Meet Terence Shaun McGovern, Artist and Model

Terence Shaun "T-Shaun" McGovern is a 21 year old artist/model. His music style mainly consists of R&B and hip-hop, and he writes, records, and engineers all of his songs. He continuously works at his music to improve his skills as an artist. Music has gotten T-Shaun through many difficulties, and makes him feel full of life, meaning, and purpose. From talent shows to open mic nights, he has performed in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Hollywood.

1. When did you first get into writing your own music?

About a year ago I started getting into it. Collaborating with other artists has helped me get better. And I feel the more and more you write, the better you get.

2. What does engineering and producing your own work add to your music?

It lets you have more control over your music, and making it the way you want it to sound. A lot of engineers and producers have different styles, and sometimes they won't fit you. Personally I like to do it myself because I know it will come out the best it can.

3. What inspired you to move from New Jersey to California?

Change, a lot of people are afraid of it but I think it's crucial if you want to succeed. But I wanted to be close to the entertainment industry center. The weather isn't so bad here either.

4. What projects are you currently working on?

I have been practicing a lot of acoustic songs for live shows. Also I have some music on the back burner. At this point in time I'm waiting to find the right team to help me with my album.

5. Do you have any dream projects you'd especially love to be able to do?

To have a legit album the world can hear. Working with all professional people that are the best at what they do helping bring out the best me possible. I'd love to collaborate with Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Drake, Nikki Minaj, and many more.

Thanks, T-Shaun!

Meet Lord Avatar II, Ashley Ellison

Lord Avatar II, Ashley Ellison, is leader of the Solaran Faith, and an actor, artist, musician, writer and general creator of things.

Learn more about him by visiting http://www.lordavatarii.com/.

1. What was your childhood like?

My childhood was horrible to say the least. I was constantly being kicked out by my parents from as young as 4 years old. They were horrible parents. The only adult in my life I could trust and count on was my Nana. She was always there for me whenever I needed her.

2. What drew your interest to writing books?

I always had an interest in writing. When I was 9 years old, my school submitted a poem I had written to a competition, and I won a publication in a poetry book. I started writing books after taking over the Solaran Faith. It was a way to publish the beliefs of the faith and get it seen by hundreds of people.

3. How did you become involved with the Solaran faith?

I have always been fascinated by religion, going from Christianity, to Wicca and others. But in 2007, when a friend told me about a religion that he had heard of, I was instantly intrigued. I went along to a meeting in Macclesfield forest, and I knew that it was the religion for me.

4. What do you tell people when they ask what the Solaran faith is all about?

I often get asked about it on the spot, and I can't think of a response because I can't summarize seventeen years of doctrine in the few minutes they expect me to talk to about it. But now, I give them the basics of it; we believe that the goddess Solara inhabits a separate realm or universe. She was a higher being that existed alone in a realm she had power over. She began to change things to suit herself. Over time she created life in her realm. That life would worship her and help her to create more life.

5. Is there anything else in particular that you'd like readers to know about you and your work?

I am currently working on a new novel called Mage of Magic. It is about an orphaned boy who rises to become a hero Sorcerer of a fantasy world called Valusia. I'm hoping to release the book in December on Amazon and wattpad for free.

Thanks, Ashley!

Meet Dahshanae, Singer, Songwriter, and Producer

Dahshanae Denise Jones, known as Dahshanae,is a singer, songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer from Chicago. Check out her latest song, "Sashay," on SoundCloud.

Dahshanae is currently managing her little brother's career as a upcoming rapper. He has a project coming out in June called G.A.S. Her oldest brother is also a rapper named Tazzie H, and he and Chewy Bandzz just came out with a song called "Rock," which is also on SoundCloud right now and doing amazing. Dahshanae was the director and shot the video for this song.

You can keep up with Dahshnae on Twitter as well as Instagram. Her website is at www.Dahshanae.com.

1. How did your career as a singer/songwriter get started, and would you tell us a little bit more about your family members being involved in music as well?

I've always had a passion for music since I was little. My entire family is like a boombox. When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I started a singing group with my two cousins and we called ourselves The Talented Angels. We were like the young Destiny's Child, and I was Beyonce lol. We used to perform for family functions, and then we evolved to talent shows and competitions. I would always choreograph our dances and write our songs, if we weren't performing someone else's. It was nothing but great times.

As of now, I am a solo artist, of course and that venture is always exciting working on my projects and working with my brothers, Tazzie H and Kaza Block, who are both amazing upcoming artists.

2. What was your process like in producing your latest project, the "98:An Imperfect Masterpiece" EP?

Now that was an amazing experience I will never forget! I always knew that when I put out my first big project, I wanted to produce it myself, and that's exactly what I did. Every aspect of that project came from a soft spot in my heart for 90's music, and I love how everything came together. My whole thing was, this era of music is nothing compared to the 90's era, and one of my favorite things about music from that time was the pureness and how it made you feel. It made you feel things you didn't know you could, and I just wish we could bring back that aspect of music we so desperately need in this generation.

3. How have people been responding so far to your new single, "Sashay"?

I've been getting a lot of feedback and positive vibes so far! I hope that more people listen to it and love it as much as I do.

4. Who do you look to in the industry--are there people you see as reference points for your own work?

I look up to strong woman in the industry who continues to make the impossible possible. I love to listen to artist like Beyonce, of course, but I love Janet Jackson, Erukah Badu, Jill Scott, Amy Winehouse, Kehlani, and the list goes on. I also look up women outside of music like Taraji P. Henson, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Monique, Viola Davis, and the list goes on again. I like to take from those amazing women when it comes to patience, creativity, and confidence.

5. What are you working on now, and what projects are coming up for you over the next year?

I'm literally the multitasking queen right now lol. I'm of course working on my music. I'm working on a few special projects that will be released this year. I also recently came out with my official merchandise, which is on my website right now. I'm working on some modeling and acting projects, and I'm in the process of writing books and so much much.

I am also working with my two brothers. Tazzie H and Chewy Bandzz just came out with a hot song called "Rock" on SoundCloud. I shot the video for the track and their working on a dope project for July. My younger brother, Kaza Block, is also releasing a dope project for June called "G.A.S". Right know, we're all just non-stop working and can't wait for everyone to see what we're made of.

Thanks, Dahshanae!

Meet J-Hen, Recording Artist

J-Hen is an R&B/Hip-Hop recording artist from the Dallas metroplex area. His passion for music first began at an early age, and he taught himself how to write his own songs when he was in middle school. He and his friends released their first LP, which included tracks of J-Hen singing, when he was still in high school.

His latest single, "On To The Next," was produced in Miami, FL at the infamous The Hit Factory Criteria Recording Studios. Learn more about J-Hen by visiting http://j-hen.com.

