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Tony van Veen
Disc Makers // BookBaby // Merchly
MUSIC
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Founder Michael Neely CEO Rasheed J. Neely Aaliyah Neely Editors Aidem Media Group David R. Navarro
Contributing Writers Michael Neely David R. Navarro Russ Ray Graphic Design David R. Navarro design&print Advertising & Promotion Aidem Media Group B & S Designs design&print
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Table of Contents Page 3-4 Sarah May Page 5-8 Zay Santos Page 10-11 Faye Williams Page 12-13 Parker Rose
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Page 15-17 Tony Van Veen CEO of Disc Makers BookBaby // Merchly
Page 19-20 Lenny Keys of I Am I Am Not Band Page 22-23 Nate Soundz
Page 25-27 Sergey Lisin of Early Grey Page 28-29 Chikia Di Page 30-31 BISCAY
Sarah May
Singer-Songwriter
Who are your inspirations? (as in other artists) I always try to pull my inspiration from every corner of music. Keith Urban was the really big first inspiration I had, but the artists that have really been inspiring me lately are Alec Benjamin, Sasha Sloan, Charlie Puth, among MANY others. When did you first start singing? I was 7 years old when my guitar teacher at the time recommended that I sing at a talent competition that I signed up for. Up until that point I had absolutely no interest in being a singer, I really only wanted to play guitar and drums. But, I tried it, and I fell in love with it! Singing and playing on stage became the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life.
What did your family do to encourage you? They are always so supportive. Knowing that they always have my back and are willing to help me chase all the crazy dreams I have is the most encouraging thing in the world.
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Who else in your family sings? It’s just me! I‘m kind the musical oddball in the family. Who are your musical inspirations? I take my inspirations from the artists I mentioned above but often find something special in other artists that I find and listen to. What kind of music do you listen to today? My music taste is all over the place. I’ve been on a large Jazz and Funk bend lately. A lot of Vulfpeck, a lot of Snarky Puppy. But I love listening to everything, because music is like a language, the more you hear it especially if it’s a diverse range of feels and genres, you’re going to understand it more! What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist? Too many, wayyyyy too many. My phone is littered with guilty pleasure songs. Where would you most like to perform? The Grand Ole Opry has kind of always been my dream venue to perform at. But honestly, I would most like to play all over the world, as many places as I can. Who would you most like to open for? I think I have to say Keith Urban just because he is the reason I got into music, he gave me the spark I needed to set out on this crazy journey I’ve been on for the past decade. So being able to open for him would really be this crazy full circle moment. If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? Music production for sure. Being completely on the other end of the album making process would be really cool. I’m really lucky that I get to work very closely with my producer to create my records. But being a full time producer, working with different artists, creating new unique bodies of work, that would be really fascinating. Where can fans-to-be gain access to your music? ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/beamerwigley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeamerWigley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beamerwmusic/
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Zay Santos
Man of Many Talents
We caught up with the talented and well respected, Zay Santos in Santa Fe, NM. When did you first get into music? I come from a family with a musical background. My father sings, my mother and sister play the keys and my brother plays the drums. So needless to say it runs in the family. I became interested in music in church. I was selected to be a sound-man for our church at a very young age, even before I learned to played an instrument. I believe this gave me a good ear and caused me to pay close attention and listen to what was taking place on stage...
Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? I couldn’t help but be moved by music. Especially in church. When I started to play my own music I was hooked. It was almost as if I didn’t have a choice, from day one I was hooked. I had two older cousins who played in a rock band here in Albuquerque New Mexico and I just thought they were the coolest. I was also gifted tons of great music to listen to along the way. I think it had to be the first time I played live on stage that made me pursue it. My first show was at a state fair in Arizona and I bombed but I will never forget how excited I was and the energy I felt. Like I said, I was always moved by music and that feeling is what I continue to chase. How has your music evolved since you first began performing/writing music? In terms of the music I believe you grow daily as you practice and get better. I will say from the beginning to now the music has gotten happier, heavier, more lighthearted, more meaningful, up-tempo and fun. I am not confined to one particular genre and I am exploring new things. The biggest evolution I see is in writing music. It’s funny how you get into writing-or how you start writing.. I think when you’re young you use it as a way to express your emotions, or at least deal with them. As you grow you start to fall in love with the artistic side of writing. I think when you’re young you use it as a way to express your emotions, or at least deal with them. As you grow you start to fall in love with the artistic side of writing. The two become an amazing
