John Karma of The Karma Parade

By: Isaac Davis Jr., BGS, MBA

John Karma of The Karma Parade recently spoke to JC Internet Radio about what it means to make music that matters. He shares with us his vision, his dreams, and why he feels The Karma Parade will bring something unique to the music industry. Enjoy!

Isaac: please take a moment to elaborate on who you are and your upbringing.

Karma: My stage name is John Karma derived from my belief in spirituality and how every action or path we take effects everything else. I was brought up to be creative but private in my writing styles. It took some time to share these thoughts with people.

Isaac: Was there any one musician that spoke to your heart so profoundly, you were inspired to do your own thing?

Karma: John Lennon was the first that influenced me in songwriting; Kurt Cobain brought everything out of my soul to the outside.

Isaac: Which singer/group would you say you would most like to do a duet with?

Karma: Hope Sandoval, her style fits my own, mysterious and melancholy.

Isaac: What singer/songwriter do you most connect with?

Karma: Noel Gallagher at this time, he is one classic rock jukebox, a plethora or influences shared with modern influence.

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?

Karma: Well without a doubt that would be Bouncing Baby Boy, this was written about my son John right before he went for open heart surgery at the age of one. I guess I hid in my music at that time and both worlds collided. It is about how outer forces affect our lives and the outcome of our future. This song will stand the test of time with him and is set up to be listened to throughout his life.

Isaac: Which singers/groups do you enjoy/like from some of today's music genres?

Karma: I have in my mp3 player right now, Duke Spirit, Foxboro Hot Tubs, Ryan Adams, MGMT, Kings of Leon.

Isaac: What charities are you involved with or support and why should people get involved?

Karma: We are not involved in any charities at this time but my family gives to Make a Wish, Big Brothers Big Sisters, St Louis de Montforte Church, Cistic Fibrosis and the American Heart Association. 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?

Karma; I wrote a song called Truly Free that is on our EP. It was written a few days after 9/11. I grew up and live about fifty miles out of Manhattan, it hit all of us pretty hard, many people I knew had loved ones they lost. This song is more of a political song on how this was handled by the government and with a twist of a possibly conspiracy theory. This song is currently number 54 on the Living With War Today chart’s on Neil Young's website.

Isaac: What is the main reason why should people listen to your music?

Karma: Well, we wear our influences on our sleeves; it could catch you off guard and capture your heart. It's all heart really, we spent "One Hundred Days" on each song, hence the name of the EP.

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?

Karma: I used to play some songs prior to the mixing stage. Earlier in the process it was a bit more exciting to share things at an early stage. After a perfect version is created, then you keep them close to your heart a bit more, and only band members will hear them.

Isaac: How much do you let others "mess around with" one of your new songs?

Karma: Never.

Isaac: Do you have to be a tortured soul to be a singer-songwriter?

Karma: No you don't have to be, but I find a solemn or sad soul to be most influential. I now find other things for inspiration, my family, politics, etc.

Isaac: Are your songs strictly autobiographical or are they embroidered autobiography?

Karma: Mostly autobiographical.

Isaac: How long does it take you to process your emotions and turn them into songs?

Karma: Well, the lyrics are usually written way before the music. I have some written works that took years to set to music; others were processed in one evening.

Isaac: Where can folks locate you on the Internet?

Karma: We could be found on MySpace, Music (iLike) on Facebook, available for download on iTunes, EMusic, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, Aimee Street to name a few.

Isaac: The best piece of advice you actually followed?

Karma: Stay persistent, and sober.

Isaac: Give Shutouts to your family and friends.

Karma; Shout out to My Gorgeous wife Suzanne, my kids Maria & John, The Bronzin's, The DeCarlo's, The Dexters, & the Band Parade, I could not have done any of this without you guys.

Isaac: Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?

Karma: Two new songs at the same time, different sound like everything else, much more harmonies. Should have a new EP done by early next year.

Official MySpace Website
http://www.myspace.com/thekarmaparade