Lazie Indie Magazine Edition 23 March 27, 2022
ICMA Jon Geiger Shadow
Tattered Sons Yulian Taylor We Are Milk
Kathy Bell & Bob McGilpin Through Corridors New Releases
Cover Story Gary Stringer - REEF
Content
Editor's Corner
Featured Artists Jon Geiger Shadow Inter Continental Music Awards Kathy Bell & Bob McGilpin
We are Milk Tattered Sons
Yulian Taylor The Falcons New Releases Brian Tarquin - Guitar Masters Collection Lyia Meta - You Think About Me
Cover Story Gary Stringer - REEF
LIM
Page4
Editors Corner Information The magazine is published by Lazie J Print Edition 23 The month of publishing March - 2022
Editorial Team Editor: Jay Pillai Coordination and promotion: Manoj Verified by: Inge Zimmermann Probst
Guest Columns: Tomiko Dixon, Galaxy FM Emma Goldberg Lyia Meta
Cover Photo: Gary Stringer Cover Photo Courtesy: PAUL HARRIES
LIM
LIM a unique experiment Lazie Indie Magazine is unique because we have been consistent with our standards and content quality without compromise despite the fact that the features are done voluntarily by our contributors including myself who are musicians and not writers. The fact that we have been very strict on our release dates for cover and magazine itself shows how committed this team is to help fellow artists to get a few more followers. It is the 23rd edition plus, we have 6 special editions so far. Mind you, you don't know how much time goes into this and just imagine someone spending their time and energy to support you as an artist without expecting anything in return. Something very rare these days and Lazie Indie Magazine has achieved that in style. Being an independent musician myself, I find it amazing and satisfying that what we do has resonated with a lot of artists, labels and others in the echo system who are sending entries from all over the world on time with full requisites and to help is deliver the best quality. My only humble submission to all of you is that please do realize this is a very small but motivated team working towards delivering the best we can within our limitations to help indie musicians. So we may take some time to feature you or your artist once you submit. And we are choosy so we seriously go through your profile before we decide. We could have taken the easy route of including as many artists and spending less space on each. Instead we chose to give enough space to people whom we pick up for an edition and this has a limitation that we cannot add more artists in one edition. Coming to this edition, we have some very accomplished musicians featured including Gary Stringer from REEF and we also have added a feature reaching out to far east from our new columnist Lyia Meta from Malaysia. Now that makes it even broader in coverage. Do check it out and you will love it. So thank you folks. Please do spread the world and share the magazine to your friends, let us celebrate Indie artists - Jay Pillai
Page5
Much acclaimed British Rockers - REEF is releasing its new single 'Shoot Me Your Ace'. The band, known for super hits like Place your hand and Naked is considered one of the top rock groups during the late 90s with some great music coming out of their stable. Jay from Lazie Indie Magazine spoke to the founder, singer-songwriter of REEF - Gary Stringer to know more about their fabulous journey so far and their future plans. Also, Gary talks about their latest album, the current line up, which includes legendary guitarist Andy Taylor (of Duran Duran) and Jesse Wood (son of Ronnie Wood), about their mega hit 'Place your hands' and a lot more... We thank Barbara and Grant of Galaxy FM for introducing Gary Stringer to Lazie Indie Magazine. Let us check out the interview...
LIM
Page7
Jay: Hi Gary, welcome to Lazie Indie Magazine. How is 2022 looking to you? Tell us about your upcoming album. After a couple of years of lockdowns and virtual shows, I am sure you will be impatient to take your music back to the Venues? Gary: 2022 is feeling good. There were indicators at the tail end of the summer that the UK would start to open up. It’s been a long couple of years for everybody, so it’s great that it looks like our April UK tour can go ahead without restrictions and the summer is filling up with shows both here in the UK and throughout Europe. I can’t wait to share songs from the new REEF album ‘Shoot me your ace’ as I think it’s one of the best records we’ve ever made. It’s exciting! Jay: You have had so many hits and had it all going for you till 2004 and then you took a break all of a sudden for 6 years ... why did you do that... most artists ride fame and success as long as they can? Gary: We had 10 years of exhilarating crazy! It was time for a break. We didn’t split up as such but did want a change. We had just flown back from Los Angeles in the December of 2002 after starting our fifth studio album with George Drakoulias which would become ‘Together’. When we landed at London airport and got to our cars to return home our drummer Dominic announced he was leaving. We went home for Christmas and fulfilled the year of touring in 2003 that included a Japanese tour with Nathan Curren on drums but Dominics departure triggered a natural reaction to pause and reflect. Mind you, it wasn’t long before Jack and I were writing music again. In the years between 2004 and the shows in 2010 we made three albums. Them is me - Them is me (a knucklehead garage rock album) StringerBessant - Yard (which was picked up by Charlie Caplowe’s XTRA MILE recordings) & StringerBessant - the SB Band (a Neil Young styled band that funnily enough included Dom on drums!) Jay: “Place your hands” is a song that attracts the listener regardless of which generation he/she is from. It is such a LIM
Page8
"Look, this is a seminar topic really but I will say this, the streaming platforms or digital delivery systems need to look into compensating the songwriter and artist fairly. All the music in the world for a few pounds a month is great for the consumer but could stamp out new talent early doors ….."
