The Orange Magazine - Vol. 6 by The Orange Magazine

Page 22

Brad Thompson

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Table of Contents Page 4-7 SALIO

Page 18-20 Morrison

Page 34-35 Tommy Ragen

Page 7-9 Wicked J 303

Page 22-24 Brad Thompson

Page 36-37 Ras Manino

Page 11-12 J.R. Wilbur

Page 28-30 Brian Sebastian

Page 39-41 Rich Carroll

Page 14-16 Vanilla Sugar

Page 31-32 Kei LaGuins

Page 42-45 Pilgrimsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dream

MUSIC

SALIO

The Rise of a Star Who are your inspirations? (as in other artists) Singing wise, certainly Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin - they are my girls but musically anything and anyone from the techno movements of Luke Slater to the atmospheres of the KLF and everything in-between. How did you get started? I wrote my first song ‘Varskvlavebi’ - ‘Stars’ in English - when I was nine although myself and my younger sister used to play journalist interviewing singer much earlier but I would always be the singer and force Elene to be the journalist….sorry, Elene. I used to try and sell ‘tickets’ for my performance and sell them to my neighbours who were kind enough to entertain the seven-year-old before them so I guess it started way back then.

Who are your favorite bands/singers? Well, as I said, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, James Brown obviously….more currently, Massive Attack, Thom Yorke….the usual greats. I have been listening to a woman called Poemme a lot recently, she has a most sublime modern classical output in the form of Moments in Golden Light’, it truly is a blanket to be wrapped in. What do you think about when your preforming? Nothing. I am in the moment. I am there on the stage and with the crowd sharing. It is that moment and that moment only which exists to us so it is very much a matter of here and now, and nothing out with that. What was your first song ever sung? I wrote my first song ‘Varskvlavebi’ - ‘Stars’ in English - when I was nine and this went on to become a sort of national anthem in my home country of the Republic of Georgia. Children now grow up with this so it is also really special to me.

When did you first start singing? With my family, especially my father. Georgians have a very proud and long standing history of music, we have our own tonal scale unique to our country so stories have been passed down through generations around tables through song so i have always been brought up around singing , I just made it my life.

What did your family do to encourage you? During the conflict in Georgia my family was very poor like most of our people. I am very proud and lucky to say that my parents pulled their last pennies together to invest in a teacher for musical education. They went without so I could learn music. Our family supported me more than anyone could reasonably expect them to. I have learned huge amounts during these times of conflict and poverty by candle light during a cold winter. How music can warm the soul, bring joy where there is pain, bring calm where there is conflict, bring love where there is hate. This is what I love most about music. My mother and father are both great singers, we were always singing around the family dinner table and still are when we get together. Even the neighbors open their windows on a warm occasion to join the party. Have you always enjoyed the art of music? My family is hugely musical. My mum has a beautiful voice and has been a bright light in a dark house during the war or times of poverty. We had an old piano and she would play classical music. Me and my sister Elene would dance together and think about some magical days in the future. Without music life can be dry but now I’m enjoying listening to the birds or even complete silence sometimes as waves of echoes come out through the neighborhood..music can be found in every part of it, I try to hear it, breathe deeply, feel it, enjoy it. Any loves, other then music?Who are your musical inspirations? I love my morning walk to the forest - empty streets, everyone asleep. I see how the city is going to wake up and become busier, noisier so I love waking up early in the morning, get my backpack, headphones, a banana and a water. I walk around 12 kilometres daily. Also, a morning swim is wonderful. We have some nice spots in Tbilisi. There is a rooftop swimming pool with a stunning view of the old town. A cup of coffee with an interesting book in the sunshine sunshine is a moment I also love to take, where possible, everyday. Sarah Vaughan,Nina Simone,Ella Fitzgerald,Mahalia Jackson,Susumu Yokota.James brown are some inspirations quick to my mind. What was the best advice ever given to you? Work harder, never give up. If you could have any style what would it be? My style is always changing.. I remember when I had my first band at the school I was listening to Janis Joplin and I was hippie at that time. Then I started listening jazz and my style became classier. Then I traveled to the mountains of Nepal and saw all these beautiful women in all these beautiful dresses. I was amazed by their style in that it was so unique and wonderful. In Nepal I found a very.

Where would you most like to perform? I’d love to perform one more time in New Orleans. In 2013, I had a wonderful experience performing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival. I was invited back stage to meet Earth, Wind and Fire and had a truly beautiful conversation with them. Later in the night the streets became busier and in every corner talented musicians were playing all kinds of music. We found a plug in a book shop to perform our music in the street. The whole place stopped and started dancing with us.. neighbors from the balcony, the policemen. NOLA is my second home and I’d love to go back with my band. Who would you most like to open for? I would truly love to open for Lenny Kravitz in 2021 in my home country. It would be an honour and a privilege. If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? Probably I’d have liked to become a paediatrician or a teacher. I love hanging around with kids. It’s something which makes me smile and they seem to understand me pretty easy. Do you play any instruments? I’ve being studying piano for 12 years. I had decided to become a conductor at the Tbilisi conservatory but I gave up because my favorite teacher died and I didn’t want to return and find another. I was 16 years old when I formed my first band at school. There I started songwriting and producing music. The head minister at the school, Lali, was hugely helpful during this time as she gave me an opportunity to achieve my goals as a musician. She gave me a rehearsal room for my band and we were able to rehearse and perform some huge gigs. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? I suppose it would be jazz with double bass, sax, drums and some magical musicians from the past. What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? I’ve never been that angry to listen to Metal. But I’ve got a very lovely friends who admire metal. Hmmm I just don’t get it. I’m sorry .. If you could have any style what would it be? My style is always changing.. I remember when I had my first band at the school I was listening to Janis Joplin and I was hippie at that time. Then I started listening jazz and my style became classier. Then I traveled to the mountains of Nepal and saw all these beautiful women in all these beautiful dresses. I was amazed by their style in that it was so unique and wonderful. In Nepal I found a very.

