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Photo © Bryan Free
MUZN: How does your songwriting come together?
I'm a big fan of artistic communities. I think it's really important to be
dialoguing with other songwriters and artists. I'm a part of this group of
writers and friends that meet monthly to share only our newest material. It's a
great way to keep each other accountable, constantly writing and pushing
ourselves. I've got all sorts of melodies written here and there or recorded on
little cassettes, but it takes motivation to sit down and write lyrics that will
hold up to criticism. The group is one source of that motivation.
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MUZN: What's your philosophy on music today?
Be honest.
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MUZN: Tell us about you, when did you begin writing songs ?
Hi, I'm a 23-year-old SWM who loves puppies and long walks on the beach. I
didn't write seriously until I was about 20. I've been in bands or musical
groups for a while now but--until I really made a decision to be honest in my
writing--I never took music seriously. I guess you could say those older songs
were just spasms of emotion; there was no resolution. I stopped listening to
the radio, and I started reading more and getting musical references from
friends. And I realized that songs could actually communicate NEW things to
people. Anyway, I'm trying to do that in my own writing.
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MUZN:
Tell us about your newest release, what can we expect?
I just released an 11-song album called "Poison I Drank From." It's very
piano-based, but with some cool and rather eclectic arrangement ideas.
Lyrically, it's a sort of exploration into our connections with other
humans--specifically (and i guess morbidly) with those who are dead. It's self
produced, recorded with Kris Crummet at Interlace Audio in Hillsboro, OR.
Expect to learn something about me.
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MUZN: How many projects are you currently involved in?
Well, I'm always writing for my own performances. I've also been playing (first
drums and now pianos) in a 5-piece Portland band called "Blame It On John" for
the past three years or so. We've got a real original sound and we're currently
working on our second recorded project. I've also recently been playing
keys/organs for Americana songwriter Jaycob Van Auken. This guy just plain
rawks.
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MUZN:
What's your long-term goal?
I don't have one. Nevermind, I do: Be honest.
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MUZN:
How did you get into music?
I don't think I'll ever really be "into music." That sounds so presumptuous. I
used to practice the piano--classical stuff--before catching the bus to
elementary school. My father was a choral director and in the evenings he would
stand in the living room and practice conducting to tapes. So at an early age I
appreciated not only whatever rock was current, but also more traditional
arrangements. In the end, I think this mix of pop culture and classical study
really gave me a craving for whatever sort of music I could get my hands on. I
don't know how someone can be "into music" while they limit their study
(listening or composing) to one sort of style. I've learned that intelligent
people of all types play music of all types, and one genre isn't necessarily
better than any other. The only thing I'm "into" is asking people what they're
"into."
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MUZN:
How long have you been performing?
Solo? A little over a year. I've been playing shows with one band or another
since high school, though.
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MUZN:
What bands\artists inspired you the most early on?
I suppose this question means "which artists have inspired my writing?" (as
opposed to "which artists are just plain inspiring?") Definitely lyricists like
Bob Dylan, Dave Carter, and Bill Jolliff; musically, I initially started
stealing ideas from early Billy Joel or Rufus Wainwright or (token answer) the
Beatles.
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MUZN:
What do you want out of life?
What the hell? The milk, I guess.
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MUZN:
What is the most important lesson you think you have learned so far?
Be honest. (A close second: SPEAK OUT about foreign policies that promote
killing people for any reason. This helps with the whole conscience issue.)
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MUZN:
Who are your favorite artists?
-as of 4-11-03: Joni Mitchell, The Promise Ring, Crosstide, Ron Sexsmith, Rival
Schools
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MUZN:
Where do you want to be in the future?
A spaceship.
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