feel-good song. The first thing anyone would try to do on listening to the song is to figure out the starting riff. And would love to play it or listen to it. How did that come through and were you sure that this is going to be a timeless hit when you played it first? Gary: It’s amazing how popular that song is. It’s still selling over one thousand copies a week 25 years later!!! Jack came up with the bass line in Abbey Road studio and I originally had a much gentler vocal. When we showed the song to the band, Kenwyn came up with the fabulous riff and as we all jammed the song, I made the vocal sound fuller to fit. Although I won’t claim to know it was going to be a big hit (I was only 24 ish) we could see how excited the record company were… Jay: As a singer, you have a very unique voice and style. Who were your musical LIM
influences? Gary: Firstly Bon Scott, then James Brown and Aretha Franklin. Paul Rogers, Howling Wolf, Fred Hibbert … Jay: Being from the 1990s, what would you mark as the main difference you see in the music industry and the listener base as a whole. In your opinion does the digital music and sounds that are managed through digital means lack the personal warmth or the human dynamics that used to be the main fibre of the ’70s 80s and 90s music? Gary: Here’s no short answer to this question, but I’ll have a go!!! We started out recording on to two inch tape & if you wanted to edit a take you’d have to get the razor blade out and cut it on the bass drum. Digital technological advances have made it much easier to record and edit music anywhere. At first you could make a case for the quality (or file size) Page11
being poorer when recording. But I’m not sure that’s the case now. The quality is still probably lacking in the distribution of a tiny compressed digital file but you can have your song in the ears of Indians and Africans, Americans and Europeans instantaneously, just seconds after release! Look, this is a seminar topic really, but I will say this, the streaming platforms or digital delivery systems need to look into compensating the songwriter and artist fairly. All the music in the world for a few pounds a month is great for the consumer, but could stamp out new talent early doors … Jay: What is the musical direction Reef is moving to with the inclusion of Legendary Duran Duran Guitarist Andy Taylor with Ronnie wood’s son Jesse Wood as the other guitarist? Gary: We’ve made a rock n roll album for sure! We recorded 12 songs, but kicked the acoustic ballad and the sound ballad off the album to keep it 10 straight LIM
rockers!!! Jesse and Andy worked great together. Andy Taylor produced the album and it sounds SICK ! Jay: Personally, what gives you the real kick? Writing, producing or playing live? Gary: Writing, performing and playing live for sure! Jay: Have you toured India before? Would you look to tour India anytime soon? India has a huge fan base for Rock N Roll and Blues. Gary: No. I’ve not even visited and I should very much like to. I have watched programs on the television regarding India’s history with Michael Wood and cuisine with Rick Stein.It looks like a fabulous and varied country and one I should imagine I would enjoy exploring. That’s great that there is a fan base for rock and blues! I should love to come and play shows there. Jay: You have worked with a lot of legends of rock n roll. Who is your favorite among the bands or artists Page13
you have collaborated or toured with? And why? Gary: Paul Weller. He heard our ‘Independant 7’ single of good feeling/choose to live and put us on his wild wood tour. He watched us play every night both in sound check and at the show and made sure we were looked after by his crew. His support encouraged us in our infancy. Jay: What was the best advice you got and what will be your advice to a talented musician who wants to make it big in the industry? Gary: Be yourself and listen to your gut instinct. It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll… Photo credits: Hipstamatic, Paul Harries, Wolfman- Right.
LIM
Page15
Jon Geiger cuts a vein for his audience. Called one of the most soulful vocalists and guitarists in the music scene, he has garnered significant notice from some pretty spectacular people and industry trades. A veteran of the Austin, Texas music scene, Jon grew up in New York and became a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu just to make it home from school safely on the tough streets of Harlem. The deep soul of BB King's "Live at the Regal" and the ferocious intensity of Eric Clapton's guitar work were life changing for Jon. Playing guitar became Jon's reason for living. The talent and passion of teenage Jon were quickly recognized by jazz greats such as Emily Remler and Hiram Bullock, both of whom took him on as a private student. Remler even referred to Jon as her protégé. His talent earned him a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. After completing his studies in Boston, Jon promptly moved to Austin and began working alongside the Austin greats and playing
LIM
Page17
Antone’s and the Texas blues haunts. After an auto accident, doctors told Jon he would never walk again. Jon refused to accept that, so he rehabilitated himself and, five years later, he ran his first marathon. A subsequent auto accident left him with no feeling in his hand but, again, Jon resolved to do anything necessary to recover and play guitar. Now, Jon is turning heads on the Los Angeles music scene with his unique blend of captivating guitar work, soaring vocals and artful songwriting. Lazie Indie Magazine speaks to Jon Geiger. LIM: What's the first thing you want anyone new to you and your music, to know about your sound and musical philosophy? JG: Everything I do starts and ends with reaching for the standard of being a LiveWire emotionally like my heroes B.B. King and Eric Clapton from the cream and Derek and the Dominos days as far as guitar, the vocals of Ray Charles and Greg Allman filled and inspired me for all of those reasons … The idea to move people over impressing them… Not about chops… All about feeling and digging deep… LIM: How do you see the music industry doing overall since the advent of Covid in 2020, and now, in Spring of 2022, that it seems to be receding? JG: I believe that music and people reaching for music has returned as far as what people reached for originally back in the 1930s and 40s 50s 60s etc. … That music is re-discovered, re-remembered if you will, as a healing agent and not as an extra… It is the medicine in your life, the pillow upon which you sleep and dream and cry and those who provide it have an opportunity to return to such a shamanistic role. These days since the advent of Covid and now that it seems to be receding have allowed people to reprioritize that which built the house of their life now starting from the soul and from the inside… To reassess and realize what may have seemed superfluous LIM
Page18
before has shifted with things that seem superfluous now having had this experience… And as a result, I believe that the music industry has a great opportunity to reclaim its soul power… And as a result, it's power as an industry as there's actually a product that is essential to the human spirit and people have really been forced to notice that again LIM: Who have you worked with or associated with in the past that has definitively helped advance your career or given you good music business advice? JG: I'm so blessed to have had mentors and teachers who were themselves incredible artists, and amongst them some who truly took me under their wing and treated me or called me some version of a protégé… Or at least a kid brother :-) and definitely at the top of that list is Emily Remler and Hiram Bullock… And besides the incredible advice that they had given me about where music needs to LIM