Who would you most like to open for? I would truly love to open for Lenny Kravitz in 2021 in my home country. It would be an honour and a privilege. If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? Probably I’d have liked to become a paediatrician or a teacher. I love hanging around with kids. It’s something which makes me smile and they seem to understand me pretty easy. Do you play any instruments? I’ve being studying piano for 12 years. I had decided to become a conductor at the Tbilisi conservatory but I gave up because my favorite teacher died and I didn’t want to return and find another. I was 16 years old when I formed my first band at school. There I started songwriting and producing music. The head minister at the school, Lali, was hugely helpful during this time as she gave me an opportunity to achieve my goals as a musician. She gave me a rehearsal room for my band and we were able to rehearse and perform some huge gigs. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? I suppose it would be jazz with double bass, sax, drums and some magical musicians from the past. What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? I’ve never been that angry to listen to Metal. But I’ve got a very lovely friends who admire metal. Hmmm I just don’t get it. I’m sorry .. What hidden talents do you have? My friends and family are telling me that I’m a great cook. I’ve won some televised cooking competitions before. I believe if you can concentrate on something and put all your energy and effort you can do anything, even seemingly impossible things when you try your hardest. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? I was 9 when I wrote my first Georgian song called “Varskvlavebi” stars in English. It was a massive hit in my home country and is still widely loved by young and old alike. Since then I’ve been writing songs about all kinds of topics. Over the last 4 years I’ve been lucky to have a British friend who’s a hugely talented poet. I’ve learned a huge amount from him in regard to writing lyrics but for me, the two go hand in hand. As singer, you can’t have one without the other when you are sat at the piano. What is your favorite quote to say to other? “Friendship is the purest love. It is the highest form of love where nothing is asked for, no condition, where one simply enjoys giving.” Osho. young and old alike. Since then I’ve been writing songs about all kinds of topics. Over the last 4 years I’ve been lucky to have a British friend who’s a hugely talented poet. I’ve learned a huge amount from him in regard to writing lyrics but for me, the two go hand in hand. As singer, you can’t have one without the other when you are sat at the piano. What is your favorite quote to say to other? “Friendship is the purest love. It is the highest form of love where nothing is asked for, no condition, where one simply enjoys giving.” Osho Do you have a website or social media for our readers? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoL6Q4bqgdobw6JgVYOMTw https://www.facebook.com/SalioOfficial/ https://www.instagram.com/salio_music/ http://salio.music

Wicked J 303 Rhythm & Beats

When did you first get into music? Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? It’s been around my whole like pretty much since I was a kid. I’ve always loved music so I decided to get into it at an early age. In middle school I was taking drum lessons and I was in band, and other musical groups playing instruments all the way up to college. In general, all of my instructors inspired me to pursue a career in music. Someone else who inspired me is the rap artist Tech N9ne. When I first started listening to his music I was really touched by his style of music. Unlike playing instruments rapping is fun but it’s also different because you’re using words to spread a message, and Tech N9ne showed me that through his music and seeing him live and I knew it was something I wanted to do.

How have your skills evolved since you first got into music? I’ve learned a lot about music, because my taste has grown so much. I learned about music theory in college, I learned new techniques through my music instructors which to this day help me express myself musically and lyrically freely than before. If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger,desire, passion or pride and why? I would say passion. The reason is because if I was pursuing a career I had no passion for, I would not give it my hunnid percent. I think that if you have a dream that you’re truly passionate about, it doesn’t matter how tough it is to become successful. Nothing will be able to stop you.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? So, I would say what makes me unique is I don’t wanna try to sound like anyone else. My originality makes me stand out. And to be fair, who wants to see the same artist hop out on stage sounding like the guy before him and the guy after him. It’s a huge reason why so many people don’t make it, especially here in Denver. People wanna see something new and that’s something I have to offer. What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? My biggest challenge as a performing artist was choosing the wrong crowd to spend time with. Spending time with people who don’t have the same work ethic and drive as you can hold back your career and realizing this I knew I had to cut people off so that I can focus on building my career at my own pace rather than having to work at the pace of others. A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? I disagree. Pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice. From my perspective, going through pain to achieve success in music and/ or chase your dreams in life, is worth it. So it’s really not suffering if it’s worth it in the end. For this career, I’ve sacrificed many things in my life to pursue it. To pursue music. However, I think that’s just life. Like if you really wanna do something, it has to be your top priority. There is no plan b, there’s no other path but what you choose. You have to be willing to make sure that is where your focus lies at all times. How has the pandemic affected how you utilize streaming and social media? I think it’s definitely taken a toll as far as performing and filming live shows. An example would be I would advertise selling tickets for upcoming shows I have but now I’ve been utilizing social media and streaming to promote music I have been releasing in the studio. So as far as streaming and social media the focus has just shifted to promoting music and keeping people updated on my process of releasing it.

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be? GIVE. ARTISTS. COMPLETE. ARTISTIC. CONTROL. If I could change anything, it would be these major corporations and labels essentially slaving their artists and telling them what they can release and cannot release. Every artist should have the right to release any kind of music they want to, regardless of who’s paying them. An example, would be when Tupac was signed to Interscope records, they didn’t want him to release “Brenda’s Got A Baby” on his 2pacolypse Now album. However, Tupac knew how these major labels work and refused to let them have artistic control. To this day, this still happens with so many artists. It’s hard to do anything about it, but these are people who are limiting what you can hear on the radios, on streaming platforms, on stage, etc. And this is a huge reason why so many underground artists are starving, because they have the talent to become major and successful. The problem is, they don’t have the exposure to do so. What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? 1. Avenged Sevenfold’s – Nightmare album 2. Tech N9ne’s – Something Else 3. Tupac’s – All Eyes on Me 4. Logic’s – Under Pressure 5. Linkin Park’s – Hybrid Theory Album. These 5 albums have helped me through very hard times in my life and they have taught me valuable lessons that have helped me grow into a better person today. Tell us about your current project. I’m currently working on my first official EP called Driptown Denver. It contains 9 tracks, has a variety of beat styles, and a good representation of Denver’s hip hop style. Driptown Denver is an EP to show the world how we get down in Denver, Colorado. Denver doesn’t get a good reputation as far as hip hop goes. Our local radio stations to even our local music scenes have trouble supporting our local artists. I’m very excited to finally show people what I have to offer to the industry and the world. What’s next for you? What’s next for me, is more studio time and really buckling down to the last details on this EP. I’m In the studio right now with DJ Deuce who’s been a huge help in really sharpening my sound, and this EP should be set to release in the next few months. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music and follow your career? Follow me on Facebook and/or Instagram under Wicked J 303 and if you check out my bio I have a link-tree to my newest single called “I Know” on all platforms. It also has a little more information about myself and a direct link to my social media pages.

J.R. Wilbur

Singer-Songwriter When did you first get into music? And who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music? I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. I had always loved music, but, decided then that I wanted to play, sing, and write it. My friend and I bought guitars shortly afterward.

How have your skills evolved since you first got into music? I took some lessons when I was younger, but have always played mostly by ear. If you could open for or collaborate with a famous artist, who would you like to work with? There are too many to list, but, Jackson Browne is a favorite writer of mine, and, Linda Ronstadt is one of my favorite singers. I’m sure you have met a lot of celebrities and talented artists along the way. Would you share 1 of your favorite stories with us? The only “Big-Time” celebrity that I’ve ever met, was Billy Preston. One time, at an outside concert in Satsop, Washington. He pulled me up onto the stage after I had attempted to climb the staging. He smiled and said “How you doin’, man”! I was then escorted off of the stage, as I had no business being there in the first place! If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? What keeps me going, even at this stage of my life, is the desire to be recognized as an artist, who is worth hearing. I guess you’d call that passion, along with determination. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? I guess what makes me unique, is the same thing that holds me back. I write only to express what I want to express, as an artist. I have never cared about “today’s current trends”. I write to express my own feelings and ideas.