1. Growing up, how did you teach yourself to write your own songs--and then did you teach yourself to produce as well?

Growing up, I started out as a rapper and I used to write lyrics for my homies so I slowed it down a bit and realized that I liked R&B better. I started writing about my life experiences and it just kept getting better and better. As far as producing, I started out with a program called Fruity Loops. I think every producer has heard of that program! I was just messing around with it and just started creating my own beats.

2. Your work seems to have some diverse influences behind it, from current hip hop music to 1980s pop. When you sit down and write today, who are the artists that continue to inspire you?

There's quite a few but Michael Jackson, James Brown, Prince, Genuine, and Usher are a few that I would like to acknowledge.

3. What is the music scene like in Dallas, and how has that influenced your work?

The music scene in Dallas is actually starting to really open up. It's always been here--it's just knowing who, what, when, where, and why and being in the right place at the right time.

4. What projects are you taking on in 2017?

My new album is coming out in January 2017, as well as a tour to introduce my new album "On To The Next," a feature part as an artist trying to make it in the music business in a movie called "Caught Up" by Sharon's Revelatory Productions, as well as performing on the 2017 The Experience Factor Cruise on Carnival.

5. For readers who haven't heard your music before, what would you like them to know about it, and what song or album of yours would you suggest that they listen to first?

My music is about relationships and life experiences and is typically written so that people can relate to and really feel and be inspired by it. I love to paint vivid stories in my music so that you not only hear the music but you can close your eyes and see it also.

The album I would suggest they listen to first is "The Prelude." This album gives you a peek into what my music is all about. It's a prelude of what's to come. It's all about feeling good and just enjoying and being able to relate to my music. My next album "On To The Next" showcases the level I am on now in my career.

Thanks, J-Hen!

Meet Syreeta Thompson, Musician

Noted as one of the great instrumentalist and clinicians in the musical arena, Syreeta Thompson's musical gift proves to be both sincere and incomparable. The powerful trumpeter has managed to blaze the gospel industry circuit by sharing the stage with many of its greatest icons from the renowned Hezekiah Walker and LFT to the legendary Dorinda Clark-Cole.

For many, the musical experience of Syreeta Thompson is simply profound as she consistently delivers a stirring performance as an anointed minstrel each time she ministers. For the woman affectionately known as the Trumpet Lady, each opportunity is undeniably an opportunity "to infuse the gospel of Jesus of Christ to all mankind and to touch souls with the gift of music."

To learn more, visit http://www.TrumpetLady.com.

1. When did you first start playing the trumpet, and how did you know it was the instrument for you?

My start in music began very early when I was nine years old. I actually started playing the clarinet and later switched to trumpet. My mother told me she wasn't going to buy me another instrument unless I took the trumpet to church lol! So, I had to PLAY EVERY Sunday in church! Lol!

2. How did you become known as "The Trumpet Lady"?

I used to carry my instrument on my back and there was gentleman in my church that used to speak to me as "Trumpet Lady." Also, while touring with Hezekiah Walker, everyone in the band had a name, and mine became "Trumpet Lady." I figure it was memorable, so I kept it.

3. Would you tell us a little bit more about how your music is a ministry?

My music is totally based on inspiring others to pursue their dreams. I'm the product of a single parent home, and I'm an inner city kid who beat the odds. My dad is deceased, so my mom wanted to keep me disciplined. So, I want others to know that you can overcome the odds of the stereotype.

4. How did you choose "Winner" for the title of your second album, and how have listeners been responding to it since its release a few months ago?

The Winner release is dedicated to help inspire and keep Arts Education in urban settings. It has a total of seven songs which feature The Love Fellowship Praise & Worship team & Dorinda Clark Cole. I also wanted to show my roots and technical side, which has the song church melody, and which has New Orleans and Churchy feel.

I've been so overwhelmed by the response. The Winner release has received rave reviews, and I’m thankful. Also, the body of work maintained its position on Billboard for eleven weeks consistently.

5. Do you have any plans and projects coming up in 2017 that you're especially looking forward to working on?

Yes, in July 2017, supporters and listeners can expect the Evolution of a Winner Hymns & Songs. I'm in the process as we speak, recording this body of work!

Thanks, Syreeta!

Meet Seraphim Aun Weor, Musician and Film Director

Seraphim Aun Weor grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi. Her debut single "You Never Loved Me" delivers a first-hand view of the raw emotional conflict of self-affliction; it's the first of many singles to be released from her studio album, Chaos and Innocence. Other announced single releases are "You're My Biggest Mistake" and an intriguing alternative industrial mix entitled "Make-Up".

Seraphim is also an independent film director, and her latest film, Ünholywood, guides viewers into the mysteries of the forbidden unknown while taking them on the emotional rollercoaster of a downward spiral in a town that lost its wings when bloodshed became a virtue.

Learn more about Seraphim by visiting www.SeraphimAunWeor.com.

1. How would you describe your music to listeners who haven't heard it before?

I have a lot of amazing influences; however I am a bit different in my creations and writings. It takes you back to Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" with a twist of Nine Inch Nails. I am a broken Valentine, so my lyrics are colored as such; it could be considered Vamp.

2. What inspired you to form your new band, Deliver Me Up?

I am a rocker chick at heart, and in the past I was a solo artist; during this time, I found it a bit awkward to rock out without a live band backing me up. My shows are dramatically set--think of a dark Katy Perry show as in Creole Voodoo extravagant--but I had no guitar to smash and that bothered me. Hence back to the future I formed Deliver Me Up, and am looking forward to my future world wide tour, "Soul In Tacked".

3. What was the process like for creating your debut album, Chaos and Innocence?

It was a very emotional process as the lyrics mean a lot to me and they shade my past, my present, and my future. Although I am a broken Valentine, I still have joy some how that allows me to create honestly, bringing the listener into my world just for a moment in time. My producer is Jason Charles Miller (Godhead) who is an amazing producer I may add, as I do over write my songs and every studio session turns into a writing session, so you get the short end version of my album Chaos and Innocence.

4. How do you balance your time between music and your filmmaking projects?

Usually I am in the studio twice a week recording or rehearsing which allows me to have a lot of extra time to do my films... I am currently in casting for my new film Unholywood which is an incredible process watching my characters come alive in the auditions. I have cast most of the lead roles already, but am not yet finished with the bit roles; you can follow my films and filming process under Sin Icon Motion Pictures.

5. As someone who has been a solo artist, how has your work evolved through opportunities to collaborate with others, such as your new band?

Collaborating with others such as music artists, this is very much in my near future and I am extremely excited about that for Deliver Me Up. I am in the treatment creating process for my new music video, "You Never Loved Me," in which we are certain it will open up a lot of doors and new opportunities in music. For all enquiries for me to collaborate with another artist or be featured on another artist track, please contact my publicist Domenick Nati.

Thanks, Seraphim!

Meet Gideon Smith, Musician

Based in North Carolina, Gideon Smith got his start singing in rock bands in 1989, and he founded Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned in 1996. His music is classic rock, psychedelic bluesy retro rock music. His songs have been featured on television and film, including placements on well-known shows like The Sopranos and Sons of Anarchy. He's influenced by sixties and seventies rock, and he also loves anthropology, studying world religions, archery, yoga, etc. He focuses on the positive!

