Perhaps one of the most talented intellectual hip-hop artists that I have had the pleasure to interview REFLECT promises to take the hip-hop culture to a new level. He certainly is off to an auspicious start with his conscientious lyrics that touches on every aspect of today’s life issues. JC Internet Radio is proud to present this great interview to our online members. Enjoy!
Isaac: Thanks for taking the time to speak with our online community REFLECT. Let's talk about how you first got your start.
REFLECT: I suppose my mother sparked my interest. She is a great vocalist and she is always singing. Growing up I was surrounded by a lot of music and I was taught to value it.
I wrote lyrics from a young age but kept it to myself. One of my boys sold me a dual cassette player that you could hit record and play and then record your voice into it. I would play a Miles Davis song in the background through another CD player while beating on the counter top with my fist and a pencil for the kick and snare and record that as a beat. Then I’d play the beat and get my face right up to the speaker and rap and sing into it. Later, I got my first drum machine from a DJ who was moving away to college and I got a keyboard and a 4 track tape recorder and taught myself how to use it. Then you couldn’t get me away from it.
Isaac: How would you describe your music?
REFLECT: If you really listen and let it, it’s gonna hit you in the chest. The music is soulful. Bluesy. My goal is always to make songs that have the same vibe a powerful film has when it leaves you staring at the screen unknowingly sitting through the credits while you digest what you just witnessed.
Isaac: What kinds of music are you influenced by?
REFLECT: I love old soul music and respect artists like Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes. More contemporary artists that I always listen to include Tupac Shakur, Lauryn Hill, Common, Alicia Keys, D‘Angelo, Nas, Jay-Z and Anthony Hamilton. I am influenced by producers like Norman Whitfield, Mark Batson, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, DJ. Preemo and the Soulaquarians with JayDee and ?estlove.
Isaac: What can fans expect from the debut album HOPE?
REFLECT: It was healing process for me to make the record. Since I put so much of my heart into it, it has become a healing record. It is strong and honest and lends a liberated emotion and sense of strength. I was taught to create music that gives back energy rather then robbing people of it. I really feel ‘Hope wuz Here’ succeeded.
Isaac: You have a powerful message to say in your lyrics? How did you first decided that you wanted to tackle this through your music?
REFLECT: I was told in high school that I wouldn’t even be a footnote in history. I have encountered too many great people and great stories for them to be forgotten so I am writing my own history, recording my story. Everybody wants there voice to be heard and everybody wants to be remembered. This is the medium that is working for me to do it. Music is the first thing in my life I didn’t have to wrestle with to be good at. Of course, I put in my work and I continue to practice and study but I don’t feel like I am fighting up hill.
Isaac: What do you consider to be your personal style, what clothing brands are you rockin' right now?
REFLECT: I don’t have brand loyalty, but I know what I like. I have to be comfortable. I am a sneaker head so my shoes have to be on point other then that it’s like Ghandi said, “it does not require money to be neat, clean and dignified.”
Isaac: How do you feel about the music industry today and about hip hop in general?
REFLECT: I hear all the talk about people thinking today’s music trash and saturated and how much better it used to be, but that is always up for argument because every generation thinks THEIR music was better.
The biggest difference now is that music has become so readily available through technology that if you only like two songs off someone’s record you only have to get two songs then mix them with the others that you love. It is great for the music fan; it’s a “have it your way” approach. I mean really, if you could watch your favorite TV show without commercials wouldn‘t you? I think it forces artists to avoid filler tracks.
I see the importance of a model like that of STAX and MOTOWN era with the focus on creating a single and then touring to push a record. Artists have gone back to having to put in work past the studio to break through the noise.
Converse to that, technology has also made it possible for anyone to record there own music and put it up on the Internet next to an established artist. I think its great for kids but in the same breath you have to know your role. Having recording equipment doesn’t make you a producer. The same way having a microphone doesn’t make you a singer or an emcee.
Isaac: What do you feel that you will bring differently to the game?
REFLECT: There isn’t any artist like me that’s played the game yet. I have my own identity my own vibe. I tell my truth and I give it everything I got.
At the same time, I am a student of the industry and I understand the importance of creating something with value. Quality. When you get my record, you get me. It’s not a board room that is making decisions on how the album will go together, it’s just me. I mean, I was even the one to hit record!
Isaac: What are some other projects that you are working on now?
