MYSPACE REVOLUTION
Who can remember the time before MySpace? Probably no one, so let’s think it through; the site was launched not only until the early 2004, following 1 million users in February only after a month of existing! MySpace Record label launched in 2005, following a platform for videos soon after.
Not only is MySpace a product of technology connecting people through personal expression, content, and culture, today the music portion of the community is also one of the largest and most popular music platforms on the web offering users the most solid song and album catalogue available for streaming. MySpace allows artists and fans to truly connect and unite in all genres of music both online and off, all around the globe.
Therefore, for musicians and bands the channels for promoting are free these days. As modern technology offer easier ways to record songs, it also offers new, easier ways to put it out for other people to discover and enjoy. There are a lot of bands born these days and only a handful are not like the next one. Not many of these bands are actually worth mentioning, still, we'd like to present a few mentionable acts.
DESTINATION; ANYWHERE
Interview w/Cady Groves
DESTINATION; ANYWHERE
Cady Groves is a 21-year-old girl from the US who, at present, is at a place where she never thought she could get to; besides the fact that she’s living on someone's couch she gets to wake up and make music every single day, in while learning who she really is in turn. Music has honestly been the only thing in the world that ever made sense to her. “Some people think 'normal' is getting married and having kids, or getting a full time job, but none of that honestly feels like it fits me, and never has. Even when I was 5 I knew I wasn't cut out for that kind of life.”
At that age, young Cady got introduced to music in a big way, when her uncle had a sick mullet and was a left handed drummer; he took left handed Cady under his wing and gave her the most amazing little blue drum set. A passion to create something with an instrument was born and Cady soon moved onto piano lessons and finally made a permanent home in the singing and writing department.
To describe Cady in the simplest terms might be impossible; ever since she was 16 she has had tendencies to just leave her current home in the middle of the night in search for something else in the world. She would wake up somewhere new the next day and be there until it didn’t feel natural anymore. She says she likes to spend time by herself and it doesn't scare her. “The truth is though I feel comfort in never having a real place to call home.”
After graduating college at 17, Cady felt like she had paid her dues to society and it was time to rebel. Cady had met many great musicians and people while doing things like this, but the one that stuck with her was Evan Duncan Taylor, her guitarist and best friend, whom she met on one of her 24-hour drives to 'somewhere' as she landed in Southern Oklahoma, where everything musically fell into complete sync. “My whole life I tried finding people who felt music like I did, and to this day, Evan is the only person who gets me. He makes since of my lyrics and melodies with his guitar.”
A FACE IN THE CROWD
To this date Cady’s just trying to make sense of chapters of her life with a hook, lyric, and melody. She hates talking about her past because she doesn’t like sympathy. But she can sort through it all and share about what she has learned with lyrics. That is why, if Cady’s music came alive to be something you could touch with your own hands it would look identical to her. Anyone who is into what she’s exuding musically will never have to worry whether or not she’s being honest. “That is all I know how to do at this point; and I'm honestly too tired with how the world is in some music aspects to even want to pretend. I feel like there's no room left for anything but truth, and it starts in everyone who makes a song from this second till forever.”
When Cady thinks about the first thing she wants in life, it's to understand the world; when she starts to understand things, maybe she can start to help others as well by making them realize they aren't alone. “I never want to be like this un-touchable super artist. I have always been, and always want to be a part of the crowd. I'm not any more special than the next person. I've just got a lot to say, and hopefully it's what others have wanted to get off of their chests as well.”THE LIFE OF A PIRATE
Cady gets inspired by artists that know exactly what they need to say out loud in a song. “It's really not about a good melody if you're not saying something. Melodies and everything else come along with it if you just belt and say exactly how you're feeling. I can never sing or write something I don't completely feel or believe in.” Cady says she loves to hear a song and get goose bumps, while thinking ‘man, I wish I could have written that down when I felt just like that.’ She feels like she can really relate to artists such as William Fitzsimmons, Norah Jones, and Miranda Lambert; just to name a few. She feels like they stay true to who they are musically and don't stray from that for a 'coolness' factor.
Cady just finished her second album The Life of a Pirate and it will release in mid-March. “I am so excited for everyone to hear these songs. They are my whole heart mixed with a piece of my mind” she says.
The release will be followed by a spring and summer tour, which will be Cady’s first and she’s eager for the fun times to come. “Music is a big outlet. It can get you through the toughest times, and make you dance on the best day of your life. I hope to deliver both ends of my life and come full circle to an understanding with the world and everyone in it.”
