I've been a guitarist since 1997, and a vocalist since 2001. I'm completely self-taught, so I have no illusions of perfection. I mainly play hard rock and metal, but also a bit of acoustic stuff in my spare time. I enjoy a wide variety of rock music, but I'm not into pop, hip-hop, or country. A musician should always perform what they love, but those few genres just aren't for me.
I grew up in a family of musicians and my interest in it, I suppose, was inevitable. My dad is a drummer, and he taught my brother, then we both picked up guitars. Most weekends, we would have a house full of musicians just hanging out and playing all kinds of music. Music has been a part of my life since birth and always will be. In my opinion, there is no better feeling than writing and performing.
There was a time when the dream was international fame and all that comes with it. These days, it's much simpler. The dream now is just to keep playing and continue to grow my talent as a musician and a writer.
I know it's a bit cliche, but I'd start with peace. Disagreement is a necessity, as it leads to constructive criticism. Unfortunately, disagreement leads to hatred these days and that never accomplished anything good.
There are far too many to name just one. My childhood mostly consisted of classic rock, mostly from the 70s, and of course grunge, since I grew up in the 90s. Lots of good music.
Depends on the genre. Alter Bridge is one my favorites, but so is Sepultura. There's plenty between those as well.
I've suffered from depression and anxiety my whole life. For years, I needed some kind of outlet. Music was a way for me to express those feelings without sounding crazy and it really helped. It occurred to me that I'd gotten the same from other people's music and I hope for my own music to help others.
Much of my music is angry or sad, but this is only a part of who I am, not the whole. Everyone has these thoughts to some degree. If I can send a message with my music, it would be that no one is alone in this and there are more layers to all of us.
When I perform, all my thoughts and feelings are exposed. Every note I sing and every chord I strum is personal, so when people cheer for it, I feel accepted in a way that's completely unique. It's exhilarating.
If I could improve anything about music today, people would have to actually work at it. No purchasing pre-recorded beats made with all the know how of MTV music generator for the original playstation and calling it music. No autotune. I work hard at my craft and I make mistakes. If everyone else were held to the same standard, we'd see another golden age in music, since only the best would make it.
I've always liked the idea of social media for musicians and now I see it is a reality. Also, people can share their own music with each other, so that's very cool. I like it.
I'm most frustrated when people act like there's only one way to make music. I've seen people go to metal shows and walk out the second they hear clean vocals. We all have our different musical interests and that's a good thing, but never be a jerk about it.
I love the local scene. Birmingham, AL is not the most popular music scene, but we have some really incredible bands here. I go to shows whenever possible and buy music, t shirts, or whatever they might be selling to support their band. Whenever possible, I'll share their music online and in person. Again, I love my local music scene!
I can't claim to be an expert on this one, but I do know a few things. Obviously, the music has to be good. You have to be appreciative of any fanbase you have. Also, you can't be afraid to book shows away from home and spread your music online.