REFLECT: I have been performing in Toronto, New York, my bathroom and anywhere else I am given the opportunity to perform.
I am working with an animator on a video for ‘New Day’ from the album Hope wuz Here and I will begin preproduction work for the second album around April and look to have a single ready by May. Also, I recently completed a mixtape that will be available free by download through my site in a week.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you on the Internet?
REFLECT: There best bet is to hit the website www.reflect-music.com. I am new to the social networking scene on the Internet but I have a MySpace www.myspace.com/reflectchange and I am now on Facebook under artist pages REFLECT. I love the emails so keep ‘em coming reflectmusic@gmail.com
Isaac: Give some shout-outs to your peeps.
REFLECT: I’ll throw a shout out and a thank you your way Isaac for allowing me the opportunity to do the interview.
Shout out to all those who show interest in this interview.
Respect to all people who provide me with inspiration and all those who genuinely care about me and what I am doing. It’s only the beginning.
Isaac: Final words....
REFLECT: I understand the overwhelming amount of artists with projects attempting to get your attention. I will not yell in your ear for you to look my way. But, I hope you find the time to sit through the record without rushing or judging too quickly. Give me your time and we can light up the dark. You give me your ear I will give you my heart.
This next band is going to make you bang your head against the wall with their non apoplectic lyrics, hardcore sound, electrifying guitar playing, and insane in the brain drum set. These are all the things that you have come to expect from any true Heavy Metal band. Well, Guitarist Dan Chrzan of Redliner knows how to get down with the guitar and it shows in his deliverance when he is performing. Add the other members of the group to the mix and you have one of the hardest rocking Metal bands out there in the music industry currently. Check out this recent interview that I had with Dan. Enjoy!
Isaac: How did Redliner get started?
Dan: Back in the summer of 2007, I was looking to get something going and I needed a singer for a start. I found Jim (Santora) online because he was in a band that I knew of. I told him that he would sound better if he sang over my riffs. After I contacted him, we collaborated and created great chemistry. Then we found our drummer Don (Valentino) and bassist Steve (Tortu). Redliner was then born.
Isaac: Where did the name Redliner come from?
Dan: Well, we always record our practices. After one practice, we were listening and noticed that the music was redlining. Not sure who said it but someone suggested Redliner. It then stuck. Funny thing though: we were originally going with the name Redline Infraction because its a hockey term and we all pretty much are big hockey fans, but it's too long of a name.
Isaac: Who is Redliner's primary audience?
Dan: Our audience is varied. People of all ages like us. We have age range of 18 to 80--lol.
Isaac: What distinguishes Redliner from other bands playing in the music industry?
Dan: We actually have guitar solos in our songs and our singer sings and not screams or growls. The musicianship is tight because everyone knows music theory, which is rare with today's bands.
Isaac: What has been the most challenging aspect of building this band?
Dan: Having everyone on the same page as far as direction of the band and achieving the same goals.
Isaac: How do you get booking agents to pay attention to your band, among all the competition?
Dan: Promote to the max. Getting our name all over the web. Our singer Jim does an awesome job of that so kudos to him!
Isaac: let's talk about you as the guitarist for the band. What is your personal background with how you got your start playing the guitar?
Dan: I started listening to music at the age of 6 when I first heard "Get Back" by the Beatles. From that point, I was hooked on rock and roll music. I started playing guitar at the age of 11, took lessons for a while just to get basic theory and chords but quit after a year. Eddie Van Halen said it is way better to learn on your own as opposed to going by the book so I took his advice--lol.
Isaac: What are the major frustrations you have faced as an artist?
Dan: Well, I played with some great and some crap musicians but most of them are not serious about really making a name. They wanted the glory but were too lazy to work for it. So, one of my biggest regrets is wasting my time with those guys. I'm glad I'm in this band with these guys.
Isaac: Which are your favorite local venues to play and what makes them attractive to you?
Dan: Bank Shots in Stanton, Delaware because it's out of state and we got a great reception playing there--might have been our best show this year. The people are great and really understand and appreciate original rock and roll. We also did a show in Philly at place called Joker's which is no longer there but it was a great show! The sound system was incredible and the stage was huge--good vibes too!!
Isaac: Are there places you haven't played that you would like to play?