What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? My biggest challenge as a young artist was not having enough money to get recorded, as, at that time, you had to go to a professional studio. There was no “home-recording”, unless you owned a reel-to-reel. I worked, like many my age, in several bar-bands for low money. I never lost the love of doing it though. A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? I think that the previous answer explains, “suffering for my art”. I’ve always felt though, that even if I never make a dime, as I haven’t to date, it’s been my Honor to be Able to write, play, and record my music! So many, who have the talent, never get the chance! How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business? The idea that people can now just steal your music is not a good idea to me. I’ve recently recorded a vinyl for that reason, among others. But, you must live in the world as it is, not as you’d like it to be. I’ve got a music lawyer who is looking into putting the vinyl-songs up onto the net for me. We’ll see what happens with that. How has the pandemic affected how you utilize streaming and social media? I’m on Facebook and Youtube. I don’t do much streaming, but I do have a website wherein people can hear songclips from the vinyl album. The website is jrwilburmusic.com If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be? If I could change anything about the current music industry it would be to find a way for indie artists to be able to follow, more closely, who, and how many, people are downloading their music. It seems to me that, as soon as there’s an MP3, whoever has the MP3 can just send it anywhere he wants to. Maybe I’m just ignorant of today’s tech-driven music business, but it makes me uneasy to think that I really can’t follow how many downloads there might be, without my getting anything out of it. What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? There are a bunch of albums that have affected me over the years but some favorites are: Sgt. Pepper, The Last Waltz, Jackson Browne’s Greatest Hits, Linda Ronstadt’s Greatest Hits, and, my own new album, Mood Swings by J.R. Wilbur. The last one is not just a shameless plug, and nowhere near as good as the previous four, but sticks in mymind for the following reasons. I almost died during a medical procedure, had an auto accident, and was falsely arrested, not to mention the Covid-19 virus that we’re all trying to live through, all while attempting to finish the album! What’s next for you? What’s next for me is to keep trying to get this record heard, and then hopefully sold. Although I’ve never been good at self-promotion, I’ve had a website created for me that I hope will bring people to my music, at least to hear the song-clips on my site. If the record starts selling, I’d definitely like to gig the album live with everyone that’s on it! How can fans-to-be gain access to your music and follow your career? Anybody that’s interested in me or my music can visit my website which is jrwilburmusic.com. Any gig-dates will appear there.

Listen to Bailey Eloraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New EP!

Apple Music | iTunes | Spotify | Tidal | YouTube Facebook: @baileyeloramusic

Vanilla Sugar

Multi-National Artist Who are your inspirations? (as in other artists) I love Grimes’ style a lot. I find inspiration from her, as well as Mindless Self Indulgence. I love the synth forward music and uniqueness of it all. How did you get started? I started by writing tracks on an iMac using GarageBand! I wanted to create music that I would like to listen to; a mix of all my favorite genres! Who are your favorite bands/singers? I grew up listening to Metal and got into Electronic music as I got older. I love KoRn, Mudvayne, Grimes, and Mindless Self Indulgence. What do you think about when your preforming? I totally zone out when I perform. It’s so crazy! I always have nervous butterflies before a show, but as soon as the show starts, it’s like I blank out and someone else takes over. Two sides of me! I don’t really think about anything while performing. It’s a pretty insane and freeing feeling, since I’m usually over thinking the rest of the time!

What else can we expect from you in the future? I just released my debut album, “She”. I am very excited to announce that I will be touring this album in the US and UK with The Birthday Massacre in 2021. I am looking forward to it. The UK portion of the tour will be my first time outside of the United States. I am currently in the process of shooting music videos for the album. The goal is to have a video for each track.

What was your first song ever sung? I wish I could remember! I have been performing since I was a four year old. The furthest back that I can remember would be “It’s A Hard Knock Life” from Annie. I was in dance at the time. I think I must’ve been 8 years old or so. It was fun. A lot of choreography. I’m glad I did it then, because it definitely prepared me for now. When did you first start singing? I started taking piano lessons when I was four. The teacher I had at the time would have me sing along while playing to improve note memory. I would say that it definitely works. What did your family do to encourage you? My family has always been supportive of me from day one. My parents helped me get enrolled with piano lessons, and my guitar lessons later in life. My family always come to my shows any time I play in my hometown of Houston, TX. It’s amazing to have that kind of support and people who have always believed in you. Have you always enjoyed the art of music? I have loved music since I can remember. My dad is a drummer and would play gigs every weekend. I remember going to see him perform. I feel like the gigging musician lifestyle has always been a part of my life. It was great growing up around that. My brother is also a musician. I guess it runs in the family! Any loves, other then music? I love taking photos. I’m a concert photographer! I enjoy every minute of it. It’s so fun to be able to capture the energy in the moment during a show. Who are your musical inspirations? When it comes to writing music, I’ve been inspired by a few different artists. The gritty style of KoRn’s guitars have always been a favorite of mine. It’s definitely different and has a special edge to it. I like to incorporate a bit of Metal into each track. I also love and find inspiration in the synthy-vibes of Crystal Castles and Grimes. What was the best advice ever given to you? The best advice I ever received was to never turn your back on the audience when you are performing. It’s great to keep it front facing and involved. If you could have any style wat would it be? I love the styles I have now! Musically, I would say my style is HorrorPop, and fashion style would be Pastel Goth. What kind of music do you listen to today? I listen to a lot of the same music as I did growing up, but currently I am jamming Vanilla Sugar (write what you love to listen to!), Nine Inch Nails, Mudvayne, Purity Ring, Ashley O, and Mr.Kitty. What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist? Fly On the Wall by Miley Cyrus. That is the jam though! For some reason I have never deleted any of the old music off of my MP3. It’s nice to take a trip back in time that way. Where would you most like to perform? I would love to perform at Download Festival in the UK. I’ve had my heart set on that since I was a kid. Who would you most like to open for? I would love to be able to open for Grimes. I think our music vibes very well together and we would have a lot of fun.

If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? I took classes in college to be a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). I worked as one for a little bit in a hospital and a nursing home, but I prefer singing! Do you play any instruments? I do! I play synths, piano, guitar, bass, french horn, and trumpet! If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? I have dabbled a bit in Trip Hop. It is a lot of fun and different from what I am used to. I created crazy beats and rapped over them. What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? I actually love all types of music; I haven’t found a genre that really drives me crazy yet! What hidden talents do you have? I can twitch my nose like a bunny, and draw cartoons. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? I love doing both. Writing lyrics is a way for me to get things off of my chest. It feels like a weight is being lifted. I can get totally lost while writing music, which I love. There is just something so magical about shutting the world out and letting your heart and vibes drive the music. What is your favorite quote to say to other? “Don’t be afraid to ask, the worst they can say is ‘no’.” Do you have a website or social media for our readers? Yes! Let’s be friends! vanillasugarmusic.com facebook.com/vanillasugarmusic instagram.com/vanillasugarmusic Twitter: @IAmVanillaSugar youtube.com/vanillasugarmusic twitch.tv/vanillasugarmusic

