Michael Ouyang

Profile

• Guitarist
• Musician
• Producer

Instruments

• Guitar
• Bass
• Violin

Genres

• Rock
• Jazz
• Pop
• Blues
• Punk
• R&b And Soul
• Indie
• Funk

Influences

• Eric Clapton
• Van Halen
• Steely Dan
• Jimi Hendrix
• The Pixies
• Jane's Addiction
• James Brown
• Robben Ford
• Miles Davis
• King Crimson

Equipment

• Gibson Les Paul Custom
• Fender Stratocaster American Deluxe
• Larrivee Parlor
• Too Many Pedals To Name

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

Music is the most direct way to express emotions

What is your music dream?

To express as many emotions as well as I can

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

I'd probably start with making it easier to engage in music with anyone, anywhere

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

Such an odd question, probably the Sesame Street theme song

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Too many to name. All of the 60-70s classic rock usual suspects: Stones, Zeppelin, The Who, The Kinks, Cream, Derek & the Dominos, James Brown, EW&F, Pink Floyd, Allman Bros, all that Motown and Stax soul stuff, Al Green, Joni Mitchell, all the prog stuff: King Crimson, Gentle Giant, early Genesis. David Bowie, Prince, Van Halen (but not other hair metal really), XTC. The Cure, The Smiths, Pixies, Jane's, RHCP, NIN, Tool, RATM, the Beastie Boys, PJ Harvey, Portishead, Miles, Coltrane, John Abercrombie, Emily Remler. I'm pretty all over the place with popular music. I like it all.

What inspires you to make music?

I've been doing it since I was a kid. I find that I express myself better in music than anything else

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

Depends on the music. Mostly though, I guess it's just "you are not alone"

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

I find someone in the audience, focus and just play for that person, my bandmates and myself. Otherwise it can be too much

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

Musicians don't live in reality, so it's all good

What do you think of Drooble?

Don't know yet, I'll tell you in a year or so

What frustrates you most as a musician?

Playing with people who don't know how to listen and feel where the music is going. Technical ability doesn't matter as much (although it's best if they have that too) as a good ear and good sensibility

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

I go to shows, try to get other musicians' streaming counts up. I'll buy records/CDs when I can.

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

It's not really the size of the audience, it's the quality

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

Menage a Garage, Glenn Case, State Shirt, Duboce Triangle, sonofsupercar

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