that there are not writers addressing social issues today. Just not on the scale of that period.
I do not think it had to do with ambition. I have always had a strong work ethic. I love working and rarely say no to projects, so over the years they just added up.
I do not hear the profound issues of today being addressed in music as they were in the 60’s. We, as artists, have a great platform to express our concerns and thoughts about the world we live in.
IPM: Leland, asking you to relate all of the artists you have worked with would be an article in itself, but I would like to ask who some of the artists were or groups you worked with that gave you the greatest satisfaction to be with in the studio or on stage?
I try not to hold back when expressing my feelings about the world I live in through music and/or social media platforms. Burying one’s head in the sand does not help. To the other part of your question, music has changed a great deal but mostly in the process of creating it. I started on 16 track analog tape and LP’s …………….
It is very hard to single any out. The thing I have always enjoyed is working in many genres so touring with James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Phil Collins, Lyle Lovett, Billy Cobham, Veronique Sanson, Judith Owen, TOTO and on and on have all given me great pleasure. And it is the same in the studio.
IPM: Leland, switching topics, how has the pandemic affected you? While other artists were struggling to find outlets, you seemed to take to your YouTube channel and use that as a medium of creativity.
Every day at work is an adventure and brings new challenges. I find great satisfaction in most projects.
The pandemic has been a nightmare on so many levels. First and foremost, the loss of life and livelihoods. All my work for a year was gone in an instant, most of which was not to return.
IPM: Leland, through the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and through to today, how would you say music 22
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Secondly, after finishing Phil Collins Not Dead Yet Tour I had some bassists writing me asking about some of my bass parts. I decided to take a board mix of one of our shows and play along with it with my bass part being over the track so they could hear exactly what my parts were and posted them on YouTube. By the
I have about 158k subscribers and have formed a club house on the channel with bi monthly live streams and a once a month one on one Skype or Facetime. There is a website with my book, swag, and art prints of work I did as a graphic artist. Before the pandemic I had never recorded from home but suddenly I was not able to do sessions through the lock down. I got an SSL2+ interface and got into Garage Band and have done a number of album projects throughout this period. Plus doing A Capella videos with Judith Owen who I love recording and touring with and doing a lot of work with the band that I am now in called ‘The Immediate Family’ with my oldest and best friends, Danny ‘Kootch’ Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkel and Steve Postell …. we have recorded and done live streams during this period. So. needless to say, it has been a very busy period. The book, as I stated before, really came about by chance. Meeting ‘Blue’ Trimarchi, with whom I did the book was the catalyst and I still have over 6,000 photos that did not get into the book so who knows???? It was an absolute blast doing it and the response has been wonderful to it. I self-published it so I am shipping and signing and working it daily.
third song I had people writing to me saying they loved my new YouTube channel. I did not really know what they were about.
talking If anyone is interested in checking it out, go to: lelandsklarsbeard.com.
I did not intend to have a channel but it just took on a life of its own. I have now posted at least one video every single day since March of last year and have about 625 videos up. Every video is songs I played on and I talk about the artists, the other players and back stories.
I had to create that site for someone owns lelandsklar.com and leesklar.com. Was not about to go and have to buy my name.
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IPM: you have been doing what you love for a long time, and I am sure you have seen trends come and go, unfortunately, may have lost friends and loved ones along the way, whom are some of the great musical artists you spent time with that are no longer with us. The gone list is longer than the still here list I am afraid. So many are now gone. Certainly Jeff Porcaro, Carlos Vega, Larrie Londin, Hal Blaine, Billy Thorpe, Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, Andrew Gold, Kenny Edwards, Glen Campbell, Mac Davis, Kenny Rankin, Chris Squire, Hal David…the list goes on and on. When I really thin about those who have passed it is heartbreaking, but their legacy can be enjoyed all the time and for that I am happy. IPM: What you feel are the most important things in life? There are so many things that contribute to our lives. Loved ones, friendships, health, the pleasure of doing what you enjoy. IPM: Leland, tell us about your new musical endeavors, The Immediate Family, can you give us a run down on this album? My newest, yet oldest connection is I began my career with James Taylor in 1970 our band consisted of Russ Kunkel on drums, Danny Kortchmar on guitar and Carole King on piano with JT. That was where our friendships began. A couple of years after that Waddy Wachtel came into the fold. During those early years Carole recorded Tapestry and needless to say
had to move on. I had done a project with Craig Doerge on keys and recommended him as Caroles replacement. He joined Kootch and Russ and myself and The Section came from that. We recorded three albums and toured with JT and Jack Browne and Mahavishnu Orchestra. It was through the touring with Mahavishnu that Billy Cobham and I became friends and I ended up doing Spectrum with him. The band disbanded by the end of the 70’s but we continued to work on project together. Then skip ahead to about 2017 or so. Kootch got a recording deal with a Japanese record company and when he was ready to go into the studio he called Russ, Waddy and myself to see if we were around to do it. Kootch had become friends with Steve Postell at this point and did pre-production with him. I knew Steve from having worked on his solo work and done gigs with him. We went into Jackson Brownes studio and recorded an album in about 3 days. Waddy was out with Stevie Nicks but made it for the last day. When the label asked about a name Kootch thought about it and said that we were really his Immediate Family so the Japanese album was called Danny Kortchmar and the Immediate Family. We toured Japan on it and when we got back we knew this was what we wanted to be doing. It became The Immediate Family. We signed with an American label called Quarto Valley Records and went into the studio and did a new album. It was about to be released and then the pandemic hit. Everything ground to a halt but at last the album is coming out on August 27th of this year. 25
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Robin Zander, Billy.Gibbons, Slash. Gibson All Star Event, NAMM 2020.