Check out www.gideonsmith.net for much more about Gideon and his music.

1. As someone who has lived in many countries and is an avid reader of texts from many cultures, what do you see as the key influences on your work when you sit down to write a song?

Hail and how're you? Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I celebrate and enjoy many cultures that bring knowledge, inspiration, peace, power and beauty to my life. When I create art, whatever the style or theme may be, it all figures in there somewhere. My music may be seen as southern American rock and roll for the most part, but I believe music belongs to us all and is universal. Rock music and blues came from the southern states, but music is ancient with tribal rhythm, singing, poetry and lyrics which know no singular time or culture, so all of it comes together with any songwriting. As people are the sum of every experience they have ever had, creating art of any form can come anything they have experienced in whatever way that had an effect on their life. As for southern America, blues singing or rhythms, things like that, actually come from many cultures and blended here into music people identify with the culture. Mountain folk tend to enjoy bluegrass or Celtic/Irish sounding music, but also there are reggae bands way up in the Appalachians. Beach music tends to be island sounding, and swampy southern music like you'd hear in New Orleans ranges from blues to zydeco, jazz and very heavy metal. I think without exception, tribal drumming calls everyone and people like to dance or sing: it strikes with passion and excitement, and it's all part of the way nature takes control over the listener. Way back to ancient Greece, the god Pan with his pipes and forest stories, Apollo with his lyre, mermaids and nymphs singing. Women love music and dance, and men love beauty and rhythm which brings out their sense of passion but also empowers their strength like a war chant.

2. Do you feel that your music keeps changing over time, and on the other side of the coin, do you see any constants or themes in your work?

Yes I do, each piece I have done has captured the time period and moment and the next definitely changes and grows like the next chapter, or just a few new pages of a book. Some of it is of course similar, but also there are no walls around my music, so I just play what makes me happy or comes out. While I have always just created without calculation, I also have made a point when necessary that my music would not be painted in a corner so to speak that I was only known for one thing over and over. All artists should be free to be real natural and create as allows and they are inspired. But yes, I think if you dig what I do, for the most part, all my music runs like a river a listener may be familiar with, and it becomes like a well-loved old friend you just have different conversations with but it remains the same you knew and loved to begin with. I try not to look back on my music history too much--there are hard times I’m glad I left behind and happier ones I’m thankful I had. But one must always look ahead and keep creating with eyes on an awesome today and tomorrow.

3. How did you break into having your music on TV and in movies?

The first big show one of my songs was on was The Sopranos, and I am so thankful for that. I think at the time my music was just spreading around a lot in Europe and the USA, and after that happened, it opened a new avenue in the music industry I had previously never even thought about. I had always concentrated on shows and recording albums not necessarily other forms of media entertainment industry, so after that I became aware of all the awesome ways my music can reach people if you expand your vision and work very hard, and work only and always with professional people who have your best interests at heart. It opened the world for me that way, and so music just expanded in my life beyond shows in my area or recording for a specific fan base. I'm so thankful my music has been in film and television and equally thankful for people who knew me otherwise, I give them all the same music and gratitude. Artists should treat their fans well: if you're a rock star or indie musician or whatever, it's an exalted gift, the position to provide music for the world. Big love for everybody who supports what I do and all the good you send my way.

4. What projects are you currently working on, and do you have any plans for 2017 that you want to share?

I have several side projects going. One is my doom metal band which is very heavy called Cemetery Crows--it is doom metal, gothic rock, psychedelic heavy music. I have a few others on the way in the future, too, and my usual music which is known under my name. In 2017 I hope to release new records and eventually get back to performing live when the stars align.

5. For other musicians and indie writers/artists who are looking to find wider exposure for their work, what's your advice?

I would say don't pay attention to trends, as in worry over what's popular right now. Make your own trends and be yourself, and don't try and imitate something you see is popular exactly right now because the people who created that did so a few years ago. Make the trends and stand your ground. You have to be yourself to make your mark. Don't get too caught up in social media. Social media is a great communication tool, and for an artist networking and promoting your band is important on some levels, but it's also a huge sea of completely lost people vying for fleeting attention and recognition. I think it can be very unhealthy to be too preoccupied with it, personally and as a musician. Don't let social media run your life.

I think if artists focus on their songwriting, delivering their best live performances, working on their instrument and singing, they will gain recognition. Put yourself out there, and just don't follow the crowd or you're just a number in a "scene." Take the road less traveled and make your own path. All of the greats in any field carved their name by being original, so don't seek to imitate. Look inside, not outside, and write songs. Recognition will come if what you give is emotionally pure and high quality. On a work ethics level: work hard but more importantly work smart. The industry itself can be a strange place full of tricky smoke and mirrors, so keep your eyes ahead and sing from your heart. Minimize your weaknesses and maximize your strengths. Treat everyone you deal with with dignity. Treat them well on all levels and deliver great music, and you will be respected. If people you deal with treat you badly, rid yourself of them and keep moving. The best way to succeed is to be real, work hard, and keep your heart pure while you're doing it. The rest will unfold as it should.

Thank you for the great interview and wishing you well, friend. Follow your heart to the adventures of tomorrow.

Thanks, Gideon!

Meet Doug Cash, Musician

Doug Cash is a singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and performer. He is the President of Pryor 2 What ? Records, and owner of Pryor 2 What ? Music Publishing. His work is heavily influenced by Sly & the Family Stone, the Beatles, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Yes. He was raised on big band (Basie, Ellington, Miller, Goodman) and bebop (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk). In his own words: "I was groovin' with the muse before I could walk."

Listen to samples of Doug Cash's music and learn more about him by visiting http://dougcashmusic.com.

1. How did you first get started playing music?

I was inspired by The Beatles to become a singer songwriter. Namely seeing John Lennon playing "Hide Your Love Away."

2. As someone who has a lot of different musical influences, how have you found your own sound as an artist?

While in high school, I wrote a song called "You Ought to See You." I knew I had reached a new plateau. That's when my sound was born. It took a few years, but I knew it when I heard it. My own voice!

3. What inspired you to start Pryor 2 What? records?

It was all about owning the publishing so I could negotiate with the industry as a label.

4. What projects have you worked on lately that you're most excited about?

I just released my newest compilation, Singer/Songwriter, featuring the singles "Emotional Treason" and "You Wept for Yourself." I've also released a new blues single "Not Waiting."

5. As an artist who has spent many years balancing a "day job" with pursuing your music, how do you keep finding the energy and motivation to produce the work that you love?

Like many musicians, I know what it is to raise a family, while working a full time job, plus producing and recording in the studio, performing on stage, and trying to nail a contract. That was me in my 20s. Many moons ago. I'm now in the fortunate position to be able to focus on my label, write in multiple genres, and pitch to licensing agencies for television, film, games, and commercials.