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blend of personal story and emotions, while flowing with your artistic style. In my earlier writings, I was pretty blunt about what I was saying. I didn’t hide much in metaphor and didn’t leave much to the listeners’ imagination. Now I have found a way to allow the listener to draw their own conclusions. I think this gives a more personal experience to the listener. It allows them to make the song what they want it to be about not just what or why I wrote it. 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? So, I have two perspectives to music. One is as a fan, the other is as an artist. Here is something from each.... I was fortunate enough to be a part of a festival in Gulf Shores Alabama. I was only a spectator at the show, but with a few handshakes, doors seem to open and they open a little wider if you are willing to push them. I found myself backstage and loving every minute of it. as a music lover meeting your favorite artists is top on the list. On the bill that night was one of my favorites Jack White. He was set to perform the headliner set for the evening... Like I said, sometimes you have to push the door or the limit a little further to experience something amazing! As the band took to the stage I walked on as if I was one of Opening for Ian Moore at Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM Photo by Angela Villarreal Photography the members. I know what you’re thinking that’s crazy, right? The crowd that night in Gulf Shores Alabama exceeded 40,000 and up until that day, I had never experienced anything like it... From the side of the stage I sang along with the band and one of my favorite artists. I watched the crowd, the sea of people and how they reacted. Talk about energy!! Wow! As Jack closed the set, I walked down the stage stairs and waited for him to cross my path backstage hoping just to say hello. His road manager promptly met him at the steps, gave him a towel and started walking frantically towards the bus. As he walked past me, he threw his hand up in a quick wave. I wasn’t really sure what to ask or say, but I wanted to get his attention. So, I said “hey Jack!, hey Jack!” As he turned around I asked “would you ever want to do a gospel album together??” He had a puzzled look on his face. I’m sure that’s not a typical fan question. He said, “not now man, not now”, with a strange but intrigued look on his face. To this day, I’m hopeful that it will happen... As an artist I have been fortunate enough to share the stage and work with so many amazing musicians, actors, producers and writers. I will say this, at the end of the day, we are all just men and women trying to find happiness within our artistic abilities. Some meetings have been pleasant, others have been a nightmare. I take what I can get from each person and learn... 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, that it’s the fulfillment that keeps me in it. You never forget the fulfillment inside after writing a meaningful song, or the fulfillment after a show. You never forget the times people cry from the personal connection to the song you wrote. You never forget the fulfillment from achieving a goal when the road to it was tough… I live for the fulfillment that I get being a part of something bigger than myself and meaningful to others! Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas? I think the willingness to be yourself is probably the most important ingredient. We all have something unique about us! It could be the way we look, the way we dress, our voice, the way we write etc. I think by staying true to that, you find what truly makes you unique.
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In my own way I know that I am unique in the fact that I am willing to cross genres. I have a unique style from my clothing to my writing. I am also constantly changing and growing and that in itself is unique. It’s amazing to me that when we achieve some success for a certain thing, we tend to not want to move away from that. The ability to adapt has made me unique in an ever-changing industry. There is something special about you, don’t forget that! What has been your biggest challenge as a musician/producer? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? One of the biggest challenges for me is understanding success. We all want to make it! But what exactly is making it… If “making it” is being famous with your name in all the lights, well then I haven’t made it! But, if making it is holding true to yourself and bringing happiness to others with your music along the way, then I have. I’m one of those people who are constantly wanting and chasing more. I’ve overlooked some of my successes because to me it just wasn’t good enough. When you have a big picture mind set, it’s easy to overlook the small things that have happened along the way. I’m starting to learn that success or making it is different to everyone and should be celebrated. Half of the fulfillment of success is within the struggle. I’m learning to overcome these challenges by slowing down to celebrate those seemingly small things along the way. 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! I don’t think you have to suffer for your art. I started off playing blues music and this was a common misconception amongst artist I met. They felt they had to live a certain way or they had to go through certain things in order to feel the blues, in order to feel their music. I do know that experiences, whether they be bad or good, definitely shapes an artist’s view. My perspective is that my art should be something that I do that brings fulfillment… In my humble opinion Art should bring happiness to the artist, it should bring hope in the trying times. After all, isn’t that why we do it? Suffering is a part of life we will all go through, but there is such a thing as a happy and content artist! How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? Well, there are always two ways to look at things you can choose to see it as a negative or you can choose to see it as a positive. Its all in your perspective… The Internet has helped tons of artists just like me to get out and be seen, be heard and valued. It has also brought new ways to be creative. It’s constantly presenting new ways to earn a living. It has made the recording process easier and more accessible. It has given us a platform to showcase who we are as artists. The Internet gives us more ways to communicate with fans and colleagues across the globe. It has expanded our reach to the entire world instead of just our backyard. I do miss the old days when a rep would walk into a club and find an artist based on a feeling or recognition of extreme talent. I do wish the process of creating music was still personal and hands-on, but this industry like everything is always changing and so should we... Have you done or plan on doing any Live-stream Concerts? If you have, how has the response been from your fans? I have yet to do any live-streaming concerts during the pandemic. There was, sometime a couple years back when I was live-streaming every show from Austin, Texas. I definitely see the value in it. I have been using this time to collect my thoughts, write new songs and prepare for when we get the chance to perform again. I think during this time I’ve had more response and fun with friends by creating video content for them to view and share. I do know that I have a few live-stream events coming up and I look forward to seeing the response. If you could change anything about the music industry. What would it be? I guess it depends on what level of the music industry we are talking about. At the ground level, I would like to see some change in professionalism. I would like to see artists pay closer attention and take pride in their appearance, on stage performance and overall persona. I think professionalism is something that is lacking or gets overlooked at the ground level of this industry. As you move up the ladder, things feel a little more rigid and the industry pays more attention to your professionalism and business savvy vs. raw talent. I think they overlook potential because they are not willing to develop an artist. In