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We have also been in the studio again and have 10-12 tracks waiting for next year. Along with this there is a documentary film being made about us by Denny Tedesco, who did The Wrecking Crew film.
IPM: Any of today’s young artists you find impressive ? I know there is a lot of great music that I hear but I am not sure who to name. Maybe just too busy or lazy. I do not want to be an old fart but I do listen to a lot of classic rock that was part of my upbringing.
It is close to completion and we are stoked about it. Will be hitting the road in November and we are so excited to be playing live again. It has been such a dark period for all.
IPM: Leland, and last words for our readers or anything else you would like to share?
IPM: Leland, where can readers find the music and tour information?
I just want to wish everyone all the very best. Try to find things that bring you pleasure. Enjoy life….I assure you it goes by faster that you can imagine.
We are on all the social media platforms and have a YouTube channel.
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Leland Sklar is one of music most lively living treasure of American music. For one person to achieve what he has done, and continues to do is both inspiring and formidable. But, unlike many with, as my grandmother may have said “Hootdsba”, to rock out well into his Golden Years, Leland shows no sign of slowing down or hanging up his axe, in fact with The Immediate Family album coming, we may see his calm and grooving stature grace the stages of the world and remember that fading away is not an option. Leland, thank you for making this world a bet- Learn more about Leland’ music and present endeavors online ter place to live. www.facebook.com/LelandSklarOfficial www.facebook.com/TheImmedFamily www.immediatefamilyband.com 29
"Adelina", "Good Luck With That", and "Are We Good."
(Continued from page 19)
and troubled just like in the song. I was so moved by the feeling that it meant more to me than winning any award.
IPM: What is next for the mysterious Mr. MooQ? I know the industry is now all about playlists and singles. I have been following that path as well, but I'd really like to do a whole album this year. I have a lot of unreleased songs that I think are really cool but don't necessarily fit the single slot. I've been waiting for the right opportunity and for my fan base to get a bit larger before releasing that bomb but I hope I can soon.
IPM: You have referred to your musical style as EDM Lite/Synth/Pop, a very, very eclectic style of souond, does this explain your music to others that may need a bit of foundation to understand what you do? Wow... I really hate that I once wrote that, No excuses but I said that when I was just starting and really didn't know what I was talking about. Now it's just followed me everywhere. I really don't like definitions but I know they are useful. I think Mr MooQ is really hard to define. Every song is different but also kind of familiar. Let someone way smarter than me come up with a definition!
I also wrote a Halloween song called "Return to the House of Wax," which is a sequel to the song "House of Wax" done by The New Occupants. I'm having a blast producing this one with tons of creepy sound effects, a great groove and a fun story as well. It will debut this Halloween!
IPM: On your YouTube Channel , there are videos available spanning over the past 3 years, what are some that you feel best represents your music style?
IPM: Do you have anything you wish to share with our readers? Thank you all for taking the time to read this and I hope I have piqued your interest a little. If you're
I really can't answer that question because I think most artists have a musical style locked in and then write a song within that musical style. Mr MooQ writes the song first and then lets the song be whatever musical style it wants to be. Every song is unique, often combining new technology or different musical styles. However, some of my personal favorite songs on YouTube are
looking for something fresh and different, check out Mr MooQ! http://www.mrmooq.com http://www.facebook.com/mrmooqmusic Twitter @mr_mooq
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Bopper offers a 50% minimum payout for songs licensed, unlike Spotify's extremely low 10% payout, or stock music's 20% payout. Bopper's mission is to create win-win scenarios for artists, agencies, and brands so they can all work together to help the new music scene thrive and flourish.
Bopper, the sync licensing company specifically for brands and agencies, wants brands to be aware of their social footprint in sourcing their music for social media ads. With click-through licensing, sync has become as easy as stock music to quickly license tracks.
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Artist Spotlight
numerous Film Festivals, including the Jersey Shore Film Festival, Indie’s Best Films Festival, and the Monkey Bread Tree Film Festival, an IMDB-sanctioned film festival. After living in Nashville for several years, Jeremy has returned home to Texas. His new album, “Things to come” was released on January 8, 2021. He was recently added to a Spotify Editorial playlist, resulting in over 137K streams of the title track. We were able to speak with Jeremy to get the news of what’s going on in his musical world. IPM: What's new in the world of Jeremy Parsons? It's good to be back to playing shows. I can say that much. It was interesting putting out in a record during a pandemic with the usual in-person promotion aspect taken out of the way. I feel like I had more time to focus on certain parts of that, which is nice but I missed connecting the product directly with people's ears in the live element. I've also begun work on a new project with my good friend and producer, Dustin Martin. I'm not sure when it will be out, but as of now, we've got nearly ten tracks down, and we're going to keep going until we feel finished. I'm just trying to stay focused and make sure I do all the art justice: the old and the new. I still believe in and am a fan of the "Things to Come" record and want to keep pushing that Lp while staying focused on the path ahead and what will and should be next.