come from and what it needs to be about as far as the heart and moving people rather than impressing through technique… There's so much about the digging deep that's required of an artist in training and truly as an artist in life that is constant, that is filled with selfassessment and self-doubt, with reaching for more and trying to fight off the demons that tell you that you are less… And so, I think now of something that Hiram Bullock said to me when he was really pushing me to trust in myself… And I was scared of the unknown and perhaps not being good enough or judged that by others when I was putting myself out there, and so I was actually delaying making an audition tape to get into music school because I thought that every day maybe I'd be a little bit better than the day before and so I should wait because I need to be as good as possible for them to let me in… And he turned to me, and he said "Jon, I know why you haven't made Page19
your tape yet, you're scared of being rejected but you don't know… here's the thing about the unknown; the unknown is like a pitch black room and there could be a treasure chest in the corner filled with the most amazing jewels and gems and treasures you would ever have hoped for and dreamed of… But you'll never see them until you work up the courage to walk into that dark room and look for the light switch" Emily, Hiram, Joe Sublett… And a number of others whom I carry in my heart have counseled me and confided in me lessons that they learned to help me… but I don't want to be named dropping… As I just feel blessed and grateful for them to have taken an interest in me and given me the time of day. I know that the question was about music business advice… But to me it starts with being an authentic musician and finding your own voice… You are the business and so the counsel about living and being and digging deep into who you are and who you want to be as a musician is just as much a part of music business advice as a mission statement for a Fortune 500 company in my view. LIM: Where are some of the most fun live music venues you've played in Southern LIM
California to date, and what makes them so memorable? JG: Playing the legendary Lighthouse in Hermosa (CA) for sure has been an especially powerful and memorable experience for a couple of reasons; so many legends and inspirational artists have been historically associated with this place from Chet Baker and Miles Davis on to the present, so there’s that, but close to the heart is the fact that when I was 17 and studying at the knee of Emily Remler amongst others, and dreaming of a career in music and hopefully living up to that standard… And being like my teachers one day… She went off on tour and came back with a T-shirt for me of the place that she played when she came to LA and it was the Lighthouse, so to fast forward and then be on that stage myself was a very transcendent experience and emotional for me… So, thanks Jess Etter for that opportunity - I love and value that place deeply on a personal and professional level. I'll never forget playing the Coach House and Belly up - both times opening for the great Robben Ford… They were so memorable because Robben wanted me there and that made these shows incredible for me to be a part of because I have so much respect for him, they also were beautiful venues… The Belly Up was big and boisterous and the Coach House was so beautiful and amazing to look out and see balconies above the floor and the sound was great at both and the energy of the people was amazing… And I’d also be remiss if I didn't mention Harvelle’s because of its legendary place in Southern California blues and so, just like getting a chance to play Antone’s in Austin, it was very meaningful for me to me to be asked to play Harvelle’s and the people who run that spot, Cevin Damien and Jason are incredible; so dedicated, cool and have worked their butts off to not be swayed from keeping the place alive so that on the other side the doors would be open through and post Covid and staying dedicated to live music when all else that makes a buck has been so hard to stay Page20
true to blues and live music in the face of, when you need to make a buck just to keep the doors open. Also, Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach was the other one that comes to mind… A beautiful opportunity to open for the legendary Guitar Shorty several times and to play that room which was so beautiful in sound quality and so amazingly managed, booked and caringly attended to by Adam Spriggs and Jenn Tomich… just can't get away from how much it matters when people treat you kindly and that you feel valued… And when you talk about what makes something very memorable… Well, there you have it… It makes you want to play your heart out every time. LIM: Would you rather be in a recording studio creating new music, or on a stage in a venue somewhere, performing live? JG: 100,000 times over I would rather be on stage in a venue somewhere performing live… That's what my heroes did and do… And that's where the experience of the transcendence through music of lifting people up or bringing them together or just connecting happens… I'm so proud of the fact that I'm a live musician and I worked very hard to reach for the standard of those LIM
who inspired me and to try to pay that forward… And the reason that those people were my inspirations was because of what they did live… it is the realm of the tightrope and walking the wire… to me it's a knight on a quest and confronting the dragons for the cause of good… You dig down deep and offer yourself and all that you are and all that you're not in that moment… and that to me is courage… And hard work as a regular life practice to prepare for - in the best possible, most dedicated way… It is an honorable path and pursuit and goal to reach for becoming a consistently in-themoment passionate and chance-taking live player… LIM: Most meaningful song you've ever written, and why? JG: “My Little Girl” … it’s for my daughter and the impossibility of coming to terms with accepting as reality… and comprehending the surreality… of separation from her due to personal decisions made by her mother… and my enduring love for her. LIM: Your Social Media Links for people who want to know more about upcoming Jon Geiger gigs, etc. to keep in touch? JG: My gigs are posted on my Facebook page which is under my name Jon Geiger in Los Angeles… In the event that people find other Jon Geigers :) My website is being entirely redone but currently has some good video - or I should say accurate - live video performance clips, and some other information there and that is www.jongeiger.com… My Instagram is Geigerissimo. I also welcome people to reach out and can feel free to send me a message through Facebook Messenger, as well as my Instagram accounts above. - Thank you
Page21
S.H.A.D.O.W. is an acronym for "Seven Hours After Day One World". S.H.A.D.O.W takes you on this unknown journey to the borders of reality, to the borders of your soul. "All time is in the present". For this reason, think, live, exist and clear your mind, be formless like water, like a "Shadow" says Thierry Fornetti, a self-taught author-composer-performer, composes on the piano or the guitar, during the year 2020 he wrote and composed 1 song per day, that is 367 songs in 1 year. Before being a singer and composer, Thierry was into fashion shows, then dance took over, a lot of modern dance, the music arrived by chance during a meeting in a model agency. Since the 1990's it has become the driving force. Emma Goldberg speaks to Thierry Fornetti about his musical career so far in the column Just Like Emma. Let us read...
