Brother Punch

Story

The fastest song I wrote was a 4 verse, 4 lines a verse, 1 chorus of 4 lines, blues/rock song (so a total of 20 lines). Wrote it in 1 minute 11 seconds. It wasn't good but it did impress the woman I was with.

Profile

Instruments

Genres

Influences

Equipment

What is music to you? What does it give you?

Music is the underlying code of being. It's the engaging envelope for messages between the lines. It gives me nothing but it lets me ride it - I even get to drive sometimes.

What is your music dream?

I'd like to perform live in front of 10 million paying Chinese.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

The egg.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

"John Henry" by Harry Belafonte was the most memorable song of my childhood. I was maybe 4 or 5 years old when my mother shared it with me, I wore out the grooves and her patience, listened like a kid: utterly rapt and endlessly repeating.

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Each epoch of my life has had its favorite - usually a couple at a time. Recently that would be Turnpike Troubadors, trouble and all. Or Portishead. Glitch Mob.

What inspires you to make music?

For me words rise up out of a constantly churning source. It's like dipping my finger in a lake sometimes, orther times it's like being the brass nozzle on a firehose. I guess it comes down to wanting to be heard. Sometimes the driving mood is sadness, or love, joy... other times anger, desire, a feeling like I need to set something right. The hope that I will sound the depths and get back an echo from completely unknown people - who enjoy what I've created - drives me on as well.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

'This is me, who are you?' or 'Are you going to eat that?' or 'It was like that when I found it.'

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

Nervous. Until I get into the groove and just lose it.

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

Musician's reality is easy access to professional caliber tools, training, recording... and a fragmented audience. It's a golden age for creativity but a bad time for music marketing. It's like that old parable about the man who sold his soul to be the greatest violinist in the world - but forgot the clause 'and would be recognized as such'. Still, it's great to just create wonderful things. Sometimes obscurity seems like the best outcome; you don't get the goodies but you get to keep creating whatever you want. Then someone gives you a nod and you want more of THAT.

What do you think of Drooble?

I'm still getting a feel for this site, very new to this arena. Trying to find the bathroom and the juice bar, make sure I don't mix them up.

What frustrates you most as a musician?

My limitations.

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

I recorded with local musicians a couple years back. Helped write a fanzine.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

I think an artist in any medium has to enjoy the process of creating for its own sake or they won't stick to it long enough to be truly good. And a decent day job.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

Teo Graca. Juana Molina. Nick Nesbit. Will Duvall. Natasha Cash.