The Musical World of Jeremy Parsons
IPM: Post-COVID...what does touring look like for you? How have things changed due to the pandemic?
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jeremy Parsons grew up soaking in the sounds of Texas music in the dancehalls of the Lone Star State. Jeremy was always a fan of music, but it wasn't until his later high school years that he discovered his knack for it. Driven by his passion, he taught himself to play the guitar and began to write and perform music.
Touring is a one-person job for the moment. I'm working towards a full-band thing, but I've been so content with just playing acoustic shows for a while. It feels easier to connect with music lovers that way, but the full-band element does seem like the most necessary next step for me career-wise. As far as the pandemic goes, the acoustic sets have made it easier and more comfortable for me to segue back into playing. I don't know how I would've felt after quarantining. And how I did helping take care of my Dad if I dove back into this in front of massive audiences. It would probably feel as irresponsible and reckless as it seems.
Over the past decade, Jeremy has played all over the U.S. and in Europe, including numerous venues in Texas. Pulling from the example of Texas performance artists, Jeremy loves to interact with his audience. He captivates the crowd with his genuine personality, unique humor, and heart-felt love of his occupation.
I think things will forever be changed and considered differently since the pandemic. If you ever took this job for granted and you still do, you're doing the wrong thing. I missed it so much, and it's good to be back. Fingers crossed, we can all work together and keep this train rolling. It doesn't necessarily feel like we're entirely out of the woods yet, but it's closer than ever. IPM: Have you gained anything positive from 2020, a year so many would like to forget?
Jeremy draws from his personal experiences to create songs that are keenly perceptive and meaningful. The first single from his latest album, “Things I Need to Say” was the Top 40 Roots Music Report and IndieWorld Report track, "Burn This House Down." The song paints a poignant picture of heartbreak and acceptance that still remains relatable. It will stick with you long after your first listen. That single was followed up by the equally wellreceived, “Why is the Bluebird Blue,” also is a Top 40 Roots Report Americana single. “Bluebird” also reached #2 on the Hits You Love pop charts. The videos for both songs were nominated and selected for
I think I made the best of it, which is all you can hope to do with a year like that. I unleashed some new tunes and even checked some things off my list of what I wanted to accomplish, like making it onto a 36
tells you a lot about people and shows more what they are willing to consume, which is always helpful. The Saving Country Music review was a big highlight for me. I could tell they understood and dissected the record in a way that is precisely what I want. IPM: What is one thing that you hope listeners will take away from your music? I hope they take away the fact that they are inspiring me. I love people, and that's what motivates me to write. What I see them do, what I experience with them, what we all share in general, it's all music, and I'm trying to find and sync up everyone's rhythm. We're all moving through this collectively, and I want people to know that they're not the only ones. Whether that be because they're selfish or so they know they are not alone in what they're dealing with if what they are dealing with can be found through their listening experience. We're not going to cover everything, of course, but sometimes people surprise you and dig up something from a song you didn't even realize you were saying. Those moments are extra special. IPM: You lived in Nashville for quite a while. What brought you there, and what took you back to San Antonio? How do the 2 cities compare? The music scene brought me there. I looked at the careers of many Texas artists before me and realized they all ended up in Nashville at some point anyway, so I figured going straight there and trying it out wouldn't be the worst idea. I gave myself six months to try and figure something out, and things started to work for me in three, so I stayed awhile. I knew I would always have a place to come back to as far as Texas goes. I was there a little over ten years before I decided it was time to go home. I decided to move back because when it's working, you should acknowledge that just as much as you need to recognize when it's no longer working. It was time to come back and do and be what I naturally am in my home state and be here to be with my Dad, who has been in my corner since all of this started.
curate Spotify playlist for the first time and the Texas Country one to top it off. IPM: Tell us all about "Things to come," your latest album...congrats on all the rave reviews and success!
They're both big cities, but I would say San Antonio is way more tolerable and spread out. When I moved to Nashville in 2009, it wasn't as crazy, and it was pretty nice. I always tell people it felt like they were trying to be LA but ended up being more like Las Vegas. It wasn't my scene anymore at all.
Thanks so much! I love the record, and I think it turned out exactly as it should have. I had somebody tell me the other day they listened to all three of my albums in a row, which felt good that someone could subject themselves to that much me, and they could hear the growth in me as a singer and songwriter. That meant so much to me. I think that's what I liked that was coming across the most making this record. Everyone involved was also on the previous record, and it felt like we had all grown a lot as people and artists. We found and captured something there, and it seems you can feel it when you hear it.
IPM: What is your biggest career achievement to date, and what would you like to accomplish, that you haven't yet? I'm proud of almost everything I've done so far. Every time I book a show or write a song, I try to feel good about it. In the eyes of others and myself, opening up for George Jones would be one of the biggest deals. I won a Texas Music Award in 2011, which also meant so much to me. I got to connect and be friends with Little Jimmy Dickens and travel
The reviews and everything have been so excellent too. Seeing who likes what, who missed what point, 37
overseas to play some shows with Jim Ed Brown and other opry legends.