LIM
Page23
Emma: Hi, welcome to Lazie Indie Magazine, you have had a great career as a musician so far. When you look back, how do YOU feel about your musical journey so far? Thierry: I have played in different places for 25 years with musicians, hotel private parties and many more, and now for 10 years I write my own songs and try to find producers and musical labels to promote my music. Emma: Who or what were your musical influences and who inspired you to play music? Thierry: Classical music and I'm a very big fan of Depeche Mode, Muse, Divine Comedy, Dead Can Dance and many more. Emma: You wrote 367 songs in a year. What made you do it? Thierry: It was just a challenge to see if it was possible, and I can tell you that's possible, the more you write, the more you find ideas. And I've been writing now LIM
since the beginning of 2022, and I have composed one song per day. I will go till the end of 2022. At the end I will have quite 1000 songs in 3 years ( 2020-2021-2022). Through these 367 songs (in 2020) I have chosen 50 songs that could be interesting or good songs, and "Passing Through The Century" is one of them. Emma: How did you pick up this genre and how do you go about composing music recording and producing your music? Thierry: I like good music, I mean to say, the music that gives you emotion, and as soon as I have emotion when I listen to the song, I think it's a good sign, and sometimes it happens. I'm composing in my small home studio; starting with some chords or notes, then I put on some drums and small arrangements, then I try to put a melody, but in one take, without thinking, I play the play back and I sing in one take and I listen to what happens. Page24
have to find it. Emma: What are your immediate future plans? Thierry: To find a distribution for my music and especially the hit "Passing Through The Century" to launch my project, with albums and many songs around the world. Emma: What is the best advice given to you and what would you share with fellow young artists? Thierry: Believe in your dreams, never listen to the other who will say, "no it's not possible". All is possible, always, and I will never lose my faith, my passion, my happiness, my madness for my music. Love is stronger than anything else on earth, don't forget it. Do what you do with LOVE. I don't have any special advice for young artists. Be yourself, never sell your soul, NEVER. - Thank you Then I have to ask for mixing and mastering in another studio, but it's expensive, which is the reason why I only have 8 songs produced, the rest is only a demo to be produced. Emma: Where do we find your music on the internet? Which is your latest release? Thierry: The only song I have produced in London “Passing Through The Century" could be listen on YouTube with a video clip. https://youtu.be/7XBv_N_MH18 Emma: What excites you most writing, recording or playing live? Thierry: Three of them, writing is magic, find a melody, find an idea, you start from nothing and 1 hour later you have a song; that's fantastic for me. Recording is the moment you are quite sure your idea is interesting, so you put on the computer to keep and playing live is the top. I have played more than 3000 times in 25 years, so I really know this kind of job. Emma: Being a model for long time. How did cope with the lockdowns? Thierry: For 25 years I have been playing in different hotel private parties in France, India, USA, England etc. During the lockdown I have written all these songs. Find the best way to live. In a bad moment there's a good moment, you just LIM
Page25
About the Columnist Emma Goldberg is French Pop Singer, Composer, Video Producer, Author writing in Italian, Spanish, English, French. She also is a radio host in Radio 242 UK introducing independent musicians to audiences across UK, France and the nearby countries. Emma has her own radio show called Just like Emma which is maintained here for the column she contributes to Lazie Indie Magazine.
LIM
Page26
For more than a decade, InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) has recognized music talents from every continent and regions worldwide. Each year, winners get exquisite prizes, from producing high-quality music, taking them to the big stages in front of thousands of audiences, to educating and mentoring them on how to take their careers to the next level. ICMA evaluates music entries from a global and ethnical perspective by a panel of judges who are active industry professionals and Hollywood music executives. Jay from Lazie Indie Magazine spoke to Shahed Mohsini Zonoozi the founder of ICMA to learn more about their spectacular journey so far and to know their future plans. Let us read ...
LIM
Page28
Jay: How and when was the ICMA awards introduced? Who forms the core team? Shahed: I lived in the multicultural environment in Mediterranean for several years and I met musicians from different nationalities with different cultures and skills. This unique opportunity inspired me to create a media program to accommodate diverse skills and talents in the arts. This culminated in the establishment of InterContinental Concerts Series in 2011 which evolved into InterContinental Music Awards competition. Jay: What made you decide to set up an award for indie musicians world-wide? Shahed: I worked with many artists from around the world in studio and on stage. Many were really talented, but they often struggled to be recognized and find opportunities to advance their music careers. So, I decided to find a way to support these artists as well as bringing the cultures together to communicate messages of Peace and Unity. Implementing ICMA online platform has also enabled me to take the music business education to the countries and regions that are far from the music industry. Jay: How can one apply to the Awards? Shahed: Entering to ICMA is very easy! ICMA accepts both original songs as well as cover songs from performing artists (vocalists, instrumentalists and producers). Entrants just need to grab their mp3 file or a digital link to their song or performance and decide the best continent, category and genre to compete in. Musicians can enter their submission through at 11:59 PM on April 15, 2022 PST on: Submit.InterContinentalMusicAwards.co m Jay: What makes the ICMA unique? Shahed: ICMA provides a great opportunity for musicians to be heard by a global audience and a panel of judges who are music industry veterans and executives. Winners also have a very unique opportunity to network with peers and receive music business training LIM
Page29
which is necessary for every musician to grow their career. Jay: As you get many entries of music different genres, how do you ensure the award decisions are totally free of prejudices and biases? Shahed: Entries are categorized by geographical continent or region, as well as musical genre, and are evaluated by an independent panel of judges from different backgrounds with years of experience working in the music, entertainment, film and media industries across the world. They are chosen based on being appropriate to the genre, or specialty area of expertise. They use a standardized rating system to evaluate the entries. Jay: Apart from the award and recognition, does ICMA support the artist in any other way? If so, please do let us know? Shahed: Yes, of course. Being winner is just the beginning of a long term LIM
relationship between ICMA and the artists. Finalists and Winners receive career-boosting prizes, including a full scholarship into the DIY Music School, which is our online training program that helps musicians to enhance their careers. Our winners also receive One-on-One private coaching session with members of the judging panel which is their chance to get authentic guidance from experts to achieve their goals and enhance their music career. Jay: As an industry expert, what do you think the Post-Covid indie music scene will be? Shahed: We have witnessed the growth of many independent artists during Covid-19 and the challenges of these time made musicians from different nationality to unite, collaborate with each other on online platforms, create and perform beautiful songs. Since interacting with fans was possible online, it led to more online performance and new ways of Page30
interacting with the audience. In my opinion the virtual reality concerts are expanding and soon performances will be a common way since give the audience an exciting and incredible experience without the necessity of moving from one place to another. Jay: What is the best advice you got? What would your advice be to an upcoming artist? Shahed: I keep the answer to this question very short but effective. The best advice I ever received is “Never Give up! Result is achieved little by little”. And my advice to upcoming artists is; learn as you go. Research, discover and learn what you need to know as you go, while developing your ideas. Don’t wait for that one perfect day and start afterward. Start now! Jay: What next for ICMA? Shahed: We are now celebrating ten years of concerts and competitions by adding the "ICON" Award, with a $1000 Cash LIM
Prize to go to the recipient. Essentially, this new, highest award level is akin to "Best in Show" on a global music level, and will be chosen from the pool of Official Winners from every continent. - Thank you
Page32
MA BELL is an example of never losing sight of your dreams. This elderly fun-loving soul performs. Ma Bell has performed at live radio shows, fundraisers and other venues. Just a few songs that Kathy Bell has written or sang are: Oh What A Friend Fishing Blues (Ma Bell’s theme song), Break the Ice I don’t Know and I Don’t Care (co-written with Danny Hardin), Talking to the Wind (written by Amy Bell) and many more. Ma Bell in 2018 won her first medal at the Frankfort Hot Dog Festival in a singing contest. Ma Bell’s latest accomplishment is singing “America She’s ’s Cryin“, written by Kathy Bell and Bob McGilpin, who is much respected across the world as a top Star during the Disco days and for his achievements as a producer so far. Their collaborative project Freedom Truckers is a #1 hit on Airplay Express receiving both Gold and Platinum Single. We interview both Kathy and Bob to know more about their project and plans ... Ma Bell says "you are never too old"....