Photos by John Poulos

Morrison

Singer-Songwriter

Megan Morrison, aka MORRISON, is a Miami-based American singer, songwriter and fire performer. If Lana Del Rey, Matt Bellamy and Sebastian Bach had a love child, the product would be MORRISON’s music. Her style of singing ranges from sultry sweet to in-your-face battle cries and the songs she writes have a purpose. As a recovering alcoholic, Megan has redirected a lot of her emotions and life experiences into her songwriting. Her hope is to raise awareness around mental health issues by sharing her story and delivering an encouraging message through her music. Who are your inspirations? Man, there are so many. Muse is my all time favorite band. Those guys just kill it in every aspect. In my earlier days I was really inspired by Led Zeppelin. I listened to their albums on repeat. I was enchanted by Robert Plant’s powerful voice. I also listened to a lot of soul and funk music. A few of my favorites were Sly and the Family Stone, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. A big part of my influence comes from 90’s rock bands and singers. Chris Cornell, Nirvana, Hole, Garbage, PJ Harvey, the list goes on. I listened to a lot of 90’s hip hop as well. The most inspiring singer to me from that time was Lauryn Hill. I listened to “The Score” by the Fugees probably more times than I’ve listened to any other album. I was singing that on repeat. The early 2000’s had some great bands that really inspired me as well. I got really pumped up every time I listened to Evanescence, Disturbed, System Of A Down, She Wants Revenge, Wolfmother, Queens of the Stone Age to name a few. I have a passion for Gospel music as well. You can hear that influence in my upcoming album. I love and am inspired by all different genres of music. If a song gives me goosebumps then it’s inspired me in some way.

When did you first start singing? My mom would catch me harmonizing with the vacuum cleaner when I was a baby, so I guess then. I sang my first solo in church when I was around four or five. They let me sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, because that’s what I wanted to sing. It helped that my mom was the church organist. My mom and I were always singing, especially in the car. We would go for hours not talking, just singing everything to each other. It was pretty hilarious thinking back on it. I always wrote songs and played on our piano. I was in “Fiddler on the Roof” when I was around five. That was my first time being on a big stage and I think that’s when I fell in love with it. I’ve been on stages ever since. What did your family do to encourage you? My mom was always so supportive of me. She was my number one fan from day one. She never pushed me to do anything, but always encouraged me to follow my heart, and I am truly grateful for that. My mom means the world to me. That side of the family had a lot of musicians in it. My grandfather was a self taught musician and went on to compose and conduct. My dad’s side of the family was always very supportive too. My dad wasn’t a musician, but he did introduce me to Led Zeppelin and Tom Petty. We rocked out many times together, singing at the top of our lungs. I have a very supportive husband as well. He has always encouraged me to keep following my passion. His family loves what I do as well. I am very grateful to have such a loving and supportive family all around. Who else in your family sings? My mom has always been a singer. She has a great voice. We would always harmonize and sing together when I was growing up. She has sung in many different choirs over the years. A lot of my family members can carry a tune. What kind of music do you listen to today? I mostly listen to older rock music. There’s not a ton of new music that I like. There are a few newer artists that I love though. I think Billie Eilish is great. She’s a breath of fresh air in an industry that doesn’t seem to value good music anymore. Any artist that is doing their own thing and not trying to sound like everyone else has my attention, doesn’t mater what genre. I just like to hear quality original music. I also love listening to Jazz when I’m driving. It puts me in a zen like state. Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Coltrane, all those classics I love. What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist? Oh man, let me think. Not too many these days, but back when I was younger (before mp3s), you would have found some Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Ludacris “Move Bitch”, Sisqo “Thong Song”, just to name a few. I don’t care what anyone says, the “Thong Song” was a good song. I’m sure there were MANY more. Where would you most like to perform? Someday I would love to perform at Madison Square Garden! Who would you most like to open for? Muse. 100%. I respect those guys so much as musicians and performers. They put on an amazing show. I have been a huge fan for many years. If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? A few different things. I actually own a small decor and design business called 9 Lives Designs (named after one of my songs). I’ve always loved interior design and decorating. All of the pieces I sell in my shop I hand make. I style and decorate weddings as well. Even if I’m not making music, if I’m creating something beautiful I am happy. I would also like to work with recovering alcoholics and addicts. I am a recovering alcoholic myself and I feel that it is very important to raise awareness around a topic that can be very taboo, but is extremely common in our society. All the songs on my new album somehow relate to my sobriety. I am very open about my story and experience because I hope my honesty can help others who may be suffering.

Do you play any instruments? I play piano and guitar. I’m not amazing at either, but good enough to write my songs with them and play on stage sometimes. I write most of my songs at my piano. I’ve been doing that since I was a kid. I also took piano lessons in college when I was studying classical voice performance. That’s really when I learned to properly read and write music. When I was a kid I played a handful of different instruments; saxophone, clarinet, flute and cello. I didn’t stick with any of them though. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? I guess I would have to say hip-hop. Something with a dope beat to make people dance. Or gospel music. I actually have been dabbling in some electronic music. I have a few releases out and a few more on the way. I’ve been collaborating with a lot of different artists. I go by my full name Megan Morrison as an electronic artist and just MORRISON for my rock. What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? There’s not too much music I can’t stand. I love so many different genres. I guess I’d have to say most country music I don’t care for. Don’t get me wrong, there is some great country music, but most of it is just not for me. What hidden talents do you have? I am actually a professional fire performer. I started dancing with fire about 12 years ago and fell in love with it. I’ve incorporated it in my newer music videos. My husband makes most of my fire props. He made my crown and wings which were featured in my last music video “9 Lives”. I’ve also been in a lot of other artist’s music videos. I got to do a video with Pitbull and Elvis Crespo which was pretty cool. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? Very much so, but I can’t force it. When the inspiration comes, lyrics and melodies flow like water. If I’m not feeling inspired though I can’t force it. Trying to write a song when I’m not in the mood feels like pulling teeth. Usually a bunch of song ideas come into my head at once, over a period of a few days, and I have to get them all out and on paper before I lose them. After that a few months usually go by, maybe even longer before inspiration strikes again. Lyrics come more frequently. I have notebooks full of little snippets. Eventually when a melody comes I piece them all together. More often than not I get inspiration when I’m driving. My voice memos are full of ideas. I am very grateful that I have the ability to express myself through music. www.MorrisonMusicOfficial.com

www.rsvpcigars.com

Brad Thompson

Photo by Geno Loro Jr

Acoustic Guitar Rocker

When did you first get into music? I took piano and guitar lessons at an early age. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I truly “got into” music, that’s when I started writing songs. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? My dad shared an interesting thing with me many years ago. He explained that each generation in our family carried the dreams from the previous one, not unlike many families, I’m sure. Ours goes like this… My great, great-grandfather’s dream was to one day own some land. He didn’t, but my great-grandfather did. He was a successful dairy farmer who owned a 100 or so acres of land in North Texas. His dream was to one day leave the hard life of farming behind and move to the city and work there. He didn’t, but my grandfather did. He left the country and moved to town where he worked for the city for most of his life. He did very well working for the city but his dream was to one day own his own business. He didn’t, but my dad did. My dad ran a successful business for many years, employing hundreds of people. He played music his whole life and always said how exciting it would have been to do it for a living. He didn’t, but I did. My son is seventeen. I’m not sure if I’ve imparted any dreams to him yet, but we’ll see! How would you describe the music that you create? It’s generally acoustic guitar-based, since I mostly write that way. Lately I’ve been enjoying weaving stories into my songs. Sometimes they’re fictional, sometimes they’re party true, maybe based on a person or people I know. I feel like they’re Sunday afternoon, driving with the top down kind of songs. How has your music evolved since you first began playing? I think I tried too hard early on. I thought way too much about clever lyrics and a turn of phrase, instead of just writing something that was true, honest and unique. Same with my musical approach, I spent a lot of time really diving into the complexity of it all with odd time signatures and key changes. I write a lot more simply these days and it’s so much more enjoyable.