Thanks, Doug!

Meet Shoyei, Musician and Producer

Shoyei provides royalty-free music for personal and commercial use. Specializing in chill hip-hop and indie, he has had success working with marketing agencies, filmmakers, vloggers, and artists alike. He has been sending out free music on a monthly basis to his subscriber list.

To learn more, check out shoyei.net.

1. How did you first get involved in producing music?

I've played instruments my whole life, but when I got to college, space became an issue. I couldn't set up with a bunch of loud gear to practice, so I resorted to playing around with samples, synthesizers, and drumpads on my computer. Over the years I've had plenty of opportunities to use what I know about producing to help out with some cool projects.

2. What made you decide to create work to share on a royalty-free basis?

I've been in enough situations where quality stock music is required and it ends up being hard to come by. A lot of what you find on the web is very generic or has a "dated" sound. I've always been writing fun beats and hooks, so I saw this need and wanted to contribute.

3. What's your process like when it comes to working with a client on creating a custom track for them?

Good question. First I ask my clients what kind of mood they're looking for and what the big picture is. If they have an example of something that inspired them, I will absolutely work with that. I work mostly with filmmakers, so the vibe is very important. Once I feel like I'm onto something, I send a snippet back to see if it's what they had envisioned. If not, I start again. It normally takes two revisions to get to where both parties are really happy.

4. Could you tell us about some of your favorite projects that you've worked on over the years?

My most challenging request was a full-length documentary that had their original source for the score fall through. They asked me and a close colleague of mine to score the entire film before they were scheduled for their MPAA rating. That happened to be a month away. We wrote and recorded 17 individual pieces for the film. The entire experience stretched me as a musician, but I still feel proud of many of those pieces.

5. When it comes to your royalty-free tracks, what are some of your favorite ways you've seen your work used?

I've seen my tracks used at conferences and film festivals, which is a really great feeling for me. It's also really awesome to hear some of it behind a filmmaker's video reel. It means that they're putting their best foot forward with the best music they could find.

Thanks, Shoyei!

Meet Ziv Shalev, Musician

Ziv Shalev is a guitarist, composer, producer, and educator from Israel who has lived in New York City for the past 10 years. He has been working for the music production company, Studio Pros, and he has also shared the stage with a variety of top artists from America and Israel. You can learn more about him and hear samples of his work at http://www.zivshalev.com.

1. When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career as a musician?

When I was ten years old, my older brother started a band, and I was watching them rehearsing. I was fascinated by the sound and looks of the guitar. It all started then.

2. You are skilled in playing diverse genres of music. Do you have a favorite genre?

My true passion is rock. Playing with a national act--Spread Eagle--while touring across the country was a dream come true.

3. How do you find inspiration as a composer?

The inspiration to write music comes to me, and I just let it be. Love is very inspiring.

4. For young musicians who are looking to build a career as a full-time musician, what's your advice based on your own experience?

Building a good foundation is the most important thing. It's all about persistence and elbow grease. While it may seem like nothing is moving along, when you work hard every day, every day is a step toward success.

Thanks, Ziv!

Meet Juan Sebastián Rojas Pérez, Musician

Juan Sebastián Rojas Pérez is a musician. He is a guitarist and composer who lives in Colombia and shares his music worldwide by offering music composition as well as guitar lessons over the internet.

Juan was born in 1990 in Boyacá-Colombia and started his music studies at the age of 13. He studied guitar under the supervision of Cesar Rojas, Andrés Samper, and Carlos Posada. He has the title of Master's in Music with classical guitar interpretation granted by the Portificina Universidad Javeriana from Bogotá-Colombia.

Currently, Juan lives in Bogotá, and he continues to develop his musical work in the field of composition for audiovisual aids (such as instructional and explainer videos). He also works as guitarist in concerts and recording sessions. His interests include film scoring, teaching, and playing guitar music that covers the classic and popular repertory.

People all over the world can hire Juan to compose music for them by contacting him through Fiverr.

1. When did you first start playing music?

I started to play guitar at 13 years old. I started composing original music two years ago.

2. What inspired you to start writing your own musical compositions?

I think a lot about history. I love to take stories and give them more than words. With music, I can make a unique instance or expression and reflect how people might see something in a different way.

3. What services are you currently offering on Fiverr?

I currently offer a service where I will compose instrumental music for videos, no matter how long. I have a basic gig where I offer very short pieces of music that last 10 seconds, and I will work with your individual needs to compose a piece of whatever length fits your video. Anyone who wants to learn more can contact me to discuss your project and the price.

4. When it comes to writing music for your buyers on Fiverr, what is your favorite part about this work?

The best part is when buyers find what they want. Everyone comes with high expectations, and when my music fulfills what someone wants, this moment is the moment when I feel like I've received something more than money.

5. Is there anything else you would like people to know about you and your work?

Every piece of music that the customer receives is a unique piece of music. I work closely with customers to provide exactly what they want.

I invite everyone to visit me at https://www.fiverr.com/juanrojas90 to talk about what you're looking, and I hope to write some music for you.

Thanks, Juan!

Meet Paul Erickson, Guitarist

Paul Erickson has been a guitarist for almost 50 years. His website features many freely downloadable recordings of recognizable classical music and original compositions. He can be found performing his music regularly in Western Washington; keep up with his performance schedule here.

1. How did you first become interested in playing guitar?

In my family, my mother was a piano teacher, my grandmother was a piano teacher, and my aunt was a piano teacher. There was no way I was ever going to escape piano lessons. So I started on piano when I was four. When I was six, I heard a guitarist perform at my family's church and fell in love with the sound of the guitar. And my mother gave into my desire to play the guitar as I received one for my seventh birthday.

2. What attracted you to classical guitar music in particular?

About six years ago, I was ready for a change. I had been playing improvised jazz, blues, and rock music for years. I wanted to do something with more discipline and less improvisation. I had experimented with playing classical music on guitar a bit when I was younger, and found it too difficult in the past. Years later I felt like I was ready for the challenge.

3. I see that you have a couple of regular gigs every month in the greater Seattle area. What will listeners hear if they come to see you at El Tapatio?

I will be playing classical music composed by Bach, Carcassi, and Debussy, and some original pieces. I play some pieces that were made famous by Andres Segovia, like Francisco Tarrega's "Capricho Arabe" and "Torijas, from Castles of Spain," some Brazilian music composed by Joao Pernambuco, chord melody jazz standards, and you might even hear me sing a few Mexican songs.

4. For people like myself who enjoy classical guitar when they hear it but who aren't well-acquainted with classical guitar music, what are some good pieces to listen to as a starting point or foundation for listening?

The modern classical guitar didn't really come into existence until the 19th century. There is some music that dates back as early as the 15th century, but the golden age of guitar composers was in the 19th and early 20th century. Classical music is classified more by the time periods that the composers came from then by the pieces themselves. To really introduce yourself, you should look for music from each different period: Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern.