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my opinion, this needs to change. I know artists with so much potential and in the back of my mind, I know that they will never get the shot they deserve just because of how this industry operates. They want a quick hit, not an investment. This should change. And at the tippy top, I think they need to make room for new styles, new artists and change! How can the industry grow, expand and advance if the people at the top keep a lid on it? What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why? Jimi Hendrix - “Axis: Bold as Love” Stevie Wonder - “Songs in the Key of Life” Rival Sons - “Feral Roots” Third Day - “Time” Sturgill Simpson - “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music” I’m truly in love with artists’ expressions and there’s no way on earth I could pick just five albums, but here’s a few for now. These albums are always go to, to feel something special. They all have a unique quality within them, they all have something that I go to, to find what I am seeking in becoming who I am today… They all take me back to a special place in time sometimes to the first time I heard them. What is the best advice you have received? “Zay, When you get your chance, you kick that f#@king door down and you rock it”. He was only talking about me playing a solo on his stage, but to me it meant so much more. Tell us about your current project. Are you working on new music? An EP or Album? So, it’s definitely time for new music. I put out an EP and a couple singles this last year and I’m excited about a new direction for this upcoming project. The last project was definitely rock ‘n’ roll, whereas the upcoming is leaning toward song writing and simpler melodies... I have been back in New Mexico, my home state for some time now and it’s showing in my playing and writing. What’s next for you? I don’t think this thing ever stops. I don’t think you could ever fully just quit or give up! I think it keeps going and you just roll with the punches. My life is taking me in many different directions and I’m embracing it. I started a business in Santa Fe, New Mexico in a completely different industry. I have started taking modeling more serious, than I have in the past and I’m looking forward to a new career in acting! One thing I know for sure, is I will never stop playing, writing and loving music. It has become a necessary component to my sanity and happiness. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? You can find me as Zay Santos or Zay Santos Rock Revolt on any streaming platform. If you would like to keep in touch with me, my social media is the best way to do so. You can find me: @zaysantosmusic and zaysantosmusic.com
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Faye Williams
Singer-Songwriter
When did you first get into music? I first got into music at 6 years old. I participated in a school talent show, then I absolutely fell in love with performing. I went on to start writing songs at age 10 and then, finally picked up the guitar at age 12. I never fully dedicated myself to music until about a year ago. A year ago, I started studying the business and treating myself as a business. I feel like when you pair talent with work ethic, is when an artist becomes unstoppable.
Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? Taylor Swift! When she hit the scene back in 2006/2007 she changed the game for a lot of young, aspiring female musicians. She gave me the confidence to continue developing my craft. How has your music evolved since you first began performing/songwriting? My lyrics have improved significantly. When I was younger and just starting out, I didn’t know what I was doing, so of course my songs and performances weren’t gonna be great. The further along I got, the more practice I had under my belt and of course experiences. I feel like this whole industry is just a learn as you go type of industry.
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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? Last August, I received the wonderful opportunity of attending the CD Baby Music Conference in Austin, TX. The artists that attended were able to play at an open mic at a corner bar called, “Cheer Up Charlie’s”. That was one of my favorite shows I’ve ever played. The audience was so welcoming and there were so many talented artists who played that 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? Passion, hands down. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as an artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? My writing skills and image. I say my writing skills because I’m a very good writer, I just “get” it. I say my image, because I have a distinct look about myself that I always used to hate, but it’s definitely paying off in this career field. What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? My biggest challenge has been finding access to good producers who can make my music sound competitive enough to be play-listed. Also, gaining an audience on social media can be tricky, but when done strategically you’ll see loads of growth. A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? Absolutely! It’s like paying your dues. If so, how have you suffered for your art? I’ve been broke and haven’t been financially supported in a comfortable way, because i’m so passionate about building my business/career. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? It had pros and cons for sure. It’s given artists access to tools that you used to have to go through record labels to get. It also has given us more hands on access to tools and resources such as Bandlab and ReverbNation. On the other hand, music isn’t as appreciated or valued as it used to be, because you can listen to whatever, wherever and 95% of it you don’t have to pay for. Do you have a website or any social media? Yes! https://www.fayessong.com https://www.instagram.com/fayessong https://www.facebook.com/fayessong https://www.twitter.com/fayessong
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Parker Rose
Producer with a Mission
When did you first get into music? When I was a kid, I liked to listen to K-Earth 101. From there, I progressed to listening to specific bands. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? I was bullied for years in school and with no anti-bullying campaigns around back then, my fists became anti-bullying campaigns. After many years of my life spent in detention halls, I started to express myself with poetry. I soon realized I was able to put every frustration I felt into words and soon I started hearing melodies in my head and wrapped some guitar chords around it to complete the vision.