Dan: The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey because it is Jersey's premier club. Everyone from Dokken to Disturbed to Lindsay Buckingham has played there. It would be incredible to land a gig there opening for a national because they get major radio promotion there and it can only help the band name.
Isaac: Who has been some of the great guitarists that have influenced you as the guitarist of Redliner Rock?
Dan: My favorite guitarists include: Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads(Ozzy), Carlos Cavazo(Quiet Riot), David Gilmour(Pink Floyd), BB King, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Pete Townsend, and of course: Jimi Hendrix. I can go on and on but these guys are major influences.
Isaac: What are you hopes for you and the band for 2009?
Dan: To get exposed anyway we can as well as radio airplay worldwide. Also, we would like to branch out as far as playing shows. We would like to play as far away as we can. If that means getting on a plane and playing a festival in California, we'll do it.
Isaac: Give some well- deserved Shout outs...
Dan: Shout outs go out to my wife, my parents and extended family, my band and their families, Ray from Nottingham Pizza(the subs are awesome, Bro!), my friend Andy, Katie and Mike Patrick, Leroy(band photographer), Wayne(our recording engineer), J from Mean Venus, and all the bands we shared the stage with(too many to mention).
Isaac: Final thoughts.....
Dan: First off, thank you for this interview. It's really appreciated. Keep an eye out for Redliner--2009 is going to be a big year for us and that starts in late January when our cd "Vengeance" is released. After that, you'll be hearing a lot about us. Most importantly, thank you for this interview. It's really appreciated. You can also check us out at www.redlinerrock.com
JC Internet Radio introduces its latest interview with the two man band who goes by the name of Ratcliff Bailey. Tim Ratcliff and Ken Bailey are two high school friends who share a love for music. The two decided to work together and have been making magic every since. Here is a recent interview that we here at the Interview Corner on JC Internet Radio conducted with Tim and Ken. Enjoy!
Isaac: Please take a moment to elaborate on who you are and your upbringing.
Ken: We are Tim Ratcliff and Ken Bailey, and we write original songs, Rock, Blues and Pop. We met in high school, and got reacquainted about 10 years later, after I had spent some time on the road with various bands. We tried to get a band going for a long time, but it was almost impossible to keep people serious about it, so we just became a studio band and concentrated on our songwriting. We have almost 200 songs at the time of this interview.
Isaac: Was there any one musician that spoke to your heart so profoundly, you were inspired to do your own thing?
Ken: for me, it was the Beatles. I know that's a stock answer, but it's the truth. The first time I heard them I knew nothing was ever going to be the same again.
Tim: It was hearing the Moody Blues' "Knights in White Satin". That made me want to write down what I was feeling. Putting it to music came a long time later.
Isaac: Which singer/group would you say you would most like to do a duet with?
Tim: John Couger Mellencamp.
Ken: John Fogarty.
Isaac: What singer/songwriter do you most connect with?
Tim: Bob Dylan.
Ken: I really admire Gordon Lightfoot, and I am in awe of Motown's Holland-Dozier-Holland, due to the amount of quality work they cranked out.
Isaac: Out of your entire song collection that you've written thus far, which song(s)would you say is/are the most personal/meaningful to you?
Tim: Probably "Smiling" from our very early days, because it was such a profound love song. And "The Fair", which we wrote back in the early 90's, but just recorded this year. It's about what Heaven is like.
Ken: For me, it's probably our song from 2006 called "Lovest Thou Me?" about how a lot of Christians are hypocrites, and don't even try to follow the words of Jesus. Not that I'm religious or anything, but I think if you talk the talk you know, you ought to walk the walk, too.
Isaac: Which singers/groups do you enjoy/like from some of today's music genres?
TIM: I heard a band recently I really like called "Thriving Ivory". I don't know who they are, but I really did on it.
KEN: I heard a band recently called "The Towels" from L.A. which just blew me away, and a band also from around there called "The Black Angel Band", who has a really driving rock/blues sounds that I really feel at home listening to.
Isaac: What charities are you involved with or support and why should people get involved?
KEN: Ratcliff Bailey thru Westfield Recording support Stomp Out Cancer. It's a charity which concentrates on research for combating childhood cancer. A lot of musicians, bike riders, and well, everybody have joined to combat Ewing's Sarcoma, and anybody can find out more information on the web at www.stompoutcancer.com
Isaac: Have you (or would you ever consider) writing a song about any of today's particular world issues/problems? If so, what world issue would speak to you the most to write about?