Long established prolific artists that I would recommend would be John Williams, Andrey Segovia, and Julian Bream. My favorite period is the Romantic. If you had to pick pieces for starters, I would say look for Bach Cello and Lute Suites, from the Baroque period. From the Classical period I recommend Etudes by Fernando Sor and Matao Carcassi. From the Romantic period La Catedral by Barrios, and Recuerdos de Alhambra and Capricho Arabe by Tarrega.

5. What projects are you looking forward to over the spring and summer of 2016?

I've been working on 12 Waltzes from Giuliani's Opus 90, and I hope to have them recorded by late spring. One of my goals this year is to compose a guitar sonata. A sonata is a fairly complex structured piece, and it can take months of practice to perform one by another composer. I'm giving myself a realistic time frame to start composing in early summer, hopefully completing the sheet music by fall, leaving another few months for practice and recording.

Thanks, Paul!

Meet Carrie Lane, Musician

Carrie Lane is a musician who is excited to launch a 2016 tour with her new band, Honey Thief, a project that reflects her love for country music. The band is releasing their debut EP, Bad Idea, this month. Learn more about Carrie and Honey Thief by visiting www.carrielanemusic.com.

1. Where did you grow up, and what music did you grow up listening to?

I grew up in Montclair, NJ a suburb just out side of New York City. I grew up listening to a lot of the music that my parents liked when they were young. I remember my brothers calling the music "oldie moldies," but I never understood why they were making fun of it because I loved the music from the 60s and 70s that my parents played.

2. Honey Thief seems to bring together some pretty diverse musical influences. How do you describe your sound to people who haven't heard the band yet?

I guess the answer to that is that there is no true way to describe the musical style we have doing on; it's very unique. That is something that I definitely wanted going into this process. I wanted to be able to say that our music draws from so many different styles. If you say, "oh, I sound like Taylor Swift," well, what's fun about that? That person can go listen to a Taylor Swift song, and they probably already have. If you can describe your music by just comparing to one or two things, I don't think you're making music that is progressive or that is your own. In this business it is so important to keep trying new things and stay ahead of the curve.

3. What was your process like in writing the material for your EP, Bad Idea?

My producer James Strazza and I wrote each song a little differently. Nothing that he writes or that we write together ever starts the same way. A song might be influenced by a line or a concept lyrically and then music is written to it or vice-versa. We kind of just let what happen, happen. That is what kept the writing process so organic and, ultimately, gave the music such a unique sound.

4. What are your plans for the coming months in terms of touring and possibly recording more material?

We are going to be on tour in the NorthEast for March and April and then will have more tour dates announced in about a month or so. You can check out the official tour dates at www.honeythiefmusic.com! We are definitely going to keep writing while I'm on the road and continue to create new content throughout the year as well.

5. Is there anything else you'd like readers to know about Bad Idea?

Bad Idea is a very personal EP for me. Every song comes from a really authentic place in my life, and I think that is why listeners will be able to identify with it. I encourage everyone to take a listen and let me know what you think--I love interacting online with my fans especially on my Twitter and Instagram @HoneyThiefXX, so please give it a listen and let me know what you think! xo

Thanks, Carrie!

Meet Sullee J, Poet and Hip Hop Artist

Sullee J is a warrior poet and philanthropist from Baltimore. He's an emcee whose strong will and devotion to the human spirit carries his exploration of the language, making serious play of the words that represent the deepest of the mind's pains, hopes, losses, and fears. He has recently collaborated with Young Buck, Project Pat, Joe Moses, Royce Da 5'9, Crooked I, Canibus, Cashis, Cyssero, K-Rino, and more.

Check out Sullee J's music on SoundCloud and YouTube, and follow him on Twitter.

1. When you were a kid, what came first for you--music or poetry, or did you become interested in both around the same time?

Poetry. If anything made sense at that point, it was putting my feelings into words. I felt like it was the best way to understand myself, and for myself to be heard. I would write for hours, and somehow it all came out in rhythmic patterns. The ink bled my thoughts, allowing me to escape my mind's darkest caverns.

2. What is your process like when it comes to composing new work?

Sometimes, depending on my mood, a whole song can take me under 20 minutes to write, and sometimes I will spend a week. It all depends on what I'm going through, and the current emotion I'm allowing to peak.

3. You do a lot of collaboration with other artists. What does collaboration add to your own work?

It allows me to build with the other artists and show versatility in my music. Because most of the collaborations I've had are with major artists, it really allows me to challenge myself as a musician. I will always be different--I choose not to be congruent. I want to show my fans, but also other artists on the come up, always stay true to yourself, regardless the influence.

4. What projects are ahead for you in 2016?

Stay tuned for a lot of brilliant works in the mix right now. My latest project coming out next is Andrew Slayer: The Undefined Soul. A clash between Hip Hop/EDM.

5. What is your advice to others who are interested in rap and hip hop but haven't started recording and sharing their own rhymes yet?

Don't let anyone else tell you how to feel about yourself. If you believe in your dreams, then keep going. You don't need people in your circle that are constantly putting you down. Stick to positive energy only. Life is too short to allow negativity to surround.

Thanks, Sullee J!

Meet Michael Hazani, Musician

Michael Hazani of the musical project Qualia has a new EP called Triptych just released on 9/15/15. The music is cinematic alt pop somewhere between Autre Ne Veut, Hans Zimmer and CHVRCHES. Qualia's previous release got great reviews and was featured on VICE's the Creator's Project among other blogs. Last year it also won the JSLC/Innovators in Music award.

Find Qualia's new EP on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, SoundCloud, and BandCamp. You can also follow Qualia on Instagram.

1. How did Qualia get started?

Qualia started around May of 2014 as a passion side project; I was writing for-pitch for film & TV spots--as well as collaborating with other singers and writers--and everything had to be custom-made to fit something or someone else. I ended up channeling the frustration into this project, made for myself, based on what I liked. Thankfully, since then this project has found its audience and the music seems to resonate with many others, which I'm truly grateful for.

2. When composing a song, what helps you create the specific sound you have in mind?

While the end result tends to be fairly structured, the beginnings are anything but--anything can spark up an idea, and the arrangement usually unveils itself pretty early on. Sometimes it feels like there's only one ideal way to express a particular melody or song, although of course that's never really the case. But it's a helpful road map to start with.

3. Would you tell us a little more about your new EP release?

This EP is called Triptych and was just released on 9/15. It features 3 songs that aren't linked in any thematic way--they're just the best ones I've written in a long while. It will be accompanied by two videos, and I'll be touring with it throughout the fall.

4. What influence do you feel that living in Seattle has had on your music?

I actually finished work on those songs while still in New York, before moving to Seattle earlier this year. But so far I've noticed it's a really eclectic live scene--also, being a winter person, I love the weather in Pacific Northwest, the very different feel it has. Just last week I made my girlfriend Douglas Fir Sorbet... turning trees into ice cream! That would have never happened back east but seems very appropriate here. And things like different weather and ambiance most certainly influence the music I write.