LIM
Page34
Interview with Kathy Bell Jay: Hi Kathy, what made you come up with your new single? Kathy: We had the idea to dedicate America She’s Cryin, co-written with Bob McGilpin, to our truckers standing for freedom… then decided this is beyond America fighting for her rights and Freedoms… its worldwide... so Bob came up with idea of Freedom Truckers new release and I absolutely loved it immediately! Jay: How is the response from listeners? Kathy: It’s been more than we dreamed in just a week has had a lot of listeners and interests. Jay: You have had a great career as a musician and a DJ... How do you feel about this journey so far? Kathy: I had a dream as a young child of Nashville Tennessee and the Grand Ole Opry as my dad took me there as a child… I remember saying dad I want to be on that stage. I remember my dads answer… LIM
maybe one day… musically I am doing more than I ever dreamed possible. I never ever saw me as a DJ and especially not an entertainer. I learned a with costumes I am brave but even without them now. My motto for that reason is never too old to dream, I know God has paired me with the right people. Jay: Who were your musical influences and how did you choose this genre of your music? Kathy: A family friend and fiddler Betty Lindenmayer, she believed in me but many others. My grandfather was a pastor and he had me playing and singing in the church… Jay: What are your immediate future plans? Kathy: I absolutely want to book more shows for Ma Bell, I want to write more, and definitely want to continuously work on having a better show than last one, always adding something new, something for everyone. But always keeping it clean Page35
and unique… different. Where can listeners find your music? https://www.facebook.com/ mabellfishingblues/ Jay: What is the best advise you received so far and what would be your advice to upcoming artists? Kathy: Best advice I would take as well as receive: Always work hard… Dreams aren’t easy. Reach for the stars… success doesn’t come overnight. Lastly… be willing to sometimes accept things aren’t exactly the way you want right now… probably because there is something better ahead. - Thank You Interview with Bob McGilpin Jay: Hi Bob, welcome to Lazie Indie Magazine. It is an honor to speak to you. You have had a great career so far as a popular artist from Disco days, how do you see your journey so far? Bob: I have been truly blessed. I was always a writer from the day I picked up guitar. I liked making up my own songs. When I moved to LA I met a producer and presented a bunch of my songs. He liked them but we shopped around for a LIM
deal and got passed on by every label 3 times. Disco was huge and we remixed the songs for the clubs and I was picked up by Butterfly/MCA records. I had a nice run but Disco died and I had been branded a disco artist. But during that time I became a great engineer bought my own studio and that led me to producing a lot of songwriter demos and Indie artists. Jay: How did you get into music? Who were your musical influences? Bob: Well, my parents wouldn’t buy me a were talking about the Canadian to do and how our own truckers have been taken for granted. It popped out as a joke, well if they don’t like what they do, Truck You. The joke turned in to a song. We bounced it back and forth and it ended up Freedom Truckers. It’s supposed to be funny and serious at the same time. Jay: Post lockdowns how is the music industry moving ahead according to you? What are your immediate future plans? Bob: It’s moving slow. The venues are beginning to open back up but I still think it will take a while before we are back to full speed. Me, I am always writing and producing. Fortunately writers have continued to write and they need those songs recorded. Jay: What is the best advice given to you and what would you tell an upcoming musician? Bob: Make music because you love it and not because you think it will make you rich. Find YOUR voice and that which makes you unique and follow that path. And put yourself out there, no one gets discovered playing songs in their bedroom. It’s persistence and luck but the more you out there the luckier you can get. - Thank you
Page37
If you love Psychedelia and Alternative Rock, here is a band you would want to follow. Hailing from Los Angeles and now based in Paris, this four-piece Alternative Psychedelia Rock band took their album all over the world, first recording parts in Liverpool as well as promoting the album in mainland Europe. We Are Milk latest release 'Hey" was helmed by recording engineer Fran Ashcroft who had previously worked with Gorillaz and The Dandy Warhols. The result is dead on. We Are Milk's sound is a mix of American psychedelic rock and grunge with a touch of Avant Garde. Jay from Lazie Indie Magazine speaks to Members of We are Milk.