I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? I did a solo opener for the Doobie Brothers years ago at the famed Photo by Crystal Clear Media

Photo by Chuck Shanlever

Bronco Bowl in Dallas. It was a large crowd, I was an unknown and just super nervous about the whole thing. The entire band came down to my dressing room to meet me and wish me good luck. I was too starstruck to be worried any more, I just hung out with rock royalty!

5th Annual Roadhouse benefiting Ronald McDonald House Fort Worth Photo by Glenn Wood

Another great memory is meeting the late Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave. He was attending one of my shows in Nashville and was moved by a Jeff Buckley cover that I did. Jeff had just recently passed and he and Chris were very close. Chris invited me to his show in Dallas where we got to visit some more. I met his band, he signed my guitar - it was a very special night. If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? I would choose passion. Nothing burns longer than passion. I’m especially aware of this during this current pandemic. I’ve had the opportunity to play some smaller shows lately, as we’re all still trying to figure out a way to do this live music thing safely, and man, I‘ve missed it!! I was reminded why I was drawn to this in the first place, it’s so powerful connecting to people on a musical level - whether it’s through a music video, large crowd or an intimate gathering. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas? It’s definitely my butt (jk). I believe my earnestness has served me well and helped me stand out. I try to do all things with conviction, it just feels right, you know?

Photo by Rachel Delira

What has been your biggest challenge as a musician/singer-songwriter? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? I think recognizing our true worth is a biggie for most artists and I’m no exception. Whether we’re taking about compensation, your time slot at an event, your “draw” or any other measure of success as a musical artist, it can sometimes be a bit of an uncomfortable conversation. Overcoming it, I believe, is just a daily ritual of believing in yourself and showing it. A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? I do, but I believe the word “suffer” is meant in a much broader sense. That is, your art is your priority, therefor other interests or pursuits might lack, or not be given the same amount of concern, and as a result one suffers.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? It’s made it incredibly accessible. I mean, the most obscure band is just an internet search away. And you can really deep dive into an artist like never before if you’re really into them. I do like that part. If you could change anything about the music industry. What would it be? I’d bring back the great songwriter era from the 70’s. Remember when they were signing James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young? Those were the biggest acts back then. They were basically songwriting royalty with just a guitar and a voice. Pretty cool. What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why? Back in Black (AC/DC) - Played this album to death. Rock solid groove. Deja Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) - Epic songwriting, harmonies and acoustic guitar playing. October Project (October Project) - Some of the most beautifully written songs and performances ever. Which Way To Here (Anders Osborne) - Amazing guitar player and songwriter from New Orleans. Check Your Head (Beastie Boys) - I still remember the first time I heard this album, the sounds are just so great on here! Appetite For Destruction (Guns N’ Roses) - I know this is 6 but I just can’t leave this one out - so much swagger. Tell us about your current project. A Moment - My latest record is due out this fall. I’m in love with the songs on here and the talented people who helped me make it. I can’t wait for you to hear it! What’s next for you? The Pandemic has allowed me to stay at home and really hone my music video making skills. I plan on making several videos for the new record and just seeing where that goes... How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? https://bradthompson.com/music/

Brian Sebastian

Host of “Movie Reviews and More”

One of the most innovative internet TV/radio hosts currently in the limelight today is the handsome Brian Sebastian, with his show “Movie Reviews and More.” He is the host, producer and on-air talent at “Woman On TV, with both shows on the “WorldWide Television Network” in Beverly Hills, California.” Brian is no stranger to the radio/tv and entertainment world as he has had conversations with over 69,000 of the most illuminating celebrities on the planet, including the late Robin Williams. Receiving 5.4 million views and counting, Brian connects the public to quality entertainment through his professionalism, charisma, and effervescence.

Brian’s inaugural jump into radio began with a small station in Hartford Connecticut where he was the desk assistant news editor John Wilkes. It was there he did phone interviews and established contacts and eventually made his way to KISS FM in Hartford, where he worked mornings with Jeremy Savage. In 1987 he moved to California and worked at Power 106 doing promotions. and in 1991 went to WAVE 94.7, LA’s New Age radio station. From there he teamed up with the late Bill Margold on public access covering movies and calling it “Movie Reviews and More.” Aside from having an undying passion for drum and bugle corps, Brian loves to help people who wish to rise in the world of entertainment. I couldn’t resist having a heart to heart with Brian regarding his career and his love for the movies.....

The obvious question, how did you get into broadcasting and entertainment? I started off as a disc jockey in Connecticut. In East Lyme Connecticut, a town with 7000 people and only three black families, I always did what I wanted to do.... I figured the best way to get in, because radio wasn’t easy back then, was I could get into WPOP Radio which was the Merv Griffin station....and that’s how I got into radio. So, I went backwards. For me I’ve always done things backwards and it’s worked to my advantage. I never went to college to

