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 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 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 JgTheAnimator, Rap Artist

JgTheAnimator is an independent rap artist. He is 19 years old and has been finding success with his song, #AMSUPERMAN. You can give it a listen on SoundCloud.

1. What gave you the idea to write "Am Superman"?

I thought to myself, people go through a lot of problems daily that affect them, making them feel either weak or useless, so the idea of Am Superman is to encourage people to believe that they're not weak but they're strong.

2. What's your definition of what it means to be Superman?

To be strong, to be able to keep working to achieve and never give up.

3. Why do you think your song has been getting so many plays?

Because it's a song that they've never heard before, just like what the start of the song says. It switches from various ranges of flows and music dimensions and also we (Take Baf) have been putting effort in sharing the song to lots of people, and we've been gathering fans for a long time now.

4. Did you produce the song completely on your own--and what are you currently working on?

Yes I produced the song all by myself. I'm currently working on a new song which might be very controversial...but that's as far as I can say.

5. What else would you like people to know about you?

Don't start listening to me when I'm all over the news--start now.

Thanks, JgTheAnimator!

Meet X-Change, DJ and Producer

X-Change is an electro and progressive house music DJ and producer residing in Los Angeles. A University of Michigan alumni, he has a strong background and knowledge of acoustics and engineering. While fine tuning his original singles, he also releases custom edits and mash-ups, and is always on the lookout for talented people to collaborate and work with. X-Change brings a new sound to the world of dance music with original tracks coming out in 2015.

Learn more about his work on his website, SoundCloud, Facebook, and Twitter.

1. How did you first get started working as a DJ?

I actually started DJing when I was a college student at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. I was also interested in music, and a few honor societies wanted me to DJ their banquets, so I sort of stumbled into it and from there wanted to learn everything there was to know about DJing.

2. When you do a custom edit of a song, how do you decide what to emphasize from the original work?

Usually when doing an edit, I'm working on my mixshow X-Change Theory Radio, and I hear a track that I love but want to play in a different way in my set either due to a cool vocal or synth breakdown or drop section. Then I structure my edit for my DJing style so that my favorite part of the original is highlighted.

3. Would you tell us a little bit about your experience collaborating with Jessica Louise?

Jessica Louise is an amazing singer! She has been a pleasure to work with on "Stronger." I wrote the song with Jeff Zacharski and Hannah Taylor a while ago, and we looked for months for a female singer that would fit the track perfectly. Then when we heard Jessica's voice, we knew she had to be on it! We are actually following the track up with an acoustic version stripping the track back to just her vocals and piano. I'm super excited for everyone to hear that!

4. What are some of the other original tracks you've been working on--and what are you planning to release in 2015?

It's been a busy 2015 so far. I've been working on a lot of different tracks and concepts in the studio and have a bunch of releases planned. I have an all-instrumental electro house track called "Kandiland" coming out soon as well as more female vocal based progressive house tracks titled "Amnesia" and "Weight Of Your Love" that are almost finished as well. On top of that I'm releasing a lot of my private edits and working on some remixes for other artists.

5. For you personally as a listener, what separates great dance music from good dance music?

For me, my favorite tracks have killer melodies that you just can't stop humming. I also love a great vocal over the track. There is just something so cool about a song that gives you chills when you listen to the vocal riding over the chord progression and it all crescendos up into this massive drop that makes you want to jump up and down wherever you are!

Thanks, X-Change!

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!

Introducing the Worldwide Groove Corporation Blog

As readers of this website know, I always love a good concept for a blog, and in my opinion, Worldwide Groove Corporation has a great one at http://www.worldwidegroovecorp.com/blog/. The blog is in the middle of celebrating the "Year of the Groove" where the musicians behind the site are putting out one new music release every month for a year and blogging about the new releases.

Kurt Goebel and Ellen Tift are Worldwide Groove Corporation, an electronic music duo based in Nashville. They create original compositions as well as downtempo remakes of jazz classics. You might recognize their music from a TV commercial for Grey's Anatomy, airplay on the syndicated "Chillin' with Chris Botti" show and other radio shows/networks, or placements in many indie films. Their music reminds me a little of Morcheeba, but give it a listen for yourself and see what you think.

The Year of the Groove project started last July, and their January 2015 post is (as of Jan 15) not up quite yet but will be appearing very soon. Each blog post includes an embedded SoundCloud player so that you can listen to the music while you read about the music. I like learning about how artists create their work, and the blog posts share lots of interesting details about the processes of writing lyrics, composing melodies, and more.

You also get behind the scenes details about how a song sometimes takes off in ways that the creators never imagined. For example, one of WGC's songs ended up becoming part of an campaign against genetically modified foods, a surprising yet welcome event for the musicians.