TIM: Of course, that's a large chunk of what we write about, holding the Government's feet to the fire, wrongs that need to be righted, yes, that sort of thing. You don't have to look very far to find several songs, kind of like Dylan passed a torch to us, or something.
Isaac: What is the main reason why should people listen to your music?
KEN: Because we tell the truth. We don't concern ourselves with being cool, but telling it as we see it. It's been that way since day one. Plus, forgive me for saying so, but it's GOOD MUSIC. There's more of that truth I was talking about!
Isaac: What has been your main inspiration to toss out such classical music?
TIM: Why do we do it? It's in us, and what's in us must come out.
KEN: Yeah, just like John Lee Hooker said "It's in him, and it got to come out". That's the reason that's sustained us thru a lot of bleak times, because that music was like someone knocking on the door, you know, that wouldn't go away.
Isaac: How far into the creation of a song do you share any of it with anyone? Who would you play it for? Would it be a chorus, a verse and chorus, or a complete song?
TIM: I think we'd play the whole thing.
KEN: Yeah, otherwise it's like kissing thru glass. What's the point?
Isaac: How much do you let others "mess around with" one of your new songs?
TIM: We have always operated in a "closed shop". We don't ask people for any input.
KEN: We do license some things "creative commons". But, they have to deal with the complete project. It's caused some problems over the years when people "invite" themselves to be dealt into the songs writing. Thank you folks, but we're not playing poker here. Closed shop, yeah.
Isaac: Do you have to be a tortured soul to be a singer-songwriter?
TIM: No, but it doesn't hurt.
KEN: Nope. My favorite quote about songwriting is from Gordon Lightfoot, he said you basically just sit down at a table and write. No big mystery to that. Your neuroses are optional. (Laughs)
Isaac: Are your songs strictly autobiographical or are they embroidered autobiography?
TIM: You mean like hopes and wishes in there? Yeah, embroidered, I see it. A little bit of everything. Reality, hopes, and dreams; whatever.
KEN: We never had any rules other than keep it under 4 minutes. I mean, if we feel like writing about tennis shoes, we'll take a stab at it. Kind of like you throw what you have up in the air and see where it lands.
Isaac: How long does it take you to process your emotions and turn them into songs?
TIM: With the words, about 10 minutes, or LESS. Tim's songwriting pizza guarantee: if it's not done in 30 minutes, it's free! (Laughs)
KEN: Takes a lot longer with the music, I'm afraid. I don't worry about how long it takes, but I can usually finish a song in 4 or 5 recording sessions.
Isaac: The best piece of advice you actually followed?
TIM: Follow your heart. First and foremost.
KEN: Don't take yourself too seriously.
Isaac: Give Shutouts to your family and friends.
TIM: We always praise the wives, Brenda and Bonnie, and our brothers and sisters, family for giving us inspiration and support.
Isaac: Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?
KEN: That's just it; we don't do project and concept albums or that sort of thing. We just crank 'em out on a regular basis, and if it's good enough when we're done, we release it. I think with the iPod and things like that, people are coming back to a "singles" sort of mindset. It works out well.
TIM: Just like the Ghost Hunters T.V. show, "on to the next".
JC Internet Radio always enjoys featuring exciting new and talented entertainers. This next entertainer is going to tickle your funny bone. Confused? Don’t be because Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell is a comedy rapper. He is most famous currently for his gig on the nationally syndicated Dr. Demento Show. Rockwell also was the founder of Sudden Death who had 3 of the top 4 songs of 2007 on the nationally syndicated Dr. Demento Show. Here is a special spotlight that I think the members of this community will enjoy reading.
Isaac: Please take a moment to elaborate on who you are and your upbringing.
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: I was raised in Trumbull Connecticut, which is a suburb right next to Bridgeport. Growing up I didn't like rock or heavy metal, which is what my friends were into. Then one fateful day I was flipping through the dial on my radio and I heard a rap song on one of the New York Stations. I was fascinated by it and immediately hooked. For the next few years, I sought out rap songs wherever I could find them and quickly became fans of the Fat Boys, Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and Whodini.