get a degree. I went to college to get the education that I wanted so that I can get the job that I needed. When I went to Central State University, I knew that I was never planning to graduate. I always wanted to take the communication courses that I needed so I could get on the air. I didn’t need the general modes that people take. I remember that I had a guidance counselor who told me that I was supposed to take my general mode classes first and then take my communication courses. I asked the guidance counselor “well what happens if I get the job I wanted because I’m taking it the other way around?” He told me that I didn’t have to worry about that because that would never happen. Well he was wrong. I was right. So, if I had not done what I did that way I would’ve never ended up working as a desk assistant in an all news radio station. That led me to get an internship with KISS FM in Hartford. While I was doing that I was working at Dunkin’ Donuts and had three jobs at that time. The radio job didn’t pay a lot, but I would assist by answering phone calls where I talked with the people. I would end up solving a lot of people’s problems. I became friends with them but the tricky part about that was I never sounded black. Everyone always thought I was white. They were intrigued with my voice. Maybe they found it soothing or something... so I always ended up talking to people and helping them and through that experience I learned how to put people together with things at an early age. I don’t think you should sound white or black. I think you sound “radio”. That’s interesting. While I was growing up you had to learn proper English and all. Remember I went to an all-white school, but before that I was in a mixed school. It was very strange because if my mother had not moved us to Connecticut, I don’t know what I would have been able to do. When I used to go roller skating, I used to buy albums. So instead of drinking like most people did I bought albums. I would buy like $97 worth of albums a week. Remember eight track tapes? I would make mine instead of buying them. I would make my own tapes with all the stuff that I liked. At that point what I was doing was I worked for the Coast Guard Academy. So, my first job I made $7.50 an hour and I think the minimum rate wage was $2.35 at that point. So, we were the first civilians to work in the mess halls. We had to wear tuxedos. That’s very interesting that you did all that. Yeah, and while I did all that I was in the drum and bugle corps. Why was I in that? Because I loved to travel. Music was in the forte. The drum and bugle corps was the best activity in the world because you got to travel. You’re in it from the age of 12 to age 21. And you had to play an instrument. Yeah. I learned the drums. I thought, did I want to play trumpet or did I want to play drums? What would I be better at? I realized at the last minute that I wanted to be a drummer. So, I became a drummer and I became one of the best drummers in Connecticut. The interesting thing about it was if you were in a Drum Corps in those days, they put people on the streets who taught you how to march because it was all military style. They taught you how to march and they taught you how to play an instrument. The last thing they did if they had time was to teach you how to read music. They would always say you had to learn how to chew bubble gum and play a horn at the same time, and we did, and we were very good. So, when I went to East Lyme High School, I took that activity with me. By the time I graduated in 1980, I had been to 37 states and 7 countries. I’ve always said that to this day that the Drum Corps is the best thing for those ages because you learn to get along with other kids and you learn how to be disciplined. You learn how to change things. But you have to be good at it, like marching in the hot sun in Ohio for eight hours and then you had to do a show that night. We might have had to stand at attention for an hour and a half. You might not have been able to go get a drink of water for a while. We stopped at 37 McDonald’s while we were on tour for a month and a half. We went from Connecticut across the country on school buses. You slept mostly in the bus, because that’s when you were traveling 8 to 10 hours. And then they used to always break down, but for whatever reason they never broke down on those tours.

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So fast forward....now you have your own radio show...what is the name of the show or show’s and how and when can they be seen? “Movie Reviews and More” is always the dominant name. I learned from watching a lot of people that for example sometimes I covered stuff for BET but I didn’t work for BET. There were always so many events going on in the same day and you couldn’t go to all of them, but I could. I learned how to be flexible. I knew that my dominant thing was that I loved movies. I am a movie whore. So, I would go watch movies like a Marathon. I learned endurance from the drum and bugle corp. With that you learned how to outlast people, outperform them. You learned how to get that interview in the green room instead of getting it in the ballroom. I made sure to become friends with a great publicist who handled all the big films. At that point you were supposed to be syndicated, but I was never syndicated. But I was the person who knew all the films and watched all of them. So, either people liked me, felt sorry for me or three I was consistently there. I wasn’t going to leave. Who do you still want to interview that you haven’t yet? It would be the Clintons, the Obamas, George Bush, and Tiger Woods. Interesting combination. The reason for that is they all have interesting pasts. Tiger Woods started as a prodigy. If you watch where he was when he was four years old on the Bob Hope show you see where he might be going. Look where he is now, he is the greatest golfer of all time. For me I never wanted to be on a major network because I saw what happened to them. You could be someplace for 20 years and then all of a sudden they have a hot young girl coming to take your place. It doesn’t mean that she knows anything about films, a lot of times she didn’t. The whole thing is that you had to learn everything. So, for me I knew that being the best when it comes to movies was to work in the video stores. You needed to know the history of film. I learned everything about the history of film by watching all the classics on VHS or going to screenings when they had them. So when people asked for videos I had to know what they liked. I had to know that when that person came in, I had to send them home with something they enjoyed so that they didn’t come back complaining. You are also involved with something called “Dreamweaver “ It’s called the Dreamweaver Artist Ranch. It’s a community that we were building up on a property in California. Dreamweaver is so many things besides an artist ranch. It is a showcase, a school, a laboratory, but most importantly it is a community benefit. The project is not done for profit nor will a profit be coming from it. Any profit that is made will be going right back into the Dreamweaver Artist Ranch. This is a project about helping those in need. We are looking for people who want to make a difference in the lives of others. If you are an artist or a creative or an entrepreneur planning things, then this is for you if you would like to show your support donations are now being excepted. With as little as five dollars you can support big dreams!

Watch “Movie Reviews and More” on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/moviereviewsnmore

Kei LaGuins

Talented Artist & Entrepreneur Who are your inspirations? My inspirations are Mary J. Blige, the late Aretha Franklin, and Tasha Cobbs just to name a few.

How did you get started as a singer? I started doing poetry at an early age which led to music and me singing in the choir. What do you think about when your performing? I don’t think of anything when performing, I just feel free and sing from the heart. What else can we expect from you in the future? I’m looking to tour in the future and want to do shows overseas. What was your first song ever sung? The first song I ever did was Mary J. Blige “Not Gon Cry”. When did you first start singing? I started singing when I was a child; my Aunt and Uncle who are both deceased; would uplift me. What did your family do to encourage you? They’ve just always motivated me to move forward and to keep striving for what I desire to do. Have you always enjoyed the art of music? Yes I have always enjoyed music it’s always been my contentment. Any loves, other then music? I love to produce Movies.

What was the best advice ever given to you? Best advice ever given to me is: Never give up on your dreams even if it takes longer than you expected. If you could have any style what would it be? My style would consist of R&B and R&B/Soul but I like different vibes. What kind of music do you listen to today? I listen to everything from Hip-Hop, Pop, Gospel, Reggae, a little Jazz, some Country, and a little Rock. What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist? There isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any. Where would you like to perform? I would like to perform in Mercedes-Benz stadium and Overseas. Who would you most like to open for? I would like to open for Mary J. Blige, John Legend, and Alicia Keys. Do you play any instruments? No as of now I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play any instruments but I would like to learn to play the Piano and Guitar. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? I would say Country. What hidden talents do you have? Hidden talents would be writing scripts/screenplays and directing. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? Yes I enjoy writing lyrics. What is your favorite quote to say to others? My favorite quote to say to people is: To keep pushing there are no Boundaries. Do you have a website or social media for our readers? Yes my website is www.keilaguins.com; my Instagram is: Kei_LaGuins; and they can also follow me on all social media as: Kei LaGuins

Tommy Ragen

Talented Musician & Actor Inside Look with “Mighty Oak” Actor Tommy Ragen, as he Explores Music, Acting, Reincarnation, & More! Interview by Eileen Shapiro

Tommy Ragen makes his film debut in “Mighty Oak” as the character Oak Scoggins. This musical prodigy lights up the screen with his innocence and honesty. At 9 years old, Ragen was in the Broadway first national tour for School of Rock. Now, at just 11 years old, Tommy has released three studio albums and the soundtrack features many of Ragen’s original songs. Take a closer look at the free-flowing interview about his experience with this film, and what we can anticipate next for Tommy.

What inspired the making of the film Mighty Oak? I really liked the role, and I knew my music was going to be used, which was a big motivation because I would feel weird if another kid got that part—especially knowing that they’d be singing my music as their own. How did you come up with the song Chasing? I was sitting in my bedroom with my friend Caroline Corn. There was a really good vibe when we were writing. We were creating a story throughout the song, and I think the story is what made the song. How old were you when you created the song and did you know at the time it was a hit? I was 8 years old, and I was proud of it, but I had no idea that it was going to be in a Paramount Film.