How has your music evolved since you first began performing/songwriting? I’ve worked with various bands and producers over the years, who influenced me and helped me achieve productions that would have been difficult to fully realize solo. 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 went to see Pangea perform and I was invited on stage to do a song during intermission. I opened for The Withers on several occasions throughout Los Angeles and those were fun shows, while they lasted. It wasn’t on stage but I met Rodney Bingenheimer twice at my job in Los Angeles and had a conversation about music with him and that was a thrilling break from the norm of boredom. I also met Linda Blair a couple times at my job and that was so surreal.
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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? Desire would fit best because I desire to write the next great pop song. I desire to perform live. I desire to draw real emotions from the people I perform for, whether it be joy, hatred or jealousy. I would thoroughly enjoy an entire crowd
booing me just as much as I would enjoy an entire crowd cheering me because bottom line, my music is causing them to feel a certain way and feel something real and that is what I desire most. In an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? I’m not in this for money. It’s about sending a message through the music. Also, I treat this the same way I would treat any potential relationship with the opposite sex. If all she wants is money from me, what’s the point? Might as well hire a hooker. I only want someone with me, for me. If I can’t have that, then I don’t need anything else. I can’t lie with my music. I only perform songs that I can feel. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as an artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? I’m not in this for money. It’s about sending a message through the music. Also, I treat this the same way I would treat any potential relationship with the opposite sex. If all she wants is money from me, what’s the point? Might as well hire a hooker. I only want someone with me, for me. If I can’t have that, then I don’t need anything else. You can’t lie with music. I only perform songs that I can feel. What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Stage fright is difficult and still ongoing because it makes it hard to sing certain songs. I usually perform alone on stage so it’s all on me. 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? No, because I suffered long before my music came along. When my music did come along, it was a release from all my suffering. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? It has made communication with other people very impersonal. It seems to me like no one wants to take a chance anymore and go outside and meet someone new. I know this is not true for everyone, but from my point of view, this is reality and unfortunate. http://parkerrose.reverbnation.com
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IGNITE APPAREL’s focus is in fueling creative expression of designs and ideals from around the world. “We IGNITE the fuel to Be different, Think different, Act different with passion and love for the art”. COMING SOON.
Tony van Veen
We caught up with the CEO of Disc Makers, BookBaby and Merchly, Mr. Tony van Veen during some of his away time form work. How long have you been in the business of music? I’ve been gainfully employed in the music business for 33 years as of August 10, 2020 (but who’s counting?). What made you decide to get in the business? When I was in college I played drums in several punk rock bands. The whole punk rock scene in the mid 80’s was at the vanguard of the huge DIY music scene we know today… We did everything ourselves – write songs, book gigs and tours, promote concerts, build mailing lists (old school snail mail!), record, press records, you name it. I loved the energy, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the fact that if you had an idea, you could just try it. Punk rock kept me sane and helped me graduate business school. It also inspired me to pursue a career in music. Ideally, my music career would have been as a songwriter and performer. But… I figured that it would be hard to make a living as a punk rock drummer, and so I ended up taking a job at Disc Makers instead. Disc Makers at the time was a small regional vinyl pressing plant located in Philadelphia, and I did whatever needed to be done – answer phones, take care of client projects, sales, marketing… Perhaps what’s most amazing is that today, 33 years later, it is the only employer I’ve ever had. Describe some of the things your business does? We help artists get their content out to market and monetize it. What does that mean in real life? We focus mostly on helping artists get physical media produced: we manufacture CDs, vinyl records, USBs, posters, T-shirts. However, we also get artists onto streaming platforms through our partnership with CD Baby. How does your business help indie and major artists? Streaming has been great for music fans, but it’s been difficult for artists to make money from their music through streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and YouTube. 1,000 streams on Spotify pay just $4. 1,000 YouTube views pay $1!!! Think about that. You need to get 250 people to watch one of your songs four times each, and all you’ll make is a buck!!! As an add on to streaming, the physical media we produce provides a more viable revenue stream for artists. We give our artists the tools to make more money from their music by selling CDs, vinyl, and T-shirts at their concerts and online (including at the Bandcamp site). Besides manufacturing services we offer.
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award-winning graphic design to make it easy to get a great-looking cover design, and our mastering studio (The SoundLab) makes our clients’ music sound amazing.
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What kind of mistakes have you seen artists make? As you can probably imagine, I have seen so many over the years. But probably the most common mistake is that artists spend thousands of dollars on recording their album, designing artwork, mastering, and manufacturing the product, and then they just release it without giving much thought to promotion, and (tragically) without having a promo budget! Conventional wisdom is that you should spend as much on promotion as you spend on recording and producing your album. If you spend, say, $5,000 on recording, $1,000 on design and mastering, and another $1,000 to manufacture your CDs, you should also be prepared to spend close to $7,000 on promotion. Most artists don’t think about this until it’s too late, haven’t budgeted for it, and will end up with disappointing sales and streams for their new album as a result. What are some of the dos and don’ts for artists when it comes to their career? Remember, there is no blueprint for success, no silver bullet. But here are the main things I advise artists when I’m asked how they should maximize their career opportunities: • Learn to write great songs. Every songwriter is in love with their songs, but are they truly good enough to break through and capture the listener’s attention – Bob Marley good, Michael Jackson good, Bruce Springsteen good? A great song doesn’t guarantee success, but a mediocre song guarantees failure. • Give great performances. If you’re the opening act you’ll be playing in front of lots of fans who don’t know you. Make sure your performance is so passionate, personal, and/or entertaining that you turn them into believers. • Focus on marketing. Be prepared to pay. Make sure you budget funds to pay for social and display marketing. Engage with fans on social media. Constantly be posting. Build that email list – that’s where your buyers will come from. • Constantly be releasing product. The flood of new releases in today’s streaming world makes it easy for fans forget about you, unless you put out new music every few months.