On the comedy side, I had always liked funny music and enjoyed singing those playground songs that all children sing. Then one day, my mother put on one of her old Allan Sherman records. The first track was Grow Mrs. Goldfarb, a parody of Glow Little Glowworm, about a man singing the praises of his severely obese wife. I missed most of the song because I was laughing so hard. I instantly became an Allan Sherman fan and began seeking out other comedy. I eventually found Dr. Demento compilations, Tom Lehrer, and of course Weird Al Yankovic.
Isaac: Was there any one musician that spoke to your heart so profoundly, you were inspired to do your own thing?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: There were 2, actually- The Fat Boys, and Weird Al Yankovic. The originally idea behind Sudden Death was we were going to be The Fat Boys, only funnier. We started out as a trio.
Isaac: Which singer/group would you say you would most like to do a duet with?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: There are several artists I haven't worked with yet who I would like to, including Tom Smith, Raymond and Scum. I'm currently planning to do a song with MC Lars.
Isaac: What singer/songwriter do you most connect with?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: Probably, Jonathan Coulton. Many of his songs speak to me on a level that no other songs ever have before. He has a couple songs that almost seem like they were taken directly from my life even though we hadn't met when he wrote them.
Isaac: Out of your entire song collection that you've written thus far, which song(s) would you say is/are the most personal/meaningful to you?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: Well, meaningful might not be the right word since I record comedy. The song that's probably the most autobiographical is Getting Old Sucks, which was inspired by the day I bent over to tie my show and pulled a muscle in my back. That song went on to become the #2 most requested songs of 2007 on Dr. Demento.
Isaac: Which singers/groups do you enjoy/like from some of today's music genres?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: My current favorite band is Worm Quartet. They're a one-man synth-punk-comedy band from Rochester, NY. It's amazing music, very unique sounding, and very funny. I thoroughly enjoy all the other artists on The FuMP (www.thefump.com), but especially The Great Luke Ski, Possible Oscar, and MC Lars.
Isaac: What charities are you involved with or support and why should people get involved?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: I'm an animal lover so whenever I can I support the ASPCA. Animals can't help themselves and they do a good job helping them out.
Isaac: Have you (or would you ever consider) writing a song about any of today's particular world issues/problems? If so, what world issue would speak to you the most to write about?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: I'll write about anything if I can make it funny. I have a song coming up on The FuMP next week which sort of deals with the current economic crisis.
Isaac: What is the main reason why should people listen to your music?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: It has been scientifically proven that people who laugh more live longer, healthier, happier lives. My music is funny. You can draw your own conclusions there.
Isaac: What has been your main inspiration to toss out such classical songs?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: If you're referring to my grandmother's old records which I recently threw out, they got wet and were moldy.
Isaac: How far into the creation of a song do you share any of it with anyone? Who would you play it for? Would it be a chorus, a verse and chorus, or a complete song?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: I generally don't share my songs with anyone not involved in its creation until it’s almost done. I may share a rough mix down with someone to get some specific feedback, but that's about it.
Isaac: How much do you let others "mess around with" one of your new songs?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: I release all my music under a Creative Commons license, so they're free to do what they want with it as long as it's not for profit.
Isaac: Do you have to be a tortured soul to be a singer-songwriter?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: Only if you want to write depressing music.
Isaac: Are your songs strictly autobiographical or are they embroidered autobiography?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: My songs are mostly autobiographical, although often grossly exaggerated. It all comes back to I write what I know.
Isaac: How long does it take you to process your emotions and turn them into songs?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: The only emotion I deal with is laughter, so I basically think of something I find funny, write it down, and put it in song form. Sometimes I'll write a song in an afternoon.
Other times it takes months to get a song done. It all depends on the inspiration, circumstances, and schedule for getting the song done.
Isaac: The best piece of advice you actually followed?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: I don't think I've ever actually gotten any good advice from anyone. Most of the people who give me advice aren't qualified to.
Isaac: Give Shutouts to your family and friends.
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: To my wife and kids who put up with my noise, my parents for supporting me when I was just getting started doing this, my sister Kelly who turned on all her friends to my music, Shoebox of Worm Quartet, Luke Ski, all the folks over at The FuMP, and Dr. Demento who was instrumental in me not giving up when I was 16.
Isaac: Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?
Tom "Devo Spice" Rockwell: I just finished up a new song which will be available as a free download on TheFuMP.com on December 12th. Besides the new Devo Spice music I'm also working with Shoebox and Luke on some sketch comedy which will hopefully see the light of day eventually.