Blasts From The Edge
I've had a heck of a career, even if it were to all end for me today. Moving forward, I would love to play some bigger shows as an opening act for a lot of the Americana artists I respect, like Jason Isbell, Brent Cobb, Brandi Carlile, and others. My main goal is to keep doing this as long as I can, which will be until the day that I die if I have any control over it, which I do. Music is my life, and it always feels like living.
Blast 24-7 Introduces some artists of note for the new music scene
IPM: What advice can you offer to a young singersongwriter and musician that you wish someone would have shared with you? From all I've learned about the job and the industry, you should know why you're getting into it and know who you are when you do. There are a lot of misleading obstacles, mainly in the form of people. Life is always going to happen as well, so you always need to stay focused and keep your feet firmly planted in your beliefs and who you are. Other than that, it's all trial and error, and you will do fine as long as you can be realistic and honest with yourself. IPM: What's next for you in 2021, and beyond? For the rest of 2021, I will focus on booking more shows, making more new music, and all the next steps for moving forward. It's an onward and upward type of mentality. I mentioned focusing more on trying to get a band together, and I will make that a critical point for the rest of the year and hopefully have something together and ready to go in 2022. I will also continue to promote and push the "Things to Come" record. It's my new baby, and I love it. Hopefully, I will see some of y'all soon somewhere, and you can hear the songs live too.
Protomorphic…A New Artist for a New Era BLAST has the unique opportunity to promote and get to know music artist from all over the world. We pride ourselves on shining a light on artists that want to do things outside of the industry standard. No other artist meets this criterion quite like the enigmatic Protomorphic.
Website https://www.jeremyparsonsmusic.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jmpickinfool/ Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/jmparsonsmusic?lang=en Facebook https://m.facebook.com/jeremyparsonsmusic/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/ artist/3Ffn2rC10WkQ9AIHy9Odgq iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/things-i-need-tosay/1218995289
Protomorphic is a Spoken Word/Hip Hop artist from Massachusetts, her style and ability to freestyle has led her to pursue her music career which is something the rapper never thought would happen. “I’ve been in recovery from heroin going on the 12 years”, says Protomorohic. “The stigma behind Mental Health/Addiction is what drives me to be outspoken”. During her journey, Protomorphic felt like she was having an out of body experience. She really could not find an outlet, something that provided her with the healthy high she needed to get by. Then one day all of that changed. “I have always had a love for spoken word and reading to others. I started freestyling one day, I was not good at it, but I loved it! It was on and popping from there”. 38
Protomorphic means to Primitive in Structure or Form, to take notice of simple times and the simple pleasures. This has been the mantra of Protomorphic since she has become a music artist. For the past six years Protomorphic has been developing and fine tuning her craft and it shows. Protomorphic has the gift of words. The songs she has on BLAST are not written; all are straight freestyles. “I’m ready to drop bars at anytime” exclaims Protomorphic! “I think in parables, words can paint us in pretty little pictures but can also be very destructive.” “I am an abstract freestyle MC and my main goal is to bring to bring people together”. Music artist should have the right to express themselves through their music. Music is nothing, if not an extension of the human condition. Protomorphic’s story speaks to the condition of millions of human beings in our world today. Mental health and addiction is a humanitarian issue we should all want to help alleviate. Protomorphic lived this and is coming out the other side trying to help others. Protomorphic understands that her journey is not over, “ If I reach one person through my music and give them solace in their struggle, I have accomplished my goal”
Rosario’s music can only be described as deep, sensual and smooth with a groove that leaves you wanting more.
You can find Protomorphic on BLAST @ blastmusic247.com. Please go check Protomorphic out and BLAST her music and stage to your friends and family.
Rosario Lets His Music Speak for and Through Him Rosario (Elijah Rosario) is one of the most impressive young R&B singers in the game today. He has an old school spirit with a new school flava. When you listen to his music you are transported to a happier place where it’s only you, the music and your emotions.
Stoop (The Rapper)
Rosario, is in a constant state of reinvention; both as an artist and as a young man. Being from Durham, North Carolina, his music pushes against the ordinary and focuses on what matters the most in R&B music, emotion in its purest form. Not only is Rosario an incredible singer, he is also a very accomplished songwriter.
You might say Stoop fell into music by accident. After providing vocals for some features in college, the artist quickly discovered his unique niche in the industry. He boasts a varied and versatile musical catalogue, with a specialty in his first love, Hip Hop, but also Pop, R&B and other genres.
Just listen to the hook on “Need Me” and you will be singing it all day long. His use of Latin guitar on “Focus Poppin” will make you want to do the Salsa with anyone who is close to you. “Each hook, each rhyme and every bar are driven by the most intimate moments of the human experience” says Rosario.
It’s been an unquestionably action-packed career so far for Stoop with songs like his ‘All I Do Is Win’ Remix and ‘Tom Brady (Check His PSI)’ garnering over a million views
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on YouTube, performing highly on digital streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, and being featured on Barstool Sports, NFL Network, and more. Stoop is also no stranger to obstacles and challenges, and many have been put in front of the artist during his career. Still, he always finds a way to overcome and strive forward, he is a credit to his unmatchable grit, resilience and determination. Keeping busy, Stoop is also in the midst of producing his own show about his life, ‘Stoop’, that will feature some old fan favorite tracks as well as a multitude of new features. Victor Wainwright & The Train on 'Memphis Loud' Tour
One song the artist looks to specifically showcase is entitled ‘Paradise’ which just dropped on all platforms July 23rd.