LIM
Page39
Jay: How do you feel was your journey so far as a band so far? Eric: We are really excited about our new video HEY (Alt Mix) on YouTube. It’s a killer. Apart from this new single and EP available on all platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, we are in the process of releasing new songs right now. They will be ready for downloading and streaming pretty soon. The great thing about internet is that you don’t need to have the full album ready all at once. I like the flexibility of showcasing songs when they are ready one or two at a time if necessary. I think it is more in tune with nowadays creative process as a continuous flow versus everything at the same time. Jay: Who/what were your musical influences and how did you arrive at this genre you play? Did all of you have similar musical influences? Eric: I have always “made” music; when I was a little kid I remember “playing the rain” on the family piano. We all did start very young. We were all involved in different projects before We Are MILK, mostly Indie rock and Grunge, both in the U.S. and E.U. We believe a guitar riff will always carry us to a better place. With this project, we wanted to bring together my love for grunge rock and 70's Psychedelia and we are really excited with the result. Maeva is more of an indie experimental rock person. She digs psychedelic too, 70's and nowadays. Jay: How do you go about writing your songs? How do you record and produce your music? Maeva: Our goal in writing has always been to satisfy and make ourselves happy first: We believe this to be an essential step since we get to be our own guinea pigs, and when in turn, people enjoy what we’ve written, that’s a bonus. I think a songwriter has to enjoy and believe in what he does first and others will be attracted to that confidence. If one tries to write a song to be famous or to make money, it will be transparent. It might make some money, but I don’t think it will have any staying power. It will LIM
Page40
probably be forgotten. As a recording process, we mainly track and record on Logic. The final touch is brought by Fran Ashcroft in England. He’s a great producer and a great guy. He has produced acts like Gorillaz or the Dandy Warhols. Writing songs is really creating art and it is like a parenthesis in time, a walk in a parallel world. It’s like stepping into a parallel world and time, a feeling of wholeness, eternity. Well, very strong and priceless. Mixing our idea of Grunge and Psychedelic rock into new numbers is what We Are MILK is really about. And hopefully these tracks will become ageless songs. That’s our goal. Jay: What do you look to convey to your listeners when you create music, do you look to set a theme first or do you let the song take over your lyrics? Eric: When we play music we want to share our passion, intensity, our world of sounds and feelings and of course great songs. It really depends...While Maeva LIM
and I write most of the songs from lyrics/ acoustic guitars or piano lines, a few come from excerpts from a jam played live with the band. This way is the easiest because ideas just seem to pop up spontaneously. Everything is somewhat written while jamming vocals, guitar, bass and drums. We finalize lyrics afterwards. These are little “miracles”. Music works in mysterious ways. Jay: Where do we find your music on the internet? Which is your latest release? Maeva: HEY (Alt Mix) is our new single. It’s pretty much available everywhere in the internet, I mean streaming and downloading wise. So nowadays it’s the realm of Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, Shazam, Deezer, Pandora and so on and so on. Same as our last EP. Also we will release this year a vinyl with all our songs, hard cover, photos and all. We are really looking forward to it. Jay: What gives you the kick, writing, producing or playing live and why? Page41
Check out HEY (Alt Mix) : https://youtu.be/u-QDaoIPtyk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MILK.Los.Angeles Instagram : @we_are_m_i_l_k https://www.instagram.com/we_are_m_i_l_k/?hl=en Twitter : @MILK_L_A https://twitter.com/milk_l_a
Eric: Making music, creating, recording is really the one thing that totally captivates us. The beauty of writing comes from everything we see and touch. And we do it because we love it. Simple as that. With We Are MILK, we wanted to bring together our grunge rock and 70's Psychedelia sides and so far, we are really excited with the result. Jay: The lockdown brought the industry to a halt for some time but many in music used it for creating new music. How did you spend this lockdown with respect to your music? Maeva: We were focusing on recording and tracking songs. It was actually the perfect time: My direct neighbors had fled to the country side and we had the place all for ourselves Lol Obviously we missed playing live a lot. That was the big downside! But the making of our new video HEY (Alt Mix) was also really time LIM
consuming. The result is dead on though... Jay: What are your immediate future plans? Eric: Playing and touring live as soon as possible. I know this is still complicated right now for everybody. Our gigs in Los Angeles or in Europe were a major part of the band's life. We actually love to share our world and sounds with our public and on stage, nothing separates you from the public anymore: It really is like ... magic! Jay: What is the best advice given to you and what would you share with fellow young artists? Eric: Well. Do your thing with your guts, heart and soul. Never settle for what you think is so. Do your best, always. The rest is irrelevant. A famous guy said once. -Thank You Page42
Tattered Sons is a rock band from Southern Kentucky consisting of seasoned players who decided it was time to come together and start writing and recording the music they wanted to do. Their music is kick-ass rock n roll that lays down a solid groove and allows the guys to show off their talent which they have in plenty. Tattered Sons is sure to get the crowd going and you'll love to see them them on stage. The band has shared the stage with Saving Abel, LA Guns, Tom Keifer (Cinderella), Molly Hatchet, Starship, Damon Johnson and many more! Their song "Rebel Son" won best Hard Rock ballad in 2015 at the Academia Awards. Barbara Harkins and DJ Grant of Galaxy FM presents Tattered Sons through the column Around the Galaxy. Let us read…
LIM
Page44
Jay: Hi Derek you have had a very exciting career as a musician and as a band. How do you feel was your journey so far? Derek: I’ve had a great ride. I get to play music with my friends and family. Music has afforded me the opportunity to meet some great people that I wouldn’t have met, probably, under any other circumstances. Jay: Who/what were your musical influences and how did you arrive at this genre you play? Do you share similar musical influences as a band? Derek: I grew up on rock and roll. Through the music of the 70’s and 80’s is where I shaped my music and that’s where my heart lies. We all have different but similar influences to draw from and that keeps the music fresh and exciting. Jay: How do you go about writing your songs? How do you record and produce your music? Derek: Generally, someone has an idea and we go from there. We all have input and that makes it a Tattered Sons song. We’re all seasoned so we all get it. Recording and producing is fairly easy because the songs are written when we go into the studio. We all know the songs so it’s just a matter of getting the best takes we can. Jay: Where do we find your music on the internet? Which is your latest release? Derek: Our music is on all platforms and can be found anywhere you prefer to get your music from. We have Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter and all the social media sites as well as a website. http://www.tatteredsons.com. Coming Undone is our first release and another tune will be coming soon. Jay: What gives you the kick, writing, producing or playing live and why? Derek: All of it! Original music is what Tattered Sons is all about so to write, arrange, record, produce, and then perform the songs for folks is just an amazing trip to take and it never gets old. Jay: The lockdown brought the industry to a halt for some time but many in music LIM
Page45
"Play all you can. Remain humble. Carry yourself with grace and humility. And most importantly, be kind to people".
used it for creating new music. How did you spend this lockdown with respect to your music? Derek: The lockdown was tough! We just kept on doing what we do. We wrote music and recorded some demo stuff. We played live as much as we could. We never let the craziness stop us from living and doing what we do. Jay: What are your immediate future plans? Derek: Tattered Sons is looking forward to just doing the damn thing! We are ready to write, record and perform all we can. We have added Tim Dial and Mark Allee to the lineup and these guys are awesome players and people. Good things are coming!!! Jay: What is the best advice given to you and what would you share with fellow young artists? Derek: Play all you can. Remain humble. LIM
Carry yourself with grace and humility. And most importantly, be kind to people. Do not believe your own hype. Don’t ever think that you’re more special than the folks that are supporting you and are your fans. They are the special ones. - Thank you
Page46
About the columnist (Around the Galaxy is a column contributed by Galaxy FM 107, New Zealand, introducing artists from across the world especially from New Zealand and Australia. Galaxy FM is one of the top radio stations in New Zealand and is quickly expanding its listener base across the world. The authors of the column, Barbara Harkins and DJ Grant are well known radio hosts at Galaxy FM hosting the popular Breakfast Show. LIM thanks team Galaxy for their support. Websitewww.galaxyfm.co.nz)
LIM
Page47
Yulian Taylor is a guitarist, singer, author, composer and producer from the USA. He has recently released his latest album Blues Friends working with world-class artists such as Carlos Johnson, Lorenzo Thompson, Leilani Kilgore, Dexter Allen, Tia Carroll and more. Yulian's songs are for lovers of Blues, Rock and good music. He has toured extensively in USA and in South America. Granddaughter of Blues Tomiko Dixon presents this fabulous artist through the column Tomiko Dixon Grand Blues Review. She quizzes on Yulian Taylor's career so far, about his new album, whom he would love to collaborate with and his immediate plans in music and a lot more. Let us check it out...
