I come from a very different way of making music. When I was 18-19, I was recording on blank tapes. That was actually back in '05. I remember I had a Karaoke Machine that was also a Tape Deck/Tape Recorder, AM/FM Radio, and had a Mic hookup for Karaoke. I had the Mic hooked up and I'd set it down on a table and hit the record button and play on a 3-stringed Electric Guitar-which by the way, didn't have an Amp with it-so, you couldn't really hear anything too well. A few months passed by and I meet this other Guitarist who had an Electric that had an Amp, and so he brought it over and we recorded on that same Tape-Deck lol. I remember getting an acoustic guitar back in May of '05 for graduation and it just took off from there. My buddy and I started recording all of these super depressing Acoustic tunes on the same Tape-Deck and boy was it embarrassing when you think about it. I was poor, we had CD's then, but I couldn't afford a computer and blank disks and better recording platforms. So finally meet this drummer who had recording software on his computer and we started recording over there, unfortunately, the music we made drastically changed. After a few years of drunkeness, being high all the time, creating crazy stoner music, I moved back to San Antonio, TX in 2007 and from there, I didn't have anyone to jam with. I ended up getting mediocre beat-makers online like FL Studio and Soundation and just, I've created thousands of songs since then. I've turned into an Electronic Music Producer. These days I am blessed to have better equipment and programs and so, I've taken full advantage of it all. I've got thousands of CD's worth of original music and I don't see a stopping point from here on out anytime soon so, welcome aboard. 2017.
We Artists can all come up with so many answers to that question, but in general, Music is a "sensation". It's generally a sensation and that is what it is to me as well; a flavor of life. Music conveys emotion, it speaks when at times, you can't speak...you might be able to tell someone, this is how I feel, but nothing says it better than when you put it into a song...seems like everyone's more interested in finding out what you mean that way. So Music gives me a voice that resonates with the world.
My dream is now. I'm living it. I've got the ability to create music, and I"m doing just that. That's the dream. There are many out there that wish they had a outlet like this. Shoot for it. It's better than living a life as roughkneck out on the streets selling and doing dope. Life and Music is worth so much more than that and works better without that type of mess. Some people create music to get up out of "rock-bottom". They form a career out of it and make thousands of dollars per record just so that they can "not" be poor anymore, and I think it's sad that many of them still continue on their bad habits like doing drugs and binge drinking, and often selling music with condoning that same influence which keeps their fans (although paying fans) down in the dumps cause they're gang-banging and selling and doing dope, and perhaps more serious crimes. Music speaks. It's communication. We can't blame the artist for a persons bad habits, but we can make a choice as to what we listen to in the matter. That's where some artists mess up in the industry. They have it all and so they think, what do I have to lose? I have money, fame, girls, a nice house, 4 sports cars and whatnot, I can do whatever I want. Cause I can actually afford to be a bad influence. There's a dark side to everything, but you always have a choice.
Getting people to actually share. To become selfless. Today's music talks a lot about instant gratification and selfish desires of the heart. Living for the moment, and that often means making mistakes and doing whatever one pleases to do because life as we know it is going to end and our world is complete chaos anyway. I feel like, you know, why add to that then? If we could all be more sharing and caring and teachable and as well as being "teachers" we could make a huge difference. I believe in unity. We all breathe the same air and live on the same planet. Don't matter if you're Chinese or German. It doesn't and shouldn't matter. Everyone is beautiful ethnically speaking.
There's so many songs I remember growing up listening to and always hearing. I loved The Clash when I was 11-12 years old. I'll do you one better though, I used to jam out to Bushs' song "Everything Zen" when I was 8. I remember that clearly. That was....22 years ago. 1995
I came from a very diverse Rock and Metal background. It started out in High School back in 2003. Sevendust, 30 Seconds To Mars, Tool, Breaking Benjamin. and Chevelle, Later I started getting into some Electronic Music like Nine Inch Nails, PushMonkey, Orgy, Powerman 5000, and eventually artists like Deadmau5, Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, Marshmello, The Avalanches, The Gorillaz, Pete Rock, Warren G, Nate Dogg (old school hip-hop). I'm everywhere across the map actually lol.
Just a wide array of influences like some of my favorite artists and bands as well as just being naturally a "creator". I started out writing Poetry and it just took off from there. Once I had that mind-set poetically, my musical creations followed suit and it was just naturally easy to create a huge variety of songs.
This goes back to my answers about changing the world and about my musical dream. It's about making a difference. Standing out from the other musicians although similar in style. I'm a totally different person than the masses. I want everyone to stop hating and open their minds to the powerful elements of learning and teaching and joy of "sharing".
I am slightly nervous, but once I start feeling the music I am performing, the nerves are not an issue. I'm freed. I'm feeling good. It doesn't matter if people are enjoying it or not. I'm having a good time, and that's what it was about.
Again, this goes back to when I was talking about how many artists these days, especially the ones in the Hip-Hop/Pop genre's, they're creating music that teaches people how to "not" care or think about others. A lot of immoral speech, messages, and actions going on with the artists themselves who communicate the same line of thinking and music is suppose to bring positive vibes, not demoralize and promote violence, drug use, or loose/brazen conduct like cheating on your girl or wife and such. People have the capacity to change, it's a choice, and the difference is the choice that's been made to get out of that sort of lifestyle. I understand, many artists will write about how they feel, it's an outlet, and the listener also has choice whether they want to listen to them or not, but I just think there needs to be more music that doesn't require an "explicit" label. A lot of great music can be made without demoralizing the message. Let's all make a positive difference.
I think so far, it's way better than half of the services I have been using previously like (BandCamp, ReverbNation, and SoundCloud). It allows a Musician to actually come out more and talk about his music via the uploads. I've been looking for that feature.
Being limited. Not have certain equipment or ways to play shows anytime I want.
Oh, most definitely. That's what I'm about. Local Artist promotion. Support your local artists :)
Originality, dedication, consistency. Go out there and actually promote your CD. Trust me, people will respond. The internet is great for promotion, but people don't sit online all day looking for new bands to emerge, you have to get out there and make yourself visible in the public as well.
Although I mostly upload Electronic Music, I will first off say Polarity from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Great original Rock music. If you love Tool, you'll find Polarity palatable. Also RMRS from San Antonio, TX. Great Rock band from Texas.