• Remember that success takes time. Many artists early on in their careers want overnight success when instead sustainable fanbases take years to build. Your progress may seem slow, but if you keep focusing on slowly adding fans over a period of years, one day you’ll realize you have a fanbase that can sustain a music career! How important is it to have merchandise when it comes to performances? Critical! Today’s artist makes most of their money from live performances. Having merch for sale – shirts, hats, CDs, vinyl, stickers, hoodies, USBs, whatever – adds very valuable revenue to every concert you play. For every CD you sell at a concert you’d need 3,000 streams to make the same profit. Which do you think is easier? What is the difference between a musician and an artist? Nothing, or everything. Artists are musicians, but many musicians don’t think of themselves as artists. As an artist you want to develop your career and your brand, and you’ll take charge to do it. Over the years what changes have you seen take place, good or bad? Wow… over a span of 30+ years? I have personally witnessed technology and product changes from vinyl to cassette to CD to downloads to streaming… I’ve seen distribution going from being almost inaccessible to indie artists (in the old days of physical media, distributors, and one stops) to it being ubiquitous and almost free (with digital distributors like CD Baby and DistroKid). I’ve seen it go from artists be able to pay bills from selling product to a limited regional market when everything was physical, to artists being able to instantly reach a global audience of hundreds of millions of listeners, but not be able to pay bills because the payments are a fraction of a penny per stream. So many changes… many are positive, some are negative. What can you tell an artist who is just starting out in the music industry? The music industry is a tough business. It’s hard to make money from recorded music. There’s lots of competition for fans’ attention from other artists. You will run into hustlers and con artists trying to take you for a ride or ride on your coattails. Most of all, it’s difficult to break through. But it’s not all negative. Let your passion feed you. Focus on being the best songwriter you can be. And most importantly, don’t give up. I have seen many an artist with a positive career trajectory, where they were adding fans and selling/streaming more with every release, but they gave up because the progress wasn’t fast enough for their liking. And they may have given up right before their big breakthrough! You’ll have to invest in your career – both time, and money. And it’ll take more of each than you think. But if you keep going and don’t give up, you have a real shot at success. How do you feel about this pandemic when it comes to music – do you feel it is hurting us or making us stronger? This is such a crazy time. The fact that there are no concerts going on right now is a huge punch in the throat to performing artists. It severely limits their ability to drive income from their music, and it also slows down building a fanbase. So yes, artists are getting hurt. The real question is “what are artists doing during the pandemic to help their careers progress?” Sure, you can’t gig right now. But there IS a lot you CAN do. Compose, record, release product digitally, build out your social following and engage with them, update your website, collaborate with other artists… If you just give up and stop working on music during the pandemic you will be worse off at the end of the pandemic than at the start, because the fans you had at the start of the pandemic will have forgotten about you. Do you feel it’s crippling the music industry and the way we do business in the future? I don’t feel it’s crippling the music industry, but right now it’s certainly severely impacting it. Live Nation recently reported that their quarterly revenues were down a whopping 98% compared to the same quarter last year! I’m concerned that many independent venues won’t be able to survive the pandemic and will have to close for good, with a huge ripple effect to the artist community. These are scary times. That said, there is a silver lining. There has always been a music industry, and there always will be one. If you think this is bad, the music industry has survived a 75% decrease in income in the decade after Napster was launched – much of it because of piracy. If it was able to survive that, it will survive COVID-19. Piracy is way down thanks to streaming. Fans are easier to reach than ever before. Musicians are resilient. The industry will recover. Guaranteed. Website For CDs, vinyl, and USBs, www.discmakers.com For T-shirts, hats, hoodies, and other merch, www.merchly.com Any final advice to artists? Don’t give up. Keep working on your craft, keep building your fanbase. Success might be right around the corner.
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Lenny Keys
I Am I Am Not Band
When did you first get into music? Started classical education on piano at 6 years old. First, (high school pop) band at 15. After immigrating to the USA, I joined a pop band in New York. I played in clubs, a lot of international pop/rock/jazz/folk... music. It was great schooling. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? My grandma was an opera singer. She insisted on my music education. During my teens, (back in Ukraine) I discovered.....Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Pink Floyd.... - classics which sparked my love for THAT SOUND. Of course, later on, different music styles came along and widened my pallet.