What part of the film hits close to home for each of you and why? Probably the Lestats music scenes. I grew up playing open mics and shows at Lestats, so those scenes felt especially nostalgic. Do you believe in reincarnation? Yes, I believe there is more then just the physical part of this world. Did you have a scene in the movie that you were particularly proud of or that you particularly enjoyed? The scene where I cried was a very vivid memory that will stick with me for a really long time. I am proud of that scene because it took me a long time to get in the mentality to cry before every take. Is the character you play in the movie similar to you in any way? Yes, especially because I wrote the music in the movie, so I feel like he is a version of me—but Oak has a bit of darkness in his life. I get sad and have emotions like Oak, but I have an amazing family and group of friends. Although, like Oak, most of my friends are older musicians. How do you compare films to being live on Broadway and TV series? I’d say the main thing is that making a movie is way shorter, so it brings this very intense feeling in a good way. What other films on the market are comparable to Mighty Oak? Any light-hearted family movie! Although I’ve seen a lot of people cry while watching Mighty Oak, so it’s a little more emotional than other family movies. What was it like working with award-winning Director Sean McNamara? He is a very nice man, and it’s crazy to see how he works. It was an honor to work with him! Are there a few behind-the-scenes/ funny moments that you can share with the fans in the making of the movie? One time, I got really scared when Janel and Carlos pranked me with a spider. Where can your fans hear your music and keep connected? You can find my music on all streaming platforms! You can also follow me on Instagram @tommyragen Mighty Oak Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba40pACGBZ0&feature=emb_title

Ras Minano

Multi-Talented Artist When did you first start singing? I started singing in 2006 when I formed my band The Hope of Africa in Ghana, West Africa. What did your family do to encourage you? My musical journey started as a child drummer within my traditional Royal Home. I later drummed the church. My father recognised my talent for music and knew my struggles to stay in school. So, in 1992, my Dad took me to meet a band called Classic Handles. The drummer Johnny Kwesi took me under his wing and taught me how to play the kick drum and later I met Tony Allen who taught me afrobeats.

Who else in your family sings? My uncle sang whilst I played traditional drums in our Royal Home. Who are your musical inspirations? I am inspired by the likes of Felafels Kuti, Joseph Hill (Culture), Tells Riley, Bob Marley, Papa Jar and Osibisa. What kind of music do you listen to today? I mostly listen to reggae, jazz and African music. What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist?Â None. Where would you most like to perform? World Music Festivals.

If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? Drumming. Do you play any instruments? Yes. I am a Master Drummer, Kick drummer and percussionist. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? Hip Hop What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? Heavy Metal. What hidden talents do you have? I was a photographer in Ghana to make money to fund my passion for my music. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? Yes I do, very much. Do you have social media / website? https://www.facebook.com/ras.minano https://www.instagram.com/rasminano/ http//www.hopeofafricabandandproductions.com

Rich Carroll Country Singer

Who are your inspirations? (as in other artists) I would have to say Randy Travis as #1, he has always been my favorite country artist, Patsy Cline was a great inspiration , George Jones,Ricky Van Shelton, Merle Haggard and so many more artists have touched my heart...

When did you first start singing? My childhood was not so good, we were poor, living in various projects, in the mountains, having such a traumatic childhood, I could go into the woods and sing, music always took the fears, the hurts away, it would somehow give my soul peace, so probably around 4 years old was when I started singing. Living through the neglect, starvation, abuse and abandonment of my parents. My 6 siblings and I were in many foster homes. My foster parents took me to church, I was asked to sing solos by the choir director from the age of 9, music is truly in my heart. What did your family do to encourage you? My family didn’t really have anything to do with my music, we were all placed in different foster homes throughout the state of WV, they didn’t really know to much about me. Only now, that I have recorded a couple songs, are they supporting me, they are my biggest fans... Who else in your family sings? I remember my mother always singing along to the old classics back in the 60’s/70’s, she was pretty good. My dad also had a nice voice, neither one of them ever did anything more than that, I am the only one...

Who are your musical inspirations? Randy Travis is an incredible artist, his style of music has always inspired me to sing. His voice always seemed sincere. Patsy Cline was one of the greatest singers in my life, hearing her voice would bring back the few pleasant memories of my childhood. When momma was playing Patsy Cline, it was a happy time, as brief as it was, Patsy is definitely one of my favorites. Another one of the most inspirational artist in my life, is Josh Turner, his music, his faith in God to his voice. His genre of music is a crossover between Country and Christian, he never compromises his constitution... a very small genre where I hope to fit into... What kind of music do you listen to today? The music I listen to today is a mix of new country, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, and Blake Shelton. Classic Country like Merle Haggard, Randy Travis, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, LeeAnn Womack. I listen to Christian music like Casting Crowns, Nicole Nordeman, Hillsongs, Maranatha Singers, the Jesus Culture, and I love gospel music. I also like Gaithers, Guy Penrod, and Jason Crabb... I love music, almost all of it, from the Rock’n Roll of the 70’s-80’s, Disco, R&B, to Dave Grusin, and Chuck Mangione. What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist? I try to keep my image up as a country boy and try not to show my age so much. However, some of my music tells another story... Like maybe some BeeGees, or maybe some Billy Holiday and maybe even some Olivia Nnewton John... Where would you most like to perform? The Grand Ole Opry of course, I think this is the dream of most country Musicians, then I would like to do a concert in my hometown of Huntington WV, but honestly, I just live to sing, I would sing anywhere... Who would you most like to open for? That’s a great question, they are so many great Country artists that I would love to open for, why just being reconsidered as a candidate to open with any of the greats would be amazing. So...I would have to choose, Randy Travis, I can’t say enough about him. Randy has always been one of the greatest musicians in my world. I would like to open for Leeann Womack, Pam Tillis, Josh Turner, there’s so many... If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? If I weren’t singing, I can’t imagine not singing, music is so very important to my well being. I need music in my life, there’s never a time that I’m not listening to it, singing along with it, or just thinking of a song. However, I am an avid Deer hunter, so, for the success of my time hunting, I am not singing or listening to music, so... if I’m not singing, I’m hunting...