5. What are your plans over the next year--do you have some shows lined up, are you writing more music, etc?

There are many show dates currently being finalized in and around Seattle and the Pacific Northwest; check the website for actual times. I want to make it to the East Coast by next spring and play some shows there--I miss the vibe! And more music is always happening, but more good music--that's a rare commodity. If it's good, it'll find its way to the world!

Thanks, Michael!

Meet Rambojoe43, Music and Media Artist

Joseph Reynolds Wesley AKA Rambojoe43 has a fascination with different kinds of media such as music production and video production. His plans for the future are to create a full-time job from his interests. Check out his work on YouTube: movie production and music production. You can also watch him on Twitch.tv. His work is also on iTunes, such as the track, What Dreams ARE.

He was also recently in a movie called Chloe's Mountain and is currently working with a company called Inspired Productions, a Christian video production company. Learn more by visiting the Facebook page for Chloe's Mountain.

1. When did you first become interested in playing music?

I first became interested in playing music was when I was about 15 years old and I was doing a search on google. I wanted to find something that was super creative and unpredictable. So I found first a thing called a music remixer. It was an app that had a pre-chosen song separated into different parts that you could activate at random times. For example, you could choose the drums you wanted and mix with the singing. Or choose the base and snare loops. What really got me interested in music making was when I opened up multiple music mixer apps at the same time. When I did this, the procedure was the same but all the voices working nicely with each other. Like a symphony. It was very satisfying. It was a while that I found that special hidden feature.

2. What inspires your musical experiments?

Well, much like the music mixer program I used when I was young, I love starting from scratch. I tell people I meet "you start off with nothing, not even one idea in your head, but then you put down one loop and another and eventually you end up with one fantastic piece of work." Start with nothing, and end with everything. Sometimes I make a sound so cool it either makes my head start bobbing or a tear start dropping from my face. For now I only do music experiments only because the experiments will eventually turn into full songs. And if I didn't experiment, nothing would ever be created.

3. Why did you decide to start filming yourself playing music for YouTube and Twitch.tv?

The way someone performs is very important to me. Sure, his music might sound great, but is he connecting with the audience. Is there any kind of eye contact? Does the crowd feel involved? When I watch my replay, I can learn what I can improve on personally. To be honest, one reason that I like to record myself might also be because as an athlete, I had to watch game film on myself at least once a week. The same principle was there: see what I did wrong and find a way to fix it. Another reason why I record myself is so that the music file doesn't take space on my computer. Every time I end the stream, the video uploads directly to Twitch and YouTube, which is very convenient when it comes to playing my whole video with my music.

4. What do you enjoy about video production work?

One of my video production teachers once said to me, it's not about the quality of the video you make; it's the story. Much like with my music production, I start out with an idea and build on top of it. I have videos on YouTube that I call experiment videos. And all my practice films hopefully turn into big productions. I think actually that some of my ideas have been picked up by major companies like Disney. I made a very interesting video about if you were to change places with your reflection, and a few months later I saw a very similar episode on the Disney channel's "Wizards of Waverly Place." I was super excited to see this idea come to life. Another thing that really boosts my motivation for video production is the teamwork that comes with it. I recently was helping out with a video company called Inspired Productions. We were making a video called "Chloe's Mountain," and I was the P.A., producer's assistant or gopher. I felt very involved. My job was to do anything the director or cinematographer said for me to do. When I was asked to do something, it would give me an opportunity to run, pick up what I needed (like a battery), and run back and return. I like that adrenaline I get from that. Last but not least, I love to be in front of the camera, although I don't speak much in front. I would be just fine if I were in a silent film, for instance.

5. How do you hope that your career will grow over the next couple of years?

I hope my career turns into something very special for everyone. But when things start speeding up for me, I hope everything stays solid, continuous sales and exposure. I was talking to my friend the other day, and he asked me a very interesting question. I think back to that question in relation to this question of where I see my career growing. His question was, would you rather be rich or famous? I looked at him with awe. Eventually I told him that I would want to be famous and here is why: when you're rich, all you have is power, and most people I know who are rich use it the wrong way. When I get famous, I feel that I will know I did something right. Being famous seems to me like a comfortable bed. I compare the bed to my fans because it's something I need help with and can rely on, much like when I'm tired and need somewhere to sleep. For example, maybe I need a suggestion for something. If I'm famous, I could ask and get a very quick and quality response back. Okay, all in all, don't get me wrong; lots of money is great, and give me the money, but I would much rather be rich. That is where I see myself getting to in a few years.

Meet Matt Torrence, Owner of The Music Teacher Guy LLC

Matt Torrence is the owner/operator at The Music Teacher Guy LLC, established in 2008. Find The Music Teacher Guy online at both http://www.themusicteacherguy.com and http://www.musicteacherguy.com. This company provides high-quality, affordable music lessons--guitar, piano, bass, and drums--in the suburban Philadelphia region of PA. No contracts to sign. Teachers travel to students' homes, and Matt has six teachers currently working with his company. Lessons are also available online, on Skype, at http://www.privatemusiclessons.com.

1. What first inspired you to teach music, and what do you think sets you apart as a teacher?

I don't think I was initially "inspired" to teach; I just decided to give it a try after seeing a Help Wanted flyer in a local music store. Someone who was starting his own music teaching business needed guitar teachers to work for him. This was a travelling or mobile gig, meaning we teachers would be driving to the students' homes in our own cars. I was in-between jobs at the time and needed something new. But now, yes, I feel very inspired to spread knowledge to my music students, who are very important to me.

2. What are some of your favorite parts of your job teaching individual private lessons?

The best is explaining some aspect of music theory to a student who's eager to grasp it. A serious, diligent student is my favorite part of the job. It's all about the reactions of the students--I react to how they react. If they look forward to the lesson and to learning, I look forward to teaching. Otherwise, it's also nice to be able to focus solely on one student at a time and give him or her all of my attention.

3. Why did you decide to offer lessons in people's homes rather than in a studio or at a music store, etc?

That was an idea I picked up from my former boss, the guy who hung the flyer in the music store. It's a cost-saving measure. Bricks and mortar can be expensive to lease, and I'd be awfully nervous if my student roster was low--as often happens in the summertime. I should mention that I went into business for myself in 2008. I own the company and am my own boss. I also have a half-dozen teachers working for me. A studio or music store wouldn't allow me to have the full flexibility I want. Left to my own wits, I can do a much better job for my students. I give a lot of flexibility to my teachers, too, which is why they enjoy working for me more than for other outlets, i.e. studios and music stores.

4. What geographical area do you serve with your in-home lessons, and what about your lessons offered via Skype?

We’re mostly in three counties in suburban Philadelphia, PA. We’re in Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Bucks County. Those areas are slightly northwest of the city, mainly. We might go into Chester County a bit. One of my guitar guys lives in Philadelphia proper, so he handles that area. I'll teach anyone on Skype, but bear in mind, I only speak English.