LUCKY LIFE
Interview w/Jake Germany
AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Jake Germany is from Tyler, Texas and plays music to promote love, the kind that's real and outlasts that of the world. This is, of course, what’s the official MySpace of Jake Germany states out. After being in some silly bands the will to write more intimate music that people could really grab on to and apply into their lives grew to be so huge he decided to go solo. The Me and My Friends EP by Jake was released summer 2009 and followed several tours in support for that. Now he’s actually working with a new band out called Numerals. The band, which could be categorized as ambient, Christian or indie, was put together in the late fall of 2009 in an effort to try and drive a sense of passion back into a dying music generation.
Enough about the band though, Jake is the one John Doe discovered! Where to categorize his tunes? Probably somewhere in between Copeland and A Rocket To The Moon would be fair enough. He names The Honorary Title, Lydia, As Cities Burn, John Mayer and Alicia Keys as his favourites at the moment.
What’s striking in Jakes output is the sensitive genuineness that shines through; the obvious love between the creator and his artwork. “I've always loved music... my entire life! It’s an amazing emotional experience when you are able to share something that you truly care about with other people.” The bond between the artwork and its creator is very important in his opinion and it crushes him to know that most of the big hit radio songs are really written by someone else. “These days, when you get to a certain level, you have certain expectations. You write a hit song but then you have to back it up with another one that’s better... which almost always means that there is a hired old man that sits in a room and writes cheesy, powerpop jams that will last for 4 months. It’s a bummer.”A CORN DOG
The artist behind the songs describes himself as the most awkward and nerdy guy in the world with an argumentation of collecting comic books, action figures, and yo-yo's! He loves movies and music from the 90's and says that if his musical output were to come alive, it would be a corn dog. In where the geeky nature is rather attractive to the ladies these days, Jake also describes somewhat 95% of his supporters as about 14 year old girls, the other 5% being his family and girlfriend. I would respectfully disagree and make believe that Jake Germany appeals to any sensitive soul.
Back to love and spreading the word of it, Jake seems fascinated by it. “Honestly, pretty much all of the sweeter, love songs that I have are totally not about me. I just like to observe love. I think it’s beautiful when two people are really in love and that is what inspires me to write.” What makes a song good for Jake is the passion. “You can write a song to a formula like every other band in the scene but you'll only last as long as all those other bands. It’s sad that there are not many timeless bands out there anymore.”
Jake Germany thinks it’s the emotional and very influential part of music that makes it important to so many people. “Did you know that Hitler once said that if he could have control over the radio, he could have control over the world? True story.”
Overall, what would Jake Germany really like to say? “Thanks so much for everything. You're lucky to have a life, so love it.”
HEARTFELT POP FROM BOSTON
Interview w/Stay
LABRADOR RETRIEVER
Stay, bouncing off straight from Boston, is working on a lot of things right now. At the moment the guys are at home writing some new songs and practicing their live set to get ready for some touring in April and May. Their upbeat heartfelt pop act is definitely worth mentioning. “Our music would be a black Labrador Retriever because everyone loves those dogs” the guitarist, Steve says and laughs it out as he thinks about what would Stay be if it came alive.
The band is definitely greatly influenced by well-known acts such as Blink 182, Brand New and Jimmy Eat World. “We all met each other through mutual friends and by performing in previous bands throughout the Massachusetts local music scene.” Their favourite acts at the moment are the new Motion City Soundtrack record and the new record by Kesha. “We just love pop songs! But at the same time, we listen to all different styles of course!” The members of Stay are really laid back and like to have a great time, Stay’s live shows are definitely comparable to this. “We all just put in a lot of effort towards creating a fun and energetic live show that people can love”, Steve says. The band’s love towards its supporters is rather obvious, Steve says they have the absolute best supporters and that they really do appreciate each and every person that give their music a chance or comes out to a show in their area. “We do our best to respond to every comment we receive on our MySpace and other websites. Our fans mean the world to us and we wouldn’t be able to be a band without them!”CRUCIAL MELODIES
Steve thinks there’s no objective good or bad music and it’s more about own preferences; likes and dislikes. What strikes to him as a good song is a song with a great chorus or a great melody. “That’s basically what makes a good song really great in my opinion. Having an awesome melody throughout a song is really crucial!” In general the bond between the artist and the artwork isn’t as essential to him, “I think a good song can always be a good song”, he says. However, he adds that the best songs are usually born from within the artist and are really heart felt. “For us, we like to write everything that we release because we really want to convey a specific message to our listeners.”
Music is everywhere around us and it’s hard to escape from, to Steve that’s where the bigger meaning of music lies. “There’s a song for any and every emotion that you could be feeling. It’s just great to be able to listen to something and evoke a certain mood or emotion from within. Music is powerful.”
cady's myspace / jake's myspace / stay's myspaceText: Joanna Tzortzis.