Grammy-nominated American Roots band Victor Wainwright and the Train embark on their 2021 'Memphis Loud' Tour (named for his IMAnominated album of the same name)
Things show no signs of slowing down for the artist, as this year is set to be yet another cornerstone of highlights in his musical career.
Wainwright is touring with his full six-piece horn band for all the August shows. The name of Victor Wainwright's band - and the sleeve image of their albums - is also the most fitting of metaphors. In music folklore, “The Train” might have associations with the freight-hopping blues-men of yore, but with this restless boogie-woogie innovator stoking the furnace, Wainwright is a charging locomotive surging forward, crashing through boundaries of genre, sweeping up fresh sounds and clattering headlong past the doubters.
He can be found on all social media platforms @StoopTheRapper and his albums and singles can be found under Stoop wherever you get your music. Visit StoopTheRapper.com, you’ll even find exclusive freestyles, remixes and covers you can’t get anywhere else.
As the man himself hollers in the ivory-pounding track, The Train: "If you wanna boogie get aboard the train/Get yourself a ticket or get out of the way..." At a sweet-spot in his career, where most established stars would rest on their laurels, Victor Wainwright & The Train instead rips up all that has gone before, pricking up ears in a sterile music industry and stretching the concept of roots in bold directions. “I believe that for roots music to grow, and reach out to new audiences, we have to invite it forward,” Wainwright explains. The result is original music that walks a tightrope between scholarly respect and anarchic irreverence. You'll hear Wainwright twist boogie-woogie tradition on barrel-house thrillers driven by his visceral piano style. It's a musical cocktail served up by Wainwright's inimitable gravel-flecked vocal. The tour kicks off with the first performance at THE FUNKY BISCUIT in Boca Raton FL on Auust 19th. More information and tour dates at his web site www.victorwainwright.com Photo Credits: Damian Battinelli
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(Continued from page 17)
Billboard Magazine Gospel chart hit, “Glad In It.” Chris Bender leads his congregation at the Kingdom builder’s Worship Center in Boston, where he can deliver his message of faith and perform his uniquely high-energy gospel to a vast audience. Finalist for Alternative Group of the Year; See Your Shadow Songwriting is an international iTunes chart-topping songwriting/production co-op, led by Michael “Metropolitan Cowboy” Coleman. With their 25th single release, “It Starts With Hello,” See Your Shadow has influenced the Dance Club genre and now traverses the Country market. “I Will Tell Jesus You Said Hello” was a Christian Music Weekly chart hit. MTS Management Group is a 4-time nominee: Best Manager, Best PR/Marketing, Best Promotions, Record Label. Michael Stover is an internationally accomplished manager and publicist with artists in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Finland, Austria, and Sweden. With too many artists and collaborations to list here, Michael Stover has led the Country, Roots, Rock and Gospel markets throughout the United States and abroad to major exposure in Radio, Stream, Film and Video.
A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Pamela Hopkins releases this video showcasing local concert venues. Of course nothing goes by without a hitch. After inviting 25 close friends to attend the video shoot, the weather turned and tornado watches were issued. Determined to complete on schedule, local volunteers were commissioned to stand-in.
Country Corner
Pamela explains, “We asked Rob Byford’s permission to shoot at his place called The Library Kitchen + Lounge—it’s one of the venues my band plays at regularly, so it was the perfect place. I had about 25 people scheduled to show up… but the weather was horrible and there were tornado watches happening and it had been storming for a few days before. So people cancelled because of the potential weather and several of my friends had gotten sick from the weather shifting (allergies). It’s Arkansas so I totally understood because I was getting all stopped up too. So, we did what we had to do, and we scooped some willing volunteers off the streets of downtown Little Rock. Honestly, I think that worked out even better!”
Country Chart-Topper Overcomes Tornadoes And Allergies During Filming Of Latest Video Arkansas native, Pamela Hopkins releases the video for “Givin’ A Damn Don’t Go With My Outfit. “The weather was horrible, and there were tornado watches happening, and it had been storming for a few days before. So, people cancelled…we scooped some willing volunteers off the streets” -Pamela Hopkins
Additional footage for the video was shot in and around Vilonia, Arkansas, where Pamela currently resides:“We shot the other parts of the music video in Vilonia, AR, where I live, because I talk about small towns…and we are small town USA! My good friend, owner of Harwell’s—Lori Harwell, volunteered her time and store. On a side note, if you like the leopard print boots in the video—I bought them at her store… several of the things I wear on stage I get from her store.”
Fresh off the international chart-topping success of her previous single, “Little Things,” Pamela Hopkins is using the momentum to win over the local country circuit with the video for her single, “Givin’ A Damn (Don’t Go With My Outfit).” This witty, satirical track, written by Hopkins, Dave Lenahan and Melissa Leigh, poignantly pokes fun at the small-town gossip whispers and the assertion that Ms. Hopkins will not be troubled by this. An anthemic mantra of the feminine revolution, “Givin’ A Damn” is a feel-good track to boost esteem and self-acceptance. It is an empowering, inspirational outcry to sympathetic, appreciative people, sick of giving a damn what others think.
The video for “Givin’ A Damn (Don’t Go With My Outfit)” was produced by Pamela Hopkins and Angela Dunaway with Sharpe Dunaway Videography.