How has your music evolved since you first began performing/songwriting? Music is just like any other skill, the more you practice/perform the better you get. And by studying/adapting new styles/instruments/technologies...one gets better and better. Same goes for writing/composing. 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? Chris Penn just showed up once at our gig and wanted to sit-in. I was surprised how good of a blues singer he was. Prince with his girlfriend and another couple came in for a bite while in Honolulu. Gave us a thumb up. At a Russian club (NY) where I was gigging for a while, Neil Armstrong just showed up with a friend for dinner. A shy quiet man. While playing in a fine dining restaurant in Honolulu, M. Baryshnikov stopped by after a performance. We chatted a bit. A very nice guy. He came in every night for a week after theater, to relax. Narada Michael Walden came in to listen to our girl singer. “Almost” produced her :)
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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? Definitely joy and passion. When everything is grooving tight and sounds great, or an arrangement is happening just right....it’s like an orgasm. (made you smile) Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as an artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? My own (unique) taste which is based on my own experience, of course. What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Adding JAZZ to my pallet. Knowing chords and playing fast scales/lines is not music. Turning that into music is a challenge. There’s no end to it. Still practicing. 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 believe it’s different for everyone. I don’t think I suffered. More like evolved. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? Good and bad. Good: you can get new fans and exposure much easier than before. Bad: not everyone who WANTS to be a musician - should.
https://www.reverbnation.com/lennykeys
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Photo by Kristin Drake
Nate Soundz
Rapper on the Rise
Who are your inspirations? (as in other band or artists) Sade, Michael Bolton, FINK, Sting, 30 Seconds to Mars.
When did you first start singing? When I was as young as 6 - I was writing poetry and short stories that later turned into lyrics and full songs, but I didn’t begin singing professionally until my twenties. What did your family do to encourage you? Telling my parents that I want to quit university and my daytime job to pursue music was challenging - my grandmother has been my biggest supporter ever since I sang at home with a hairbrush but it took time for the rest of my family to come fully onboard. When they saw me perform with a full band onstage at a sold-out show, I think they accepted and celebrated my choice and have been very encouraging and proud from then on.
Who else in your family sings? Noone, I don’t come from a musical background - my mum is in the medical field and my dad was a journalist and a writer. But I knew I’d be a singer for as long as I can remember. Who are your musical inspirations? Life, my friends, relationships, mental health and self-discovery.
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What kind of music do you listen to today? I love the 80s, classic rock, country-rock. Today I’m listening to Chris Stapleton, HALSEY, The Neighbourhood, Imagine Dragons, Billie Elish, Sting, and Sade. What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist? Some colourful euro-pop from the 90s, the whole Spice Girls collection (which I dont think is embarrassing, I’ve loved them forever), and a song by Dan Balan called Chica Bomb that was too catchy to escape my mind. Where would you most like to perform? Headline show at the O2 Arena in London. Who would you most like to open for? Michael Bolton! I’d also love to tour with Maren Morris, Ryan Tedder / One Republic, and James Bay. If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? I honestly would be quite lost, I only ever imagined being a performer. I studied foreign languages (German and Russian) and I love psychology, so maybe along the lines of an interpreter or a therapist but nothing would bring as much happiness as music does. Do you play any instruments? I compose some of my melodies on piano, but voice is my main instrument. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? I’d love to write and perform toplines for trance/dance/EDM music. My favourites will be Above and Beyond. What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? I respect and like all genres, but not the hugest reggae fan - although I think reggae brings a beautifully happy and relaxing vibe. A great song is a great song, regardless of the style. What hidden talents do you have? I write comic stories in my native Bulgarian, have done it for years. My childhood friends and I were lucky to spent many summers on holiday together in a little Bulgarian seaside resort and after each holiday, I’d fly back to the UK and immortalize our crazy and funny memories into mini books. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? Absolutely love it, it’s the ultimate therapy and release. It’s wonderful to put feelings into words andcreate something that others can embrace and gain love from. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? https://www.reverbnation.com/ilonatmusic https://www.instagram.com/ilonatmusic https://www.twitter.com/ilonatmusic https://www.facebook.com/ilonatmusic https://www.youtube.com/user/ilonatmusic
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www.rsvpcigars.com
Sergey Lisin
of Early Grey
Early Grey – is a hard rock band formed by Moscow songwriter and guitar player Sergey “Grey” Lisin in 2016. In the same year band has recorded their debut album “Secrets of the Heart”, that received a lot of positive reviews around the world. In July of 2017 the band released their second full-length album “Rock for Life” and then the 3rd one “Bound For Glory” in 2019. The sound of Early Grey music is based on combination of heavy guitar riffs, powerful drums and beautiful and catchy melodies. Combining with the strong but lyrical vocals it ensures that once you hear any song of Early Grey, you will be whistling it for a very long time.