5. If someone is reading this who has always wanted to learn to play an instrument but never felt "gifted" when it comes to music, what would you say to that person?

I'd say, "That makes two of us!" Persistence can often overcome a lack of "natural talent." I never felt like I was a natural--and still don’t--but I knew if I kept at it, relentlessly, I could achieve a lot. As a friend and ukulele teacher once said to me, "You have to be too stubborn to quit."

Thanks, Matt!

Meet Ariel de Lion, Artist, Musician, and Entrepreneur

Ariel de Lion is an Israeli-American, Brooklyn based Artist, Musician, and Entrepreneur. As a conceptualist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, Ariel has led several musical and art projects most known by DE///LION, Punk hapoalim, Casino Ayalon, She Lion, and Hostel Ayalon. Best known for his multidisciplinary approach, he is also the creative force and founder of the start-up company and Brooklyn Art collective, Music Wagon. You may also know Ariel as the founder of the Lower East Side radio station, LES.FM at the Ludlow Studio and The founder of Hostel Ayalon, non-for-profit venue in Tel Aviv, Israel.

1. When did you first start playing music--what was the first instrument you learned?

8 years old, guitar and singing. I was awful and lazy, but I got better as the years went by. At year 11, I had my first band with Erez Moshe. It was a punk band, and we rocked the school holiday event, and everybody was terrified. The song was about a whore named Zippy and none of the words made any sense, but me and Erez convinced Assaf Efraim Weisman, a fat kid that was always shy, to come up and sing--he asked "but what should I do," and we told him just scream the words when we tell you. Assaf was standing with his back to the people, and once I gave him the key, he screamed so hard that it was terrifying, better than anything we could possibly imagine to the point that, me and Erez couldn't stop laughing in the show--it was painfully funny but yet so good! All the older kids in school where like, these young kids know how to Rock!

2. What does it mean to you to describe your work as conceptual?

It's a big word, but it doesn't mean anything but a fine way of saying weird. Besides being a musician, I am a writer, I curate weird events, and I'm always part of weird stuff. Calling it conceptualist is like calling a gardener a landscape architect.

3. How do you balance your time and your work between New York and Tel Aviv?

For the past 6 years, I have only been based in New York. In my 20s, I used to be all over the place, and I love Tel Aviv, Los Angeles, and Australia and what I've done there. But, I need the size of New York to focus and operate.

4. What are some projects you're working on right now?

Apart from She Lion, I am working now on a collection documentary and a record that will sum up the 2-3 years we lived in The Music Wagon StART up collective in Bushwick 2011-2013: 150 people, artists, DJ's, visionary preachers were living there along those 2 magical years and the Blue Bus. Emerging from the Lower East Side, The Living Theatre, LES.FM radio, the Ludlow studio, Mr. Bugsly present and the Rainbow gathering along with the House Of Yes across the street, Aldorado Afters with Burymeinbrooklyn under our shaking asses. I have so much material, and finally I got the time to work on something to remember, super excited. Gonna be super real s**t!

5. How do your strengths as an entrepreneur help you as a musician--would you tell us more about your work as an entrepreneur?

I was always interested with hosting--being modest, I am a great host. So it started with me having always the best houses, where all the kids hang, and later on it became venues with my bed somewhere under a guitar amp.

Then, in 2005 I opened my first real venue, Hostel Ayalon in Tel Aviv, a non-for-profit venue that hosts art events and music shows, and we recorded a bunch of albums there, too.

In 2011, I got offered to open a radio station in the lower east side at a mythologic rehearsal space from the 90s, where Blondie, David Bowie, and the Ramones used to practice. I opened there the LES.FM, the Lower East Side Radio, with the help of the neighborhood legends such as Clyton Paterson, Judith Malina, The Living theatre, John Zorn, The stone, Max Fish, Pink pony and Pianos. They were the main reason of the radio station's success. We gained 1000s of simultaneous listeners in three months.

But as usual in New York, they sold the building, and we all moved to our next entrepreneurship, The Music Wagon. The radio crew and the Living Theatre crew combined forces at a warehouse in Bushwick in 2012. We bought an old prison bus and converted it to a mobile radio station, and I went to Israel for several months to cut a deal with a development company that built for us an app for broadcasting, and we opened up a start-up art collective. In 2014, the start-up got nominated for the top 40 start-ups of the year by Tech Weak, sponsored by American Airlines.

These days we are working on a documentary, collection record that will sum up those magical 2-3 years, and we will have something to remember.

Thanks, Ariel!

Meet Ed Roman, Musician and Songwriter

Ed Roman is an award-winning singer/songwriter, performer, and multi-instrumentalist from Shelburne, Ontario, Canada. Blurring the lines between pop, rock, folk, and country music genres, Ed's uniquely crafted songs have received regular rotation on more than 100 terrestrial radio stations across North America. Ed is a 2014 Artists Music Guild Award Nominee and a 2014 Artists In Music Award Nominee. He is also a 2014 International Music and Entertainment Association Award Winner. His current album, Letters From High Latitudes (an homage to his Ontario home) is a critically-acclaimed vehicle for Ed's socio-political, earthly-conscious, and globally-aware messages. This earthy, funky, and magical mix of music has earned Ed Roman airplay chart recognition and won over legions of fans around the world, known as Ed Heads. Learn more about Ed by checking out his website, EdRoman.net.

1. What inspires you to write a song, and did anything in particular inspire you as you worked on your latest album?

First off, let me say thank you for having me today, and it's a pleasure to speak with you.

It's really hard to pinpoint what inspires you to write a song as there are so many things that propel us into an emotional framework of thinking. I'm continually inspired, moved, and enlightened by so many things I see from day-to-day. Not only other people's lives but my own. I am greatly inspired by things that affect our habits of living, the things we do and don't understand about other people including ourselves. I'm very passionate about politics, agriculture, and the state of the human condition. In the day and age that we live in, it is essential to feel passionate about the circumstances that we love and the things that bring us to anger, then to take action. These two extremes are like a melting pot of emotional thinking.

A song like "I Told You So" on my new album Letters From High Latitudes is posing metaphors that are asking questions about where the commodities that we consume come from and how they are manufactured, to the political discourse and state of corporate federal politics that overrides, in many cases, civilian rights and freedoms. Because I study politics and come from a very political background, I can understand how these subtle changes have occurred over a long period of time and yet in our existence of human civilization, a blink of an eye. I feel most connected to my music when I'm singing and playing about things that matter not only to me but to my fellow brothers and sisters.

2. Considering that you play 90% of the instruments on Letters From High Latitudes, would you tell us what your recording process was like?

That's true, and on much of the music or songs, I play a little bit of everything. Of course, I play bass because that's my primary instrument, but also drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, and the multitude of squeaks and whistles that are more like icing on the cake.