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Little Rock, Arkansas native, Pamela Hopkins, is a powerhouse singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Her first Nashville album of all original music was released in February 1995.
Following the international success of their 2020 album release, “Undesirables and Anarchists,” The Little Wretches’ frontman Robert Wagner will release a live, acoustic album.
She returned to the studio to record her second album/EP project released in October 2018. 2 more singles were released in 2019. Pamela returned to the studio in the spring of 2020, in Franklin, TN, to record her next four singles with Off the Row Recording Studio as six singles in 2021. Pamela regularly performs in piano bars, Norwegian Cruise Ships and clubs across the US. She is a 2021 Arkansas Country Music Association Awards Nominee.
‘LIVE AT THE MATTRESS FACTORY – SONGS FROM THE LAND OF PIT BULLS & POKER MACHINES” is set to be released this July, with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. The original, acoustic set was recorded amongst an intimate gathering of friends and fans, as a way to showcase what Wagner’s solo shows are all about—audience interaction and connection.
https://www.Pamelahopkinsmusic.com https://www.instagram.com/pamelahopkinsmusic https://www.facebook.com/SingerPamelaHopkins
“I really want listeners to be drawn to the detailed lyrics and the themes of the songs,” says Wagner. “How they evoke the lives of people in post-industrial river towns, turning the folklore of Joe Magarac on its head, to portray REAL life in a working-class ghetto, honoring the faithful resilience of people tough enough to survive in such locales.”
Notes on The Scene
For the recording, Robert was joined by Dave Maund, an extremely skilled and dexterous cellist, who has played with the Little Wretches in the past. The Little Wretches have also just released the official lyric video for “Who Is America” from their “Undesirables & Anarchists” album. The Little Wretches earned their stripes during the indie heyday of the 80s and 90s in Pittsburgh. In 2020, frontman Robert Wagner issued two new albums, including “Undesirables And Anarchists,” which featured a #1 international iTunes chart hit and received airplay on more than 100 AM/FM stations across North America. Wagner continues to perform at coffeehouses and small clubs. A Master’s Degree holder, Wagner also counsels abused, negle cte d, traumatized and court-adjudicated youth. He is the co-founder of The Calliope Acoustic Open Stage, an event that has lasted 15+ years. Wagner is also a long-term cancer survivor. More online at www.littlewretches.com
Frontman For iTunes Chart-Topping Little Wretches Releases Live Acoustic Set and New Lyric Video. “Live At The Mattress Factory – Songs From The Land Of Pit Bulls & Poker Machines” is out now. It follows their 2020 album, “Undesirables and Anarchists. “I really want listeners to be drawn to the detailed lyrics (about) the lives of people in post-industrial river towns, turning the folklore of Joe Magarac on its head, to portray REAL life…” — Robert Wagner of Little Wretches
www.lightningjoes.com 42
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Reviews & Hot Half Dozen
take the time to slow down together and talk and listen. ”
Reviews by Patrick O’Heffernan, Music Sin Fronteras Patrick O’Heffernan, PhD., is a music journalist and radio broadcaster based in Mexico, with a global following. He has re-launched his LAbased radio show Music Friday Live as Music Sin Fronteras- Music Without Borders - from Mexico - tune in every Friday at 1 pm Central
“Wait A Minute” by Ana Egge is exactly what we need.
Which is precisely what Egge does, starting slow and drawing people in with a light touch and spare Instrumentation and then delivering the message with the hooky “wait a minute /why don’t you slow down” chorus. She has you at that point; you love the music and the message slides in as you dance. And the message that slides in is exactly the message we need today, wrapped in the music we love. Put “Wait a Minute” on repeat and let your smile muscles take over because it is a joyful smile of a song. “Wait Minute” by Ana Egge can be streamed on Spotify. The full album, Between Us, will be available in September. Presave on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, deezer. Ana Egge: https://www.anaegge.com
Ana Egge’s new song “Wait A Minute” delivers a difficult message inside of a joyful smile of a song. Sometimes you just have to stop and let your muscles – particularly those you use to smile – take control while you move just because it makes you happy. After you do that, all your muscles work better, including the ones between your ears and the one in your chest.
Envidia, single by Maria Raquel y Sus Maravillas. Great merengue with attitude. The lead vocalist and lyricist, native Columbian bilingual singer and songwriter Maria Raquel lays down wry melodies and moves with a rock beat and hot Latin percussion and horns . This will make you get up and baile! Stream on Spotify. Fo llo w in Instagram, Faceb o o k an d at www.mariaraquelsandino.com. Maybe I’ll be Gone - The new single and video by Jeen.