LIM
Page49
Tomiko: Who inspired your project and or music? Yulian: In this new album I was inspired to compose the lyrics, in love, in life situations, anecdotes, experiences, people, giving a positive concept, of brotherhood, friendship, in addition to artistic collaborations, hence the name of the album. Tomiko: Who would you most like to collaborate with and why? Yulian: I have a deep admiration for Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Kingfish, to name a few guitarists. They are amazing, with an impressive story and unimaginable virtuosity. It would be an honor to collaborate or play with them. Tomiko: What is one message you would like to give other artists that are inspired to get into the entertainment industry? Yulian: If you love music, allow yourself to dream, working hard, with perseverance, perseverance, without giving up. The opportunities will come. Tomiko: Which entertainer(s) do you admire the most and why? Yulian: There are really many artists that I admire for their musical style, their composition, their virtuosity, such as: BB King, Budy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Eric Gales, Joe Bonamassa, Samantha Fish, Kingfish, Mr. Sipp, among others. Tomiko: What is the best advice been given to you? Yulian: And there are many, but one of the most important things I can tell you is that you have to work hard, go and look for yourself, what you want to achieve with music, it doesn't matter if the dream you want is crazy, go and do it, it can go wrong or right, the main thing is that you try and work hard for it. Tomiko: What’s next for you? Do you have any upcoming gigs or events? Yulian: This year for now I plan to promote the new album, do shows, recording sessions, collaborations and organize a tour of the United States and Europe. Tomiko: How would you best describe your music or project? LIM
Page50
Yulian: This new album has an orchestral sound, sometimes sweet, sometimes overwhelming, sharp, raw, fiery. It is an album that despite my young age, is musically very mature, elegant and makes you feel different emotions. Tomiko: On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest): What rating would you give yourself on this music or project? Yulian: Qualifying me would be very self-centered, haha, but I think that for all the work it took, and independently, without any kind of support, I give it a 4. Great artists participated like Carlos Johnson, Lorenzo Thompson, Dexter Allen, Tia Carroll, Leilani Kilgore, among others and was recorded in Chicago, Mississippi, California and Nashville.
LIM
Page51
About the Columnist This column is contributed by Tomiko Dixon who is the granddaughter of the Great Willie Dixon and also the youngest inductee to the Blues Hall of Fame and an Ambassador of Blues. Lazie Indie Magazine is glad and honored to join her cause to keep the spirit of Blues alive.
LIM
Page52
THE WOODSHED RAINBOW When I look back at the music that influenced my personal musical growth, I think of the icons of the 60's that set the stage for the many more greats that came. Bands that broke convention, with varied genres and styles, giving birth to forms of rock music, jazz, folk revival and many more. They shaped the landscape of music that we've come to know today. The music industry is ever-changing, evolving and most certainly will continue to do so but for many, the legends that were a part of the fabric of their growing years still remain with them to this day. They will always remember the beginning of the Golden Age of music. Freedom and music always walked hand in hand and the 60’s was about change, freedom and revolution. The music of the 60's served as the voice of a generation where audible gratification encompassed all and helped define the era. My search for the legends of the 60's in
LIM
Page54
Malaysia led me to a talent pool that wowed the audiences in the live music circuit back in the heyday when the rock scene bloomed and where style became associated with rebellious youth that challenged the social norms. What spurred them on were the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but more so the Beatles because they were releasing hit after hit. Rock and Roll soon was the theme of this youthful generation. There was no television yet in Malaysia as Malaya Television broadcasting (now Radio Televisyen Malaysia) was introduced on the 28th of December of 1963. MTV was not to arrive for another 19 years. It was only through radio and sales of vinyl that the youths could identify with music of their generation. So when The Beatles followed by The Stones burst onto the music scene, teenagers started picking up guitars, learning the drums and emulating their idols. Beatlemania arrived on our shores, giving birth to beat groups and rock bands. Bands like The Teenage Hunters, later to be known as The Hunters with guitar virtuoso Terry Thaddeus (known as the Jimi Hendrix of Malaysia), The Little Falcons, later known as The Falcons, The Strollers, The Yellow Jackets, The Saints to name a few made their way onto the scene. There was no turning back. I have had the opportunity to watch some of these bands perform in the later part of their career and had the great pleasure of meeting them as my own career as a performer in the Kuala Lumpur live circuit sometimes allowed me the privilege to do so. Legends in their time, today many of the members of these bands are either scattered and settled across the globe or passed on. A few are still playing music or teaching their craft to new budding musicians who are wanting to make it in the live music scene. I recently caught up with Jerry Ventura, known to many as Jet, one of the founding members of The Little Falcons. Founded in 1964, these 12 year olds burst onto the scene with their debut release. ‘"Baby Barefoot Walk". Signed by the private label LIFE Records, they were LIM
Page55
"Not many understand the enormity of what these 12 year old kids started in 1964 and achieved over the years. As Ventura simply put, "it was more about the 'faces' in the band and not the band”.