I played with so many wonderful musicians, including Chris Taggart, Antony Cook, David Patel, Michael Freedman, and Tobias Tinker. In our own right, we have created some incredible recordings, but at the same time, music is more like a candy store of limitless possibilities. So many musicians I know, including the ones that I've mentioned, all dabble on different instruments, and it's a really healthy way for you to release yourself from the things you're always working on with your principal instrument.

As I have my own studio, Area 51, it's very easy for me, day-to-day, to experiment with different instruments in my audio laboratory, more like a mad scientist hidden in an old airplane hangar on some distant field in a forgotten forest. As I'm writing the songs, they themselves are the ones that tell me how the music needs to unfold in the recording process. As I am a composer, I can start to see how music needs to be painted, so to speak. Some of the music, because of its construction, requires a band in a live off the floor process. It's important to try to capture these electric moments as they happen as opposed to a sound on sound recording that you can build over the course of the day or period of time. I always love interacting with other musicians and love getting other people's opinions on the flow, rhythm, and textural colors that make up the overall tapestry of the song.

3. How does your connection to Ontario influence your work as an artist?

Ontario is the birth canal of my life. I was fortunate enough to have a rural childhood which included long summer days spent by creeks, catching fish, and taking endless bike rides without the worry and troubles of an inner-city whether it was building tree forts in the woods or building tightly woven constructions of corn to make fortresses in our fields. We lived symbiotically on our farm with our animals in our environment on almost 1500 acres.

Ontario breathes more like an abundant basket of life, energy, and hard work. As kids we pushed ourselves in every environment when it came to art and being creative: music coursed through Ontario and us. It was infectious to the point of a complete embrace. So many people that I knew in late grade school and all through high school all played instruments of some kind. Whether it was Sadie Hawkins dances, battle of the bands, assemblies, or hours on a frozen pond at local carnivals or fall fairs, music was a part of our DNA and Ontario. Its abundance of freedoms and abilities to create at whim is what fueled us as young artists.

Today once again in Ontario and the country of Canada, all those things which I just mentioned that I hold so dear need to be protected and preserved for all Canadians and Ontario's people to enjoy once again. It propels me to take action in my language and lyrics and music that I write to try and reinvigorate people's emotions and passions when it comes to the things that we are most concerned about. I write about pharmacological acts, bills, and Parliament that affect the civil rights and freedoms of not only people in Ontario but in this country. My guitar is the greatest and most powerful weapon that I can wield in a passionate and pure way towards these concepts every day of my life.

4. How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?

That's a great question, and as I'm always being asked by so many people who have not heard my music, you need to be able to explain what that is in very few words. I could say my music is thought-provoking and has elements of satire and humor. I could say my music has a bulky and funky edge that is reminiscent of things of the past yet the same time has a new and innovative feel. I could say my music is political commentary on the day and age that we live in. I could say my music has elements of folk, rock, jazz, country, progressive, or even funk; but if I had to say in a few words, it's like a 57 Chevy blowing up in your kitchen.

5. What projects are you planning to work on over the next year or so?

Letters From High Latitudes has been doing extremely well over the last year, and as I've been doing interviews, TV appearances, and a whole whack of radio, I also have been releasing videos the whole time. The latest video for the track "I Found God" has been doing extremely well and getting a lot of plays as well as being embraced in social networking by a great a deal of socially consciously active people.

I'm planning a trip to the island of Jamaica to record my next video. Letters From High Latitudes features the song "Jamaica," and as I have a godchild and incredible amount of friends and newfound family, I plan to shoot a video and release it sometime in the month of May or early June. At the same time, I've also been doing a lot of writing, and I'm planning to embark on a new recording project for a new album that will be released sometime in late 2015.

I'm also headed down to Austin, Texas to play at the Red Gorilla Music Festival, running parallel to SXSW. The band and I will be at the Thirsty Nickel on 6th street in the heart of beautiful downtown Austin, smack dab in the middle of the festival. We will be on at 7 PM. Then we're down in New Jersey in Cape May on 27th of March for the Cape May Music Folk Festival. I'll be playing at the beautiful old Alethea's at the Inn of Cape May.

Once again, thank you so much for having me, and it's a pleasure to be able to speak with you today. If you're listening to Ed, then you are an Ed Head. Come by and check me out anytime at www.edroman.net. Over and out.

Thanks, Ed!

Meet Ted Melikian, Singer and Producer with 2 Bit Radio

I always like the opportunity to turn the spotlight on new music on this blog, so I was glad to chat with Ted Melikian, the singer and producer from 2 Bit Radio, a new electronic funk band.

I listened to their new song "Satellite" and enjoyed it. It has funk, and Ted's voice is so smooth that it also gives you a nice, chill feeling. I'd describe the song as something with a definite groove to it: you can feel the bass, and you can also just really feel the love and enthusiasm of the artist going into the music. If you like music that makes you want to dance, definitely give this band a listen. They might remind you a bit of Daft Punk or Depeche Mode, but really I think they have their own unique sound.

1. How is the single, "Satellite," different than tracks you've released in the past?



Whenever you compare new music to music created in the past, there is a difference. People change, you know--they grow and learn. So the music evolves, too. In our first album "Dirty Time," my mood at the time was reflected more so in those tracks like in the songs "Beverly Baller" and "Never Understand." It's been more than four years since I wrote those songs, and I have a better studio for producing and have really studied and focused more on the sounds of funk, groove, and melody for "Satellite" and our future release, "These are the good old days." 

2. What's your process like for writing new songs? 



It might not be for everyone, but this is how my brain works it out. I start with the music composition. Layer it with synth and guitar parts. Create the chorus, and write the lyrics for the rest of the song. Then add percussion and add more sounds. By the time I'm at this point, many weeks/days/hours have passed, and I'm either loving how it has come together or going crazy over some part that's not perfect yet. I love the process, so I can't complain. Music is my life.



3. When it comes to working with someone like Eric Racy to have a track mixed, what's that collaboration like?



It's good. He is very professional, a great communicator. I hand over my .wav files and I leave it to his discretion to mix it. He adds his touch, and when I get it back, it's definitely better. If there's any adjustment I'd like made, he delivers. He's a cool guy on the phone, too, easy to work with.

4. What are your plans for the coming year?



We are still working on the rest of the songs for the second album, so that's how most of this year's time will be spent. We'll promote "Satellite" for a few months and make the official music video soon. Then again for "These are the good old days." We played 44 shows following our last album release in 2012. We plan to have another strong tour again when this second album is finished.


5. Where should people look to keep up with your latest releases?


You can go to our official website www.2bitradio.com
. You can find our music, tour dates, videos, and photos there. 
And as of right now we are giving our fans a free download of "Satellite" exclusively on soundcloud.com/2bitradio. 
We are also on Facebook and Twitter, so please look us up when you're there.

Thanks, Ted!