That is exactly Anna Egge’s new song “Wait a Minute” from the forthcoming album Between Us does – it gives all of your muscles a joyful moving break while it asks you to slow down and listen so you can understand other points of view. Ana is very clever, and very attuned to human nature. She understands that while moving on the dance floor – or the sidewalk or the pier in Memphis in the Marta Renzi video of the song – may be easy and fun, moving from your tightly held social or political beliefs can be hard. She tells us in the refrain “ “If you want to move/You have to get uncomfortable.” while getting you moving on your feet and smiling. She is also clever in her understanding that encasing a tough message in a sweet song can often get through when words alone won’t ; as John Legend says, “Preach, but use music to deliver the message.” Or as she says, “Often times things can be worked out if we
The third single released from the Canadian alt. rocker’s forthcoming album Dog Bite. This sonic road trip swirls and leaps and grabs you by the gut – or the throat. This girl really knows how to rock! Stream/ buy on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp. Follow at www.jeen.ca/ and all socials. The 606, single and video by Gone To Color with Jessie Stein is Dreamrock at its best. From the forthcoming self-titled debut album, the song soars with the hypnotic vocals and orgasmic electronic percussion. Watch Videos on Vimeo and music on Bandcamp.
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Thanks to his boundless optimism and charisma, the singer-songwriter has racked up more than 150K Spotify streams in the past year, which is no small feat. It’s a testament to his ability to write music that can touch the hearts of his audiences. “Heaven” is no exception.
Background Songs for Your Boring Life, Part 1, by Revenge Wife. Forceful and whimsical at the same time. Light, happy beats driving a serious conversation with one of the most unique voices out there today. I like it; so will you. Stream on Soundcloud, Spotify. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
The new single “Heaven” releases alongside its own video is available on YouTube . Visit his Facebook: www.facebook.com/larryjaymusic Website: https://www.larryjaymusic.com/
This is Life, The new single by Maggie Szabo. Maggie rolls out another exciting hit track, If you are a Maggie Szabo fan, then you know how great she is, and if you are not, you should be. Stream her music on Spotify, watch her videos on YouTube, and follow her on Facebook and all her on the web at www.allaboutmaggie.com
Larry Jay Releases New Single “Heaven”
Heartfelt
Singer-songwriter Larry Jay returns to the forefront of soulful country music with his new single “Heaven,” set for release on July 20th, 2021. It is the follow-up to his popular single “Here’s To Us,” which hit #1 on the iTunes country chart in South Africa. Keeping with his specialty of southern-tinged pop country music, “Heaven” gives us a closer look at Larry’s devotion and care for the ones he loves. It’s sure to tug at the heartstrings of any listener. After his single “Drunk On Dreams,” became a Top 30 UK iTunes hit in October 2020, Larry Jay has been scoring nothing but a string of successes. His November single “Wow” featuring Caeland Garner of The Voice hit #1 on the iTunes South Africa country songs chart, and subsequent releases have hit #1 and #2 international sales charts. 45
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Sound Tech
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Laughter from the Darkest Pits of Hell Belzebubs, the hilarious and all too spooky realistic comics on life love and black metal by JP Ahonen Belzebubs is a “trve kvlt” documentary in comic strip form, writer and illustrator JP Ahonen warmly welcomes you to join in the frivolous fun and satanic giggles that follow. JP Ahonen is the author of the graphic novel Sing No Evil (Perkeros) and Villimpi Pohjola Sunday strip, published in Finland (yes, the Moomin-head-shaped country in Scandinavia). Belzebubs is his improvised therapy project, a playground for silly ideas and an exercise in simply, in his words “getting SHIT DONE”. JP enjoys cooking, having a few pints with friends and getting tattooed, but hates writing biographies in third person. So we at IndiePulse saw an opportunity to get the dark fiendish scoop on the why and where and how on this hilarious look and the most evil of evils, face paint and sarcasm. IPM: What is a “trve kvlt documentary”, in the US, we are not familiar with the term? JP: Hehe, well, I figured I needed some sort of description for the series, so I went with that. The whole definition is a little tongue in cheek, as the term”trve kvlt” is used more or less ironically these days. The adjective is/was used to describe obscure music, bands and artists that very few know of. As the strip series fools around with “ mockumentary” style interviews from time to time, I felt it quite fitting.
IPM: How long have you been an artist, when did you start? JP: I’d say my artistic career started out in 2003, when my Sunday comic strip Villimpi Pohjola (or Northern Overexposure, as I’d translate it) started out in a Finnish newspaper. I was still studying graphic design in the University of Lapland at the time, but started doing more and more freelance illustration gigs on the side. So yeah… damn, over 15 years now. IPM: Since this is a music mag, what are your musical tastes or interests? JP: Oh, I listen to a wide range of stuff, really,.. Jazz, Electronica, soundtracks, post-rock, progressive metal, death metal, et cetera. At some point I tried to find the right atmosphere for a specific scene or project I was working on, but nowadays I just try and get my mojo working, you know? I might find myself listening to death metal while drawing smiling kids for a school book, or whatever. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Ihsahn, Anathema, Lunatic Soul, Tiny Giant, Be’Lakor, Insomnium, If These Trees Could Talk, Bonobo, Grails, The Cinematic Orchestra, just to name a few…
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IPM: Here, for the most part, there is a very slim interest in the face-painted Death Metal scene, and many of the local bands are, well, not very good, but bands from Europe are phenomenal, admittedly some take themselves too seriously, why did you choose the Belzebubs as your medium.
JP: Yeah, most of the strips revolve around daily family issues, I just find them the most chuckling, interesting and rewarding scenes to write. I like to fool around with contrast, anyhow. There’s just something tickling about throwing these corpse painted grumps into mundane situations.
JP: I think I’ve always mixed little metal and occult elements in my projects, so I guess Belzebubs was just something that was bound to happen sooner or later. I’ll have to correct you a little, and note that we’re talking about black metal here, not death metal, per se.