This is a great blog for hearing new music and learning about the experiences of two creative artists as they make and share their music with the world. In addition to the monthly Year of the Groove posts, there are other posts about a variety of topics relevant to readers with an interest in arts and culture. Check it out!

Meet Bianca Hendy, Musician and Songwriter

Bianca Hendy is 21-year-old musician and songwriter from Adelaide, Australia. Bianca's guitar skills and warming vocal talents complement each other perfectly to bring a raw and natural sound. Check out her work on SoundCloud, and follow her on Facebook.

1. Have you been interested in music since you were a small child, or did your interest come later?

Yeah, my interest sparked at a pretty young age. However, it wasn't till I was a bit older when I had the guts to be able to perform.

2. Who are some guitarists who have influenced you in developing your own style?

Um, that's a hard question as there's so many possibilities. Tom DeLonge was always up there.

3. As a songwriter, what's your process for writing a new song?

Well, normally I just pick up my guitar, start playing something random, and then sing along to it. I'm terrible as I never write anything down, so a lot of my songs get lost somewhere in the back of my mind.

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

I'd describe it as a story: every song has a story behind it. It's normally based on someone I've come across and their story or my own.

5. What plans do you have for the next year or so in terms of releasing new music or live performances/touring?

Well, I'm currently in the process of working on my new ep titled "Cheap Rumours," and once that's done, we'll go from there!

Thanks, Bianca!

Meet Sarantos, Musician

Sarantos is releasing his first solo artist music album on November 18th 2014. A new song will be released on the 1st Tuesday of every month. Sarantos' music has received rave reviews so far and he relishes this chance to pursue his life long dream. He is donating 33% of any music-related sales to charity.

Sarantos' website is called Melogia which in Greek means "with words." He also shares music on SoundCloud and YouTube. And follow him online on Facebook and Twitter. For a sample of his music, check out the video below.

1. How did you first get interested in writing and performing music?

I loved music and my whole family encouraged it from early on. We listened to music a lot, and I started writing lyrics around 4th grade. I loved how I could write about myself or empathize and put myself in other people's shoes and write a song about it. I have undergone several personal challenges in the last few years, but my dad's passing away in 2010 after a long hard-fought battle with lung cancer really put me over the edge. I had also dealt with some health issues like asthma and allergies, which severely affected my singing style. After mourning my father's death for a long time, I woke up one day and decided that the timing was finally right. This was always my lifelong dream, and I was tired of doing nothing about it and watching life pass me by. My main inspiration, however, is to raise money for charity. 33% of any music related sales are going straight to charity!



2. How do you get your ideas for songs, and what is your writing process like (from start to finish for a new piece)?



My process varies and I can do it any number of ways. I like to start with lyrics and envision an idea and melody and then put music to it. However, I have also just started with the music and then written the lyrics to it. I get ideas everywhere and every day. At the gym, listening to other music, listening to other people, reading books. Basically anywhere.

3. What made you decide to release one song per month leading up to your first solo album release in November 2014?



I personally think the music business is really struggling right now. I understand why people pirate music and want it for free. I understand as an artist why you would like to be paid 99 cents for a song you poured your heart and soul into. There is so much time and effort put into it, no matter how talented you are. The one thing I have also come to appreciate is how big the machine is. Labels pour a ton of money into artists, and they are a business. They have to make money somehow. I still like CDs and think they are nostalgic. But I know people don't wanna buy them that much anymore. The only way to combat this I can think of is to engage your audience, and if they like you and your message and your song, they might pay you 99 cents to download the HD version of your song. I also think trying to get more content out there for them like videos, interviews, pictures, anything you can, will help an artist in the long term.

Anyway, I am trying to revolutionize the industry. I want to stay in touch with my fans every day, not just once every few years when a new CD comes out. All my songs will be what I consider to be hits. There will not just be 1-2 good songs on the entire CD! I am going to release a new song on the 1st Tuesday of every month and a new music video on the 2nd Tuesday of every month for all of 2014. I interact with my fans via social media every day. On November 18th, the CD will finally be released with all 11 songs on it, along with all 11 music videos and a ton of interactive content--personal videos, interviews, just a ton of extras. Basically, my goal is to try and make it worthwhile and something my fans would really want to rush out and buy.

We'll see if it works.

4. For listeners who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it?



I think one of my contacts in LA who’s been in the biz a long time summed it up best - unique sound that is "an emotionally powerful vocal style masterfully united with music that is a fusion of classic 80s rock blended with modern soft rock and pop music!"

5. What are your plans in 2014 for getting your music out into the world--will you be giving concerts as well as sharing your music online?

I'd love to tour, but I need my music to get some traction first because of the considerable expense of hiring band members and especially the costs involved to tour with me around the US or the world. I can't do that unless I am pretty sure I have a lot of loyal fans who would buy tickets to a show to see me perform. But I'd love to do this hopefully soon. It is my dream!