Band members used to say that all you need to know about Early Grey is that the most important member of this band is not the singer or guitar player or anybody else. The most important is a melody. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? I’m probably going to be very trite to say that this was The Beatles, but it is so. After them, I became interested in other music bands - various British and American classical rock bands like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and many others. But it was the Beatles who were the first to really hook me. You’ve probably heard from many musicians this overused hackneyed phrase that “I saw this and realized that this is what I want to do”. Well, I can say with full confidence that this is absolutely true, this is exactly what happened to me:) How has your music evolved since you first began performing/songwriting? I started writing music quite early. I remember I wrote my first songs when I was 13 years old. Of course, it was mostly very primitive and rubbish stuff, but something worthy was already there. For example, one of the songs written in those years will be included in my next album. But I would like to believe that since then my songwriting skills have grown :) But if we talk about musical evolution and progress, it has a kind of cyclical nature for me. When you first get into something new - some new sound or a new way of composing songs and work in this direction for some time. Then you get bored of it, you switch to something new and so on in a circle. I’ve probably already gone through 5 or 6 such
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“paradigm shifts” and so far there is no end to this process. So my music doesn’t really evolve. It’s more like a phoenix - it burns to the ground in order to then be resurrected in some completely other form. 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? We have never had any concerts with this particular band - we are a studio-only project. And studio life, unfortunately, is one of the boring things in the world. First you come up with songs for a few weeks, then you spend even more time in the studio recording them. Then you realize that everything you did is complete garbage, you redo it several times to get a miserable record at the exit for at most 45-50 minutes. Isn’t it mournful? :) 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 think it’s lust. A lust to create something new, to share it with others. And this is one of the most powerful feelings in the world - like an instantly addictive drug. So kids, don’t do drugs! Become musicians and then you won’t need any drugs anymore :) Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as an artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? Melodies. Simple, bright and catchy melodies. This is perhaps the only thing that clearly dominates in our music and which, unfortunately, is lacking in a large number of talents and musicians around today. I’ve always said that the most important member of Early Grey is not the vocalist, guitarist or anyone else. The most important - is the melodies. So if you missed the feeling when you’re listening to a song for the first time and automatically start singing along from the second chorus, then Early Grey is the band for you. What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? My biggest challenge has always been to try to get people interested in my music who have never been interested in this kind of music before. You know, there are, for example, fans of hip-hop, rap and other “music” genres. I always wanted to show these people that there is another world; melodic and beautiful. But so far, all my attempts, unfortunately, have not been successful. But this is absolutely no reason to stop, so one day, trust me - you will hear the stories like “I used to listen to rap, and then one day I heard Early Grey...” all around :)
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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? Absolutely. My creative process is usually 50% of complete crap, 49% of self-loathing and self-dissatisfaction and only 1% of really cool stuff. And if this 1% was not worth the other 99, I would never have become involved in music in my life. So yes, there is a lot of pain in making new music, but the result is worth it. And when things go really bad, there’s another common phrase that comes to rescue in especially poignant moments. It’s the quote of the famous journalist and music critic Lester Bangs (who wrote for Rolling Stone and many other magazines in the 70s) - it says that the first mistake of any artist is to think that it (art) is serious. So when you feel completely worthless, just remember that this is just a game, and you will feel a little better :) How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? Oh, I’m afraid that now many of my fellow musicians will not like my answer to this question, but in my opinion the Internet has shown the real value and price of music. And as we all were surprised at one time with the appearance of various streaming services (and some are still surprised), its value turned out to be not at all high. In the 70-80-90’s you would pay $10-15 for a record and listen to it to the core, because there weren’t many alternatives. Today, you pay $10 per month to listen to all the music that has ever been created and is being created today. And in my opinion, such a low cost of music today is precisely due to the Internet, which showed us that there are many-many talented musicians besides those shown on TV. So there is a choice. Well, the more a product is offered, the lower its price. So to summarize, I think the internet has had about the same impact on the music business as a water plumbing to a village in a desert, where people used to pay huge money for plain drinking water. It just destroyed this industry to the core, but it made people happier. Sergey “Grey” Lisin from ‘Early Grey’ band https://www.reverbnation.com/earlygreyband
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Chika Di
Columbian-born Artist
Colombian-born, California-based artist Chika Di has released her second single, “Hook It Up.” A unique blend of Latin Pop and EDM that teleports you into a hot, sweaty night on a Colombian dance floor. The energetic beat was produced by the emerging DJ and producer, Michael Costanzo AKA Good Bear Music. The new release is mixed by Max Perry (Migos, Post Malone) and mastered by veteran engineer, John Greenham (Billie Eilish, Katy Perry). Chika’s captivating vocal melodies are accompanied by ukulele, infectious kazoo synth melodies, live bass guitar and rhythmic 808 club drums to immediately transport you to the lively dance floor of South America with a twist of California. Hook it Up’s fresh sound and infectious energy will have listeners dancing and singing along before the first listen line is done. When did you first get into music? When I was 12 I got into a music program and I found myself the moment I started the program. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? My father die when I was 12 and I suffered from depression right after that tragic event . I was born in Colombia and lived at the time at the worse era of violence. Part of my recovery was being in the music program so I always think that music save my life. I will say my dad inspired me to do music. I remember listening to a lot of different music growing up. In every family event we used to listen: Afro Colombian music salsa, hip hop and disco all in one party night . My family has been very supportive ever since I started.