later signed by the international label EMI. Comprised of Brian Felix (lead), Francis Samuel(rhythm), Jerry Ventura(bass) and Jerry Felix(drums), the extremely talented chart-topping young musicians can lay claim to being the first of many things – first to record at the national TV station, TV Malaysia, when television was first introduced in 1964, first to play at the Tin Mine discotheque at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton and first to get hauled up for having long hair by the police in Singapore when they played at the Pink Pussycat. "At that time, we had only enough songs for one set. We were under the Quill Organisation and were playing in Pink Pussycat for six months. We played three venues in one night. Pink Pussycat, Tropicana and Ocean Club. All we needed to do was carry our own hand held gear! We played in many clubs in Singapore that the local LIM
bands never played. We opened The Shindiq, Barbarella, Tropicana. We even played in Stadium Negara (Malaysia 's national stadium) before we were 12 years of age. We have opened for international acts like The Hollies and The Dave Clark 5." says Ventura. 1n 1971 The Falcons did a 5 month stint in Vietnam during the war. Upon their return to Malaysia, they formed a new line up but with three of the original core members still intact. Together they went on to play at some of the most memorable and hottest venues in Kuala Lumpur, some of which include Tomorrow Disco (Merlin Hotel), The Glass Bubble (Jayapuri Hotel), Tin Mine (The Hilton) including the Malaysian Woodstock held at Camp Semangat in 1972. Lasting three days, the festival showcased bands from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, and has since become an urban legend. "It was a total Page56
knockout! By the time The Falcons finished the show, everybody was on their feet, clapping and dancing and singing,” one reveler said. Over the span of their career, The Falcons changed a few members in their band as some chose to move on to other pursuits. Some new members introduced over time were, Ronnie Felix, Grenville Pereira, Desmond Gomis, Charles Felix, Charles Fong and Aziz Romeno. But always, the three core members remained. By the late 70's The Falcons were performing all over Europe doing residencies in Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, twice in Luxembourg, Spain and Majorca (Mallorca). When I asked Ventura how many venues he played in while he was in Europe, he was quick to reply "We played all year around from 1978 to 1991 and each place we would perform for two weeks. You think how many? I lost count." A truly remarkable feat. Being years on the road away from home must have been difficult but Ventura is all smiles when I ask if it was. "We met the Bee Gees and played side by side with Manhattan Transfer, The Floaters, Johnny Tillotson. In Germany, we met Tom Jones twice. One was on the LIM
occasion when he was there to accept his Bambi Award in 1990. We had a drink with him and Tom Jones asked me, what I liked about his records. I started ticking of a few from my list off his albums and he quipped, You know more about my albums than I do! Me and the band had taken photos with him but later when we checked we discovered that the camera had no batteries!" laughs Ventura. There's a touch of wistfulness in his eyes as he recollects a time past and memories come flooding in. My eyes catch a photo of him with his band seated with Morris Gibb. I marvel and tell him what a colorful life he has led but Ventura is quick to shrug it off and continues where he left off. "Nothing, we met a lot of people, it's just normal. There is so many stories I can tell you but we will be sitting here for days!” In Germany, for five consecutive years we were the standard band for Percy Sledge and we were La Toya Jackson's backing band when she did her 2 week tour each in Germany and Holland. When we did tours, we would travel 37,000km in one month. Today Ventura is a music mentor and teacher, giving lessons to many budding musicians who are incredibly lucky to have the privilege of learning from him. As our interview came to an end, I asked Ventura what instruments he played, "oh nothing much, just the bass, double bass, flute, guitar, saxophone and conga, and I sing of course, that's all." And that to me is the sum of what The Falcons and many of the local bands from that era in Malaysia were. Self-effacing, simply out to make good music and have a ball of a time doing so. There were no egos to sort out and no rivalry that is often the root of many a band disbanding. The camaraderie found amongst all bands back in the heyday was heartwarming as they had profound respect for each others craft and skill. For The Falcons, music brought them together and they blazed their own trails across continents, creating music, memories and history. Not many have the privilege to do so. The Falcons were set to perform at a sell out reunion concert, showcasing some of the Page57
finest bands from the 70’s to the 80’s in Malaysia when the pandemic hit and Malaysia’s Health Ministry advised against it. It would have been a blast as fans from some parts of the world flew in to catch what would have been a historical event. Not many understand the enormity of what these 12 year old kids started in 1964 and achieved over the years. As Ventura simply put, "it was more about the 'faces' in the band and not the band.” About the Columnist “Musings, observations, music related articles and interviews from South East Asia. Anything that resonates with me.” Lyia Meta is an international multi award-winning singer and songwriter, and an exhibited visual artist. She's a full time live performer in the Kuala Lumpur club circuit, holding residencies all over the Peninsula of Malaysia. She finds her greatest influences in rock and blues, yet she fearlessly defies genre barriers in every project she creates." LIM
Page58
LYIA META- YOU THINK ABOUT ME Malaysian multi-genre artist Lyia Meta is now back with a new five track EP YOU THINK ABOUT ME which is co-written with Nashville based Bob McGilpin. Lyia is a true mutli genre singer songwriter who can handle any genre with ease and style. She’s been nominated for, and won, numerous awards, including Best Overall Female Act at the Voice Independent Music Awards (VIMA) in May 2016, the 2018 Josie World Music Artist Award and 2019 Artist of the Year (multi Genre). With Lyia and Bob McGilpin coming together the EP is a collection of some masterly carfted songs which will sure hit the right chords with the listeners all over the world. -
LIM
Page60
Guitar Masters Collection An extraordinary collection of hard-to-find rarity songs, including a track from the late great Allan Holdsworth, plus a rare recording by the “Godfather of Fusion” Larry Coryell. The album contains shredders Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal from Guns N’ Roses and Frank Gambale of Chick Corea’s Electric Band. Also included are incredible performances by Steve Vai, Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Chuck Loeb (Foreplay), bass extraordinaries Randy Coven & Billy Sheehan, Leslie West and Hal Lindes of Dire Straits. Brian Tarquin composed and produced many of these tracks and displays his own guitar prowess alongside such worldclass players. Tarquin is an established top rate jazz artist and a TV/Film composer/ recording artist. He has won 3 Emmy awards for “Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series” and has been nominated for an Emmy 6 times. In 2006 SESAC honored him with the Network
LIM
Page61
Television Performance Award. Tarquin has graced the Top 20 Billboard Charts with such commercial releases as: 'This is Acid Jazz, Vol. 2' on Instinct Records, followed by several solo jazz albums, which charted Top 10 at Contemporary Jazz Radio. In 2016 the Independent Music Awards nominated Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends “Guitars for Wounded Warriors” for Best Album. Tarquin has appeared on 40 releases, selling over 140,000 records in his career with over 32 million streams on Spotify, Pandora & Apple.
LIM
Page62