Johnny Young/Vocals, Guitars, and Keys David Weise/Vocals and Bass Sean Egan/Guitar, bass, keys Michael Galante/Drums Karl Wilcox/Drums on early recordings
JC Internet Radio is excited to bring to the members of this community our latest online interview with the Ecotone Refugees, a Rock / Psychedelic / Progressive band that will make you move your body and rock your soul. Check out this spotlight that several members of the band completed with our online community. Enjoy!
Isaac: Please take a moment to elaborate on who you are and your upbringing.
Johnny: I have 7 brothers and 2 sisters and I was exposed to a lot of music at an early age. I started jamming on piano with my older brothers when I was 8. I played high school dances with them and often had trouble getting back in if I left the building. I started my own first band in 4th grade. We played Watermelon Man and Mercy Mercey. My older brother helped them arrange the horns. I grew up playing piano; I started playing guitar 10 years ago, in this band, I play both guitar and keys.
Dave: I was born in Brooklyn, NY, first generation American. Both my parents painted and my mom wrote lyrics and sang opera, and my Dad played clarinet. As a kid, I sang in choruses, and wrote my first song when I was 11. I learned to play bass for this band.
Isaac: Was there any one musician that spoke to your heart so profoundly, you were inspired to do your own thing?
Johnny: It’s hard to say, so many, but Jon Anderson from Yes inspired me to sing, even though I sound nothing like him. Pink Floyd got me into psychedelic and spacey music.
Dave: CGGB punk bands ala The Ramones, because they made me realize that you didn't have to be a virtuoso to express yourself. I also loved AC/DC.
Isaac: Which singer/group would you say you would most like to do a duet with?
Dave: Chrissy Hynds of the Pretenders-- Johnny - Jon Anderson.
Isaac: What singer/songwriter do you most connect with?
Dave: Johnny Cash and Cat Stevens Johnny - John Lennon and James Taylor.
Isaac: Out of your entire song collection that you've written thus far, which song(s) would you say is/are the most personal/meaningful to you?
Dave and Johnny: In Ecotone Refugees, Wake Up and Water Rising. Both of us have done several albums before, both solo and in different bands, but that's not what we're talking about here.
Isaac: Which singers/groups do you enjoy/like from some of today's music genres?
Dave and Johnny: The Black Angels, Queens Of The Stone Age, Radiohead, White Stripes, and Raconteurs.
Isaac: What charities are you involved with or support and why should people get involved?
Dave: CARE, because when you donate money to CARE, it helps more people per dollar than any other charity.
Johnny: I play benefits a lot; For the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation and others.
Isaac: Have you (or would you ever consider) writing a song about any of today's particular world issues/problems? If so, what world issue would speak to you the most to write about?
Dave and Johnny: There are a few songs on this album about world issues. Wake Up is about the stupidity of war and going against group mentality, Baghdad Hell is about the horrors of war; Water Rising is about climate change.
Isaac: What is the main reason why should people listen to your music?
Dave and Johnny: its fun, it's invigorating, and you can participate in it.
Isaac: What has been your main inspiration to toss out such classical music?
Dave and Johnny: All we've heard and all we see.
Isaac: How far into the creation of a song do you share any of it with anyone? Who would you play it for? Would it be a chorus, a verse and chorus, or a complete song?
Dave and Johnny: No rules.
Isaac: How much do you let others "mess around with" one of your new songs? Dave and Johnny: It depends if we like their ideas.
Isaac: Do you have to be a tortured soul to be a singer-songwriter?
Johnny: No, but it helps. Dave - visa versa, just because you're a tortured soul doesn't mean you can write songs. Trust me.
Isaac: Are your songs strictly autobiographical or are they embroidered autobiography?
Dave and Johnny: Both.
Isaac: How long does it take you to process your emotions and turn them into songs?
Dave and Johnny: Sometimes it's instant; sometimes it takes a long, long time.
Isaac: The best piece of advice you actually followed?
Johnny: The space is just as important as the notes.
Dave: Don't eat spicy food 10 minutes before you have to sing.
Isaac: Give Shutouts to your family and friends.
Dave and Johnny: Hi family and friends!
Isaac: Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?
Dave and Johnny: More songs for our next Ecotone Refugees album! Johnny Young and Dave Weise.
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