There are two main storylines in play, one focusing on Sløth and Lucyfer’s relationship and kids (Lilith and Leviathan), and the other revolving around Sløth’s band (featuring his band mates Obesyx and Hubbath). I have a vague idea of which direction I want things to go, but I try to give the characters and situations room to develop and write themselves. I’m often as surprised as the readers, which keeps the project rewarding in itself.
Anyhow, I suffered a rather nasty burnout a few years back—something I’m still clawing myself back from—and for some reason I thought it’d be a good idea to fight fire with fire and draw myself out of the pit, you know. In an attempt to loosen up and simply get shit done, I started improvising these quick little strips and gags and just pushing them out there. I think the characters just came out in the wake of my graphic novel Sing No Evil, which also its fair share of corpse painted characters. I don’t know if this self-therapy project has really helped me with my issues, but I feel it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I can’t remember when I’ve had this much fun on a project. If things pan out, I have some pretty cool things in store.
IPM: Recently you’ve been doing some strips where one of the Belzebubs female characters likes a guy at school and I find the awkwardness of the character trying to share her feelings with the boy hilarious, do you draw some of the material from personal experience dealing with people? JP: (Laughs heartily) Well, I do make an ass out of myself every day, so… Surely there’s a part of me in every character, but I enjoy letting them surprise me. As for Lilith’s endeavors, I think we’ve all been there, you know? At least I’ve made all the clumsy mistakes in the book. Even though we’ve been together for 17 years now with my wife (I’m 36 now), I can still recall the shy and clumsy attempts to woo her.
IPM: I have always been fond of the old TV shows, The Munsters and The Adams Family, though dark and monstrous, there was good family values and close family bonds, I see that in Belzebubs, as well as young teens dealing with their emotions and feelings. Who are the family “characters” and whats the motivations?
IPM: I am particularly fond of irony, like in the “Hail… Satan” strip, when the baby wakes her parents to say God is watching and Dad drives him off running, and of course, the young lovers’ strips, the play on words and the quirky ironies really shine through, do you find it easy to do what you do in the strips? JP: I’m glad to hear all this! I guess it’s rather effortless. Sure, I put in a lot of thought and time to make them work, but this is something I’ve been doing for over 15 years now, so I’m just glad to hear it works. Apparently I’ve unlocked an achievement or two… IPM: Belzebubs, being a family of Death Metallers in a “normal” world is interesting enough, but have you ever done, or ever consider doing a strip where they have a family member who is a normal, straight laced church type that does or says things to freak them out? JP: Well, Leviathan had that short rebellious “phase” that I think I’ll revisit later on in future strips as well.
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ended me, so I’m very cautious about how and when I have the means to tackle the next volume. Villimpi Pohjola used to be more relaxed, but that has also gotten more detailed and ”stiff” after Sing No Evil. Belzebubs is definitely a counter reaction to that, with a slightly rougher line, simple characters, no colors, et cetera. I’m afraid the details are my trademark, though, so I find myself slipping all kinds of things into the panels anyhow. IPM: Tell us about your books, like sing no evil and others that you think our fans may enjoy. JP: Sing No Evil is my first graphic novel, which was cowritten with my good friend KP Alare, who’s also a graphic designer / illustrator by profession. It revolves around an imaginary metal band that starts to learn the true nature of music and sound. I hope to be able to finish the trilogy at some point, but since the release of the first book, I’ve been swamped with freelance work and other issues.
IPM: Episodes like “Don’t push it, Sløth” reminds me of my wife, she has this way of not taking a joke either, what was your influence on this one?
I’m now a father of two, soon three, so family comes first. …as you’ve probably noticed from Belzebubs as well. Personally, I would love to see a full graphic novel of Belzebubs, if only for the fact that the world need more laughter, so Laughter, Music and Mayhem, mixed together would be perfect. In Belzebubs , See you in Hell sounds like an invitation to a good time .
JP: Ha ha, yeah, I have to admit we kid around like that with my wife every now and then, but she would literally do that to me if I were to fool around with others. IPM: Belzebubs is almost a polar opposite of your other work on Villimpi Pohjola, which is excellent and is very reminiscent of the graphic novel series “Love and Rockets” . how do you, as an artist, and storyteller, bring so much feeling and emotion through what are technically strokes on a page?
Follow JP Ahonen and his insightful comics at the following web and social links. http://www.belzebubs.com
JP: I’m just winging it, hahah! Nah, I don’t know…I guess it helps that the scenes and events in my comics feel very real for me, you know? Like, at times I feel like I’m watching a tv show in my mind, and constantly pausing, rewinding and editing things on the fly. I just try and capture as much as I can into the art work, the pacing and body language—all of which are things I absolutely love and find positively challenging in this medium. I used to make home movies, music videos and sketches with a few pals back in my teens, so I think that sort of…mindset, if you will, has shaped my way of storytelling and ”voice”. Actually, I try to find a different style for each project I’m working on. I think the most ludicrous project was Sing No Evil, which ended up being just pure madness. The artwork needed to emphasise and support the protagonist’s anal perfectionism and the sort of ”devil is in the details” theme, so I ended up losing myself in the pages, much like Aksel loses himself in music. Ironically, the book nearly
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