I would like my fans to come from all walks of life and from all over the world. My main demographic and currently 65% of my fans are females aged 14-35, but I definitely have fans of all ages and plenty of male fans as well.

My main focus in 2014 will be social media. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have definitely affected the music industry by offering artists a way to expose themselves (not meant in a perverted way) and their profile. Artists can spread their musical talent instantly and communicate with their fans all over the world.

The popularity of Facebook and Twitter is worldwide. Virtually everyone is connected to these social sites making the best sites to promote your music.

Thanks, Sarantos!

Introducing GunKy, Musician and Composer

GunKy started composing music back in the 8th grade. Now a student at the Berklee College of Music as a CWP (Contemporary Writing and Production) major, he writes and arranges music, sings, and plays several instruments.

GunKy grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia, but he is 100% South Korean. Through his dad's record collection, he was introduced to a wide range of international artists such as Queen, The Eagles, and ABBA. The first instrument he learned was the piano, and he then picked up violin, singing, drums, and guitar; he considers himself the most proficient with the drums.

Today he enjoys listening to many genres of music, including electronic music. His original written works focus mostly around the rock genre, but he has been expanding into many more genres, including but not restricted to experimental with hints of jazz and Latin music most recently.

To learn more about GunKy, find him on Facebook, and listen to his music on SoundCloud. In the selections on SoundCloud, GunKy is playing all of the instruments, though he is primarily a drummer. He is the male voice in the songs (with the exception of some screaming parts).

Here's a cool example of one of GunKy's original alternative rock compositions:

Be sure to check out more of his work on SoundCloud!

Meet THUNDERCLAP, Musician and Performer

THUNDERCLAP is originally from the Chippawa, Niagara Falls. He's performed hundreds of times all over North America and Europe. The strength of this performer's originality was honed as a practicing method actor. His approach is honesty without a preconceived outcome, a pinch of poetic justice, a grand gesture or two and voila! one hell of a strange, operatic minstrel that will leave you scratching your head.

Currently in the process of fundraising for his debut solo album, Hellbent on Success, THUNDERCLAP has launched an indiegogo campaign which has raised over $3700 as of this blog posting (June 5, 2013).

For samples of his music, check out his pages on SoundCloud and MySpace. If you're in the Brooklyn, NY area, hear him in person on June 13 at the Northside Festival at Pete's Candy Store.

1. How does your experience as a method actor influence your work as a singer/songwriter?

Well as much as I used to think that I was writing lyrics that really meant something to myself and perhaps the general listener, I was wrong. Only after being told by an acting teacher that I in essence sucked (and actually an art teacher years before that), was I able to be educated to why I sucked and and how to not suck. I now can really distinguish. and plot how I want a message to affect the listener in the most substantial way possible. It might sound overly simplistic, but in the film Walk the Line, Sam Phillips gives this pivotal speech to a young Johnny Cash. That speech really sums up what I learned as an actor. That same principal applies to all artistic mediums.

2. Would you tell us a little bit about the breadth and depth of collaborative work that goes into making a solo album?

Quite often over the year that we've been recording, constant eureka moments have come upon us. In light of this, my veteran engineer Gene Hughes keeps reiterating that the learning and eureka moments NEVER stop. And although we have producer Spookey Rubens officially at the helm of this project, the collaboration between Spookey, Gene, and myself is unselfish, fun, and magical. Again, unending eurekas blanket the recording experience of this album.

3. As someone who has funded a lot of the expenses of producing your album (not to mention many other artistic projects!) on your own, what inspired you to reach out to do some crowdfunding through indiegogo?

Believe it or not, where I'm from, I'm probably the first person I know that jumped into crowdfunding. I heard about it, and I acknowledged to myself that my knowledge of marketing and wide social media networking would probably be well put to work on such a project. And I keep telling people: If I only had one dollar pledged to me, it would have been worth it, for the marketing campaign that I launched has had a large wide spreading impact, the value in this as an entertainer is invaluable!

4. What helps you stay motivated, day in and day out, to keep producing your creative work?

As naive as it might sound, at the end of the day my foundation of belief is this: everyone has some value to add to the world, so the creativity I produce "is not for me, and it's not from me." My creative output hopefully serves someone in some way positively in their lives. This reason I give might sound like a "put on," but it's not; it's honestly what I deeply believe. I'm simply a conduit which ideas travel through, and blast into the atmosphere. Boom, spray, twinkle!

5. For people reading this interview who aren't familiar with your work, how might you introduce them to it, and could you recommend a link or two they should start with in terms of getting to know you and your music?

I was spotlighted on a holland based TV show that delves into my life in Niagara Falls:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjsWcfaWN_o

AND there's a lot of content to view in the media section of the indiegogo campaign itself.

For starters, here's the intro video I made for the indiegogo campaign:

Thanks, THUNDERCLAP!