Do you play any instruments? I am learning to play guitar. Other than that, I have always performed with a band or performance tracks. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? If I could dabble in another genre, well I would probably have to say Gospel music, afterall, I love God. I was pretty much not only raised on Country music, but as a child, I was carted to many churches in West Virginia to watch Gospel music groups perform. I always loved the harmonies and how they sounded so good without instruments, only their voices... I also wouldn’t mind dabbling in “mountain music “ or otherwise known as bluegrass, Hillbilly music. It always seemed to connect me with the land, the culture of my WV heritage. I remember when I was very young, hearing it on the radio and my mind wandering off to the creeks and rivers running thru the mountains... What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? There’s only a couple genres of music that I do not personally like, mostly, I do not like Rap. I just don’t get it, it seems to mostly be vulgar, negative and racially motivated, I don’t call it music, it seems to be rhymes with beats and not a whole lot of musical instruments... I also do not like Opera music, I find that they all sound the same, all the women and all the men too! I’ve been exposed to it a few times, like over at the in-laws while they were listening to the “Three Tenors”... they all 3 sounded the same and I could not understand a single word they sang.... What hidden talents do you have? I don’t really have any hidden talents, all of my talents are out there in the open. If I come up with any in the near future, I will keep you posted... Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? I enjoy writing about life experiences and telling stories. Music lyrics are connections of like minded people that have lived thru similar circumstances, or not. The lyrics help us to understand our circumstances, or others circumstances, they open my heart for understanding, They take me on journeys from the past and even into the future, lyrics have a special ability to transport the mind from bad situations to good ones, the lyrics are always relative. I remember how the music while I was in some of my darkest hours as a child, how the lyrics would raise my spirits. https://music.apple.com/us/album/lifetime-single/1471757508

Pilgrims’ Dream Singer-Songwriter

Who are you and what do you do? I’m Rob Ouseley and I’m a singer-songwriter/producer by the name Pilgrims’ Dream.

What is Alt-Folk, Indie, Americana music? Alt-Folk combines acoustic folk sounds with more energy and a uniqueness which separates it from normal folk music. Indie for me basically means music which isn’t influenced by mainstream music though it can still appeal to the mainstream. Americana music is based around American roots music styles. My music come under all these broad categories.

Why do you do what you do? Because I’m lucky enough to know it’s my purpose and I love it. What made you get into music? From a very young age I would be singing all the time and this naturally led me into music; choirs and stuff as a kid then bands in my teens. What’s your background? Born and raised in West London, studied in Nottingham for a few years, joined the Royal Marines Commandos and went all over the world, been in London since then focussing on music full time. What’s integral to the work of an artist? Good question; for me, it’s about being able to access the part of the brain from which creativity and art flow. This can be pretty hard sometimes, and the harder you try the less comes from it. Inspiration for me normally comes when not trying to find it; when just playing or practicing or jamming. For me it comes most when I’m on my own for a few days with no distractions, no time pressure for getting something done. When thoughts and ideas just develop and grow of their own accord. Getting out of the city into nature is pretty key for giving the artistic part of the mind time to breathe and re-set too.

What role does the artist have in society? Whatever the artist makes of it, and society requires from and projects on to it. Broadly speaking its to commentate, reflect, provoke, entertain, inspire and at times to lead opinion. Explain what you do in 100 words. I’m a singer-songwriter drawing on influences primarily from guitar-based music, especially folk from the 60’s through to contemporary. I also do some producing and recorded and produced the songs of mine on Spotify etc although developing my live sound is my focus at the moment. I play a lot of gigs in London and went not playing gigs am often at Open Mic Nights all over the city; I also play at festivals all over the UK. I’ve played on the beautiful Scottish Isle of Lewis as well as festivals in Ireland and The Netherlands. How has your practice changed over time? It has remained fairly similar. What art do you most identify with? As a musician I most identify with music and other musicians. I do like visual art too and love literature but music is what I identify with most. What do you most enjoy about music? Singing and writing is so therapeutic and good for the heart, mind and soul…playing live and getting a good reaction is probably the best bit though. It takes you to another place. What themes do you pursue? I never specifically set out to follow particular themes, but broadly most of my songs relate to existence and its meaning, death and what remains after, love, hope, regret, mistakes, friendship and overcoming adversity. What’s your scariest experience? On paper it would be various things that happened in the Marines but I had so much adrenalin pumping round during these that I didn’t feel scared. I guess if I had to pick a particular experience, it would be getting attacked and thinking some of my friends had been hit but fortunately they were ok and had got into cover elsewhere. Describe a real-life situation that inspired you? I get massively inspired whenever I see bands I love. I was on the front row for Sam Fender recently which was amazing. Sufjan Stevens at the Royal Festival Hall, The War On Drugs at Alexandra Palace, Mumford and Sons at the Olympic Park, Paul McCartney at the 02; these were all gigs which I came away from feeling very inspired. What’s your most embarrassing moment? Hmm…I’m sure there’s plenty to choose from but I’m finding it hard to think of one. Maybe my first open mic playing my own stuff solo…I was so nervous I couldn’t control my voice and it went all over the place. I had never had that before and didn’t know it could happen! What jobs have you done other than being an artist? I’ve done a lot of part-time stuff as a musician; waiter, office admin, security, social media marketing, gardening, a tiny bit of acting, putting together Ikea furniture…and of course was a Marine before that. What is an artistic outlook on life? I guess it differs enormously depending on the artist; for me I it would be pondering over and thinking deeply about the human condition. Existence, why we’re here, how we relate to others, what should life be like. But then that is exactly what a philosopher does. So maybe I don’t know what an artistic outlook on life is, maybe that’s just my outlook. Maybe questioning it and the standard structures of life; work as an end in itself rather just a means to accumulate material gain?

What memorable responses have you had to your work? After gigs etc when people have said how much a song spoke to them and how much they relate to it and the lyrics. Or when I get messages from people saying how much they like my songs…that always means a huge amount and definitely makes the hard work worth it. What food, drink, song inspires you? I love Indian curry, good Bavarian alcohol-free beer in a big tankard, I can’t pick one particular song; it would have to be a Beatles song but I don’t have one favourite. That said as I write this ‘Another Girl’ has popped into my head so I’ll go with that. Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it? Yeah the artistic life can be pretty lonely; I’m not in a band which would make a difference. But there is also an incredible community of live musicians in London and getting out and playing live and watching your friends play is a lot of fun. What do you dislike about some of the music world? The fact that social media is so important and you have to spend a lot of time on that and other non-music things in order to try and have a music career. What do you like about your work? Creating music and playing it live to people is great. What makes you angry? Politics. What superpower would you have and why? Probably to fly; I always like doing it in dreams. Would be good to do it for real…..I’ve done a number of skydives and loved falling through the sky. Name something you love, and why? Good coffee…it gets me going every day. Name something you don’t love, and why? Covid-19; lots of people have lost their lives to it and live music has stopped for the foreseeable future. What is your dream project? Pilgrims’ Dream with a full band! Name three artists you’d like to be compared to. My favorite bands are The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones. That’s who I’d LIKE to be compared to if I was the one choosing… What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Dig out blind! (i.e. do your best)

Professionally, what’s your goal? To have a full-time career in music; recording studio albums and touring. Do you have social media/website? https://www.instagram.com/pilgrimsdream/ https://www.facebook.com/pilgrimsdream https://www.youtube.com/pilgrimsdream https://open.spotify.com/artist/0fdw9Qj7h235GZCwvoXZUR?si=dAxIKsThQbyOJ49kkRhbLQ What wouldn’t you do without? My guitar, spicy crisps and the newspaper.

Interview Photos by @madds_araceli

World Health Organization Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/ novel-coronavirus-2019 CDC Frequently Asked Questions https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources Coping During COVID-19: Resources For Parents https://childmind.org

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The Orange Magazine - Vol. 6

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Brad Thompson

Wicked J 303