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How has your music evolved since you first began performing/ songwriting? My first performance ever was with one of the songs that I wrote back when I was 12 years old. I never thought I would have such a successful journey as a songwriter. Now I have songs on TV SHOW,
“GENTRIFIED” on Netflix and on “Vida” on Starz Season 2. Songs that either I wrote or co-wrote with La Misa Negra, my previous Band. I feel blessed that people all over the USA and people in Latin America and Mexico like my new music. 2020 has been a year of creation and I feel fulfilled and empowered to make more music having the support of so many people. 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? Red Hot Chili Peppers, Monlaferte, Stevie Wonder, Santa Cecilia, Flor de Toloache, are my favourite, so far. 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? Joy and Passion Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as an artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? The mix of my authentic Colombian vocal with EDM and pop What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Performing while I’m sick I remember getting sick on a tour and having a 102 temperature and sore throat. I really thought that I was going to faint on stage. 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? More than suffer I personally think that Sacrifice is the key to success. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? We are living on the era of Opportunities. As an Independent Artist, the internet has been the best tool that I can ever have. It makes it easier to reach new audiences and it helps you to promote your music at a low cost. The internet opens up many doors for artists!!! There are no limits if you really push your music out!!! https://www.reverbnation.com/ChikaDi
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BISCAY
Path to Success
When did you first get into music? As if often the case a musical family – my father and his father were both ‘good amateur’ piano players, and consequently me & my two brothers all learned instruments and sang. Music was also heavily encouraged in my schools – free instruments and 1 to 1 lessons were available (sadly no longer) along with multiple school bands. They sounded horrendous, but gave us our first opportunities. In short, both Nature and Nurture! Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? Burning out in Advertising helped!! As Bowie said the great thing about aging is you eventually become the person you were always meant to be. I quit a big job at 36 and went to study at Berklee School of Music, then latterly Trinity College of Music in London, and have been on the path ever since. How has your music evolved since you first began performing/songwriting? The big change was songwriting – up until I left Trinity everything had focused on instrumental skills and playing the ‘jazz repertoire’, I then wrote my first song in 2008 and when the guys in the then band (which was purely covers) played it, they said “we must record this”…..from that moment everything changed and the covers were steadily dropped….. 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? Certainly the scariest moment for me was debuting at Ronnie Scott’s in London 2 years back when the singer Lianne Carroll asked me to guest with her on one night of her Xmas residency. Being aware of all the jazz greats who played there (and whose photos cover the walls) was the most intimidating experience ever…it didn’t help that as I walked on the stage I saw photos of Jeff Beck, Mike Stern and Joe Pass. Pretty scary as a guitarist - I didn’t exactly feel worthy! Given I then had to accompany Lianne solo meant mistakes were not an option. I survived.
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One other celeb moment was when Tim Minchin actually came to watch us at the 100 Club in London. He stayed for whole gig and insisted on buying a CD!!!
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? Passion carries you through everything – every disappointment, all the uncertainty (especially now) and all the setbacks. Passion fuels hope, the desire to improve and also means you never have to get attached to an outcome as feeling the passion is always enough. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as an artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? The fact that our songs balance a reverence for past genres/styles whilst commenting on the human condition as it is right now is a unique dynamic. Couple this with a truly distinctive French lead singer, we are demonstrating what can happen when Europeans come together rather than separate (as you can imagine we’re passionately anti-Brexit!). What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? The biggest challenge is undoubtedly getting exposure, especially as an unsigned artist. Standing out is not easy with minimal marketing budget, but given we’ve won the UK Songwriting Competition twice (in 2013 and 2017), we know our material is strong and getting better. Like all bands we need a bit of luck to secure a wider audience, and whilst there’s no guarantee that luck will come, we are certainly ready for 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? Of course, the hours spent practicing, writing, rehearsing, recording and accepting that in all those scenarios a lot of work HAS to go in the bin, it’s not an easy path. However, like all the good things in this world, they are worth working for – nothing good comes easy. You have to recognize that sometimes the obstacle is the way…..as Wendell Phillips said “What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first steps to something better.” In this sense, suffering in art is essential. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? There’s two directly opposing sides to this – the internet has liberated millions of musicians in providing a platform for their creative output. Our music now has the potential to be heard by anyone, anywhere, anytime. Counter to this, streaming services have massively reduced the demand side of the business as supply grows exponentially. Whilst music lovers have more access than ever before and probably listen to far more, what they pay for it is now minimal. This leaves the vast majority of musicians left fighting over fewer crumbs, and being way more vulnerable to exploitation by a music industry that promises them the world but can (and will) take them for everything they have. A pretty challenging dilemma!! https://www.reverbnation.com/biscay
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Bailey Elora “All the Feels” EP Out Now, Everywhere! Facebook: @baileyeloramusic Photo by @urbanimpressions
